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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

This list of conditions to tell the DVLA

80 replies

hungryhippo90 · 04/04/2018 15:38

Ok I know, it’s from the detail trail, but the list of conditions we should be telling the DVLA about.....

Really? I don’t feel like I should have told them about my anxiety because I don’t drive if I’m anxious- putting myself behind the wheel would not be good.

It lists depression, cancer, aspergers.... so so many conditions.

Thoughts please people.

I never knew the list was so exhaustive!

www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-5577361/The-five-surprising-medical-conditions-need-legally-declare-getting-wheel.html

OP posts:

Raven88 · 04/04/2018 16:26

Glad to see it. Cars can be dangerous in the wrong hands and that's why I don't drive because my anxiety triggers migraines and excessive daytime sleepiness. I think it's after the Glasgow bus crash they tightened the rules.

DGRossetti · 04/04/2018 16:27

6) Block chain technology is likely to solve this issue within the next decade.

Nope. And I say that as a solidity developer.

gussyfinknottle · 04/04/2018 16:29

if you think DVLA is collecting too much irrelevant personal information, complain to the Information Commissioner. It's her job. She reports to Parliament.
Personally, I think it is just fine.

SauvignonBlanche · 04/04/2018 16:30

Thanks for reminding me to fill in 7 pages of forms that the DVLA sent me last week.

I think everyone should have to send a medical declaration to the DVLA every ten years that shows they have no medical or sight impairments that will affect their ability to drive

My licence expires in three months, last year when I reapplied it took 10 months from applying to receiving another yearly licence so they couldn’t possibly cope with any more work!

GlitterNails · 04/04/2018 16:30

I do know some friends who have reported conditions and they weren't allowed to drive for months just while they processed it - only for them to get approval to drive. Many disabled people would be housebound without their car, so I can see why the process puts them off, although not saying it's right.

I'm not talking about conditions such as seizures etc that shouldn't drive by the way.

dangermouseisace · 04/04/2018 16:31

I've had depression most of my adult life and only tell the DVLA if I've been in hospital (severe depression). They then require 3 months of 'stability' before driving again. If you only have mild depression and it doesn't affect your driving/you are not suicidal and planning to use your car then you're ok.

When I'm really unwell concentration goes out of the window and I've had accidents or near misses..so it's fair enough that people with severe depression have to stop driving for a bit!

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 04/04/2018 16:32

I regulalry deal with people with dementia who still drive. Invariably their families justify it by saying "It's ok they only drive to the shops and back"

All professionals have a duty of care to report unsafe driving due to health conditions to the DVLA and let the DVLA take it from there

Holycrapwhatnow · 04/04/2018 16:33

@bingoLounge at least in response to #1, there is mandatory reporting for other things such as child abuse or harm done or threatened to others, by anyone in a position of responsibility who sees a danger - to me extremely dangerous drivers should fit into this category.

Of course there will always be plenty in the grey zone who are hard to quantify as guaranteed unsafe, but at the moment even someone with severe cataracts and dementia who refuses to surrender their licence doesn't need to get reported by their doctor, and this is crazy.

TheBorgCollective · 04/04/2018 16:33

Luckily I gave up driving last year, as I have quite a few of the conditions on the list. I didnt know about informing though, I only gave up as I had an operation on my hand which went wrong and I cannot physically drive. Good job really.

Holycrapwhatnow · 04/04/2018 16:35

Ooh @bumpowder does that mean they actually DO need to get reported? My mistake! But also, why aren't many doctors more helpful? We struggled hugely to get my dangerous great aunt off the road, we genuinely thought about hiding her car if there wasn't the risk she might have a more coherent day and call the police, but her doctor was little help.

gussyfinknottle · 04/04/2018 16:36

Risk death or be a bit inconvenienced while DVLA sorts it out? Tough call. Yes, I have been in that position and it was more than a bit inconvenient but better than being killed or killing while behind the wheel.

youarenotkiddingme · 04/04/2018 16:38

My ds has mild cp and asd. Also had periods of loss of full consciousness.

