Another thought. Much of the problem has come about because of diabetics who didn’t control well, or know it was really possible. Also unfortunately there have ben cases of Type 1s who sufered from HypoGlycemia Unawareness (or HGU) suddenly knocking out at the wheel with no warning at all. Heard about 1 fellow in Florida that did so and hit an oncoming vehicle, killing 3 people. His doctor refused to say that such a thing was possible, so he was sentenced to a long jail term as a result. He’d also lost a leg in the accident.
Unfortunately in such situations he should never have had a driver’s license, but HE didn’t know it was possible before that either.
Tom-
I agree with you on the police officer’s situation. I completely respect their responsibility and would expect to be restrained if I was acting beligerent. I hope it never happens to me, but unless the police officer is acting rude and completely ignorant, I wouldn’t press charges against him.
Gosh, I hope it never happens though. Those tasers look like they hurt!
I agree - I’ll be happy to never have the taser experience. When I was in HS, my Dad had a childhood friend who ran the agency which oversees the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He shared two kernals of wisdom.
First, if you don’t get pulled over, you will never have any problems.
Second, if you are pulled over, there are only three things that a Patrolman wants to hear.
- Yes, sir.
- No sir, and
- No excuse, sir.
Any argument is something that you will always lose. If you have a beef, save it for later.
In other words, follow the Golden Rule.
I have an EMT friend in Massachusetts who told me that one of the very first things they do in car accidents (depending on the situation of course) is a “wallet autopsy.”
I suppose you might be right, that it might be a state by state situation.
ok so if anything that is an argument why diabetics should not have a drivers license at all… are you trying to make that argument?
it is tragedy what happened in this case… but i dont understand what that has to do with answering yes to being diabetic for your license. its very easy to give too much insulin or too little on accident or by improper carb counting, etc… its not a fault, no one does it on purpose. If you have never had this experience then you are lucky.
the government should not dictate what is considered taking “too much insulin” to live and have a restricted license because of it. the government needs to stay out of my health and fix my money.
In Minnesota, the question used to be something like “have you ever experienced unconsciousness or seizures” and I never had so I put no. Then about 20 years ago the question changed to “do you take insulin” so there was no getting around it.
One of my neighbors who’s a lawyer said that if you lied on the application and it was discovered, they could permanently revoke your license.
You know, I’ve never even paid attention to it. I’ve lived in Texas for more than half my life and honestly don’t remember the medical question at all. I’ve only been diagnosed with diabetes for a bout 14 months, so I haven’t had to renew my license yet. But, thinking back…I just don’t remember the question! LOL
Amazing isn’t it? After a diagnoses all of these ‘little’ things crop up that you have to consider. I’ll have to ask my doctor about it…what is the process for a TXDL? How does my diabetes play a part in the renewal?
Honestly, I’ll say ‘no’ if asked…but, I’d still like to know from my doctor what the deal is on this.
Have you always paid attention to this question, Ray??
Another good point! See, all of these ‘little’ things that crop up. I’ve been diagnosed for 14 months now and this never even occurred to me! Now, if I tell them I’m diabetic, and coverage remains the same…and I’m in an accident, will the insurance company then refuse to pay for any one of the number of reasons that they’ll come up with connected to my diabetes? Like, ‘maybe you were low,’ or “can you verify what your bg was at the time of the accident?” etc.
Here’s a whole new can of worms!!
I answer “no” because I can honestly say that, although I have Type 1 diabetes, I do not have any physical or mental conditions preventing me from properly operating a motor vehicle.
A few years back, I sought permission to be one of our vanpool’s drivers (the County runs the program). I was asked whether I have any of several conditions, including diabetes. I answered honestly. I got a letter back saying that I was not permitted to drive the vanpool. I took issue with this, citing the ADA (the status of diabetes as a covered “disability” had not yet been challenged). They agreed to accept a letter from my doctor that my diabetes was in good control and I was permitted to drive.
If you and your doctor believe you are “safe”, I personally see no reason to identify yourself as a person with diabetes.
Yes. It is a legal requirement in most countries to disclose medical issues when applying for a drivers license. I am issued with a license valid for 2 or 3 years and then get asked to provide various medical certificates to prove my fitness to drive.
All insurance companies always to anything and everything to avoid making any payout in the event of a claim. Have an accident and claim on insurance, and if they find out then they will claim that you were driving without a valid license and are therefore not covered by their policy.
