DVLA medical

RavenBlack247

My driving license was revoked due to alcohol dependency. I declared it (stupid but honest) I wasn’t convicted.
After the 1yr required sobriety, my Dr completed the DD2 for, confirming this and my fitness to drive.
The DVLA say i need an independent medical examination and this is mandatory if dependant on alcohol.
i can only find in their medical guidance that they ‘may’ request a Medical Examination though. It says ‘will’ in other sections e.g. alcoholic seizures that do not apply to me.
They also cannot currently tell me when I can have their medical due to Covid19 closures, plus no doubt there will be another delay due to everyone else who’s been waiting. My son’s got ASD, my DH is a critical worker. I need my license.
How do I successfully argue I don’t need a Medical Examination?
Please help

452

RavenBlack247 said:

My driving license was revoked due to alcohol dependency. I declared it (stupid but honest) I wasn’t convicted.
After the 1yr required sobriety, my Dr completed the DD2 for, confirming this and my fitness to drive.
The DVLA say i need an independent medical examination and this is mandatory if dependant on alcohol.
i can only find in their medical guidance that they ‘may’ request a Medical Examination though. It says ‘will’ in other sections e.g. alcoholic seizures that do not apply to me.
They also cannot currently tell me when I can have their medical due to Covid19 closures, plus no doubt there will be another delay due to everyone else who’s been waiting. My son’s got ASD, my DH is a critical worker. I need my license.
How do I successfully argue I don’t need a Medical Examination?
Please help

You provide independent medical evidence you're fit to drive. 

RavenBlack247

I have, my Dr completed the DVLA questionnaire and did bloods, showing normal liver function etc.
They say they need to do DVLA medical examination and can’t provide my license based on my GP completion of DVLA paperwork confirming I’m okay to drive.
its bonkers 

MinuteNoodles

You won't be getting your licence any time soon anyway as the DVLA medical section are short staffing and really only processing key workers, mainly concentrating on LGV licence holders and even we're being given licence extensions of 12 months if we're due our medicals.

You may want to clarify what is meant by an independent medical. They may deem that your GP is not independent given that GPs tend to have a relationship with their patients.

AdrianC

Considering you haven't driven for over a year, "I need my licence" doesn't go very far, since you've been coping just fine without. And, whilst you weren't convicted, can you hand-on-heart say you never drove while over the limit before?

DVLA have to err on the side of safety. And that means keeping people in your position off the road until they can be sure your medical issues are resolved. YOU don't decide whether you need the examination or not - just think about that for a moment... If it was that simple, everybody who would fail would say "Oh, no, I don't need one."

Good luck defeating with your dependency.

KatyB121

I suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage in April last year. I informed the DVLA and was advised that I would not be able to drive for 6 months and to send my licence back to them which I did. My neurosurgeon consultant advised in November 2019 that he was happy for me to reapply for my licence which I did. I reapplied for my licence in mid November,  the DVLA wrote to my neurosurgeon consultant then a couple of weeks later I received a letter from them asking if I had seen a neurosurgeon?, I informed them that they had already received information from my neurosurgeon consultant to which I was told no that was your consultant we now need information from your neurosurgeon! I was sent to Specsavers opticians for an eye test as they are the only opticians the DVLA work with unfortunately, the DVLA couldn't make a decision based on the results from Specsavers, I was then told that I would have to have another test done at a hospital over 4 hours away from my home which according to them is my local hospital! It has now been 3 weeks since my eye test, the results were sent to the DVLA mid June, I called to be told that the medical team had received them on the 6th July! I have lost my job due to length of time this incompetent department have taken, I do not know anywhere else that could treat the public like this and still be in business. I am just so frustrated by the way that the DVLA behave and are accountable for nothing.

MinuteNoodles

KatyB121 said:

 It has now been 3 weeks since my eye test, the results were sent to the DVLA mid June, I called to be told that the medical team had received them on the 6th July! I have lost my job due to length of time this incompetent department have taken, I do not know anywhere else that could treat the public like this and still be in business. I am just so frustrated by the way that the DVLA behave and are accountable for nothing.

The DVLA are running on minimum staffing because if you've not been aware there's been a bit of a pandemic on and it's still on the go and as I said they're prioritising processing licences for vocational drivers and some groups of key workers.

No idea why you've just lost your job given you've not been able to drive for 14 months already.