DVLA medical nightmare!

StarGirl92

Hi Everyone, hoping to get some advice re DVLA medicals.

I havent driven for around 18 months because where I loved had great public transport so there was just no need. I have now got a new job that requires me to drive so I reapplied for my now expired license (didnt even realised it had expired!)

A few years ago I had siezures that were put down drinking to much (stupid I know!) But I now no longer drink and havent for nearly a year. The DVLA want me to have a medical before I get my license back and I'm really worried about it. As far as I was aware blood tests for alcohol are for high risk offenders and considering I never had so much as a speeding ticket I feel like I'm being sentenced for a crime I didnt commit! They have already got reports from my GP so I dont know why the DVLA want an independant blood test despite me being truthful and saying I havent drunk. Is this the world we live in where people are now guilty until proven innocent!!

If I have no license I have no job, so I'm terrified of the outcome.

Thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

StarGirl92 wrote: »

Hi Everyone, hoping to get some advice re DVLA medicals.

I havent driven for around 18 months because where I loved had great public transport so there was just no need. I have now got a new job that requires me to drive so I reapplied for my now expired license (didnt even realised it had expired!)

A few years ago I had siezures that were put down drinking to much (stupid I know!) But I now no longer drink and havent for nearly a year. The DVLA want me to have a medical before I get my license back and I'm really worried about it. As far as I was aware blood tests for alcohol are for high risk offenders and considering I never had so much as a speeding ticket I feel like I'm being sentenced for a crime I didnt commit! They have already got reports from my GP so I dont know why the DVLA want an independant blood test despite me being truthful and saying I havent drunk. Is this the world we live in where people are now guilty until proven innocent!!

If I have no license I have no job, so I'm terrified of the outcome.

Thanks in advance!

Yup that's exactly the world we live in when it comes to protecting road users and pedestrians from drink drivers and someone likely to have a seizure at the wheel and kill them.

I have had epilepsy from birth but have been allowed to drive at points. Had to jump through hoops, have medicals and wait extremely long times while they assessed it.i didn't feel I was being punished. They're protecting you and the public.

martinthebandit

Is having a blood test really such an issue? It's almost like you believe there is some reason that the test outcome may not be as favourable as you want.

Tom99

Exactly what blood test have the asked for?

Car_54

OP, how did your licence expire?


This could be a dark matter.

AdrianC

StarGirl92 wrote: »

I havent driven for around 18 months because where I loved had great public transport so there was just no need. I have now got a new job that requires me to drive so I reapplied for my now expired license (didnt even realised it had expired!)

Photocards expire every 10yrs.
Licence entitlements don't normally expire until your 70th birthday.

A few years ago I had siezures that were put down drinking to much (stupid I know!) But I now no longer drink and havent for nearly a year. The DVLA want me to have a medical before I get my license back and I'm really worried about it.

Why worried? You had alcohol-related medical issues that you no longer have, because you no longer drink, so the medical should be a formality... Right?

As far as I was aware blood tests for alcohol are for high risk offenders

No, they're for people who've had medical issues relating to alcohol which would affect their driving.

Nobody wants to share the roads with people prone to seizures, right? So it's only a sensible precaution to make sure that the risk factor no longer applies.

They have already got reports from my GP so I dont know why the DVLA want an independant blood test despite me being truthful and saying I havent drunk. Is this the world we live in where people are now guilty until proven innocent!!

No, it's a world where driving is a privilege, not a right, and medical issues which affect the safety of others take precedence over your convenience. And DVLA have a legal responsibility to err on the side of caution.

I don't think that's particularly controversial, do you?

shinytop

StarGirl92 wrote: »

Hi Everyone, hoping to get some advice re DVLA medicals.

I havent driven for around 18 months because where I loved had great public transport so there was just no need. I have now got a new job that requires me to drive so I reapplied for my now expired license (didnt even realised it had expired!)

A few years ago I had siezures that were put down drinking to much (stupid I know!) But I now no longer drink and havent for nearly a year. The DVLA want me to have a medical before I get my license back and I'm really worried about it. As far as I was aware blood tests for alcohol are for high risk offenders and considering I never had so much as a speeding ticket I feel like I'm being sentenced for a crime I didnt commit! They have already got reports from my GP so I dont know why the DVLA want an independant blood test despite me being truthful and saying I havent drunk. Is this the world we live in where people are now guilty until proven innocent!!

If I have no license I have no job, so I'm terrified of the outcome.

Thanks in advance!

I have direct experience helping someone close with exactly the same issue. DVLA just want to know that you're not dependent on alcohol and are not likely to have any more siezures. One of the ways that they know if you are dependant is if you can't give an alcohol free blood test. One of the ways they think you might be dependant is if you have other indicators show up such as impaired liver fuction. What you need is an alcohol free blood test and support from your GP that you are not dependent on alcohol or are likely to have a more siezures. A negative on the other indicators will help. You then have to fill in a lot of forms and maybe make some chasing phone calls. DVLA are slow and overworked. It's not an easy process and can be very frustrating.

Good luck!

cajef

Why is it a nightmare to provide a simple blood test to prove you have no alcohol in your system, in view of the fact you need to get your licence back I would have thought you would be happy to provide one.

malky39

AdrianC wrote: »

Photocards expire every 10yrs.
Licence entitlements don't normally expire until your 70th birthday.

But licences can be restricted to anywhere between 1-5 years for medical reasons. Which would probably of happened due to the OP seizures

AdrianC

Hence "normally".

mattyprice4004

If you’ve nothing to hide you’ve nothing to fear.
I’m glad they’re taking a hard line - get the test, or don’t drive. Safer for everyone!