Driving Question

[CallumR85]

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all keeping well?

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this before. I spoke with the DVLA today to find out how the medical assessment was going as it have been a few months since I sent them the B1 form. Silly me forgot to send the accompanying form agreeing to the medical assessment so it was sat pending. The guy I spoke to said my licence was still valid and as long as medical professionals say its okay then I'm allowed to drive from now. He said if anything comes back from the medical assessment that might change but as it stands I can. Has anyone else ever heard of this? It seems all to easy to me.

[Hidden]

Dear Callum. I haven't experienced this before. But I would trust your instinct. It sounds too easy. I would email them and request a letter or email from them describing what this guy said to you. Something you can carry around with you when you drive, just in case. Something you might eg need to share with your insurer in the future. Also keep a copy of any email or letter you send to them.

Regards

Obiwan

[Heavychunky1]

I waited 7 month dvla had all paperwork from myself and i got told by them licence was still valid. Even though they were still assessing my medical forms . They did advise myself to speak with my own doctor to see his advice on driving until they made a decision.

[Pairofboots]

Hi Callum, what you have been told is correct. There are specific injuries, or ailments that you must inform DVLA, the majority of head injuries the consultant will advise, if, and for how long to avoid driving, and if you need to inform DVLA. Many think any injury to the head is an automatic suspension, as I thought, it is not. Having already submitted the forms etc to DVLA, you are in the lap of the assessment unit as to if they will request further evidence, or impose any restrictions. You are obliged to inform your insurance company about your injury. As drivers, we are responsible to only drive if we are fit to drive, this includes eye sight, medication, fatigue and so on. Fatigue by example, is a common issue, this may mean that this restricts you to only drive short journeys, or to make frequent stops to prevent you falling asleep, but fatigue generally builds so you get a warning, this is different from epilepsy or apnea where warning, if any is like turning the lights off. Hope this helps. 🍀

[Lottierose1]

Hi CallumI had the same experience regarding the DVLA . The B1 form is assessed by the DVLA medical team and they gain information from the hospital where you were treated. I was also advised that my license was still valid but like someone mentioned, you need to get confirmation by email from DVLA or do what I did and waited for the DVLA medical team to confirm the go ahead with your license. I contacted my gp as advised but she wouldn’t commit her authority regarding my fitness to drive. DVLA eventually okayed it but it did take 10 months,

hope this helps and good luck.

[APAscot]

Yes, I was told this years ago. I had to surrender my licence for 12 months. You need to start the paperwork a couple of months in advance, which you obviously have, but as long as your consultant/doctor says you’re fit to drive after the stipulated period DVLA say you can drive whilst they are still obtaining medical confirmation. Mine was due to seizures so hence the 12 months. I believe different conditions have different timelines.

[Mads1975]

Hi Callum, my consultant didn’t ask me to speak to the DVLA but told me not to drive for 6 months. I had a lesson with an AA driving instructor who asserted I was safe to drive a car

[john-boy-92]

That's known as a Section 88. It's a grey area legally. Bear in mind that the person you spoke to is almost certainly not medicallty trained, and is working from written instructions. There was a recent PHSO case (P-001082 I think) where the DVLA got it wrong about "exceptional cases" from the case worker to the medical advisor, to the Secretary of the expert advisory panel, and they are still getting it wrong.

[Morinagirl]

I have heard of this. I used online chat to speak to dvla, useful because you can keep the transcript. They are rather elusive but the bottom line was if the consultant says you can drive it's good enough. Apparently they issue the consultant with a questionnaire. I reported my injury nearly a year ago and heard absolutely nothing back. Been driving over 6 months now.

[paxo05]

Sounds about right. I informed dvla of my bi and was told not to drive until medically told so. I never even had to surrender my licence.

Though when I was fit enough I had to have a full dvla assessment. Upshot I was downgraded to automatic only. This I was expecting.

Pax

[Leiabug]

Hi Callum, how interesting, my son his accident 12 months ago, he has got a provisional and we sent the B1 form in last Nov, he had a RDAC asessment end of Jan this year and passed it, we sent the copy of this report to the DVLA, still haven't heard from them, it's so hard to get to speak to someone from the DVLA, really desperate to get my son driving lessons etc, spoke to driving instructor and she said that he'd be ok to have lessons!! Don't know what to do, great news for you though!! All the best Sarah

[CallumR85 in reply to Leiabug]

Hi Sarah. Sounds like your son is doing amazingly well. Has he got his provisional? If the medical professionals say he is okay to drive and nothing has come back from the RDAC assessment then I would let him start the lessons. He is going to be in a duel controlled car with a professional. If they are happy to start them then go for it. The whole thought of driving again has made me feel even closer to being me again and I'm sure your son will feel the same way.Callum

[Leiabug in reply to CallumR85]

Hi Callum, Thank you for that, yes like yourself, he wants things to get back to some kind of normality!! Yes he has a provisional licence!! The guy who took him for his RDAC says he has no concerns about him driving, due to his brain injury the optic nerve in his left eye has died so he has almost no vision with the left eye, it's amazing how the brain adjusts! Just also wanted to say how this forum and HEADWAY are amazing, this has helped us so much!! It's just so reassuring to share our experiences etc.

[CallumR85]

Thanks for all the info folks. This forum has been a fantastic help. Based on what everyone has said I went ahead and bought a car yesterday. Pick it up on Monday. I'm just going to have to keep everything crossed that I pass the medical assessment part or if not I've made a very silly mistake 😅

[WiltsPotter in reply to CallumR85]

Hi Callum, worth checking your injuries against this official list of ailments to see what the DVLA advise. My husband has been told he can't drive for 6months by the GP based on his discharge paperwork and the injuries he sustained.

Assessing fitness to drive - a guide for medical professionals (see page 37 down):

assets.publishing.service.g...

[Leiabug]

Good luck Callum and safe driving with your car and your asessment

[Ste110]

I was stunned when I was told that legally I was allowed to drive before I could walk across a room! I didn't as I knew I was nowhere near ready but I am now, take it in your stride and if u feel ready then best of luck and its another step back to normal💪

[Painting-girl]

Hi Callum, my insurance company said they could insure me if I was ok'd by the DVLA.

I filled out the DVLA forms - which they send to your GP / consultants - a reply takes a while to come back.

The big 'but' here is that the DVLA state that even though you are cleared by them to drive, basically the ultimate responsibility legally lies with you to assess whether you are fit to drive each time you get in the car.

My consultant said he would back me to drive again ( I stopped voluntarily) but if I got tired/ fatigued within ten minutes of driving, whatever the DVLA said, I shouldn't drive.

Fatigue is a big consideration - we all know how it tends to affect our decision making and ability to function well - so it's not good to get behind the wheel when tired. My driving is local, so if I've got tired after a family get together, for example, I'll leave the car and walk, or get someone to drive me and the car home for instance.

[WiltsPotter]

Hiya, my husband sent his form off in April and is still waiting to hear. Following your post we tried to get the doctor to say it was ok for him to drive but they've said he can't drive for a minimum of 6 months - and quoted the DVLA guidance:

Assessing fitness to drive - a guide for medical professionals (see page 37 down):

assets.publishing.service.g...

The document above includes the types of injury and the approach to be taken by the DVLA and doctors. We found it very helpful.

Hopefully this helps you too (and others).