Autism and driving - new dvla rules

[ineedaknittedhat]

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/03/autistic-people-angry-at-having-to-disclose-diagnosis-to-dvla-even-if-driving-not-affected

The rules used to say that you had to inform them if your driving was affected, now you have to disclose it regardless.

You have to seek permission from your GP or specialist (hollow laugh) in order to continue driving, and complete a form sent to you by the dvla.

They class asd as a mental health condition (it's not).

Aspergers is included in this classification.

Just thought fellow autistics should be aware as you get fined £1000 for not informing them.

This is awful. I’ve signed the letter and petition. There’s no justification for dropping the bit that says ‘and it affects your driving’ and without notice!

I've just signed the petition. I know so many people with ASD who are completely competent and safe to drive. There's something dodgy behind this, I'm sure.

Signed.

I've been to see the gp and she was pretty dismayed by the dvla demanding this. She quite rightly said that autism is a huge spectrum and why are they suddenly doing this? She said the form will be no problem to sign if that's what's required.

I'm so relieved as driving means so much to me, it's a massive part of my life and represents freedom.

We mustn't lose hope, and we will fight and win this because it's so obviously out of step with current knowledge about autism.

That's good to hear ineedaknittedhat, although it is a great shame it has come to this.

I'm so very glad you've had such a positive meeting with your GP.

But how for you and her, and everyone else who'll be caught up dealing with this.

I'm appalled that this has happened. I think it's because nobody knows what we are. We don't fit any classification and so many people are affected, it's not a disorder for most of us, we function very well, but we're so fundamentally different. It's like the aliens have landed and nobody can figure them out and what they actually are.

They must think we're all like Ann from Little Britain or something then they're like "wtf?" when they discover we're holding down jobs, having families and driving around in motor cars like actual human beings.

My 16 year old is due to start lessons in the summer... his GP has never met him (constant changes and can't ever get appointments etc). How would a GP know anything about him or his ability to drive???

Again as pps have said he is calm and methodical and probably will make a good driver!

My younger son will be not far behind him both with asd. I'm fuming... l

The text on the .gov website has returned to 'if it affects your driving'

.gov website

BishopBrennansArse That's reassuring. I was worried as I don't see any specialists, and my GP doesn't know me (never really ill), it was literally just a childhood diagnosis then I was left to it!

Thank goodness!!!

On dear. I see I am supposed to have declared my depression and anxiety, too. Whoops.
I'm sure I must absolutely be the only person in the UK who has failed to do this.

Good. I suspect it was an almighty cock up as one paragraph contradicted the other.

Fantastic news.

They've changed it back? Omg, none of them know what they're doing do they? What a cock up. They've upset and frightened god knows how many people.

It better remain like that now.

I hope an explanation and an apology is forthcoming.

Fingers crossed!

What an utter waste of everyone's time and energy, though, including an NHS appointment.

That's appalling. How would autism affect driving?

It's also ageist against younger autistic people. DH is autistic but self diagnosed after he answered in his head all the questions posed to DS during his assessment and discovered his score was incredibly high. But in his generation HFA people weren't diagnosed. They were just dismissed as nutty professor types.

So DH won't have to disclose it but DS will? What about dyspraxia? That's a far more dangerous condition. DS1 is dyspraxic as am I and think he may not learn to drive (I can't) DS2 is far more confident and DH is a very safe driver.

Crossed posts. Oh I'm glad they've backtracked. How stupid.
As to depression - a hefty minority of people get depressed at some point. How do you know if you will be again?

TrainSong, it's looking like the DVLA have backtracked. See just above.

(Or whichever dept did order this, given the Not Us Guv comments reportedly made by the DVLA to a poster on this thread.)

Or should I say, Not Us Gov?

Not Us, Gove?

I never knew this!!
Mind you, to be fair, the DVLA A-Z health conditions, which lists all the conditions/medical diagnoses that you need to inform the DVLA about, is incredibly extensive!!

DS had to declare his asd in 2016 when he applied for his provisional license. It took 8 months to get approval. He passed his theory and his practical driving test first time at 17 after just 26 hours of lessons. He's now been driving 2 years!

I know two people with autism who drive ambulances under blue lights. Both have passed blue light driving courses.

They’ve changed it back? I’ve just signed the petition and donated money!

Still great news if that’s correct.