DVLA/driving - panic!

[Jenni_1984]

Hi all,

I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 20 years. In conversation with one of my friends yesterday - whose mother is a type 1 also - we started talking about car insurance. He told me that his mum has a 3 year restricted driving licence. Now forgive me for living on a completely different planet, but in all the years I have been driving (approx eight) I have never come across this. Should I have a restricted licence???

I am really panicked about this as I know that if I should have a restricted licence then my car insurance will be null and void. I can't understand how this has never come up before. I never lie about the fact that I have diabetes....I cannot remember completing my driving licence application - should I have notified the DVLA separately of my diabetes? I have been trying to search through previous posts on this topic in the forums, but I can't find anything that answers my specific problem.

Driving regularly comes up in conversation when I attend my clinics - they know me well, know that I do not work in the immediate area and do a lot of travel with my job. However, I know that this is my responsibility and the blame lies entirely at my feet.

I am really confused how this has all passed me by....like I said I cannot remember completing my licence application, but I would NEVER (and this I can say being 100% confident) lie about my diabetes...

Can anyone offer any advice please? Where do I go from here? I expect I will need to contact the DVLA and say - 'oh wait, I am diabetic and have been for 20 years'.

Anything anyone can offer in the way of guidance would be much appreciated.

Jenni

 

[cocacola]

Hi Jenni this is from the DVLA website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... G_10030957

Drivers do not need to tell us if their diabetes is treated by tablets, diet or both and they are free of the complications listed over the page.
Some people with diabetes develop associated problems that may affect their driving.
What you need to tell us about
By law you must tell us if any of the following apply:
You need treatment with insulin.
You need laser treatment to both eyes or in the remaining eye if you have sight in one eye only.
You have problems with vision in both eyes, or in the remaining eye if you have sight in one eye only.
By law, you must be able to read, with glasses or contact lenses if necessary, a car number plate in good light at 20.5 metres
(67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters (50mm wide) are displayed.
You develop any problems with the circulation, or sensation in your legs or feet which makes it necessary for you to drive
certain types of vehicles only, for example
automatic vehicles, or vehicles with a hand operated accelerator or brake. This must be shown on your driving licence.
You suffer more than one episode of disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) within 12 months, or if you or your carer feels you are at high risk of developing disabling hypoglycaemia.
You develop impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia.
You suffer disabling hypoglycaemia at the wheel.
An existing medical condition gets worse or you develop any other condition that may affect your driving.
In the interests of road safety, you must be sure that you can safely control a vehicle at all times.

 

[Giblet]

Hi Jenni,

Chris's extract from DVLA is right, because you take insulin you must inform them. Give them all call straight away. I cant remember however if they automatically restrict your licence to a three year renewal, but they will certainly want to know that your diabetes is under control and that you are hypo aware. Did you say you had informed your insurance company?

 

[CarbsRok]

y

 

[hanadr]

T1 husband has had a restricted 3 year driving license for about 30 years. they renew it every time, but last time, because he'd had eye surgery, they sent him to an optometrist[of their choice] to get him checked out for eligibility to drive.
Mind you he doesn't drive at night,or on long journeys from his own choice. I do that. A non-insulin user's license isn't restricted.
Hana

 

[Jenni_1984]

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I appreciate you clearing this up for me. Like my initial post said I really cannot understand how I have neglected this for so long as I would never lie on an application about my diabetes.

Thanks again, I will get this sorted out asap.

Jenni

 

[noblehead]

Jenni,

It would be interesting to know what the DVLA say when you inform them, as I am sure someone else posted a similar question on the forum last year but didn't get back!

Hopefully they'll be fine with you and understand it was not intentional and this had simply passed you by.

Nigel

 

[iHs]

Hi Jenni

Try not to worry about all this as mistakes do happen. If no one told you when you was diagnosed as being diabetic to inform the DVLA, then it's not your fault that you dont' know.

The DVLA will be ok about it and just send you out a fresh application form for a 3 year licence. Just make sure that you get your eyes examined yearly and that your diabetes care is overlooked by either a gp or consultant and that your hypo awareness is ok during the day (night time hypos do not count if you are asleep when they happen).

