CDT test by DVLA - do they only do it if someone has been banned?

[Turtletunes]

Hi, I'm not sure where else to ask this question, so please be gentle! My Dad was an alcoholic who never had a driving ban and was never breathalysed by the police as far as I know.

His lifestyle caught up with him though and he was eventually diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis then liver cirrhosis and then liver cancer which finally killed him at the age of 77. I was going through some of his old papers to throw out today and to my surprise came across a letter from the DVLA with the result of a CDT test when he was 76.

So I wondered would the DVLA order a CDT test if he disclosed on his over 70s licence renewal application that he had liver cancer or are CDTs only done as a result of being caught drink driving? Because either my Dad was driving when banned and kept quiet about it or the DVLA ordered the test because he disclosed on his OAP licence renewal form that he had liver cirrhosis/cancer. I can't find any info online though to suggest the DVLA would order a CDT without a person being caught drink driving.

The answer doesn't really matter now I suppose, but I was just curious having found the paperwork, so thought I'd see if anyone on here would happen to know.

@Turtletunes - I’m not 100% sure but I think the CDT test is done by the DVLA as part of the assessment prior to a banned driver getting their license returned. I think your DF has likely had a ban at some point - a person’s GP can inform the DVLA if they suspect someone is abusing alcohol (although the DVLA website states the person should inform them themself) but I don’t think the license can be revoked unless convicted of drunk driving.

Thanks Pippa246, that's my understanding too from online research. But he never stopped driving as far as I know, so I just wondered if there was another reason he might have had the CDT.

It’s a shame that you still have this hanging over you even though he’s passed away. I hope you can find peace with it/move on from it. 💐

You can have your licence revoked by the DVLA on the basis of a report from your GP only, no need for a drink driving conviction. A lot of people are not aware of this.

OP, it’s very possible your father’s licence was revoked as his health issues from
alcohol prompted a report to the DVLA (whether from him personally or his GP) who removed his licence and required medical tests in order to reinstate it.

@MellowDeer Thanks, I did wonder if it might be something like that. Oh well, he kept it quiet, whatever the answer! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

You’re welcome and I am very sorry for the loss of your father.

He may not have been in any legal trouble re driving, and may not have driven drunk at all, lots of people with alcohol problems do not do this (and lots of people without such problems do!) It might simply have been his medical history coupled with disclosed drinking levels that meant a pre-emptive revocation from the DVLA.

I wanted to comment so that you don’t necessarily think your dad had been breaking the law, he may not have been doing this. Best wishes to you.