I can't work out if he'd have to declare or not? Personally when time comes I'll be asking his consultants their opinion.

Not sure what I think about the asd questionnaire bring white focussed on addiction though. There's nothing really in there related to the actual diagnostic criteria

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 04/04/2018 16:38

Yes they do but it's better all round if the person makes the active decision to stop driving hence it's not done automatically.

I've had personal experience of w psychiatrist threaten to report me to the DVLA unless I gave her assurances I was safe to drive/stopped myself driving. Some of us take the risk to public safety seriously!!

bingoLounge · 04/04/2018 16:38

Yep. And I say this as someone who doesn't think fluency in Solidity is especially beneficial compared to other languages. It's useful but not a high bar to set.

SweetSummerchild · 04/04/2018 16:39

I was on a group supporting people applying for/appealing for PIP recently, and I couldn’t believe some of the things people were saying about driving.

One bloke was bitching because he had scored no points for ‘cooking’. Apparently, his meds made him lose concentration and forget things and he kept burning himself.

Then he was bitching about the fact that the assessor had said that because he drove to and from work he didn’t have significant cognitive impairment.

Fair enough really.

I was gobsmacked at the number of people who were driving on some seriously strong medication or with serious impairments, and were then bitching about the fact it was held against them when applying for PIP.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 04/04/2018 16:42

It annoys me too that people can't see how tasks link together. If you can't do X chances are Y and Z will be extremely difficult too.

bettytaghetti · 04/04/2018 16:42

Quite honestly if everyone who was affected by this list was stopped from driving the roads would be empty. They'd solve all the traffic problems instantly! I had a CS 19 years ago; does that mean I should not be driving!! Instead the roads seem to be full of idiots that have no idea what the national speed limit sign means...

bingoLounge · 04/04/2018 16:42

@Holycrapwhatnow

Are you saying that someone guilty of child abuse shouldn't be able to drive?

Why would a GP be aware of this?

I can't see the logic in withholding a child abuser's driving license.

Have I missed the point? I'm not being obtuse!

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 04/04/2018 16:43

It's not about stopping people driving. Some people have restrictions such as no night time driving put on their licence some it's just there to as a declaration to validate your insurance. Only a few will get your licence revoked.

JackietheBackie · 04/04/2018 16:45

I had to inform the DVLA last year when I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Was less than a month til I got my clearance to drive - they just needed to check I was compliant with my treatment. It is inconvenient and embarrassing but I would be devastated if I hurt or killed someone because I got careless with my treatment.

DGRossetti · 04/04/2018 16:45

Yep. And I say this as someone who doesn't think fluency in Solidity is especially beneficial compared to other languages. It's useful but not a high bar to set.

Blockchain predictions are going to be like jet packs or fusion power from the 70s. Especially in an age when people younger than me "don't do email" (including all DWs health professionals).

It's blockchain as a state machine that's most tantalising.

LoveManyTrustfew · 04/04/2018 16:50

I have had cancer, they don't want to know.

I have cardio problems, they don't want to know.

I have left bundle branch clock (not as impressive as it sounds ) , they don't want to know.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 04/04/2018 16:51

You only have to tell them about your c-section if you are still unable to drive 3 months later

Many drivers do not seem to know they are required to inform their insurance when they have surgery. Women are told about that about c-section, but some patients really don't know.

Holycrapwhatnow · 04/04/2018 17:00

@bingoLounge no not child abuse and driving - but was trying to make a parallel. You gave a long list of professionals who might have seen a person and asked who should have been ultimately responsible for reporting them. It is the individual legal responsibility of multiple professionals to report any reasonably grounded suspicions - even in the absence of 100% evidence. Yes there's a risk that someone gets investigated unnecessarily but we balance that with safeguarding the vulnerable. I think that reporting a high risk of dangerous driving should be the responsibility of ANYONE who sees the person in a professional capacity. Driving is a hugely dangerous activity and as society gets older our risk is getting bigger.

Holycrapwhatnow · 04/04/2018 17:00

Should clarify there I meant suspicions of abuse.

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