Licence removed on medical grounds

ashpan

Hi my 87 yr old mum informed the DVLA that she had a heart condition which makes her easily tired, she told them she last saw her GP last august and is effectively medicated but she mistakenly ticked the box which asked if she had 'dizziness or fainting' (which shes never had) so they removed her licence
We have since sent in a letter from the GP 2 months ago confirming she is fit to drive and this was always the case as mum had just made an error
We are going around in circles with DVLA, they say they're on strike so wont answer calls, there's no online chat and they're not responding to her emails
She is completely lost without her car and is officially fit to drive but unable to get the DVLA to respond to her requests to get her licence back
Any one else experienced this or know how to get through to them!??

 

DB1904

If you've written to the DVLA there will be a considerable delay in them responding. 

ashpan

its pretty bad that shes having to wait so long, she cant even remember her license number as she had to send it in when they revoked it so we cant even complain as they need the number - the words 'head, brick and wall' come to mind!

yksi

The DVLA is taking months to process anything and has been like this for the past year. In some cases it's over 6 months, my son was without the passport he needed to fly home, some people have been without residence permits and haven't been able to start new jobs, and ended up penniless and unable to support themselves. Complaining will get you nowhere because her paperwork will be in a random bag of mail somewhere in the Swansea office. The answer to your question on how to get hold of them is "you can't" or "there's no point anyway" (it took us 186 redials and two hours of hitting "redial" before I got them on the phone, only to be told they're sorry about the delay but can't offer any information on when it will be dealt with and no there's nobody else who knows or can help you).

Sorry but you'll just have to teach her how to order an Uber. Who knows, this might be the freedom she didn't know she was looking for.

AdrianC

ashpan said:

its pretty bad that shes having to wait so long, she cant even remember her license number as she had to send it in when they revoked it so we cant even complain as they need the number - the words 'head, brick and wall' come to mind!

At 87, could this be age-related cognitive impairment of some form? Is it for the best that she's not driving?

unforeseen

AdrianC said:

ashpan said:

its pretty bad that shes having to wait so long, she cant even remember her license number as she had to send it in when they revoked it so we cant even complain as they need the number - the words 'head, brick and wall' come to mind!

At 87, could this be age-related cognitive impairment of some form? Is it for the best that she's not driving?

Because she can't remember her licence number? I doubt it.
I don't remember mine because it is very rarely that I need to use it, however I remember things like bank account numbers, my old service number (even though I left the forces 16 years ago) because they are in regular use or have been used so much it gets imprinted on your mind

AdrianC

Not necessarily that on its own, but the whole saga of "wrongly" surrendering her licence on health grounds.

ashpan

AdrianC said:

Not necessarily that on its own, but the whole saga of "wrongly" surrendering her licence on health grounds.

you could be right, in some ways we really don't want her to drive again but its a double edged sword - loosing her independence is having an impact on her mental health - motivation, socialising etc but driving may not be the best thing for her in terms of her age, judgement, decision making etc. She did have an assessment by some  independent to assess her driving skills two years ago and she came out as being perfectly capable but lockdown has affected her negatively as it has everyone

AdrianC

ashpan said:

AdrianC said:

Not necessarily that on its own, but the whole saga of "wrongly" surrendering her licence on health grounds.

you could be right, in some ways we really don't want her to drive again but its a double edged sword - loosing her independence is having an impact on her mental health - motivation, socialising etc but driving may not be the best thing for her in terms of her age, judgement, decision making etc. She did have an assessment by some  independent to assess her driving skills two years ago and she came out as being perfectly capable but lockdown has affected her negatively as it has everyone

I presume she doesn't do big mileage...? Taxi account? It may even work out cheaper than owning a car, especially as I'd imagine insurance for an 87yo is not going to be cheap. Mobility scooter?

Losing independence is hard - but leaving it too late to hang up the keys can be even harder.

The elderly lady over the road from our old place only took the hint when she did the usual wrong-pedal thing and launched her car over a low wall. Fortunately, nobody was hurt...

Marvel1

unforeseen said:

AdrianC said:

ashpan said:

its pretty bad that shes having to wait so long, she cant even remember her license number as she had to send it in when they revoked it so we cant even complain as they need the number - the words 'head, brick and wall' come to mind!

At 87, could this be age-related cognitive impairment of some form? Is it for the best that she's not driving?

Because she can't remember her licence number? I doubt it.
I don't remember mine because it is very rarely that I need to use it, however I remember things like bank account numbers, my old service number (even though I left the forces 16 years ago) because they are in regular use or have been used so much it gets imprinted on your mind

This, it's  not that I can't it remember it, it's more I don't know what it is in the first place to memorize it.

Grumpy_chap

ashpan said:

Hi my 87 yr old mum informed the DVLA that she had a heart condition which makes her easily tired, she told them she last saw her GP last august and is effectively medicated but she mistakenly ticked the box which asked if she had 'dizziness or fainting' (which shes never had) so they removed her licence
We have since sent in a letter from the GP 2 months ago confirming she is fit to drive and this was always the case as mum had just made an error
We are going around in circles with DVLA, they say they're on strike so wont answer calls, there's no online chat and they're not responding to her emails
She is completely lost without her car and is officially fit to drive but unable to get the DVLA to respond to her requests to get her licence back
Any one else experienced this or know how to get through to them!??

 

I suspect that trying to rescind the cancellation will be very difficult.  There simply in unlikely to be a process for that.

Would it be simpler now to just apply to get the licence back again, once the OP's Mum meets the medical standards for driving?
https://www.gov.uk/reapply-driving-licence-medical-condition/when-you-can-start-driving-again