The number of drivers having their licence refused or revoked on medical grounds has fallen despite an increase in notifications to the DVLA of motorists who may have a medical condition that affects their ability to drive, research has found.

Direct Line Car Insurance said it has spoken to many doctors who believe current regulations are ineffective, with drivers medically incapable of driving safely still allowed to be on the road.

Between 2016 and 2017 the number of Group 1 (car or motorcycle) licences refused or revoked on medical grounds fell by 4%, from 61,563 down to 59,163, the company said.

In the first six months of this year, the DVLA refused or revoked 25,583 Group 1 licences on medical grounds.

Meanwhile, in 2017 the DVLA received 200,289 notifications from drivers, up from 173,975 in 2016.

The DVLA said medical standards for driving are continuously reviewed and updated if medical practice and relevant laws change.

New guidance issued by the General Medical Council (GMC) last year stated that doctors must “make every reasonable effort” to persuade patients to contact the DVLA voluntarily if they are medically unfit to drive.

GPs, though, must inform the authorities themselves if they believe there is a “risk of death or serious harm” to others.

However, the majority (81%) of GPs polled by the insurance company said they are still notifying the DVLA about the same number of medical conditions affecting drivers as they did before the new rules came into force.

Direct Line said that while doctors have a duty of confidentiality to their patients, they also have a wider duty to protect and promote the health of patients and the public.

The insurance company said the survey found nearly two-thirds (64%) of doctors believe there are people who are medically incapable of driving safely on the road as the current system for assessing fitness to drive is ineffective.

When doctors do make reports to the DVLA, they feel there is a failure in the process when it comes to reporting back to them, with the majority (80%) believing it would be beneficial if the DVLA routinely informed them of the outcome of an enquiry assessing a patients’ fitness to drive, so they could monitor if a patient claimed to still be driving after a licence revocation or refusal.

Gus Park, managing director of motor insurance at Direct Line Group, said: “When doctors believe the system for ensuring that only medically fit drivers are on the road is broken, we need to stand up and take notice.

“We need to educate motorists about conditions that could impair their ability to drive and encourage them to seek a professional medical opinion.

“Driving is complex and requires motorists to have a high degree of skill and react incredibly quickly to changes in the environment. Anything that impairs this ability puts the motorist and all other road users at risk.”

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said it would welcome a more multi-agency approach to dealing with the issue.

“GPs have a duty of care to their patients, but they also have a responsibility to the wider community and this often leads to having to make difficult decisions,” she said.

“The unique relationship between GPs and their patients is one based on trust, and that works both ways, so where possible we try to leave the responsibility for reporting unfitness to drive in the hands of the patient. But we do follow up on recommendations we make, and in some cases – if a patient hasn’t self-reported – we do take this step on their behalf.

“We are bound by the GMC to report a patient to the appropriate organisation, such as the DVLA if a patient is unfit to drive, when we know they pose a risk to themselves or to others.

“But responsibility to report drivers to the DVLA certainly should not lie solely with the GP – and we would welcome a more multi-agency and uniform approach to dealing with this issue.”

A DVLA spokeswoman said: “The medical standards for driving are continuously reviewed and updated to reflect changes in medical practice and relevant legislation. The fact that we are continuing to receive notifications from medical professionals and drivers themselves is a sign that people are doing the right thing and letting us know.

“When we receive a notification an investigation takes place based on the evidence available and we make a decision as to whether the driver should retain their licence, have a shorter term licence or have their licence revoked.”

The poll questioned 191 doctors (96% of them GPs).