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Original poster

Reporting someone with a health condition to the DVLA

51 replies

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 19:06

How long does it take before they get a letter? I’m dreading it tbh even though I know I’ve done the right thing. The only thing.

OP posts:

MMAMPWGHAP · 08/04/2021 21:15

I did it for my elderly Dad. They sent a lot of forms which I filled in for him (early stage dementia in top of other stuff). The next step they made was to send him for an eye test. Which he failed. So my top tip would be to write something about eyesight when you report. I imagine it’s much cheaper for the DVLA to send someone for an eye test than anything else.

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 21:17

@MMAMPWGHAP

It’s too late, I did it last week. I can’t remember what I wrote exactly but I think I did mention that he has complained to me of blurry vision.

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BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 08/04/2021 21:20

My dad's neurologist reported him (he has Huntington's disease). The DVLA offered him an assessment, which he was keen to do, but his neurologist and I stood firm on discouraging it.

He was an absolute liability on the road for years before his official diagnosis. I'm stunned he wasn't reported by another driver sooner.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking

DinosaurDiana · 08/04/2021 21:26

I reported someone and it took several weeks, but he did get a letter.
He had to go to a certain optician to be looked at, and then had to give up his licence.
He still doesn’t know who reported him.

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 21:40

I spoke to him a good few months ago saying it’s irresponsible for him to not get this condition monitored because he could have a relapse whilst our daughter is with him. His reply to this was, I’m just as bad for having the Covid vaccine. 🤔 apparently I’m likely to lose functioning from having that.

OP posts:

tatyr · 08/04/2021 22:06

I strongly encouraged my partner to contact DVLA when he had his first big seizure. I suspect he regrets doing it, as it was a monumental PITA not being able to drive, and not being able to get to work until after months his employers agreed to fund taxis. He did get his licence back after about a year, when a pattern of seizures was established that only ever happen at night.
I think not being allowed to drive was worse that discovering he'd become epileptic in his eyes

Heatherjayne1972 · 08/04/2021 22:11

I know a person with dementia who was told to stop driving by the police the Dvla the GP and the family after they were involved In a road accident
She didn’t remember what had happened who had told her to stop and why
So the family disconnected the battery in her car

Before that they tried to take her car keys away but legally they and the car are her property and legally she could and did report the family to the police for theft

Mum2jenny · 08/04/2021 22:14

I wouldn’t report a person unless I thought their driving was dangerous. I feel it’s up to individuals to report themselves if they need to.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/04/2021 22:23

I reported someone who was a bus driver and had heavy drug use.

itsallaboutschmoo · 08/04/2021 22:25

I've had epilepsy since I was 8 (not diagnosed til 22 though.) I got to keep my licence because I never lose consciousness during my very rare seizures and always get warning they're coming. I was hospitalised in January because I had a series of seizures brought on by Covid. Doctor in hospital advised me to contact the DVLA and voluntarily surrender my licence. I can reapply next jan. It's SO annoying because my seizures are very well controlled and were only caused by a specific set of circumstances. I keep seeing very old, doddery drivers and becoming furious that they're allowed to drive and I'm not.

I am not adjusting well to passenger seat life

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 22:28

@Mum2jenny

I wouldn’t report a person unless I thought their driving was dangerous. I feel it’s up to individuals to report themselves if they need to.

Until they hit someone @Mum2jenny?

OP posts:

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 22:31

Sorry to hear this @itsallaboutschmoo - I hope you can get your license back soon. It’s good that you are responsible unlike a lot of people it seems.

It’s wrong that we are put in the position of having to report people.

OP posts:

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 22:36

I mean, how could I know about the quality of my ex’s driving when I don’t go in the car with him?i do now know that he once hit a bus stop and then drove off & didn’t report it to the police.

The problem with MS is that it’s a very unpredictable disability.

OP posts:

tatyr · 08/04/2021 22:40

@itsallaboutschmoo
How gutting, it's such an internal part of many people's lives, you don't realise how much it impacts on you until it's taken away.

TheChosenTwo · 08/04/2021 22:43

I reported someone years ago after I was stuck in a traffic jam behind a man who had had a seizure behind the wheel. His gf was sat crying in the car next to him, I got out to see what had happened and my colleague and I pushed their car to the side of the road. We asked the gf if she needed to call an ambulance or anything (genuinely no idea myself as no experience of epilepsy) and she said she was just going to call his mum as if the emergency services were alerted they would inform the DVLA and he would have his licence taken away from him.
I got back to work and reported him. Did momentarily feel guilty but not guilty enough not to call, he could have caused a death that day, right next to a children’s play park and a school, I really hope it was looked into.
I worry now that it wasn’t after reading lots of these accounts

Original poster

Anon778833 · 08/04/2021 22:46

@TheChosenTwo 😲 that’s shocking.

I’m quite surprised about the number of people who think their ‘independence’ trumps the safety of others.

OP posts:

TheChosenTwo · 08/04/2021 22:51

Isn’t it? To think they both knew getting into that car that he had epilepsy and the risks that carries and that she knew why she wasn’t to call for help. I felt bad for potentially causing him to lose his job without a driving license (some jobs depend on it after all) but I wouldn’t have slept easily ever again for turning a blind eye to something so dangerous.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/04/2021 23:08

@TheChosenTwo you absolutely did the right thing. The licence isn’t always lost immediately, the DVLA look into it. That’s what they’re for. If they decide the person can drive, so be it, you’ve done your part.

ImaginaryCat · 08/04/2021 23:51

@Mum2jenny why else do you think people report? Every one of the stories on this thread concerns people whose health complications made them dangerous on the road. Leaving it up to them to report themselves is at best naive and at worst on a par with letting a drunk person get behind the wheel.
It's a huge sacrifice, to give up your independence. Which is why so many unsafe drivers refuse to stop. That's why it's essential for other people to intervene and take the decision out of their hands.

B1rdflyinghigh · 09/04/2021 00:08

There are driving assessment sites, probably around the country,
I know the one in Leeds is called the William Merritt centre, They assess people with disabilities. I'm sure there must be more...before you sign anyone off!

itsallaboutschmoo · 09/04/2021 08:34

@SugarbabyMilly @tatyr

Thank you. Hopefully being responsible will count in my favour. The very kind man at the DVLA said it would when I called.

It's incredibly hard to lose your independence (particularly during a pandemic when you can't just grab a lift from anyone) but hopefully it won't be too long. I've promised myself a new car when I get it back!

I'd always support reporting people though. My mum did for my grandad (only found out when discussing my own licence surrender with her) turns out he could only turn left due to his arthritis. He had to preplan routes with only left turns!

WhataMissMap · 09/04/2021 09:21

My niece was very concerned about her father’s driving. He was early eighties. They visited the GP together and the GP took her father’s side. It made her feel a bit silly to have been fussing.
The next week her father returned to see the Surgery nurse for a routine appointment and crashed into the GP’s car whilst manoeuvring in the car park.
He heard from the DVLA pretty soon after that!
😂

Original poster

Anon778833 · 09/04/2021 10:00

Gosh - I wonder why the doctor did that? So he ended up with his own car damaged as a result!

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MMAMPWGHAP · 14/04/2021 21:41

Just returning with another point that I forgot about. I know someone who tried very hard to persuade her dad to stop driving, without success.

Last year he had an accident which killed her mother.
If in doubt report.

Original poster

Anon778833 · 15/04/2021 16:26

@MMAMPWGHAP

How tragic. For some reason a lot of people seem to think it’s their god given right to continue driving no matter what and not making sure they keep everyone safe.

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