Driving after a TBI

[Victoria_wilson]

Hi, i’ve not posted before but just being on this group has really helped. I suffered a TBI in January after a fall, apart from tiredness, losing my sense of smell and initially struggling emotionally I have no major post accident symptoms. I have had mixed messages about when I can drive and was only told I needed to inform the DVLA 10 weeks after my accident. I have a GP report written 2 months post accident stating that driving may be re-considered after 3 months but this morning I have received a letter from the DVLA stating my licence has been revoked and I can reapply after 6 months. I have a job that requires travel, 2 kids who need transporting about and a husband that works abroad 50% of the time. I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel has just been switched off. Am wondering whether anyone has been given the OK to drive before six months after suffering a very small bleed and contusions or had such confusing messages about fitness to drive. I know my situation could be so much worse but i’m getting really fed up of receiving mixed messages. Anyone else had similar experiences in relation to getting back on the road?

[cat3]

Victoria, were you hospitalised as a result of the fall, and what was your diagnosis ?

[Victoria_wilson in reply to cat3]

No, left A&E with standard leaflet. It was only when I went back to my GP due to tinnitus that I was told it was likely I wouldn’t be able to drive for 6 months. I was reviewed by consultant after 2.5 months who confirmed i’d Got a skull fracture as well and that I was ok to drive. I questioned this as it was so inconsistent with DVLA guidance and after he spoke to a colleague was told I would be back on the road after 3mnths providing no post traumatic amnesia but needed to inform the DVLA. It’s all so inconsistent which is what is making it so frustrating

[cat3]

I had a haemorrhage 6 years ago and was hospitalised for two months. Once I was transferred to the rehab ward I was given a form to sign informing the DVLA of my illness and agreeing not to drive until declared fit to do so.

Three months after discharge I attended a recall appointment where my surgeon told me I'd had an 'astonishing' recovery and, after showing me my latest scan and examining the reports from physio and OH, he suggested I go home and phone DVLA to tell them I now had the clearance from my consultant for driving.

I'd expected to be off the road for 12 months so wasn't confident about the call, but the response was 'Thank you for letting us know'........... and I drove around the block to celebrate.

So all in all it was 5 months from the bleed to returning to driving, and at no point was I asked to surrender my licence. Hope this helps in some way. x

[Victoria_wilson in reply to cat3]

It does - thank you. Am seeing a consultant on Friday so will hold off sending my licence back until then

[Hidden]

Hi Victoria, You can get a driving assessment done if you like which will give you the OK (or otherwise) to start driving again. I am afraid I can't remember what the assessment centre was called but phone Headway, they will probably know. My husband had one done - it was just a few cognitive tests, then out for a drive with an examiner. Within a week he had a report saying that he was competent. DVLA then re-issue the licence.

[RogerCMerriman]

Did, DVLA revoked or did you surrender the license? It makes a difference if you surrender it, then you generally can just start driving again after the elapsed time, before you get the license back, if the DVLA revoked it you’ll need to wait to get the license back.

Have you rung the DVLA medical? I found them very helpful they even gave my GP a boot when they had sat on my forms!

[Victoria_wilson in reply to RogerCMerriman]

It’s been revoked which makes me wonder what was in the report sent back to them. I’m going to call them on Monday. Thank you

[moo196]

Hi, I had to surrender my licence for six months due to my cvst Oct 2014. It was hard for me as I live alone in a rural area and had to rely on friends and son for lifts (got him insured to use my car so I didn't sit looking at it). I was entitled to a bus pass (useful only if there are buses) and taxis to and from work (when we'll enough to start back on a part time basis).

From what you say dvla have revoked your licence for 6 months and it will be reviewed thereafter. You can ring them to check your position.

It took them longer (8months)to get my licence back to me despite my reapplying well in advance with medical evidence.

You may need to start being creative with the transport issues. A bus pass might be a good start....

Good luck!

[Mufc]

I have been told it depends where the damage was done in your brain. I have been told because of my tbi I will never drive again. Which to me is deverstatng but I do understand my reflexes are not quick enough. Also my memory is so poor I would forget how I got to where I drove😏

So I understand.

You need to find out if your tbi does prevent you from driving. Yes you may have to take test again. I do not know.

[flicsnana]

After a TBI my husband was told to inform the DVLA and like yourself his licence was revoked for 6 months. We were not told at the time of his injury that we could have voluntarily surrendered the licence which we would have done if we had known because if voluntarily surrendered then as soon as your medical advisor gives the all clear you can drive again. Once your licence is revoked however you need to reapply to DVLA . You can apply up to eight weeks before the 6 months is up and I'd strongly advise you to do so. It took the DVLA over 4 months to reissue my husband's driving licence along with countless telephone calls and emails. My husband had to return to work 3 months before he got his licence back, as he works 25 miles from home we had no choice but for me to drive him to work each morning - then home again, and the same to pick him up, meaning a drive for me of 100 miles a day! My husband wanted to get an assessment done as soon as he reapplied for the licence but DVLA need to issue a one day license to enable you to drive on the road for the assessment, at first we were told this wasn't possible and they knew nothing about this then 3 months later they said he needed to get an assessment done and the assessment centre had to contact them for the issue of the licence. it was an absolute nightmare - hope you have better luck.

[Victoria_wilson in reply to flicsnana]

Oh crikey! I’ll get on it today. Frustrating thing is that my licence has been revoked from 20th April, I should have been at the specialist on 13th to get confirmation of fitness to drive. This was cancelled and put back to 27th (this Friday). Now if they tell me i’m fit I’m going to face a significant wait. Like you I wasn’t aware you could voluntarily surrender it - so annnoying and such a lot of unnecessary paperwork. I hope your husband has recovered well - it’s just so good to know i’m not alone and totally understand how far reaching the effects are. Am reliant on my husband for so much and so grateful for him

[Flumptious]

TBH, I have never spoken to the DVLA about it, and I don’t think they know that I had a TBI. However, I certainly can’t drive: I am officially registered as ‘blind’, although I think they should just call me ‘visually impaired’ - I certainly can’t see well enough to drive. Since I know it would be a stupid thing for me to do, I have never thought about the legality of it!

[Victoria_wilson]

I spoke to the DVLA today and they didn’t request any medical evidence from my specialist. They have based their decision solely on my questionnaire with no regard to any medical assessment or report that states driving will be considered after 3 months. This anniversary was 10 days before my licence was revoked. I have an appointment on Friday (rearranged from my 3 month anniversary) which could mean i’m declared fit to drive 7 days after my licence has been revoked. I know the system is there to protect people but surely at some point common sense could have been applied to avoid having to go through a long drawn out process of re-application and additional stress this adds.