Actually, the legal requirements are actually different in each and every U.S. state and territory/commonwealth. However, having lived in California for 8 years, I can definitely say that California has more nanny-state requirements for DMV than most others I have lived in (which include Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts in the U.S. and Finland outside the U.S.), although I haven’t lived in Ohio so I can’t speak from any experience there. The real issue is whether your condition itself impairs you from operating a motor vehicle safely? If you are managing diabetes adequately, the answer should be a resounding “no”, therefore one could argue you are not violating the intent of the law and that question.
Nope, I refuse to answer yes to this question. Its none of their business, and I don’t need the DMV to complicate my life any more than they already do.
Only if there is also a box to check labeled “Do you own a cell phone”! I have NEVER checked yes and never will. I drive just fine.
I check “NO” as I don’t get any special perks such as getting a primo parking spot close to the door of a store or restaurant - I lug all three of my kids into and out of the grocery store same as other mommies and there are times I park as far away from the door as possible so that I either get more exercise or avoid door dings in my car from other people who like to park their vehicle within inches of my SUV.
That’s interesting you would say that “Mommy of Three” because ever since I bought my last car (a gorgeous Audi A6) I have been parking as far away from people in parking lots as possible so I can avoid all the dings from the morons who don’t pay attention. The funny thing is I have collected more dings, scratches and scrapes by doing that than when I had my old 97 Ford Escort (a clunker). I parked the Escort anywhere and never got a single ding or anything. Maybe morons are attracted like magnets to shinny paint jobs and expensive cars.
I have never heard of this restriction. I am not certain they have ever asked me on license renewal (MO and MA) if I have a physical or mental condition “preventing me from properly operating a motor vehicle”. It would be like restricting a cardiac patient (say even if on meds) from driving because they may have a heart attack behind the wheel or an episode of syncope (dizziness from dropping blood pressure)…and what, exactly, would be the “restriction” for a person on insulin? The link provided to the law page about an unfortunate accident in CA suggested that people using “too much insulin” should be held accountable criminally and financially. Seems crazy. In the case of getting tested…what info would they screen a person w/ diabetes for…nothing could predict these types of accidents.
Glad you brought this topic up…I had no idea! Maybe folks can say where they have been living when asked for this info and what process of “testing” the person was involved.
It depends on your state.
In Minnesota I had to alert the DMV that I was on insulin, and my doctor had to sign that I haven’t passed out due to diabetes in the last year, and I have to get that done every year as long as I am licensed in MN. If I don’t they will revoke my license.
Well…here is a 2006 ADA article in Diabetes Care diabetes and driving. Seems that several states have these restrictions…including CA, in which your doctor is legally expected to notify DMV if you have hypoglycemic episodes that result in unconsciousness. In others…I think Utah…there can be restrictions on geographic areas you can drive in, time of day, and speeds at which you can drive. In most states in the US, you cannot get a commercial license if you use insulin…according to this article. In the EU, diabetic patients who are using insulin are excluded from driving trucks, heavy goods vehicles, and buses, except for small trucks in “very exceptional cases…although, the directive is interpreted differently throughout the EU.
Interestingly, there is a way to help all persons w/ diabetes avoid needless hypoglycemia…not only while driving…provide adequate glucose monitoring w/ safety built into the pump. What I am referring to is the needed improvements to CGMS that can be incorporated into pumps which then also have reactive programming to prevent hypoglycemia. MM is introducing the Veo in Europe (has an automatic stop pumping feature w/ CGMS/pump)…what is really needed is more accurate CGMS and these types of features to assure that we are safe all the time. Also saw that one of the US car manufacturers are working on having an onboard readout of one’s CGMS…looks like OnStar/driving directions screen…large readout. All these things would make driving w/ diabetes safer. Let’s hope we get innovation quickly:)
On another note…Dr. Bernstein replied to the article linked to above…and succinctly noted that persons w/ diabetes using insulin or meds that can result in low blood sugars usually follow precuations…and should be instructed to do so by doctors, etc. He pointed out that the ADA has done nothing to encourage this type of care in their position papers on SBGM and certainly not in the article on driving. I do pretty much what he does…check before I drive and at least every hour if taking long trips. I keep glucose tabs/Smarties w/ me at all times and in the drink catty so I can get to them easily.
OR IDIOTS THAT ARE DRUNK
This was my thought, I have nothing which prevents me from properly operating a motor vehicle. When I do, I’ll say yes.