Reported DM to DVLA..... was I wrong?

[Shesalittlemadam]

Hi please be kind! I didn't do this to be malicious. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing, but now I'm not sure...

My DM has had Cornea Transplants on each eye due to a Dystrophy she has. This has vastly improved her vision and after a suitable number of months, she was given the go ahead to continue driving.

She's a fab driver. Used to race in the 60s and knows her way round an engine even! (Not that they are required to be one of course)
In my 36 years I've never known her to have so much as a single bump and only 2 speeding tickets. If no claims bonuses exceeded 15 yrs, then she'd have about 36 to maybe 40+ years!
So yeah, for 75 years of age she is an unusually competent, decent driver.

However,

The one issue she does have, is that when driving at night, she says "I struggle a bit with glare from lights" (quote). Therefore, sensibly, she avoids driving at night. Great. Although if she needs to drive then she will do.
This is what worries me. I've tried talking to her calmly & in a friendly way about not driving after sunset (or on dark days) AT ALL and well, it did not go down well....

So I checked the DVLA website and sure enough, although they are aware of her eye condition, it does say that you must inform them if you suffer from 'Night Blindness' at all.
I asked her if she had and of course, no she hadn't. I got a huge mouthful for even asking...!

Cue more worrying and reading of a horror story article and I submitted a report to the DVLA.....

Today she got the letter and understandably, has Hit. The. Roof!!!! Had a huge go at me about how I've tried to ruin her life and destroy her independence and quite understandably, wont listen to my reasons for doing it. She now is no longer speaking to me. Which I get 🤷🏼‍♀️

Now I'm wondering if what she said she struggled with "glare from lights" is actually the same thing as 'Night blindness??'

I just worry so much that she's going to kill herself or someone else and/or spend the rest of her life in prison 😳

Did I do the right thing??? 😢

Please don't be too harsh, I can take on board criticism if delivered in a reasonable manner!

Thanks

That was a terrible thing to do.

She has been given the all clear to drive and and had already said she wouldn't drive at night

I'd be furious with you, this will be life changing for her

I have astigmatism and have always have had and don’t have a problem with glare from headlights at night. It is not a problem that most people have and just driving slower at night makes you more of a problem.
If the doctors decide she doesn’t have night blindness then the DVLA will give her back her licence. Kicking the OP because you’re anonymous behind a keyboard won’t change what has happened.

@Shesalittlemadam - if you reported 'night blindness' to the DVLA I think you need to pick up the phone this afternoon and tell them that you misunderstood the term and that your report no longer stands. That is the very least you can do.

Don't get bogged down in what a stupid thing you've done; be proactive and start sorting out the situation.

You could also pay for her to have an eye test and submit the report (presumably showing no night blindness) to the DVLA to try and start mending this.

You can get polarised glasses for night time driving if you suffer with the glare of lights.
Did you look into this at all before reporting her?
Do some research like HERE ON AMAZON

Have the DVLA now totally banned her from driving after sunset?
Could she get that back if she can prove she can drive at night?
Not sure how that would happen?

Another one who struggles with glare from halogen headlights due to astigmatism. I manage it the same as your DM. I only drive at night if I HAVE to. Have never had an accident. I am 47.

You should have asked before doing this.

When you can get a daylight not that is not valid at night it seems entirely reasonable to expect people to be able to restrain their driving to daylight hours...

Yes, you did wrong OP.
I agree you should call DVLA and retract your report because you had no idea what night blindness was.
You should also apologise to your DM and do everything to help her get her license reinstated.

Why didn’t you bother to actually look up google “night blindness”? You were lazy and wrong.
The glare problem at night is common, her response to avoid is right.

Daylight MOT.

Absolutely unreasonable and bang out of order. Headlights these days are ridiculously bright, I wear glasses to drive which makes the glare worse. You're really saying you've never been bothered by other cars headlights when driving in the dark? I would be fuming with your meddling.

Night blindness is defined as a condition making it difficult or impossible to see in relatively low light, involving failure to adapt properly to darkness. It has nothing to do with difficulty with glare. Why on earth didn't you check before reporting? It's not as if it's difficult to find out.

Time to grovel to your mother, I think.

I would be annoyed if my Son did this to me. I don't like driving at night because of some peoples horrible head lights, I wear glasses and this can make matters worse in a glare situation.

I bought a tinted anti glare thing,that you clip onto the sun visor, its great for bright lights,and a low sun situation that can almost blind you.

It was bought online and was cheap to buy.

Ignore the poster who suggested giving her sunglasses to wear when driving at night, that is a whole other level of madness.

Sellers of night driving glasses claim that they are effective at reducing glare and dazzle at night, and if you've tried them, then you might feel that they work, especially if your eyes are particularly photosensitive. However, there is no scientific proof that they work.
In fact, the yellow tint – while making it feel like you can 'see' better – can reduce visibility in the same way that wearing sunglasses at night will, albeit not quite as severely. In reality, yellow tinted glasses are more effective in foggy or hazy conditions rather than for combatting headlight glare.

I would be absolutely livid with you OP. I struggle driving at night in my rural location but only as previous posters have said, because of modern headlights. My eyesight is perfect. You massively overstepped the mark

Well fair enough, what's done is done and I'm sure the OP is feeling remorseful. However, it could take a long time to get back the surrendered licence, and OP's Mum will be significantly affected.

A relative has just got his licence back after a health problem which was surgically corrected (pacemaker) a full year ago. It has been endless back and forth between GP, consultant and DVLA.

Maybe he was unlucky but the fact remains that not driving all this time has knocked his confidence. He is 35 not 75 btw! I feel so sorry for OP's Mum.

@msmith501 has it:
Dear Mum... I thought I'd remove your freedom to have a life of your own. Signed OP.

I can't believe you did this. Absolutely no right to - regardless of your concerns. It's like your mum isn't an independent person, capable of making her own decisions? Madness.

Huge overreaction on your part OP😳

I’m sorry but ‘glare from the lights’ is NOT night blindness. With glasses I have 20/20 vision, yet get glare from lights at night time. I would say nearly every person needing glasses gets night glare. What you have done is appalling and your mother has every reason and right to be angry with you. Pure ignorance.

I also would be LIVID! I don't drive after dusk because headlights dazzle me (unless in well lit areas).

I'm angry at you on your mum's behalf. It is a long winded process to get your licence back once removed!

The lights in most modern cars are hideously bright, I think its a safety issue for most drivers as they can be very distracting. From what you've said she does have night blindness. However, if she is having any difficulty she needs to get tested for her own and everyone else safety.

Why on earth did you do that? It's not even night blindness! I would disown you, get a test done and get my goddamned licence back. What an interfering madam you are!

I hate driving at night. My corrected vision with glasses or contacts is fine but the dazzle from the hideous new LED lights is really uncomfortable. I drive a car with hideous bright LED lights so can't complain too much about them but they are awful to stare at. Especially on higher up SUVs.

There have been studies done that indicate huge percentages of drivers get dazzled by these new lights. They shouldn't all have their licences taken off them.

I understand where your concerns were coming from but I think it was a bit of an over reaction

My comment should say does NOT have night blindness. Sorry.