DVLA - Blind in one eye

babyshoes

Why not phone the DVLA on your friend's behalf without giving names etc, and ask them what their position is on this - ie that he isn't sure if he informed them at the time, does he need to inform them officially now?

michaelvintner

Read page 40 on the PDF attached to this. Answers a llot of questions.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/medical/ataglance.aspx

bunking_off

The situation is very much like Diabetes. If you're tablet-controlled diabetic, then you're required to inform the DVLA. Almost always they will allow you to continue to drive, but that does not negate the legal requirement to inform.

For monocular vision, you're doubtless required to notify. It may well be, as Inactive asserts, that the OP's mate will be allowed to continue, but that does not negate the legal requirement to inform the DVLA. If they have a prang there's every likelihood that non-notification will be brought into the mix.

sar050680

Being blind in one eye myself, I'll tell you my driving story. Passed test at 17, DVLA were informed and I think the OP's friend should notify them ASAP. I have had a few bumps in 16 yrs of driving, nothing major, and nothing in the last 10 yrs due to growing up and driving sensibly. The DVLA had my application form 16 yrs ago and they have never questioned my ability to drive.

p.s. I read the number plate in the daylight and that is the only eye test I've had for driving.

Paul.

aaronoxf

I can also shed some light on this as a "been there, done that" type of way.

I passed my test at 17 years old, similar to above and told the DVLA, they basically said that they dont care and if I was born with it then they dont care about it. Makes me laugh when these so called experts crop up.

As for the range of vision and judging distances. I have actually been tested and can judge distances and have dept of vision, some how!

alanrowell

maninthestreet wrote: »

This does worry me - with only one eye you can't judge distances, which is quite important when driving.....

I've flown gliders, powered aircraft and paragliders for years without crashing. Guess I better stop as I can't judge distances

Indie_Kid

Inactive wrote: »

All that matters is the fact that he can read a number plate in good daylight at the prescribed distance, that is all the law requires to drive a motor car.

He can do that, so there is no problem, regarding his eyesight.

This is not true:
I have a friend who has full vision in one eye and partial vision in the other. He managed to read the number plate and still had to undergo a few eye tests before he was deemed safe enough to drive.

I can read a number plate that distance; but it would not under any circumstances be safe for me to drive. I have been advised against driving and personally don't feel safe at all.

DirectDebacle

aaronoxf wrote: »

I can also shed some light on this as a "been there, done that" type of way.

I passed my test at 17 years old, similar to above and told the DVLA, they basically said that they dont care and if I was born with it then they dont care about it. Makes me laugh when these so called experts crop up.

As for the range of vision and judging distances. I have actually been tested and can judge distances and have dept of vision, some how!

That was the whole point of the OPs question. The OPs friend withheld the information from the DVLA. Therefore they have been denied the opportunity to make any decision on fitness to drive. The 'experts' have been advising that the DVLA should be informed.

david39

I have glaucoma in one eye - the other eye is fine. Glaucoma affects peripheral vision. I informed the DVLA of my condition and they made me take a field test, which I passed OK.

I maintain that my two eyes, even with a slightly affected one, can see a wider field of view than the person with one eye.

Has the OP's friend taken a field test with his good eye? If not he may be driving with one blind eye and the other with poor peripheral vision - you are not aware of the problem yourself - it needs to be done with a machine operated by an optician.

If I, with better peripheral vision than a single eye need to go through a DVLA test, then it follows that a person with only one eye should inform the DVLA and let them decide. If, after that, the person is still allowed to drive, then any subsequent accident cannot be blamed on his disability.

He should take the bull by the horns, tell the DVLA and get a ruling on it - even if the answer is "We do not need to know."

He says he is worried that the DVLA might stop him driving which will cause him problems in getting to work. Does he not worry even more that his disability might involve him in an accident that will stop him going to work anyway - even by bus?

iregretitall

Thanks everyone, a great list of points here for me to print out and pass on :-D