Important Facts of the News
- Effective Date: 7 November 2025
- Applies to: Group 2 licence holders (bus, coach and lorry drivers)
- New Allowance: Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS)
- Previous Requirement: Mandatory finger-prick blood glucose tests
- Change aligns Group 2 drivers with Group 1 (car and motorcycle) licence holders
- 89% of consultation respondents supported the rule change
- Key Voices: Tim Moss (DVLA Chief Executive), Nikki Joule (Diabetes UK), Aaron Peters (RHA)
- Purpose: Easier glucose monitoring and improved road safety
UK adopts tech-friendly rules for drivers with diabetes
The United Kingdom’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has introduced an important update for professional drivers managing diabetes. From 7 November 2025, those operating buses, coaches and lorries will be permitted to monitor their blood glucose levels using Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS), a modern technology that tracks sugar levels in real time through sensors.
From finger-prick tests to real-time tracking
Until now, Group 2 licence holders with diabetes were required to conduct finger-prick blood tests before and during journeys. Under the new guidelines, they can switch to CGMS devices, which provide continuous glucose data. The update brings bus and lorry drivers in line with car and motorcycle drivers, who have been allowed to use this technology since 2018.
According to the DVLA, drivers must still pull over safely if they need to verify their readings, ensuring safety remains the top priority.
“A practical and safe change,” says DVLA Chief Executive
Tim Moss CBE, Chief Executive of the DVLA, said that this update is aimed at making everyday life easier for drivers with diabetes while maintaining road safety. “By allowing the use of modern technology, we are helping thousands of professionals manage their condition more effectively and drive with greater confidence,” he stated.
Diabetes UK and industry experts welcome the move
Health and transport bodies have responded positively to the development. Nikki Joule, Policy Manager at Diabetes UK, said that the change would significantly improve the lives of professional drivers using insulin. She noted that continuous glucose monitoring has already proven beneficial for people managing diabetes, and extending its use to bus and lorry drivers was long overdue.
Aaron Peters, Head of Technical, Engineering and Policy at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), described the reform as a step in the right direction. “Monitoring and awareness around diabetes have advanced in recent years. It is appropriate that the measures for professional drivers reflect these improvements,” he remarked.
Better safety and flexibility for drivers
The new rule is expected to give drivers more control over managing their diabetes while improving road safety through timely glucose tracking. The change is widely supported across the healthcare, transport and road safety sectors. In DVLA’s consultation, 89% of participants expressed their support for this update.
With this adjustment, the UK takes another progressive step toward integrating health technology into its transport safety framework, ensuring that professional drivers can stay healthy and confident behind the wheel.