My father is in early stages, he lives in the middle of nowhere on a farm with my mum, im nearby hes the only driver and were sent his licence off because hes over 70 and you have to do it every 3 yrs hes now 76, his bday was last thrusday , but we still havnet heard if hes keeping his licence or not its stressing us all out, my mum has heart problems and hes been having pain, will they let us know by letter and will they just stop it sharply not giving us a month or so to get things in place.?
Driving
- Thread starter farmgirl
- Start date
Hi farmgirl and welcome
Driving is such a difficult issue, isn't it? I presume you 'declared' dad's diagnosis when you sent the licence in? If you did, I wonder whether they have contacted his GP for more information? Just an idea ....
Good luck
Lindy xx
Hi,
I'm new to this Forum and this is my first post..... here goes: My mum has Alzheimer's and we are currently going through the driving issue so I thought I might be able to help with your post.
We (referring to my mother and I) were told at the time of diagnosis last autumn that we were legally obliged to let the DVLA and the car insurance company know of mum's condition. We knew that might mean she would no longer be allowed to drive. Because we wanted to delay this and felt she was still capable, we put this off. But finally we knew we couldn't put it off anymore and a couple of months ago informed both. So, I'm not sure from your post whether you or your dad have specifically told the DVLA of his condition??
So, regardless of whether you have to re-apply every 3 years, you have to specifically let the DVLA and the insurance company know of your dad's situation.
In my mum's case they wrote to her medical specialist for more information on her case, and we sadly received a letter last week stating that having collected the information they needed, their medical unit have decided she can no longer drive as her "memory and/or understanding" is affected by her condition and therefore this makes driving unsafe. This is immediate - they don't give you time to make other arrangements. But they do explain how you can claim back road tax paid etc.
We can appeal although we're not sure the point as you need to supply medical evidence in support and to be quite honest, although I think my mum is still a better driver than a lot of people out there, the fact is that a) she does have Alzheimer's b) she is now only confident with familiar, short journeys in the daytime with fine weather conditions and without the distraction of any passengers - so any change to that could be dangerous for her (and other road users) - not a good sign.... c) she does forget to indicate and recently completely forgot what windscreen wipers were for and how to turn them on and d) if she were to run into problems like a flat tyre she wouldn't be able to handle it or know what the hell to do. I doubt a GP would be prepared to say she was OK to drive.
Obviously this all very distressing for her - she has always been a good driver, enjoyed it and enjoyed the independence this gives her, and unlike your dad we do live in the city so public transport and nearby shops are here. BUT it remains that you are legally obliged to inform of your dad's condition but they won't necessarily stop him from driving. But if they do then if you mum needs help getting to medical treatment/appointments and taxis aren't an option then hospitals can usually arrange transport.
Hope that was of some help, I know it's a pain - good luck
Hello farm girl
I don’t know if my personal experience on the question of driving licences in anyway helps ,but I am 84years old ( therefore required to renew my licence every 3 years )
I also have eye problems and I am required to have a stringent eye test every year for the DVLA doctors
Referring to the age restriction , the form you receive is to be completed by the named driver , it asks about general health and the requirement to notify specific medical complaints you maybe suffering
Many people I know aged over 70 just sign the form and do not notify any health problems they don’t think relevant to their driving ability
As I read your post, your contact with the DVLA was caused by their letter to your father to renew his licence (as above ) did he mention any medical information on this form??????
