Is it right that some people with diabetes should be banned from driving?

# 29

Posted: 11/02/2004 16:47

This discussion is asinine. People keep posting responses as if DIABETICS have been singled out to have their licenses revoked when they've done nothing. Typical over-reacting and jumping to conclusions. Anyone who drives weaving all over the road should have some penalty for dangerous driving, regardless of whether they are diabetics or not! If they do it more than once, revoke. If drunks can get away with it a few times, then obviously others should too. But dangerous drivers, regardless of the cause, should be penalised. No one has suggested that a person who has not had an incident while driving should have their license revoked, have they? Did I miss something???

# 28

Posted: 08/02/2004 13:58

Having seen the state a diabetic gets into (on numerous occasions )when they go low-I agree that diabetics should at least be monitored by insurance companies. Trouble is many do not state that they are diabetic when they apply for insurance. If it was your wife/husband/child who was put in danger by the guy the judge put off the road-how would you feel?Many are a danger to themselves and others ,because when tierd or under stress they are as dangerous, on the road ,as a drunk driver

# 27

Posted: 07/02/2004 13:04

Being a diabetic should not disqualify one from driving. Diabetes is a controllable condition, and diabetics can and should live full lives. If absolutely necessary a note from their G.P.,or specialist is the most that would be necessary, to show that their diabetes, does not disqualify them from driving. Disqualifying diabetics, is not only unjust to the diabetic,it sends out a misleading / wrong message about diabetics.
Mairead.

# 26

Posted: 06/02/2004 20:48

Yes so long as they are the ones who don't manage their illness. Why should anyone be at risk just because someone who can't or wont look afther themselves

# 25

Posted: 06/02/2004 18:24

The only reason I voted yes is my
fear of diabetics who may drink
alcohol and drive, with the best intentions, and maybe the risk of
an accident,

# 24

Posted: 06/02/2004 14:37

As physician with many years of medical experience I do believe that in some cases of Diabetes to drive a car is very dangerous.

# 23

Posted: 06/02/2004 11:43

The poll question was:
Is it right that *SOME* people with diabetes should be banned from driving? The man in question who made the news and got the lifetime ban obviously was out of chemical balance and was weaving all over the road. I see no difference in that happening and someone drink driving. A diabetic who has never had an episode while driving should not be banned anymore than a person who is a social drinker should be banned if s/he doesn't drive after drinking. A person who drives drunk should be penalised. A diabetic who drives in an impaired state should be penalised. An epileptic who doesn't take their medication and has a seizure while driving, should be penalised. A person who needs glasses and doesn't wear them when driving, should be penalised. Etc etc. If a person has a known condition AND (note the "and" please) does not manage it properly AND gets behind the wheel, they should be penalised. The ban for life on this man was ridiculous though. He shouldn't get anything worse than a first-time drunk driver. If they can be let off, then this man should be let off, or suffer whatever the "first offense" equivalent is. The fact that diabetics can't help having diabetes is irrelevant. The relevant factor is whether or not a person is responsible about managing their chemical levels.. be it sugar or alcohol or whatever.

# 22

Posted: 06/02/2004 10:22

What a load of rubbish.I'm A Diabetic but dont drive simple because the insurance for diabetics is a disgrace.Im already unlucky enough to be a male in my 20's but to also have Diabetes the insurance companies are biast(any excuse for them to charge more)My dad is also Diabetic and has a clean licence for 30 odd years.He's a better driver than most on todays roads,but he also finds it a problem to get insurance so diabetics are already discriminated against.Ridiculous

# 21

Posted: 06/02/2004 09:05

I think the the ban is far too harsh! Diabetics should/do always have glucose in thier cars in case of such emergencies. Even people who have tight control of their diabetes do have Hypos.

# 20

Posted: 06/02/2004 08:58

People who have diabetes should NOT be banned from driving. I don't have diabetes but my boyfriend does and he keeps tight control on his readings. Anyone who has diabetes or knows someone who has it, are well aware that sometimes , no matter how good their control, they can go low or have a hypo. Some non diabetics can go out and have an accident - it's not done on purpose. Diabetics are not at fault because they have diabetes. It could then be argued (which I don't agree with either!!) that anyone with a muscule disease or disability should not be allowed drive as they are quite liable to lose control of a car. This could be the case for anyone, when driving, who feels faint, gets dizzy, has a cramp or has a migraine or even has heart attack -these are things that are beyond our control and still they happen and cause accidents and even deaths.
Also, people should also realise that anyone who drinks and drives cause more accidents. And people who fall asleep at the wheel have total control over the amount of sleep they get and still they are probably the cause of a very high % or road deaths!!! And they are putting other peoples lives at risk because of their total inadequecy and lack of responsibilty to get enough sleep - which is not too hard to do!!
And to the comment above, it not always people who have diabetes who break speed limits and drink and drive, anyone can!! If you knew anything about diabetes, you would know that diabetics can't drink too much alcohol - it upsets their blood sugar readings!!

# 19

Posted: 06/02/2004 08:15

My dad has diabetes, and is one of the safest drivers on the road. He has never had a car accident thank god. He keeps to the speed limit and keeps his distance form cars, not like some who suppossedly have no illness, and think they own the road.

# 18

Posted: 06/02/2004 00:08

i have first hand experience of diabetes, my wife has it, and i can tell you that ,when she goes low , she does not realise that she is going low, and she starts to react and behave like someone that is totally pissed, this does'nt happen often, but let me remind you that she is a good controller of her condition on most days, but when she's like this i would not like for her to be behind the wheel of a car.in this condition a person is like , so away form it , and in their own world, they have no control and therefore the car has no control, they are a lethal weapon on the loose. psychological conditioning of each person is needed and six monthly checks that are ongoing should weed out the exceptions to the rule. with proper doctors, reports and ongoing checks, the majority of diabetics should be fine in relation to doing the 'normal' things in life.

