Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on alcohol, drugs and substance misuse and driving

An advisory panel working with DVLA to provide expert advice, with the aim of improving road safety.

Role of the advisory panel

The purpose of the advisory panels is to provide the Secretary of State for Transport, in practise the Department of Transport (DfT) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), with expert advice with the aim of maintaining and improving road safety. The panels meet twice a year and between meetings, may also provide additional advice to DVLA. The panels, some of which have existed in their present form for 20 years or more, are advisory and have no legal powers.

Membership

Chair

  • Dr D Fox, Consultant Occupational Physician

Members

  • Dr R J Aspinall, Consultant Hepatologist
  • Dr E Day, Consultant in Addiction Psychiatry
  • Dr S Morley, Consultant in Chemical Pathology
  • Dr R Searle, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine
  • Mr J Nutt, Laboratory Operations Manager
  • Dr B Sharma, Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions

Lay Members

  • Miss S Oldham
  • Vacant

Observers - representatives from the following organisations

  • Civil Aviation Authority
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland
  • Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  • Rail Safety and Standards Board
  • Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Ireland

Representatives from DVLA and DfT including:

  • Dr N Jenkins, Senior Doctor, DVLA
  • Representative from Drivers Medical Group
  • Representative from Driver Licensing Policy
  • Representative from Drivers Service Management
  • Representative from DfT

Members’ interests

Register of members' interests

Agendas and minutes

The panel meeting agendas and minutes are published on GOV.UK once they have been agreed and formally approved by panel members.

22 October 2025 agenda

19 March 2025 minutes

19 March 2025 agenda

23 October 2024 minutes

23 October 2024 agenda

20 March 2024 minutes

20 March 2024 agenda

18 October 2023 minutes

18 October 2023 agenda

22 March 2023 minutes

22 March 2023 agenda

12 October 2022 minutes

12 October 2022 agenda

2 March 2022 minutes

2 March 2022 agenda

13 October 2021 minutes

13 October 2021 agenda

24 March 2021 minutes

24 March 2021 agenda

14 October 2020 minutes

14 October 2020 agenda

18 March 2020 agenda

2 October 2019 minutes

2 October 2019 agenda

3 April 2019 minutes

3 April 2019 agenda

17 October 2018 minutes

17 October 2018 agenda

21 March 2018 minutes

21 March 2018 agenda

11 October 2017 minutes

11 October 2017 agenda

15 March 2017 minutes

15 March 2017 agenda

12 October 2016 minutes

12 October 2016 agenda

9 March 2016 minutes

9 March 2016 agenda

16 September 2015 minutes

16 September 2015 agenda

11 March 2015 minutes

11 March 2015 agenda

17 September 2014 minutes

17 September 2014 agenda

12 March 2014 minutes

12 March 2014 agenda

9 October 2013 minutes

9 October 2013 agenda

27 February 2013 minutes

27 February 2013 agenda

10 October 2012 minutes

10 October 2012 agenda

Archived panel minutes

Archived panel minutes are available on The National Archives.

Code of practice and terms of reference

Code of practice