Driving / ESA / DLA

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zak2012
zak2012 Posts: 326 Forumite
edited 3 August 2014 at 8:43PM in Benefits & tax credits
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  • Mr_Lawnmower
    Mr_Lawnmower Posts: 113 Forumite
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    It would be best if she asks her doctors about driving. If her doctors are happy about her driving, she should ask for that to be recorded in her medical notes.

    If her doctors have any concern about her driving, she must not drive. Depending on the circumstances, she might have a legal obligation to inform DVLA of her condition (or voluntarily surrender her licence on medical grounds) even if she is not driving.

    I hope it's good news when she asks her doctor, though the note of caution I would add is that it is a very different thing being a passenger in a car to being the driver. Just because she's OK being a passenger doesn't mean she will have no problems driving.
  • DomRavioli
    DomRavioli Posts: 3,136 Forumite
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    She would need to send off her licence with a medical form to the DVLA who will decide whether she is safe to drive by contacting medical professionals who she receives care from; she may also be asked to attend a medical screening.

    If your friend drives WITHOUT informing the DVLA of the condition, they can have their licence taken off them, and potentially prosecuted.
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,077 Forumite
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    Another thing that may affect her, is if she takes medication. Some medication for mental health issues can make someone drowsy.
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  • Mr_Lawnmower
    Mr_Lawnmower Posts: 113 Forumite
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    DomRavioli wrote: »
    She would need to send off her licence with a medical form to the DVLA who will decide whether she is safe to drive by contacting medical professionals who she receives care from; she may also be asked to attend a medical screening.

    If your friend drives WITHOUT informing the DVLA of the condition, they can have their licence taken off them, and potentially prosecuted.

    The advice to members of the public with anxiety is to talk to their doctor or consultant about driving.

    DVLA's At A Glance (for medical professionals) draws a distinction based, in part, on behavioural disturbance (see the top of page 40). I think social phobia would count as behavioural disturbance meaning there is no alternative to notification. However, I made the suggestion of talking to the doctor first, because if the person's doctor has concerns and cannot support driving, the person in question might as well voluntarily surrender her licence rather than subject herself to medical enquiries that are almost certain to lead to medical revocation.

    If you voluntarily surrender a Group 1 (car and/or motorcycle) licence on medical grounds, you can regain it later on satisfying DVLA of your medical fitness to drive.


    Driving without talking to the doctor and, if indicated or you are unsure, declaring the condition to DVLA is not an option. You commit a criminal offence by holding a licence but failing to declare a medical condition, and if you drove after failing to declare a medical condition the licence could be revoked which would also invalidate any insurance.
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