# 17

Posted: 05/02/2004 23:42

Diabetics who manage their problem and receive a letter from their doctor should not be picked on.
After all a diabetic has to advise their Insurance company that they suffer from diabetis in order to have legal cover. So any Diabetic who obeys the rules is surely a safer driver than the many who do not advise their Insurance company that they have started drinking or have increased their alcohol intake.

# 16

Posted: 05/02/2004 22:53

Having narrowly avoided serious injury by a diabetic driver (who also survived the overturning of his own car) I agree that some diabetics should be banned from driving. The police (in the U.K.) took action to take away his licence. Although he was a taxi driver and lost his livelihood, I was happier that he would be off the road. Wouldn't you?

# 15

Posted: 05/02/2004 22:39

Definitely not. If diabetes is managed correctly, there is no risk. People who drink and drive, or who do not ensure that all their passengers (especially children) wear seat belts have a lot more to answer for than somebody with an illness who want to lead a normal life!

# 14

Posted: 05/02/2004 22:19

What a load of garbage from ANON 1 & 2. Do they even know what diabetes is??? If this was a poll on stupidity we all know the first two people to be banned.PS I am not a diabetic

# 13

Posted: 05/02/2004 22:06

I HAVE DIABETES FOR 33yrs NOW AND I HAVE DRIVEN A CAR FOR ALL OF THAT TIME,I ALWAYS CHECK BLOODS BEFORE LONG JOURNEYS, AND THE LONG JOUREYS DO NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN AS I LIVE AND WORK IN TOWN,AS A MEMBER OF A DIABETES FEDERATION BRANCH,WE AS PEOPLE WITH DIABETES ARE LESS OF A RISK ON THE ROADS THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC,MOST OF US ARE WELL EDUCATED ON OUR CONDITION FROM THE FIRST OF DISCOVERY, AND THAT EDUCATION CONTINUES THROUGH OUR DIABETES LIVES WITH READING AND MEETINGS THAT WE ATTEND.I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR OUR CONDITION AND OUR ABILITY TO BE MORE AWARE OF IT BY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, I BELEIVE THAT BODIES OF OUR STATE LIKE THE GARDAI SHOULD BECOME MORE AWARE OF DIABETES.

# 12

Posted: 05/02/2004 22:00

I feel this would be unfail to this particular group of people when other people with illness can continue to drive e.g heart problems etc.

# 11

Posted: 05/02/2004 17:36

My goodness. Maybe people who have high blood pressure should be banned and what about people who had parents who drank too much alcohol? Now that I think about it, I would like to see people who are considered beautiful and could cause distraction because of this so-called flaw. Let's see what about....

# 10

Posted: 05/02/2004 17:17

How many deaths are down to Drunk drivers - yet the law still allows poeple with alcohol in their systems to drive! If they pass the driving test, why shouldn't people with diabetes be allowed to drive? I know when I drive, I always check my blood sugar level before I get behind the wheel, and also always have some chocolate AND lucozade with me.

# 9

Posted: 05/02/2004 16:24

Unfortunately, I think sometimes diabetics who drive are putting lives at risk. My two sons, my mother & my sister all have diabetes and I have been with them when they have gone low. Because their concentration is the first thing to be affected they do not always realise that they are low and could be a danger to themselves and others. Sensible diabetic drivers will always carry glucose.

# 8

Posted: 05/02/2004 15:56

Only diabetics who drink and drive should be abnned from driving. Most diabetics are very aware of when they are unwell and should be mature enough not to drive when unwell.

# 7

Posted: 05/02/2004 15:20

I voted no, in principle. But as others have said, when someone is not managing their blood sugar levels and driving in an impaired state, they should be given the same penalties as someone driving under the influence of alcohol, no less and certainly no more! The ban for life for the one person for one time is ridiculous. (I might not mind that happening to drunk drivers though!)

# 6

Posted: 05/02/2004 14:22

I have two sisters with diabetes, one older and one younger, and even though it pains me to admit it, they are ALMOST as good a driver as I am! To ban people with diabetes from driving would be nothing less that complete discrimination. My sisters manage their diabetes perfectly well, and know the warning signs of an oncoming "hypo" ... trust me, there are many stressed out, hungry, light-headed people driving home in peak traffic at 5.30 every evening that are probably more likely to cause an accident that a diabetic who is getting a hypo.

# 5

Posted: 05/02/2004 13:50

A disease is not an excuse for carelessness. The judge was not targeting the man because he was a diabetic, but because he was not exercising caution when it came to other peoples lives...

# 4

Posted: 05/02/2004 09:45

Of course they should not be banned from driving. It is not their fault they have diabetes and when it is under control they have no problems. On the other hand what about the people who drink and drive! All you have to do is look at the statistics of accidents caused by people who drink and drive. They should be banned for life as they are putting their own lives and the lives of other people at risk!

# 3

Posted: 04/02/2004 21:09

Diabetes is like any other disease if it treated properly there should be no restrictions as to what you can do!

# 2

Posted: 04/02/2004 16:51

I voted yes, not because I am in favour of a blanket ban on diabetics but if you cause an accident because you are not managing your illness then you should pay the price. You can not put other peoples lives in danger because of your own inadequecies.

# 1

Posted: 04/02/2004 15:44

Some people with diabetes should be banned from driving - the ones who drink and drive, and those who repeatedly break the speed limit. (Sorry)