DVLA Blackout Syncope

LightFlare

I think the current system is that if a person has no further episodes in the 6months and no direct cause has been identified (or treatment is being undertaken) then the licence will most likely be reinstated.

Any further episodes within the 6month period trigger a 12 month suspension from that date.

Hopefully OPs husband stays well and all will be back to normal in 6months.

It’s a massive inconvenience, but hopefully short term. (And at least he can always have a drink)

Bigwheels1111

Silvertabby said:

Bigwheels and Chris - glad that you are both ok.   But, particularly Bigwheels,  did you realise that continuing to drive after being told/advised not to invalidates your insurance?

Yes,

I could stay at home and starve to death.

Or go to the shop and get food to live on.

Insurance never crossed my mine.

LightFlare

Probably lucky you didn’t have an accident as you likely wouldnt have had a home to worry about either.

Theres always friends/familiy/taxi

Its quite surprising what you can achieve when you put your mind to it

Ganga

Bigwheels1111 said:

Silvertabby said:

Bigwheels and Chris - glad that you are both ok.   But, particularly Bigwheels,  did you realise that continuing to drive after being told/advised not to invalidates your insurance?

Yes,

I could stay at home and starve to death.

Or go to the shop and get food to live on.

Insurance never crossed my mine.

Would being ADVISED not to drive be classed as legally being barred from driving ,a grey area and as Bigwheels1111 said he/she needed to go out for food ,we do not know if they had friends or relatives to shop for them and suspect it was before supermarket home deliveries.

sheramber

Ganga said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Silvertabby said:

Bigwheels and Chris - glad that you are both ok.   But, particularly Bigwheels,  did you realise that continuing to drive after being told/advised not to invalidates your insurance?

Yes,

I could stay at home and starve to death.

Or go to the shop and get food to live on.

Insurance never crossed my mine.

Would being ADVISED not to drive be classed as legally being barred from driving ,a grey area and as Bigwheels1111 said he/she needed to go out for food ,we do not know if they had friends or relatives to shop for them and suspect it was before supermarket home deliveries.

You must tell DVLA if you have a driving licence and:

• you develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability
• a condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence

Notifiable conditions are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. They can include:

• diabetes or taking insulin
• syncope (fainting)
• heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers)
• sleep apnoea
• epilepsy
• strokes
• glaucoma

You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely. You could also be prosecuted if you have an accident.

You must surrender your licence to DVLA if any of the following are true:

• your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more

https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions

Ganga

sheramber said:

Ganga said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Silvertabby said:

Bigwheels and Chris - glad that you are both ok.   But, particularly Bigwheels,  did you realise that continuing to drive after being told/advised not to invalidates your insurance?

Yes,

I could stay at home and starve to death.

Or go to the shop and get food to live on.

Insurance never crossed my mine.

Would being ADVISED not to drive be classed as legally being barred from driving ,a grey area and as Bigwheels1111 said he/she needed to go out for food ,we do not know if they had friends or relatives to shop for them and suspect it was before supermarket home deliveries.

You must tell DVLA if you have a driving licence and:

• you develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability
• a condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence

Notifiable conditions are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. They can include:

• diabetes or taking insulin
• syncope (fainting)
• heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers)
• sleep apnoea
• epilepsy
• strokes
• glaucoma

You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely. You could also be prosecuted if you have an accident.

You must surrender your licence to DVLA if any of the following are true:

• your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more

https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions

I had a mini stroke ( TIA ) well they THINK i did ,the specialist i saw at the hospital was unable to confirm ,i passed out in Majorca , could have been the heat ,drink etc. but the specialist said best not to drive for a couple of months ,had various tests and only thing they found was my blood pressure was high and he put me on tablets.
I do not know when people would inform the DVLA unless the doctor said they would do it or if they were passing out daily /weekly.

LightFlare

The doctors will usually not undertake the notification but will inform the patient that they are being advised not to drive and if they must (should) inform the DVLA
It will usually be written in the patients notes that this has been said

As @sheramber has linked as well -- all drivers have a legal obligation. Remember ignorance of the law is not typically an excuse

Whilst I sympathise with the inconvenience (and have personal experience) -- its no excuse to put other peoples lives at risk

pete1412009

Hi all, I’m in the same situation as OP’s husband. I had a blackout while seated on 17 May, but no further incidents since. I reported it to the DVLA and have been fully checked out by both a cardiologist and a neurologist, with no issues identified.

I’d planned to get back behind the wheel in mid-November, but today I received a letter from the DVLA stating that my driving entitlement has been revoked as of today. I now need to return my licence and reapply. It’s a real blow, as I’ve no idea how long the process will take to get my licence back.

I’ll be sending my licence back tomorrow and submitting my reapplication, as we’re now within the eight-week window from the end of the six-month period.

For @dullbue @Silvertabby
and others who’ve been through this - how long did it take for the DVLA to return your licence?

Silvertabby

Just a week or so - but, in Mr S's case, he had voluntarily surrendered his licence on the advice of the Dr.   As your licence was revoked by DVLA, your case may be more complicated.

Hope you get sorted.