If not he would not be referred to the DVLA medical team and his new 3 year licence would be issued
IF he did refer to medical issues and the DVLA considered them relevant to his driving ability
The DVLA doctor would write to your father telling him they were writing to his GP or Consultant to clarify the situation and would inform him of their decision to grant another licence or not
IF the issue of a new licence is delayed through this medical enquiry
They inform you that your current licence will continue until they have reached a decision
In summary , IF your father did not mention any health issues when he filled in his licence renewal form .the delay in sending his renewal ,is not unusual and could be caused by volume of work
My impression, after completing so many medical, or renewal forms is that my existing licence , even though technically expired is still valid until they inform me otherwise
You mention that your father is in the early stages of dementia
You will find there are a number of TP members who continue to legally drive during this early stage and hopefully they can give you some assurance about their experience regarding driving/ licensing and early stages of dementia
I keep my fingers crossed for your dad and family that the delay is only caused through volume of work by the DVLA
Best Wishes
jimbo 111
I don’t know if my personal experience on the question of driving licences in anyway helps ,but I am 84years old ( therefore required to renew my licence every 3 years )
I also have eye problems and I am required to have a stringent eye test every year for the DVLA doctors
Referring to the age restriction , the form you receive is to be completed by the named driver , it asks about general health and the requirement to notify specific medical complaints you maybe suffering
Many people I know aged over 70 just sign the form and do not notify any health problems they don’t think relevant to their driving ability
As I read your post, your contact with the DVLA was caused by their letter to your father to renew his licence (as above ) did he mention any medical information on this form??????
If not he would not be referred to the DVLA medical team and his new 3 year licence would be issued
IF he did refer to medical issues and the DVLA considered them relevant to his driving ability
The DVLA doctor would write to your father telling him they were writing to his GP or Consultant to clarify the situation and would inform him of their decision to grant another licence or not
IF the issue of a new licence is delayed through this medical enquiry
They inform you that your current licence will continue until they have reached a decision
In summary , IF your father did not mention any health issues when he filled in his licence renewal form .the delay in sending his renewal ,is not unusual and could be caused by volume of work
My impression, after completing so many medical, or renewal forms is that my existing licence , even though technically expired is still valid until they inform me otherwise
You mention that your father is in the early stages of dementia
You will find there are a number of TP members who continue to legally drive during this early stage and hopefully they can give you some assurance about their experience regarding driving/ licensing and early stages of dementia
I keep my fingers crossed for your dad and family that the delay is only caused through volume of work by the DVLA
Best Wishes
jimbo 111
Hi
I was diagnosed with vascular dementia in April. I am not yet of an age for my license to be age dependant.
I informed DVLA of the diagnosis as required.
I have been concerned that perhaps the form got lost in the post as I hadn't heard anything.
Yesterday I phoned DVLA and after 30 mins on hold got a really helpful chap who told me my form had arrived, but the backlog meant that it was taking 8 weeks for them to contact people.The 8 weeks is up today, so they are expecting to write to me to tell me what the next steps are.
I expect that it will either be to contact my GP or specialist or toask me to do a driver assessment
I'm really hoping that my license is taken away as the whole experience really frightens me (strange as I am an Advanced Driver), but my wife really feels that sending my license in would be a negative thing to do!
John
I was diagnosed with vascular dementia in April. I am not yet of an age for my license to be age dependant.
I informed DVLA of the diagnosis as required.
I have been concerned that perhaps the form got lost in the post as I hadn't heard anything.
Yesterday I phoned DVLA and after 30 mins on hold got a really helpful chap who told me my form had arrived, but the backlog meant that it was taking 8 weeks for them to contact people.The 8 weeks is up today, so they are expecting to write to me to tell me what the next steps are.
I expect that it will either be to contact my GP or specialist or toask me to do a driver assessment
I'm really hoping that my license is taken away as the whole experience really frightens me (strange as I am an Advanced Driver), but my wife really feels that sending my license in would be a negative thing to do!
John
Hi farmgirl tell dad not to worry remember he hasn’t committed an offence just waiting on the DVLA see attached Section 88 Road Traffic Act 1988
The law allows you to drive while your application is being dealt with, provided that:- you drive in accordance with your previous driving licence your application is valid and was made less than a year ago you have held a driving licence before you are not
disqualified by a court you are not stopped from holding a driving licence for medical reasons (if in doubt please speak with your doctor or specialist) you drive under the condition of the driving licence applied for such as those applicable to provisional licences your bus or lorry driving licence has not been suspended by a
Traffic Commissioner your disqualification from holding a bus or lorry driving licence has not been extended If you decide to drive before you receive your driving licence and are asked by the police to produce it you may show this letter instead.
