Will I automatically be denied for a license

[Changednayme]

I am about to apply for a provisional license. I get blackouts, have mental health issues and wear glasses. I can feel the blackouts coming on days/hours before they do. I have executive dysfunction when tired or stressed but my functioning levels vary massively. I can function very well some days, even excellently. If I was effected on a particular day I wouldn’t drive. I have declared it, but would I automatically be disqualified? Or do I not need to declare it because I wouldn’t drive whilst effected?

And you don’t necessarily need a full diagnosis. What counts is the length of time since the last episode.

The problem is you might say that you know when it's happening and wouldn't drive. But many people when they have the car in the drive, and need to get something will think that they can just pop 10 minutes up the road and it's not likely to be a problem in those 10 minutes.
They can't take something on trust that you won't drive, because other people will say the same and still do it. That might feel unfair to you, but they don't know you.

I think the question likely will be: How often/when was the last time you fainted?

But really, as others have said, driving is stressful. I've been driving 16 years and even now something happens, you're against time and the traffic is blocked, someone steps out in front of you, a car swerves across you and you have to emergency brake etc. All things where I can feel my stress level soar. At times you can pull off, take a break and recover. At times, you have no choice but to stay at the wheel. They can't risk that you could faint in the middle of a stream of traffic.

You've declared it, so that's all that matters the DVLA will decide if you can have a provisional license.
If they do issue you with a license you might still struggle with insurance.

I would add driving can be very stressful. Unexpected things can happen, and there are some very aggressive drivers on the road.

No-one can say for certain.

But personally I don't think you should be driving. Being behind the wheel can be incredibly stressful.

You need to speak with your GP and the DVLA.

Mumsnet cannot answer this for you.

Particularly distressing situations not stressful situations

I thought I recognised the subject and style here.

You have already posted this but with slightly different information...

very tired, am very accident prone, and have problems with paying attention.

I wouldn't normally quote another thread but it's very relevant here. Either you have omitted part of your medical conditions on both of these posts, or made it up. The latter is preferable because you can't go applying for a driving licence and not give vital medical information.

You really need to declare and let DVLA make a determination. It doesn't really sound to me like you should be driving, tbh. Sorry.

I’m not like that every day though

What are you trying to achieve here OP? Do you just want us to say "oh yes, all will be fine and you won't have any problems getting a licence or driving when the time comes?"

It doesn't matter. If your symptoms are that bad, even if it's only occasionally, you shouldn't be behind the wheel of a car. You could kill someone.

How shit would you feel if you fainted and caused an accident? Some really sound PPs have said you shouldn't drive. YOU sound like you know you shouldn't really. Get a diagnosis and a bus pass.

I faint when I get too hot or stressed and like you I can feel it coming on. I reported it to the DVLA - they requested a fitness to drive letter from my GP who investigated and said it was as a result of my thyroid getting worse. He medicated it, organised 3 monthly checkups, and the DVLA was fine with that. They did tell me not to drive letter before I got my license back

If your condition is any way likely to affect your driving you should declare. If you did faint and had an accident and it was a known condition that you hadn't declared you could invalidate your insurance and be fined or even prosecuted, according to this.

Or even more importantly kill someone or yourself. Driving is something you should only do if you have all your wits about you. All the time. Driving is of itself stressful, so if there’s any danger of you getting stressed and having an episode, which it sounds as though there is, you absolutely shouldn’t drive.

I’m not like that every day though

Tired, accident prone, problems paying attention, blackouts, fainting when sitting down, bad panic attacks...

I don't think it matters that it's not every day. That's a lot wrong with you which could happen at any time.

You are trying to justify /convince us that you'll be safe to drive but it's not us that gets to decide. Personally, I don't think you should get behind the wheel of a car, it's just too risky.

What would happen if something stressful happened whilst driving (a near miss), you can’t always just stop a car safely.

We're MN posters. We're not the DVLA.

You won't get a definitive answer here.

and I can feel it coming on well before it happens, I feel “off”

What do you mean by this though? What does well before it happens mean in terms of minutes, hours, days? Because if you're talking minutes or hours, then I don't see how it would ever be safe for you to drive.

There is no Yes or No answer.
I have Narcolepsy, I am allowed to drive and no longer have a restriction on my licence but used to have to renew every 3 years.
Other people with N aren't allowed to drive at all.
What you've described sounds a lot like cataplexy, might be worth looking into

No you shouldn’t drive

Simple question OP when was your last episode?

You haven’t actually declared it, have you? Your change of tense in the OP gives it away. I think it’s awful that you are even considering not declaring it.

I did declare it actually. I know that I’m not always effected. I just wanted to know if these conditions would mean I am automatically denied or if they would take it into consideration that I’m not always effected