Know when it's time to give up driving

[Garry fotheringham]

Hi I wish the D.V.L.A would understand more about driving when someone is diabetic, it's not just your blood sugar or your eyesight that comes into consideration, it's when you start too loss sensation or feeling in your foot. I have up driving my car 3years ago, when I nearly had a fatal accident, you use your feet all the time for speeding up and slowing down, so if your not got much sensation in your feet it's not worth risking driving full stop. I really don't know much what the D.V.L.A has took that into consideration? But I would like anyone's opinion on the subject?

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Garry fotheringham and welcome to the DCUK forums.

That's an interesting question. I believe cars cane be modified to work with hand controls only, so I'm not sure that loss of sensation in your feet on its own is enough to deny a license, though I agree you shouldn't be using a non modified car.

And yes, you are supposed to tell the DVLA if you have peripheral neuropathy which affects your driving.

Peripheral neuropathy and driving

You must tell DVLA if you have peripheral neuropathy - download the correct form to let them know

www.gov.uk

I suspect a lot of people aren't aware of this : did your diabetic clinic say anything you to about driving when you lost sensation in your feet? You'd hope they would, but am guessing they didn't if you had to find out the hard way.

I'm very sorry this has happened to you but I think this is an excellent discussion topic which could save lives if it makes more people aware of the issue.

 

[Ushthetaff]

I totally agree that you shouldn’t drive if you lose sensation in your feet , but it shouldn’t and doesn’t stop you driving . I have no feet and I have hand controls fitted to my car . It still gives me my independence, which is worth the world , it takes a little bit of getting use to but to be honest I don’t even think about it any more . The cost is about £1400 if anyone is interested.

 

[Pipp]

Hi I wish the D.V.L.A would understand more about driving when someone is diabetic, it's not just your blood sugar or your eyesight that comes into consideration, it's when you start too loss sensation or feeling in your foot. I have up driving my car 3years ago, when I nearly had a fatal accident, you use your feet all the time for speeding up and slowing down, so if your not got much sensation in your feet it's not worth risking driving full stop. I really don't know much what the D.V.L.A has took that into consideration? But I would like anyone's opinion on the subject?

It is the responsibility of every driver to be aware of how their health conditions can impact their ability to drive. It is a privilege, not a right to be able to drive. I know from personal experience the damage that can be done by somebody driving when they were not well enough to do so. My life was changed in an instant when he crashed into me, causing substantial injuries.

DVLA has a comprehensive list of conditions drivers have to report.

Check if a health condition affects your driving

Check if you need to tell DVLA about a health or medical condition, how to report medical conditions to DVLA

www.gov.uk

Peripheral neuropathy is on the list.
Rather than it being a personal responsibility of the driver, I would prefer it if HCPs had a duty to report patients with the concerning impaired ability to DVLA.

 

[Pipp]

I totally agree that you shouldn’t drive if you lose sensation in your feet , but it shouldn’t and doesn’t stop you driving . I have no feet and I have hand controls fitted to my car . It still gives me my independence, which is worth the world , it takes a little bit of getting use to but to be honest I don’t even think about it any more . The cost is about £1400 if anyone is interested.

There are all sorts of adaptations to assist people with various impairments. Having neuropathy or even like you @Ushthetaff amputee, doesn’t mean one shouldn’t be able to have a car to drive.
Some people even get adapted cars through Motability scheme. They do have to contribute to costs, sometimes.


Edit: post sent before completed.