Warning: driving licence revoked for no reason!

Strider590

Trebor16 wrote: »

And that is something that is not always age related. There are plenty of drivers out there who do not have the capacity to drive safely.

I agree with that, I really do. It would be great if we had a system to weed out poor drivers and particularly those without knowledge of the highway code. I'm all for 5 or 10 year retesting intervals (theory and practical).
However my point is that we have in place a very simple way in which we can weed out poor drivers in the upper age groups, yet we consistently fail to do so.

I don't have the exact figure's but it's something like 25(ish) elderly women and 50(ish) elderly men have their license revoked each year, but when you consider how more of us are now living a lot longer, those figure's show a consistent failure in the system.

asbokid

Hammyman wrote: »

A letter from the GP is not sufficient, DVLA have forms for driver medicals and can also request medical files. This is to stop GPs, some who have quite close relations with their patients, from being biased.

Chronic alcoholism and drug abuse are two another categories of medical conditions which are notifiable to the DVLA.

Those with multiple convictions for drink driving are expected to show that they have been alcohol-free for n months before their licence is re-issued by DVLA. Their abstention is 'proved' through a series of blood or urine tests taken over a period of time.

I have heard of unscrupulous private doctors who are willing to falsify those alcohol tests, for a hefty fee. There is one doctor whose reputation for cooking-the-books is notorious. Drunk drivers travel from miles around to visit him for his "special" tests.

LittleMissAspie

Strider590 wrote: »

Also, if you want to save money..... Get rid of the car and use a Taxi. Would you do enough journeys to clock up more than say £80 a week in taxi fares? if not then a taxi is a cheaper option, because running a car costs anything from £65 a week and up.

£260 a month and up? What kind of tank are you driving? Our car costs £140 a month, that's insurance, service, maintenance, MOT, tax and diesel. 15 miles each way commute 3-4 days a week plus going out at weekends and doing shopping and visiting family. A monthly bus pass is £80, so our car is even cheaper than the bus.

Flyboy152

asbokid wrote: »

Chronic alcoholism and drug abuse are two another categories of medical conditions which are notifiable to the DVLA.

Those with multiple convictions for drink driving are expected to show that they have been alcohol-free for n months before their licence is re-issued by DVLA. Their abstention is 'proved' through a series of blood or urine tests taken over a period of time.

I have heard of unscrupulous private doctors who are willing to falsify those alcohol tests, for a hefty fee. There is one doctor whose reputation for cooking-the-books is notorious. Drunk drivers travel from miles around to visit him for his "special" tests.

As is diabetes.

Strider590

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

£260 a month and up? What kind of tank are you driving? Our car costs £140 a month, that's insurance, service, maintenance, MOT, tax and diesel. 15 miles each way commute 3-4 days a week plus going out at weekends and doing shopping and visiting family. A monthly bus pass is £80, so our car is even cheaper than the bus.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/running_costs/

Cost per / 12 = cost per month

+ running costs per mile


I think people don't realise just how much it costs to have a car sitting on the drive and that guide doesn't even take into consideration the finance/credit agreement costs that many motorists have.

mikey72

Strider590 wrote: »

Ok, my posts came across a little strongly and somewhat unfairly directed.... But they only reflect my strength of my belief that the system currently allows many drivers to keep their license when in fact they are a menace on the roads.

Every few months we see stories like this one and yet we are constantly told that speeding is the only thing that causes accidents.
At least the Americans admit that elderly drivers are a major problem, we fail to do so because it's not politically correct!!

When I get to a point where im unable to drive at an acceptable speed and long processions of drivers are passing me whilst leaning on the horn, I will put my hands up and say "please take my drivers licence away".

If you ever need any help, I sure anyone on this board would support you.

LittleMissAspie

Strider590 wrote: »

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/running_costs/

Cost per / 12 = cost per month

+ running costs per mile


I think people don't realise just how much it costs to have a car sitting on the drive and that guide doesn't even take into consideration the finance/credit agreement costs that many motorists have.

But that file doesn't even make sense. Why have they based the fuel cost on the price of the car when new? It depends on the size of the engine and efficiency, not price of the car. The insurance costs look way too high to me. I assume "capital" means the cost of any finance (it says see note A, B etc but I can't see where those notes are anywhere) but not everyone takes out finance. And the tax they've used, there are far more bands than that.

Maybe a lot people don't realise how it all adds up, but they need a guide to add up their own personal costs, not something so general as this that it's way off.

Edit: it also says it's based on buying the car brand new and replacing it after four years. You have to be a money wasting expert to do that. I don't think this is representative of most people in the slightest. The only people I've ever known to buy a brand new car is my parents, that was 12 years ago and they're still driving it.

mikey72

Strider590 wrote: »

Ok, my posts came across a little strongly and somewhat unfairly directed.... But they only reflect my strength of my belief that the system currently allows many drivers to keep their license when in fact they are a menace on the roads.

Every few months we see stories like this one and yet we are constantly told that speeding is the only thing that causes accidents.
At least the Americans admit that elderly drivers are a major problem, we fail to do so because it's not politically correct!!

When I get to a point where im unable to drive at an acceptable speed and long processions of drivers are passing me whilst leaning on the horn, I will put my hands up and say "please take my drivers licence away".

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Nottingham-man-high-speed-away-wrong-motorway/story-12236018-detail/story.html

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4394543.Brighton_man_dies_driving_car_wrong_way_down_motorway/


Well, saying as the next driver is 48, and the other one is 27, maybe it the motorways we should close, as that's the only common factor.
For every "pensioner has an accident" story, there's going to be a lot more "non pensioner has a similar accident" story.

(By the way, you never answered the question on your accident, so are we all right in assuming you've now lost your ncd?)

Hammyman

Strider590 wrote: »

When I get to a point where im unable to drive at an acceptable speed and long processions of drivers are passing me whilst leaning on the horn, I will put my hands up and say "please take my drivers licence away".

Why wouldn't you surrender it voluntarily?

Hammyman

Strider590 wrote: »

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/running_costs/

Cost per / 12 = cost per month

+ running costs per mile


I think people don't realise just how much it costs to have a car sitting on the drive and that guide doesn't even take into consideration the finance/credit agreement costs that many motorists have.

That guide is so way out it is beyond belief.

According to that, because my car was £21k when new:

• my VED is £210 - WRONG, its £130
• my insurance is £1210 - WRONG, its £207 FC.
• depreciation is £3279 - my car isn't even worth that.
• Breakdown cover is £50 - I use Tesco Clubcard points.

That guide is so departed from reality as not to be worth a toss.

For me to have my car sat on the road and not turning a wheel, it costs me just over £12 a week.