I’m allowed to apply for my driving license

[Braininjurysurvivor]

I’ve been told by a doctor I’m allowed to apply for my driving licence after 10 months of not being able to drive please can u tel me ur experiences of this as I’ve heard a lot of bad things about dvla xx

[Marnie22]

Hi. I haven't been throughq quite the same experience, but I will say what happened to me in case it helps.

After my brain injury in early 2016, my GP responded to my questions about driving by saying I could continue to drive. I realised that my insurance could be invalidated if I didn't tell my insurance company about my medical condition, so I called them and they were fine. Then I searched online regarding the DVLA and I (stupidly) thought I could just phone up with an enquiry. Once a person does that, the DVLA insist on you filling out forms and getting your doctor to do so too. It took several months to sort out (luckily I was allowed to keep driving,) but then I had to go for an eyesight test (despite having been given the all clear by an NHS consultant opthalmologist a few weeks earlier,) and have a full set of tests at a special driving assessment. The assessment took about three hours and consisted of cognitive testing followed by going out (in their car,) and proving that I could drive safely on the roads.

It may be that they will just give you your licence back without any assessments, or you might have to do some tests like I did. I didn't find the DVLA difficult to deal with, they just seem to be quite inflexible. I guess that's because of the safety aspects. I would say though if you do go fo any assessments, they are not carried out bythe DVLA, but by a special driving assessment organisation and the people that I dealt with both on the phone and at the actual assessment were really nice and supportive. They told me that they tried to support people to stay driving if possible. They were very caring and were helpful rather than trying to catch you out or make you lose your licence.

I do hope it all goes well for you.

[paxo05]

Hi

After my bi I wasn't in a position to drive physically then I developed epilepsy. My wife contacted the DVLA and was told I was not to drive, yet I didn't have to surrender my license. This I have always thought odd.

Once the epilepsy was under control and I felt physically able to drive ( this took around 3 years) I then informed the DVLA that the doctors felt I was able to drive once more.

The DVLA then insisted I undergo a medical assessment that should have taken 3 hours but took around 5. This was due to me feeling a need to rest.

It covered cognitive testing along with general physical then a reaction and foot pressure test before driving around the hospital grounds before a finally out on the open roaday.

I felt due to me needing rests that I would fail but I was amazed this want the case.

I was downgraded to an automatic licence but I was passed fit to drive.

I found the DVLA helpful and understanding if at times puzzling.

Hope you are successful.

Pax

[AlmaMatters]

Hi I had this experience too . My BI was 2010 and I was allowed to re-apply in 2013. After being told by one consultant I’d never drive again, I went to an optician and took a test for peripheral vision. I had to press the button when I saw the dots. I’d list quite a bit of peripheral vision so thought I’d never pass but I did! Then I had to practice driving again at the rehab hospital I’d been in. After that I went out with a driving assessor who just basically had me drive around for 40 mins or so. I did fine with that so they then said I was fit to drive. Oh I had to have some refresher lessons too - maybe two or three? Motability paid for them if I remember rightly. Best of luck!

[Hidden]

Hi all, I'm about to start this process for my wife. We have had no GP involvement at all from the start, but DVLA have all paperwork completed by the neuro team at various hospitals we have attended for BI, Cancer and VP Shunt which I sent to them. My wife had to surrender her licence for one year from March 2019, pending any seizure or growth of the brain tumor. we are able to reapply 8weeks early so I will start soon and we have to complete a D1 form (downloadable from DVLA or obtained from the post office... If you can find one) and also complete the DVLA medical questionnaire then post both documents back to DVLA for their judgement. Has this been the same for anyone else also?

Personally I would be very surprised if they can let my wife drive given everything she has. I'm very sure she could operate a car but I'm not sure she could drive confidently or safely on the highway, but given what other people have said they have been through I feel the DVLA have been very lite on her.

has anyone else ever had a similar view but still been given their licence back?

Regards

[lcd8]

The DVLA take my license for 6 months every time my VP Shunt is revised. Its a total pain to be honest especially as I feel fine to drive after about a month. I have never had a seizure or anything like that. But I do accept that they have to bear in mind the safety of other road users. Generally they accept a GPs report after the 6 months as long as it says I'm okay.

[Froggiefrog]

Unfortunately, whenever the issue of driving after a brain injury arises, there is always a debate about how those with the power to do so attempt to ensure the safety of all those using roads, be they driving on them, or crossing the road as a pedestrian. The focus, when the topic is aired, is almost always on a sense of 'entitlement' by drivers wishing to drive again, at the expense of other people, who are entitled to feel as safe as possible on or near roads. A system some may label 'draconian' my be seen as others as necessarily robust, usually entirely dependent on if you drive or not.

Whenever a decision is made, some will always question if it is wrong...a fact of life. The fact that disagreeing with a decision does not mean it is necessarily wrong is also a fact of life and if decisions err heavily on the side of caution, I and I suspect others, would applaud that stance.

The issue of whether diving licences should be withheld would only be a matter for drivers alone, if the consequences did not stretch far beyond. They do.

[katndog75 in reply to Froggiefrog]

Spot on! I have mentioned in another thread that as an ex-driving instructor and current motorcycle/pushbike owner I feel every application should be scrutinised thoroughly. After all, you are about to propel a 2 tonne metal box at high speed through an area used by the rest of the population. Questions would be asked if you were spinning a wrecking ball around in the same area without the correct training. Driving is a privilege not a right and there are massive responsibilities that come with privileges.

[sashaming1]

I haven't driven for 3-1/2 years and got my drivers license back, finally. I didn't do so well when I tried to drive again so I recommend practicing in a parking lot first to become familiar with it again. I'm going to / need to.

[katndog75]

Hi, my partner has just reapplied for his license after 12 months of being medically unfit due to a bleed on the brain and the seizures resulting from that. Once he reapplied for his license and after waiting out the 12 months he was allowed to drive under Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act following verbal consent from his consultant. There are strict constraints around this, but they are all explained in a leaflet from the DVLA which you can find online. He now has a medical license which has to be renewed every 3 years. Apart from the fact the DVLA have labelled him epileptic (he is not, he just had 3 days of seizures while everything was settling down) they were efficient and helpful.