Are you allowed to drive?

purplecatlover

Atomised wrote: »

S
Why would a mental illness disqualify you from learning to drive? I suppose certain medications might interfere.

some mental illnesses can affect your judgement and make you a dangerous driver, or affect concentration which in turn affects driving, therefore if diagnosed with certain mental illnesses you are supposed to tell them and have liscense revoked or be issued with a yearly one after ou have been "stable and illness controlled" for 3 months. easier for them to blanket ban everyone with those ilnesses than assess it individually.
and yeah some meds can affect driving too, but so can meds used for other things.

[Deleted User]

purplecatlover wrote: »

some mental illnesses can affect your judgement and make you a dangerous driver, or affect concentration which in turn affects driving, therefore if diagnosed with certain mental illnesses you are supposed to tell them and have liscense revoked or be issued with a yearly one after ou have been "stable and illness controlled" for 3 months. easier for them to blanket ban everyone with those ilnesses than assess it individually.
and yeah some meds can affect driving too, but so can meds used for other things.

Indeed and many people either forget or dont know that if you are on certian meds you should not drive whilst taking them or risk a ban or if taking longer term meds you should notify DVLA.

Difficult to know which ones, docs are next to usless my GP told me I could drive because I had had 'only' had a nocturnal seizure I ignored him and phoned the DVLA anyway and surrendered my licence, good job or imagine the risks to life with seizures and in breaking the law.

Genrally though if the leaflet says they may effect operating machinery or driving then dont drive.

hayley11

_shel wrote: »

Indeed and many people either forget or dont know that if you are on certian meds you should not drive whilst taking them or risk a ban or if taking longer term meds you should notify DVLA.

Difficult to know which ones, docs are next to usless my GP told me I could drive because I had had 'only' had a nocturnal seizure I ignored him and phoned the DVLA anyway and surrendered my licence, good job or imagine the risks to life with seizures and in breaking the law.

Genrally though if the leaflet says they may effect operating machinery or driving then dont drive.

My dad had a nocturnal seizure earlier this year, it's the one and only seizure he's ever had but the doctor asked him he drives (he doesn't) and the doctor said if he did, he wouldn't be allowed to drive for 6 months.

hayley11

soolin wrote: »

In some areas of London you can also access 'Dial A Ride' as well and although I am fully aware of the problems it is having it has it does mean you can get direct to some places that public transport doesn't reach.

Worth a look if you are in the right areas.

We can either have the bus pass or travel vouchers which we can use for things like ring n ride. I think it's a shame we can't have one or the other really because for some people, they can get on a bus some days or if somebody is with them but other days they can't and therefore have to pay for taxis. I do understand why it's either or though.

[Deleted User]

hayley11 wrote: »

I can't get a license because I can't see well enough. I'd absolutely love to be able to drive though, I would love that freedom.

I was reading a leaflet the other day and it said you qualified for a bus pass if you don't meet the requirements for a driving license, I don't think you have to be registered disabled. That was for Manchester though but as they now have one national pass i'm sure it would be the same all over the country.

It varies from area to area,in manchester i get the pass due to my epilepsy,however my wife gets HRM dla but doesnt qualify,in other areas she would.on the plus side in manchester we get free tram and local train travel with the pass which other areas dont get.

Jibbajabba

My driving license was revoked after 23 years due to mental health problems and I haven't been able to get it back as my condition isn't stable for long enough to meet the requirements. I haven't missed the flexibility of driving a car as my life just revolves around hospital and appointments now but I do get fed up with some of the looks of other passengers (and drivers) who decide that I'm not elderly or disabled enough to have a pass as I can 'look' well. Same problem as some get with the 'blue badge'.

The other advantage of not being able to drive is that it saves on insurance, maintenance and the worry of accidents and uninsured drivers causing problems. Living in a more rural area is a pain though as there isn't always a bus service.

[Deleted User]

hayley11 wrote: »

My dad had a nocturnal seizure earlier this year, it's the one and only seizure he's ever had but the doctor asked him he drives (he doesn't) and the doctor said if he did, he wouldn't be allowed to drive for 6 months.

Atomised wrote: »

I'm on daily meds but they are safe to drive on. When I asked the consultant last time if I could learn to drive she said yes , but after reading up about the procedure I need it looks unlikely ,so I guess checking with the DVLA instead of doctors is best!

Some doctors really are useless! Surprising so many do not know the rules because they also have a legal responsibility to inform the DVLA if they know someone has a condition and is driving when they shouldnt be and can get a big fine same as the person who is driving!

For seizures epilepsy action has some really good info http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving
For seizures you have to stop driving for a year, if seizure free you can get your licence back. If nocturnal only you can get it back after 3 years, which is what I am waiting for.

The DVLA has more info for other conditions but it is heavy to wade through to get the information you need. I found the people on the medical enquiry line knew all of the rules. http://www.dvla.gov.uk/medical.aspx

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/DG_4022415

woodbine wrote: »

It varies from area to area,in manchester i get the pass due to my epilepsy,however my wife gets HRM dla but doesnt qualify,in other areas she would.on the plus side in manchester we get free tram and local train travel with the pass which other areas dont get.

How is that possible? Surely if she gets HRM she she has limited ability to walk and should be eligible? *scratches head at the confilicting gov rules*

hayley11

woodbine wrote: »

It varies from area to area,in manchester i get the pass due to my epilepsy,however my wife gets HRM dla but doesnt qualify,in other areas she would.on the plus side in manchester we get free tram and local train travel with the pass which other areas dont get.

That's strange. Can she drive? Or would she get a license if she applied? Because if she can't get a license then she is entitled to one.

I agree the pass in Manchester is good for the trams and trains. In Gloucester my mum can get somebody on the bus with her for free but she can't use that anywhere else.

seanparkin

Not always a great loss! I personally love my cars (I'm an amateur rally driver), but I would be more than happy to be able to give them up (I'd still need to keep the car though entirely for sport! )

Unfortunately, I can't though! I need it for work.

hippo18

I was refused a licence by the DVLA when I was 19 as i have no periforal vison on the right of both eyes! I was devistated at the time as all my mates were learning to drive..but I'm older and wider(!!) now and use my bus pass and taxis a great deal. I've just invested in a mobility scooter which is great and gives me more independence and hours of time around the shops - but the best thing is that I can now 'storm off' when the kids get lippy, I just love it!!