Elderly FIL & changing driving licence details

[longtompot]

My FIL moved back to the UK after living abroad for over 20 years, after his wife died. He lived in various rentals before buying and moving to the same area as us so we could help him with various things (ie tv stopped working, power went off etc)

He is asking us to change his driving licence address but I am worried about doing that. He gave up his car middle of last year and we do not feel he is safe to drive, but he is talking about buying a new car.
He had an op on an eye which helped his vision partly, but his reactions are not quick so we would worry he could get into difficulties out in the road.
The other issue is he drinks a lot and we would worry about him trying to drive after drinking, not so much about him, but other people on the road getting hurt.
Currently, after a falling out between my dh and his father, we aren't really talking. I'll say hello if I see him out an about, or will speak to him if he phones, buts that's it. He popped round just over a week ago with his driving licence, but I am thinking of writing a note to the effect we do not feel he is safe to drive, and will not be changing his details. If he can find someone else to do it, so be it, but we do not want to be party to anything that could happen because he is on the road.
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this? I have thought also about contacting dvla and letting them get in touch with him, but he gets quite angry when he doesn't get his own way.

Maybe he will get angry, but someone needs to step up here and keep him off the roads. There is guidance on the dvla section of gov.uk that might help

DVLA is your friend here. They take about seven weeks if you need a reply. So you can conveniently send off the details/ why you are worried but omit something. They will write back in seven weeks to tell you of your omission/ answer your concern. Then when you respond again they will take a further seven weeks to reply. Genuinely you can say it’s not your fault. All this time your FIL will be off the road, and then permanently.

@Rinsefirst

DVLA is your friend here. They take about seven weeks if you need a reply. So you can conveniently send off the details/ why you are worried but omit something. They will write back in seven weeks to tell you of your omission/ answer your concern. Then when you respond again they will take a further seven weeks to reply. Genuinely you can say it’s not your fault. All this time your FIL will be off the road, and then permanently.

I've just tried their email service, but due to Covid it's not currently available. On their website it says this

DVLA can only investigate where a driver has a medical condition that affects their ability to drive safely. If you have concerns over dangerous or unsafe driving which is not due to a medical condition, you should contact the police.

I think I will have to change it online just because there's a £1000 fine for failing to notify of change of address, and see what details I can miss out as there doesn't seem to be a postal form available online even though there is a choice between online and postal.

Right, just seen this and I think I can get a D1 form from the post office and fill out some details, and along with that I can write a letter explaining my concerns. That should do it.

• Photocard driving licence Complete the ‘changes’ section on letter D741 that came with your licence.

Then send both your photocard driving licence and the letter to DVLA.

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BN
If you do not have your D741, use licence application form D1 for cars or motorcycles or D2 for lorries and buses - you can get them from most Post Offices.*

Well he does have medical conditions that reduce his ability to drive effectively - he has visual loss for starters which he has to declare to the DVLA.

They are v hot on this and would ask for his permission to see his medical records - only he doesn't have much choice as without giving his permission they aren't going to let him drive.

He needs to declare the eye condition to the DVLA.

I was going to half fill in the D1 form and send it to the DVLA with a letter, but in the end decided to post the form along with his licence through his door. I wrote a note telling him why we aren't happy to fill in the form and that if he does buy a vehicle we will contact the DVLA with our concerns.
Not heard a thing, this was Saturday night. I was half expecting an angry early phone call Sunday morning.

Good decision.

well done, OP. (I was going to suggest that you cut the licence in two!)

better he throws a strop than he kills or disables someone, which sounds quite likely.

and posting stuff to DVLA is currently a good way of getting rid of it for good.

You did the right thing, OP. When you say he 'drinks a lot' do you mean he is happy to drink and drive?

@KaptainKaveman as in he's an alcoholic.