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Original poster

Help - driving licence revoked with immediate effect

451 replies

LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 11:36

Posting for traffic - help!

DH was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few months ago and informed the DVLA as instructed.

He now has an oxygen mask he wears at night which has improved his sleep dramatically.

He is currently driving his kids home from a trip to the other side of the country and I have received a letter from the DVLA saying his licence has been revoked as of immidiate effect from yesterday - WTAF?

He has NEVER fallen asleep while driving and he lives 150 miles away from us in the week so driving is essential.

He has to prove certain things to get his licence back but this is going to take time.

How the hell can they do this - no warning nothing.

Does anyone know if we can appeal?

OP posts:
ExileOnMNStreet · 24/08/2018 19:46

Kind of losing sympathy for you after your last post. You can drive and have your own car and he lives at work in the week. I think you'll manage Hmm

Feefeetrixabelle · 24/08/2018 19:46

How old are his dc? Would sending them home by public transport work?

RomanyRoots · 24/08/2018 19:47

as the consultant advised him to tell the DVLA you would think he might have mentioned thatvis was very likely this would happen.

It's not the consultants job to advise about these things.
It was your dh responsibility to find out, it's his condition.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 19:48

He drives 2.5 hours to work on a Sunday. Does an 18 mike round trip to have his kids on a weds night and then does a 2.5 hour drive home on the Friday. EOW and Weds he collects his kids from a rural school, and EOW he brings his kids home.

I wasn’t asking for sympathy but this is going to be a huge ball ache for us.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 19:51

Public transport for the kids isn’t really the issue as he travels with the kids as same town so they would all have to get it together anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 19:55

RomanyRoots

He took action to treat his condition as soon as he was diagnosed so it probably didn’t cross his mind seeing as he doesn’t work for the DVLA.

OP posts:
Walkingdeadfangirl · 24/08/2018 19:58

Who is calibrating his CPAP device if its not an NHS one? And how often is he taking it in for checks?

Its not an off the shelf sort of machine you should use with out medical supervision.

Isleepinahedgefund · 24/08/2018 20:02

You do seem to be missing the point OP. They haven’t done this to inconvenience you. It is unfortunate, but it isn’t anybody’s fault. It’s for public safety. It wasn’t the consultant’s responsibility to give him chapter and verse about driving, he is a medic and not DVLA staff.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 20:07

Love they way some people on this thread would just swallow it and not be in a total state of panic if their husband who works 150 miles away were suddenly told he cannot drive!

OP posts:
ExileOnMNStreet · 24/08/2018 20:13

I'm assuming his DC can't stay in the accommodation he has with his job? If so, would it be easier (hoping he gets his licence in a few weeks/months) to get a Travelodge or Air B and B near his work and DC on the weekends that he has them? If you have your own car you could always stay too?

It might not be that much more £££ than his petrol and car costs atm?

Yogagirl123 · 24/08/2018 20:13

Flowers not sure why you are having such a hard time on here tbh OP, you haven’t done anything wrong.

The letter would have been addressed to your DH. It seems crazy to me that people think you should have called him when you knew he was driving, something known to cause accidents! After all he is of no greater risk now than he was before you opened the letter.

He did the right thing to report his condition to DVLA. I hope your DH can resolve matters and retain his license if he can prove it’s safe to do so.

JustWrong · 24/08/2018 20:28

My DH doesn't even drive but he manages.

We had a friend who nearly died and who actually did kill another person because of this exact condition, you have no idea how dangerous it is!

RainySeptember · 24/08/2018 20:34

No I don't know why op is getting a hard time either.

He was advised to report it to the DVLA and did so.

He didn't expect his licence to be revoked - or feel that it was in any way irresponsible to drive - because (1) his treatment is proving effective, and (2) the letter from his consultant said he was ok to drive.

The letter has come as a big shock that would seriously impact anybody's life, and feels like a misunderstanding.

He won't drive again until it's sorted but is, understandably I feel, surprised and irritated.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 20:34

My DH doesn't even drive but he manages

Pretty sure his life is built around not driving then Hmm

We had a friend who nearly died and who actually did kill another person because of this exact condition, you have no idea how dangerous it is

OH Had is for years and did not know - as soon as he was diagnosed he got a CPAP machine - you are talking like he’s been deliberately drinking and driving Hmm

OP posts:
JustWrong · 24/08/2018 20:40

No but you don't know what external conditions could affect this. One bad night sleep, a family fall out, his minds elsewhere, distracted attention...

It's good he knows now and he's getting treatment for it, he will be able to drive again, it just takes some time.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 24/08/2018 20:45

No but you don't know what external conditions could affect this. One bad night sleep, a family fall out, his minds elsewhere, distracted attention

You could say that of anyone driving a car.

OP posts:
Melty · 24/08/2018 20:48

@LadyRussell
Get him to contact the sleep clinic.
They will be able to download his sleep/mask use and provide evidence for DVLA. (My local clinic is certainly very helpful in this regard- I liaise with them for work)
The consultant has an obligation to inform DVLA, but normally if you go through the clinic, and follow the prescribed treatment, OSA doesn't mean losing your licence.
Irritating as it seems, its probably because he jumped ahead and bought his own machine that this has happened. (Even if you correctly say he is now much safer, as he has been having the required treatment)

www.sleep-apnoea-trust.org/driving-and-sleep-apnoea/detailed-guidance-to-uk-drivers-with-sleep-apnoea/

PlatypusPie · 24/08/2018 20:49

We don’t have anywhere to put the car anyway

OP, you are hard work.

You come across as overly critical, lazy and selfish.

DoinItForTheKids · 24/08/2018 20:49

"My husband had this, at no point was he told not to drive"

That's my point! You shouldn't need to be told not to drive!!! Christ on a bike, which part of this do people not understand?

It is not someone else's responsibility to 'tell you'.

If, as a parent (your example OP), you genuinely feel you're so exhausted that you shouldn't drive, then - guess what - you shouldn't drive! YOU choose not to drive. This isn't rocket science right here - it's very very simple.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/08/2018 21:12

Dungeon I know this thread isn't about me, but the point I was trying to make is that I believe I should be safe to drive - my seizures are nocturnal and I have never had a waking one.

OP's DH believes he should be able to drive because he meets the DVLA criteria for being able to drive- he doesn't suffer from excessive sleepiness and his consultant had told him (and therefore would have told the DVLA) he has no concerns about him driving.
You on the other hand do not meet the DVLA criteria for being able to drive as presumably you have had a seizure in the last year.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/08/2018 21:13

It wasn’t the consultant’s responsibility to give him chapter and verse about driving, he is a medic and not DVLA staff.

They aren't meant to advice actually if they feel that someone shouldn't drive.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/08/2018 21:18

That's my point! You shouldn't need to be told not to drive!!! Christ on a bike, which part of this do people not understand?

The DVLA tell you to ask your doctor for advice on whether it is safe to drive while they are investigating.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/08/2018 21:19

Meant to say they are meant to advice actually if they feel that someone shouldn't drive. Who do you think the DVLA consult before making their decision?!

HopefullyAnonymous · 24/08/2018 21:20

The laws really aren’t there to abide by only when it’s convenient Hmm

Dungeondragon15 · 24/08/2018 21:36

The laws really aren’t there to abide by only when it’s convenient

Yes, people have to abide by laws but that doesn't mean they aren't allowed to criticise them. I'm very glad that people have criticised and
campaigned to change some laws throughout history!