A coroner has called for stricter oversight on motorists with diabetes renewing their driving licences following a tragic accident in East Yorkshire.
On 3rd August 2019, motorcyclists Michael Midgley (65) from Goole and Geoffrey Toase (64) from York were killed when a car struck their bikes head-on at Garrowby Hill.
An inquest, which recently concluded in Hull, revealed that the car driver had suffered a hypoglycaemic episode, leading to the fatal collision.
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Assistant Coroner Jessica Swift has since written to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), urging them to reconsider their medical assessment process for drivers with diabetes.
A DVLA spokesperson confirmed that the recommendations are being “carefully considered.”
The inquest heard that Mr. Midgley and Mr. Toase were on a leisurely afternoon ride when a car, veering into the wrong lane, collided with their motorcycles.
Both men tragically died at the scene.
The driver involved, who was not named in the report, had type 1 diabetes managed by insulin and was required to renew their licence every three years.
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The coroner expressed concerns about how the DVLA evaluates drivers with medical conditions, particularly questioning why DVLA doctors do not actively review applicants’ medical histories or verify the information provided.
Concerns were also raised regarding the forms sent to GPs, which the coroner described as a “tick-box” exercise, providing insufficient opportunity for detailed medical input.
Ms. Swift stressed the need for action to prevent future fatalities, and the DVLA is required to respond to the report by 7th October.
