I have been told that when we diabetics go for a driver’s license and are asked that special question: “do you have any physical or mental conditions preventing you from properly operating a motor vehicle” that we should answer yes. I’ve also been told that if you answer “yes, I’m diabetic” your license is renewed for only one year at a time and you have to go to a special center for some sort of testing to actually get your license each time.
I never answered “yes” and I’m not planning on it either for a few reasons.
- I don’t get the importance of it. The only person who would see this and care would be the police -if they stop you for driving like you are drunk, but in that case they wouldn’t care anyway because they have heard all kinds of excuses in the career and will do a field sobriety test anyway.
- I have plenty of identification indicating I’m type 1 diabetic (Medical Alert Bracelet, Wallet Card etc) so if I’m in an accident and unconscious the EMS won’t have any trouble knowing what kind of help I need.
- This “testing center” I must go to is a 3 hour drive from where I live (2 hours at my speeds) and I don’t have that kind of time to take road trips once a year for no good reason.
So am I missing something? Is there another reason I haven’t been told that will change my mind? Do you guys answer “yes” to that question?