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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report someone to the DVLA?

31 replies

hatbatcatxx · 06/12/2020 13:18

I know someone who is in her 30s but has glaucoma in both eyes.
She has lost her peripheral vision in both eyes.
She told the hospital when she had her ops and optician she doesn't drive (but she does)
She has kids and I'm worried she's going to crash one day.
I'm assuming her vision is getting worse.
She walks into things,can't see you if your on the right side of her.
Then on the other hand I know she would be lost without her car
What do I do ?

OP posts:
GlummyMcGlummerson · 06/12/2020 13:19

Report - you could be saving a life

Rainbowshine · 06/12/2020 13:22

There’s been a lot of threads about this (mainly related to elderly relatives) and the consensus is always to report. DVLA website, go on there and just get on with it.

Original poster
hatbatcatxx · 06/12/2020 13:26

Does anyone know what happens when you report?
Do they get invited for a eye exam ?
What the dvla say someone reported ?

OP posts:
ButtWormHole · 06/12/2020 13:29

Please report it.

My mum has to lose her DL due to a medical condition. It was hard. Life changing. But she was a danger not only to herself but to others.

The day after she was told she could no longer drive she got in her car and drove. We had to physically take the car away.

She is still upset but she has adapted. Lots of people are willing to help out with lifts (pre COVID), taxis, public transport and adjusting to shopping elsewhere.

Rainbowshine · 06/12/2020 13:33

I don’t think you have to provide your name.

contact.dvla.gov.uk/email

If you go through each page you will see there’s an item for reporting concerns about someone’s fitness to drive.

You are not responsible if it turns out she shouldn’t be driving. She is. She should have been honest about it.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 06/12/2020 13:33

The DVLA are likely to write to the person concerned and get them to fill in a medical questionnaire. They will also contact their GP/or perhaps eye specialist to fill in a medical report form on their condition. They will likely suspend her licence while all this is being done. In her case, they will undoubtedly require evidence of an up-to-date eye exam but she will have to arrange it rather than them. I don't think they ever tell them who reported them.

Original poster
hatbatcatxx · 06/12/2020 13:39

That's a good way to look at it.
She would only loose her licence if she legally shouldn't be driving.

OP posts:
MustardMitt · 06/12/2020 13:40

I’d be prepared to lose a friend over this. Reckless endangerment.

Please report her. Regardless of whether she’ll find out it was you.

DynamoKev · 06/12/2020 13:41

glaucoma.uk/care-support/driving-with-glaucoma/

PhilCornwall1 · 06/12/2020 13:47

If it's in both eyes, the person does have to inform the DVLA. I'm baffled they would even want to be behind the wheel.

I'm blind in one eye (monocular vision) and don't have to inform the DVLA, as the sight in my other eye is fine, but there are times I won't drive, especially even if there is a hint of tiredness.

I guess as far as reporting is concerned it's up to you, but they are being very stupid.

Rainbowshine · 06/12/2020 13:48

Yes it’s a situation not of your making if she doesn’t meet the requirements for having a license. It’s factual. The consequences of her losing the license are also not your responsibility or fault. Eye conditions are usually degenerative so there’s time to work out how to manage without driving. My DF is doing that now, his eyesight is ok now but he knows in three years it may not be, so he’s been looking at dial a ride and public transport and similar so he’s ready if he has to quit driving.

Countdowntonothing · 06/12/2020 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
hatbatcatxx · 06/12/2020 13:54

@Countdowntonothing yes but she has glaucoma in both eyes and has lost her peripheral vision.
I'm not sure how that can actually be safe

OP posts:
Original poster
hatbatcatxx · 06/12/2020 13:55

@Rainbowshine well it started in one of her eyes.
Then her other eye went blurry and the eye pressure was 10 x the amount it should be.
She's had operations but they can't get the vision back

OP posts:
Rainbowshine · 06/12/2020 14:03

@hatbatcatxx report it, really you have to. If it’s that bad then she is a danger to herself, her children and everyone else she gets near when driving. Others will determine if it is that bad, not you. You’re just highlighting that someone ought to check.

Brighterthansunflowers · 06/12/2020 14:05

Report it. She’s risking not just her own life but the lives of her children and everyone else on the road. If anything happens you’ll never forgive yourself for not reporting her

GreyishDays · 06/12/2020 14:09

Please do report it. If she’s able to be driving then no harm done.

Audreyseyebrows · 06/12/2020 14:15

You would never forgive yourself if something happened and you hadn’t reported it for fear of upsetting her.

80sColourfulChristmas · 06/12/2020 14:18

@hatbatcatxx

Does anyone know what happens when you report? Do they get invited for a eye exam ? What the dvla say someone reported ?
Yea. A special DVLA eye exam at spec savers. My Mum had it happen to her and thankfully it was all sorted in her favour, however they were ON IT! She had an eye exam as quickly as they could get her in.
Redglitter · 06/12/2020 14:18

Report it. If you're wrong & she is fit to drive, no harm done. You'd never forgive yourself if she injured or killed someone

PhilCornwall1 · 06/12/2020 14:21

@Audreyseyebrows

You would never forgive yourself if something happened and you hadn’t reported it for fear of upsetting her.
If she has an accident, regardless of if anyone is hurt, it would make me question the validity of her car insurance, should she be found out. It could be extremely costly for her, not just financially, but as far as the law is concerned too.
Smiling89 · 06/12/2020 14:22

Please report to the DVLA. You could save lives including hers.

They will send a form to the opticians to be completed and sent back to them. They will assess whether she's safe to drive or not.

If she is she can keep her license, if she isn't they'll take it off her. She won't be stopped from driving unless proven unsafe.

Might be worth letting her know that if she crashes and her medical notes show she shouldn't be driving, her insurance will be invalid. Might convince her to do the right thing?

Haworthia · 06/12/2020 14:24

I reported a family member who kept having alcoholic seizures/blackouts behind the wheel.

Nothing happened and they finally had a more serious crash that lead to them losing their job and car. Thankfully no one else was hurt.

I believe the DVLA can only do so much when they receive reports. But you should still do it.

GabsAlot · 06/12/2020 14:41

shes already lieing so has no intention of stopping-yes report her before someone gets hurt

80sColourfulChristmas · 06/12/2020 17:13

@Haworthia

I reported a family member who kept having alcoholic seizures/blackouts behind the wheel.

Nothing happened and they finally had a more serious crash that lead to them losing their job and car. Thankfully no one else was hurt.

I believe the DVLA can only do so much when they receive reports. But you should still do it.

My mum was reported by a family member and they hauled her into spec savers within 3 days of clicking submit
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