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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How would you manage if you lost your driving licence tomorrow?

244 replies

tomorrowisanotherdate · 01/04/2024 21:26

For example, vertigo is a common one, I have had several friends develop vertigo and lose their license,

You cannot be insured to drive within 6 months of a vertigo attack, and both friends had attacks out of the blue in their early 40s - one only ever had one serious attack and had her license back in about a year - the other has never since gone 6 month between attacks, and has sold her car now

So suppose you have a vertigo attack out of the blue tonight, and can't drive for 6 months, starting now, how would that impact on your life?

Am I Being unreasonable to think lives should be planned around possibly being in this contingency, when choosing homes, jobs schools etc?

OP posts:
CaputDraconis · 01/04/2024 21:28

I only learnt to drive 5 years ago so wouldn't be too bad. I live in a well connected part of the country.

It would be frustrating but doable

Whaleandsnail6 · 01/04/2024 21:30

I would struggle, I am definitely over reliant on my car.

I work 10 miles away in a rural area and public transport doesnt run on my shift times so I would have to pay out a lot for taxis or try snd rely on colleagues who go past my house for lifts.

Id also struggle with all of the activities the kids do in the evenings. So yeah, it would he very difficult to come to terms with

museumum · 01/04/2024 21:32

I’d be fine though sad as I use the car and camper van for fun reasons but boring normal life would be ok. I couldn’t live somewhere without good public transport. I wanted my children to have that under 17 and my aging parents enjoy public transport too.

RandomMess · 01/04/2024 21:32

The only thinks that would make it ok is that my youngest will be taking her test soon so she could get to work and hobbies otherwise for her it would be a disaster as there it no public transport alternative.

For me it would be ok.

Nicetobenice67 · 01/04/2024 21:33

Bike

HerRoyalNotness · 01/04/2024 21:33

I’d continue to WFH, would have to rely on H or my oldest DS to run me around and siblings to activities. Would be difficult as no buses or other public transport here and only Ubers which can be unreliable.

ScroogeMcDuckling · 01/04/2024 21:34

my whole way of life would have to change. Truthfully, I would be f*ed

WarningOfGails · 01/04/2024 21:34

I bike to work anyway, I would have to rely on friends for lifts to extra curricular activities - at the moment we share… it would be tricky at times but manageable.

Potentialmadcatlady · 01/04/2024 21:34

This happened to me. Vertigo attack out of the blue, told not to drive for six months by GP. Tested for cardiac issues etc. I just had to make it work. Food deliveries, walking, taxis and lifts from friends for the six months and v careful management of my vertigo so I can manage it and stay driving after six months was up. It is doable

whatkatydid2014 · 01/04/2024 21:35

It would be an annoyance more than a disaster. I could easily get buses to work the days I go in and if they proved unreliable I could get taxis. I’d order online more often for food shopping and might have to stop one of the kids regular classes as it’s not very accessible by public transport. We don’t actually use the car a massive amount but I would miss the convenience a bit.

Changingplace · 01/04/2024 21:35

I’d live, I have good public transport, I wfh quite a lot and DH and I share a car so I’m not used to always having access to it.

BabyEmber · 01/04/2024 21:35

I had vertigo - BPPV and was never told not to drive Confused

Original poster
tomorrowisanotherdate · 01/04/2024 21:36

Potentialmadcatlady · 01/04/2024 21:34

This happened to me. Vertigo attack out of the blue, told not to drive for six months by GP. Tested for cardiac issues etc. I just had to make it work. Food deliveries, walking, taxis and lifts from friends for the six months and v careful management of my vertigo so I can manage it and stay driving after six months was up. It is doable

sympathies, vertigo is horrid

OP posts:
JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 01/04/2024 21:36

I could manage work on public transport but everything else would be tricky. Taking my Mum out who can't drive or walk would be impossible. My hobby would be difficult too. I would manage but would hate to be reliant upon others.

DFO · 01/04/2024 21:37

There are 2 other people in my household that drive so I could rely on them and use ubers.

Arielhills · 01/04/2024 21:37

I wouldn’t be fine to be honest. I’m the only one who drives in my house though DH is learning at the moment.

