Driving

[Tommyboy21]

Since being diagnosed and having lots of long episodes I've obviously not been driving. Since our joint driving insurance needed renewed and I told them I had been newly diagnosed with afib. They said I had to contact DVLA and let them know which I did. Today a letter came from DVLA revoking my license and to return it. I can reapply if symptoms improve. Anyone else had this. How easy to reapply. Thanks.

[Hidden]

Yep. In my case they revoked my PCV licence but not my bog standsrd licence.

[Tommyboy21 in reply to Hidden]

Well that's my dad's taxi gone.

[Hidden in reply to Tommyboy21]

I forgot to say they restored my PCV after 4 months once my GP confirmed I'd been free of debilitating AF for that time due to meds. I was 65 at the time. I still hold a full PCV now at 78 and still drive buses but have cut back my driving hours from full on 11 hour shifts to College services, so now have all weekends, and college holidays off. Do the occadional 11 hour shift sometimes if my boss needs me and I have nothing else to do.

Since I turned 70, every year I now have to have an optical and general health medical before they wiil renew my PCV. No sweat.

John

[BobD Volunteer]

DVLA rules are that if your AF is incapacitating or distracting you must not drive. Otherwise no problem. Form H1 is used to declare. I guess you must gave told them it is.

[Tommyboy21 in reply to BobD]

Yeah no way could I drive in an episode. Best to be honest. Oh well hopefully it'll settle down and luckily I don't need it for job although it helped.

[CDreamer]

I’ve had my license revoked but not for AF, once the condition was controlled I reapplied to have it renewed after 6 months. Took a while - I had to get a medical, doctor’s eye test and I got it back about 12 months later. I now have to review every 3 years and about every other have a medical.

It’s not usual to have it revoked unless you have had blackouts.

[Kennyb1968]

I phoned both my insurance and the DVLA and was told as long as my doctor had not told me to drive I was fine to continue to do so

[bassets]

I had my liscence back after admitting to af but it took nearly a year.

[john-boy-92]

First off, the following may affect your reapplication: Public Accounts Committee questions on 24 November to DVLA on the backlog, DfT currently reviewing licensing post-BREXIT, forthcoming PCS strike. It will depend on the DVLA policy for AF. For example, the legislation for the visual field for Group 1 (cars and motorcycles) provided an exceptional case route to regaining a revoked licence. The legislation required time for pre-assessment driver refresher lessons, but DVLA didn't provide time until 2020, as it was not mandatory that the instructor was an ADI in a dual control car. DVLA currently require someone whose Group 1 licence was revoked due to their visual field, to have the visual field of someone with normal sight. Whilst Guidance requires a visual field reapplication to be supported in writing by a registered medical professional, DVLA are currently rejecting those letters.

In my view, the DVLA and the DVLA Medical Group (DMG) have changed little since the PHSO highly critical report "Driven To Despair" in October 2016. If your reapplication is rejected, there are two stages of DVLA complaint conducted by non-medical administrators. The next complaint stage is through the Independent Complaints Assessor; however, if they consider that it involves DVLA policy, it is outside their adjudication and it will be rejected. You will then write to your MP requesting that the complaint is sent to the Parliamentary and Heath Service Ombudsman (PHSO). Currently the PHSO have an eight month backlog until a case officer is allocated to the case and, it will take several months to review and provide an opinion.

I wish you luck. I've been six years and counting for a visual field reapplication. Unfortunately, DMG doesn't employ a consultant ophthalmologist for visual disabilities!

[Singwell]

I did think it wasn't necessary to declare it to DVLC. Am I wrong? Now panicking...never been told not to drive. And have never worried about AF kicking off whilst driving. Which is odd given I'm a worrier.

[Tommyboy21 in reply to Singwell]

I probably wouldn't have if it were not for the insurance renewal telling me to notify DVLA.

[bantam12 in reply to Singwell]

Neither my insurance company or DVLA were interested when I told them I had AF and likewise when I later told them I had a pacemaker.

[Singwell in reply to bantam12]

Thanks. I've just seen a historical post on this and I think I'm OK. Guidelines not clear as per usual! My travel insurers know of course.

[wheezybronch]

I did not stop driving, most episodes were quite short, I had plenty of warning and would pull over. I had an ablation approx eight years ago, it was very successful. However I have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and I have to be monitored every year and my usage of my bi-pap measured (it has to be a minimum of four hours a night). To get your licence back I think your doctor has to sign you off and then there should be no problems. I do not know the criteria you have to meet, I expect you will find an answer to that via Dr. Google. I wish you the best.

[Kennyb1968]

I've posted elsewhere but I was told about 2 months ago if my AF was not debilitating or distracting you did not have to declare it. Then yesterday I was on to the DVLA about something else and was told that I did have to declare it in an H1 form. I did so and because I am completely asymptomatic I had to tick one box on the entire form. The form lists arrhythmia separately to AFib yet the NHS guidance states AFib is the most common form of arrhythmia! I tried to tell to the guy at DVLA and he got really pissed off and told me if I didn't return the completed H1 form within 14 days he would revoke my licence!

[Tommyboy21 in reply to Kennyb1968]

Yeah it's a real pain Kenny. But I'm pretty sure you will be declared ok to drive if it's not affecting your awareness to drive.