The Law: Section 88 Road Traffic Act 1988
Tony
The law allows you to drive while your application is being dealt with, provided that:- you drive in accordance with your previous driving licence your application is valid and was made less than a year ago you have held a driving licence before you are not
disqualified by a court you are not stopped from holding a driving licence for medical reasons (if in doubt please speak with your doctor or specialist) you drive under the condition of the driving licence applied for such as those applicable to provisional licences your bus or lorry driving licence has not been suspended by a
Traffic Commissioner your disqualification from holding a bus or lorry driving licence has not been extended If you decide to drive before you receive your driving licence and are asked by the police to produce it you may show this letter instead.
The Law: Section 88 Road Traffic Act 1988
Tony
It might be worth checking that it is being processed. I filled in a form for my husband when he was diagnosed with AD. We didn't hear for weeks so I rang to find out what was happening and they said they had no record of the form so would I do it all again.
Try to educate the non-driver
Hello, This is virtually a mirror of what our own situation was and father was given permission to carry on driving but I think there is more that can be done.
1. Simplify driving - No overlong journeys, none at stressful times - do everything you can to keep the driving licence for essential use.
2. Start to use taxi's for the more awkward journeys - town driving, early hospital appointments. Lie to achieve this if necessary - e.g. we have got free transport tokens.
3. Ask the non-driver to learn a bit about driving. My father's only accident - a minor carpark scrape - happened when mum was shrieking at him to drive to a particular spot so that she did not have to walk. This may mean your mum being willing to use a portable wheel chair if her mobility is restricted so that the driver is not forced into hovering in busy spots. Get a blue badge if the non-driver needs it.
Good luck.
Hello, This is virtually a mirror of what our own situation was and father was given permission to carry on driving but I think there is more that can be done.
1. Simplify driving - No overlong journeys, none at stressful times - do everything you can to keep the driving licence for essential use.
2. Start to use taxi's for the more awkward journeys - town driving, early hospital appointments. Lie to achieve this if necessary - e.g. we have got free transport tokens.
3. Ask the non-driver to learn a bit about driving. My father's only accident - a minor carpark scrape - happened when mum was shrieking at him to drive to a particular spot so that she did not have to walk. This may mean your mum being willing to use a portable wheel chair if her mobility is restricted so that the driver is not forced into hovering in busy spots. Get a blue badge if the non-driver needs it.
Good luck.
John, you have the correct perspective and it might help you to decide what to do if you have a chat with your wife about how she would feel if your fear of driving led to a fatal accident and loss of life or serious injury to a 3rd party. Trust your own instinct on this because the alternative could be so very much worse than sending in your licence.
My husband sent in his licence when he got the letter age 69 because he realised that he no longer took the correct lane position on roundabouts and was beginning to get us both into dangerous situations. We sold his car and took him off the insurance on my car. He used to miss driving it's true and we sometimes still reminisce about the many parts of the world where he drove in the past but at least now he knows he's never going to maim any innocent pedestrian or other driver.
Send it in, you know it makes sense.
My husband was diagnosed aged 62 and we told the DVLA immediately as we had been advised by the consultant. My husband's licence was taken from him and replaced by an annual one. He was assessed each year before the previous one was revoked. He actually continued to drive for four years after diagnosis.
Jay
Jay
Hello John,
isn't it funny how we all see things differently? I would see handing your license in as an act of extreme courage. It's very easy to ignore problems and just go with the flow, even when you know what you want to do...
and think of how large your taxi fund will be:
No more Car Tax
No more Car Insurance
No more Car Fuel
No more Car Parking
No more Car Maintenance
plus any resale value of your Car if it is all paid off...
Quite a pot of money to work at - with no more worries about parking, costly repair bills and you can just sit back and enjoy being chauffeured - a bit like the Queen
I say be courageous
Best wishes Elizabeth.
My husband has AD and was diagnosed 3 years ago . Informed DVAL and went for a driving test which he passed with flying colours. Now has his licence annual until further notice or re tests so far he drives well
Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
My husband has AD and was diagnosed 3 years ago . Informed DVAL and went for a driving test which he passed with flying colours. Now has his licence annual until further notice or re tests so far he drives well
Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
Same experience for us except there was no driving test, just a letter to his consultant. We are currently driving a motorhome through France and Germany and he is taking a turn of the driving albeit, less than he used to.
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