If I couldn’t drive then I couldn’t do a large part of my job. I wouldn’t be sacked but I wouldn’t be able to participate in an on call rota which would mean a sizeable loss of income. Public transport would be difficult to get to my current place of work due to distance and general poor public transport in this part of the country.

I would probably have to change jobs which is quite specialised with only one such workplace in the country so whilst it would be possible, I would have to re specialise probably.

Original poster
tomorrowisanotherdate · 01/04/2024 21:37

BabyEmber · 01/04/2024 21:35

I had vertigo - BPPV and was never told not to drive Confused

you might not be insured - check it out - but you are not always told not to drive, the onus is on you to report that you have a medical condition that excludes you. Of course it is helpful if your doctor explains that to you, but they don't always

OP posts:
rollerskatie · 01/04/2024 21:38

WarningOfGails · 01/04/2024 21:34

I bike to work anyway, I would have to rely on friends for lifts to extra curricular activities - at the moment we share… it would be tricky at times but manageable.

If you lose your driving license for medical reasons you may not be able to cycle. It’s covered by the same part of the road traffic act.

I’ve been unable to drive for years due to a neurological condition. I have a free bus pass although it only works after 9am on weekdays, and a disabled persons railcard. I would never move somewhere without good buses or I’d be screwed.

Kitkat1523 · 01/04/2024 21:38

I’m a community nurse so my job would be affected….apart from that I don’t think I wouLD be too bothered….I live in a small market town but with good bus and train links….my DP , DD and x 3 SILs all drive ….all my friends drive ….I have a bus and train pass already ….I live within 10 mins walking distance of town centre ….10 mins of GDs school where I do pick ups …..and 15 mins from DDs home….so I don’t drive in my town anyway

teachermummyme · 01/04/2024 21:38

I had to surrender my license for six months after having brain surgery on a tumour. It then took a further 10 months for the DVLA to reissue it after getting the medical clearance from my surgeon.

It massively impacted my life. I have two young children. Thankfully we walk to school, but not being able to run them places in the car and relying on lifts from people was so difficult, a real knock to my independence. I am still signed off work, but if that weren't the case I honestly don't know how I'd get to work as my drive to work is 40 minutes and I can't work from home (nor is there adequate public transport).

I really feel for people who have to give up their license longer term.

rollerskatie · 01/04/2024 21:39

Arielhills · 01/04/2024 21:37

I wouldn’t be fine to be honest. I’m the only one who drives in my house though DH is learning at the moment.

If I couldn’t drive then I couldn’t do a large part of my job. I wouldn’t be sacked but I wouldn’t be able to participate in an on call rota which would mean a sizeable loss of income. Public transport would be difficult to get to my current place of work due to distance and general poor public transport in this part of the country.

I would probably have to change jobs which is quite specialised with only one such workplace in the country so whilst it would be possible, I would have to re specialise probably.

You might be able to get help with transport from Access to Work if you needed the transport to keep your job.

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 01/04/2024 21:39

I’d probably manage but it would massively limit my freedom. We live rurally although there is a bus that connects to town and then up to the city. I certainly wouldn’t be able to hold down a job anywhere. I could order the shopping in and Dh could drive me about when he’s here. I might quite like it actually.

GoofyGoldie · 01/04/2024 21:39

I don't work as I had to take ill health retirement aged 55 last year. I have a disability & rely on my car to get to appointments. I wouldn't manage on public transport. I couldn't afford taxis all the time as I'd never planned to be still paying my mortgage while living off my pension. I'd be lost without my car.

Elebag · 01/04/2024 21:40

I can't bear to think about it. I have a school refuser and the only way I'll every get her back is to drive her in.

ScarlettSunset · 01/04/2024 21:40

BabyEmber · 01/04/2024 21:35

I had vertigo - BPPV and was never told not to drive Confused

I had this and was briefly told by DVLA not to drive but my doctor contacted them and advised I was fully safe to drive and it was all sorted out within a couple of weeks and I got a letter back advising I could continue to drive.
It was horrible though as I had to try to get lifts to work for those two weeks etc. It would be less of a problem now as I could work from home and get shopping delivered.