DVLA enquire

[robmb]

DVLA ??

My husband suffered a TBI in July last year. At the time I didn’t know or forgot to inform DVLA , anyway in January after we saw the consultant I completed and submitted the form, since then I haven’t heard anything?. Can Rob drive ? How or what is the best way to get hold of DVLA, he has his what I think will be sign off appointment at Salford Royal next week, so then it’s onwards and upwards and this is one of the things holding him back. TIA

[Jpdee75]

DVLA took mine away for a year they were automatically informed in my case , but my gp was behind me it took a bit of hounding to get it back but I think that just the dvla. I didn’t need to retest or anything. For insurance reasons I would tell them. I have no idea how they would go about this but it’s already been a year.

[robmb in reply to Jpdee75]

Thanks Jpdee75 I completed the B1 form and sent it back in January was just wondering what I needed to as his injury was nearly 12 months ago. Maybe the consultant will shed some light on it.

[Jpdee75 in reply to robmb]

If he is able to drive and he has the right support keep your fingers crossed they don’t take his licence for any stretch of time cause it is not easy to get it back. I was phoning them and got doctor to write, my year was up it just didn’t seem to be going anywhere so I phoned and threatened them that I would go to local paper and m.p I had it back within a week, I don’t know what there game is. Best of luck

[robmb in reply to Jpdee75]

Thank you I’ll get on it tomorrow

[Astley10]

A think you can't drive for 1 year after injury to make sure u don't take seizures. I had to wait a year and the hospital 🏥 I done my rehabilitation in do a small observation drive with you and inform dvla that you are fit to drive it isn't a test as such but an observation first of all on a simulator to check all your poriful view and see potential dangers basically just checking your eye sight then u go out with them in a test vehicle to make sure everything is fine then they notify dvla that you are fit to drive .that's the legal wae of doing it

[Skulls]

I made the mistaken assumption that one is obligated to inform DVLA of a brain injury. Because I did not drive for a living or a class of vehicle in which they were interested, my GP was the final arbiter. She said six weeks after a general anaesthetic and so it was. I did phone my car insurer to notify them however but they treated it like a change to the policy and I incurred no extra cost.

[moo196]

I don't think he can. I doubt he'd be insured without the proper go ahead 🙏. My forms took 6 months to get returned from dvla in pre covid times. Goodness knows how long it may take now. Goodluck!

[john-boy-92 in reply to moo196]

It's currently taking DVLA ten months to reply fo an application that includes supporting letters from a GP, and an Esterman chart. For visual problems, the DVLA are rejecting existing "exception case" drivers as their vision hasn't changed, even though the DVLA accepted in 2018 that an exceptional case driver's vision could not change (improve). The PHSO found failings in the DVLA from the case worker, medical advisor, and the secretary to the Secretary of Stae's expert panel.

[lcd8]

As others have said here I think his insurance would be invalidated unfortunately. My own experience is that DVLA remove licenses for 6 to 12 months based on severity.

[Teazymaid]

I just kept ringing the dvla sometimes took me more than an hour to get through and I just kept ringing until I got into a queue … they will get hold of GP and your consultant… I was 10 months . Sue

[john-boy-92]

The DVLA say that provided a clinician has not told you that you must not drive, you can continue to do so under Section 88. However, this is a legal grey area and, you must advise your insurer. You can contact DVLA Medical Group by web chat or on the phone if you have sufficient patience, but you are dealing with non-medical administrators who in my experience, think that brain plasticity will overcome brain damage. If you can, get a hospital to sign off Rob, and not through the endless frustration of the DVLA Medical Group; I'm six years and counting. With current backlogs, it could be two years before you get a decision from the PHSO. I've had the pleasure of phone / email discussions about stroke related visual disability with two excellent Opthalmists at Royal Salford: Dr Lauren Hepworth and Dr Claire Howard who understand the issues. I wish you and Rob luck, as I know too well the problems and frustration of a revoked driving licence.