Reported to DVLA by Doctor

mollymoo

Registered User
Oct 3, 2011
11
0
The Consulant has reported by friend to the DVLA, she now has to go for a driving assessment. Does anyone know what the procedure is on the day and how stringent they are? Apparently there will be an Assessor and an Occupational Therapist present on the day.
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,448
0
Kent
I have no idea Molly.
It will be interesting to hear if anyone has had the courage to see this through.
 

Katrine

Registered User
Jan 20, 2011
2,837
0
England
If you know where the assessment is taking place it might be worth ringing them to talk about the process involved. I looked into this 3 years ago. The nearest assessment centre to us was 35 miles away and is a private centre that is licenced to do reports for DVLA. They also do assessments for anyone who wants this for themselves to help them return to driving, after a long illness for example. They were really helpful when I discussed it with them on the phone.

At the time MIL wanted to carry on driving against her family's advice and she thought she could have an assessment to get a few tips about getting her driving skills back up to speed. The problems MIL was experiencing were with judgment and processing of information, as well as visual processing following cateract surgery. That and not being able to drive more than a mile from her house because she would get lost. For various reasons she decided not to pay for an assessment. Her GPs were not very helpful, just advising her of the risks to others, blah, blah, which she just ignored.

Your friend is fortunate in having a consultant give an opinion because this helps DVLA to take action. If a specialist has notified DVLA I would say that the time for safe driving is probably past for your friend. If she wants to go through the assessment it may help her to accept this, because it will be 'official'. The alternative to being assessed would be to voluntarily surrender her licence to DVLA.

As I recall, the assessment centre said that it isn't always a pass or fail situation; sometimes they can make recommendations that will allow DVLA to issue a temporary licence with conditions on it, so the driver has more stringent monitoring than most drivers do.
 

Sox

Registered User
Mar 12, 2011
325
0
Hi - I agree with Katrine, if you can find out where the assessment will take place get your friend (or a relative) to ring and discuss the situation with them first, it does help -you should also be given a choice of test centres, so choose one where your friend is familiar with the roads. My husband had to have an assessment and I have to say the Assessor was excellent. He rang and spoke to me first so that I was able to "fill him in" about the state of my husband's driving.

At the actual assessment he went through a series of questions with my husband first, health etc then took him on an actual drive lasting about 40 minutes. He gave me the chance to go as well so that I knew exactly what had happened, then back to the Assessment centre to talk about the result. Hubby drove very well and passed and was granted a licence for 2 or 3 years (I can't now remember which).

Sadly his driving deteriorated before he was due to be reassessed and I had to contact the DVLA myself and ask for another assessment. Again the Assessor spoke to me by telephone first and was a great help. Needless to say my husband failed quite dramatically and his licence was immediately revoked. At no time did the ASsessor disclose that I had contacted the DVLA.

I hope this helps. Sox
 

grove

Registered User
Aug 24, 2010
7,714
0
North Yorkshire
Hello Molly , My Dad has Mild / Moderate Dementia for 3 Years & luckly live not far from Parents :) Dad had "3 Un Safe Driving " Problems ........ My Sister would not help to talk Dad " out of not Driving " & Mum " not able to face up to the fact Dad was not safe to Drive " :( ( had talked to her about it )

In the end had to "Report " Dad to his G P who is also my G P ........ long story but Dad had the chance to go for a Re Test in Leeds ( phoned them up & they were very helpful .......was told "they use a special Route & are looking to see how the Driver can cope driving " Safely " looking out for other driver's , stopping at traffic lights etc ) Needeles to say tho Dad "Applied & filled out the Form etc " he did not go for the Test ( he has short term memory probs & Mum knew he would fail :( )

Hope this helps & good luck to your friend ! ..... Think its a good idea to Phone the Test Centre before the Test

Love Grove x
 

mollymoo

Registered User
Oct 3, 2011
11
0
Thank you for all your comments. I personally feel that due to her short term memory she should not be driving. She often can't remember where she has been in the car, it worries me that if she knocked someone down would she remember. It would make my life harder if she did not drive but the consequences would be horrific if she was involved in an accident. Under the circumstances she probably won't be covered by her insurance company as she has not informed them becuase she dosen't realise she is suffering from dementia. Very difficult situation.
 

grove

Registered User
Aug 24, 2010
7,714
0
North Yorkshire
Hello Milly , Your friend sounds just like my Dad was before he had to stop Driving ! its not easy is it to "Help " some body to stop Driving ?. On the Postive side if & when your friend goes for a "Re Test " thats a good move & she can blame the Driving Tester if she fails the Test !


Postive Vibes its all sorted ( in a postive way ) very soon !

Best Wishes for a good outcome


Love Grove x
 

grove

Registered User
Aug 24, 2010
7,714
0
North Yorkshire
Hello Molly , P S ...... From Grove ! Am sorry for got to mention this ........ It might help or you might have the Info ( sorry if you have got it ! ) The Altz Society have written a "Dementia & Driving " Booklet ( its free via Head Office or you can down load it from the Web ! ) Its very good ( i got one via Head office ) & it gives you tips about how the "Re Test " etc & info on how to cope when you have to "give up the Car "

Hope this helps your friend & does not make her :mad: etc !

Love Grove x
 

Onlyme

Registered User
Apr 5, 2010
4,992
0
UK
Thank you for all your comments. I personally feel that due to her short term memory she should not be driving. She often can't remember where she has been in the car, it worries me that if she knocked someone down would she remember. It would make my life harder if she did not drive but the consequences would be horrific if she was involved in an accident. Under the circumstances she probably won't be covered by her insurance company as she has not informed them becuase she dosen't realise she is suffering from dementia. Very difficult situation.

Even if she fails the test there is a chance that she won't remember after a time that this has happened. You need to get her to sell the car so it is not there for her to jump in and drive off.
 

Callyann

Registered User
Nov 15, 2009
19
0
Nottinghamshire
Hi, my husband had his driving licence revoked over a year ago and still blames me, the consultant and anybody else he thinks of at the time. He was refused an assessment and I think if he'd had one and they'd told him he couldn't drive he might have accepted it better though his consultant thinks it wouldn't have made any difference. He has FTD and his behaviour is such that driving isn't an option anyone could consider.
If an assessment is offered I would take it even if just for the chance of someone else taking the blame that you probably will never see again.
 

Countryboy

Registered User
Mar 17, 2005
1,680
0
South West
The Consulant has reported by friend to the DVLA, she now has to go for a driving assessment. Does anyone know what the procedure is on the day and how stringent they are? Apparently there will be an Assessor and an Occupational Therapist present on the day.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Last Updated: May 2012


Current chapter: Psychiatric disorders

Group 1 entitlement ODL – car, motorcycle
Where there is NO OBJECTIVE impairment of cognition or function does not need to be notified to DVLA.

Where an objective impairment is present or specific treatment is required then notification should be made to allow enquiries to take place.”
 

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