Your car insurance premium should not increase because if the DVLA issue you with a licence then it means that they do not see any reason why you should not be able to drive.

Let us all know how you get on though.

 

[cugila]

I am an ex Traffic Cop. Ignorance of the Law is unfortunately no defence if it is picked up by the Police maybe in a 'spot check.' They may be understanding if you have taken immediate steps to rectify the situation. However, technically you are breaking the Law by not having notified the DVLA and your Insurance Company. You will not be able to blame it on somebody else I'm sorry to say as it is your responsibility.

Whilst your Insurance Cover shouldn't increase.......don't be surprised if at renewal time there seems to be an increase that really cannot be justified.......usually put down to some other reasons. They have ways of making you pay ! That is when it is time to shop around and find a better premium.

Just make sure you declare the Diabetes, Insulin and any Licence restrictions you may have imposed. that way you comply with the Law and your Insurance will cover you for all eventualities.

Ken

 

[Jenni_1984]

Hi Ken,

I did state in my post that this is entirely my fault and do know that ignorance of the law is never a defence! However, what I cannot understand is that at the time of applying for my driving licence I had been type 1 for more than ten years.....there is no way I would have lied on the application and I can say that with absolute confidence. My insurers are aware that I am diabetic, however, based on the fact that I do not have a restricted licence then the box I check is 'DVLA aware - no restrictions'. I was diagnosed at age 6 so driving licences weren't really relevant!

Unfortunately the DVLA were closed yesterday due to public holiday, but I will let you all know how I get on when I can get a hold of someone. What I am going to do today is get a copy of the driving licence application form to see what I would have completed back when I was a learner.

I am just in complete shock about this to be honest as I have never done, and will never, lie about my diabetes. Why would you?

Thank you so much for your comments, I will let you know!

Jenni

 

[cugila]

Hi Jenni.

The DVLA rules and forms have changed many times over the years. Medical rules and regulations too have also changed drastically, so any forms you filled in when you started driving will possibly be obsolete and of no relevance at all now.

I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over it....just do as you are doing and don't worry. Nobody will be knocking on your door in the early hours I can assure you. It's a technicality.....not deliberate. If you need any further help you can pm me.

Ken

 

[Jenni_1984]

Thanks Ken,

The DVLA were open yesterday so I was able to speak to them. I'm waiting on them sending me through a medical questionnaire. The person I spoke to certainly didn't make me feel like a criminal and that was what I was most frightened of! Obviously my biggest fear was having to use my insurance for any reason or being stopped by the police and them picking up on this fact - you know how it goes, insurance companies will find any reason not to payout and this would have been like them striking gold.

I am relieved also to see that my current insurance company quoted me - posing as a new customer - more or less the same as what I am paying now, even with declaring the restricted licence.

Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to post and reassure me, I very much appreciate all the advice and guidance.

Jenni

 

[mrburden]

Hi Jenni,
When I was able to drive I had a 3 year restriction to my licence. The last time the DVLA called it in for a review I had a good idea that they might refuse to re-issue it as my eyesight had become bad.
To put your mind at rest, they weren't too bothered about me still driving. The DVLA had their medical advisors review my opthalmists report and it took them over a year to decide! So by the time they informed me that they were revoking my licence I had had my 3 year licence for over 4 years. I had already stopped driving because I knew I was not able to see well enough. My eye specialist told me that if it were his decision he wouldn't let me drive home from my appointment!But the DVLA did tell me that, as I had informed them, I was legal until THEY told me otherwise!
It's most unlikely that they will stop you driving while they get doctors' reports.

 

[cugila]

Hi Jenni,
When I was able to drive I had a 3 year restriction to my licence. The last time the DVLA called it in for a review I had a good idea that they might refuse to re-issue it as my eyesight had become bad.
To put your mind at rest, they weren't too bothered about me still driving. The DVLA had their medical advisors review my opthalmists report and it took them over a year to decide! So by the time they informed me that they were revoking my licence I had had my 3 year licence for over 4 years. I had already stopped driving because I knew I was not able to see well enough. My eye specialist told me that if it were his decision he wouldn't let me drive home from my appointment!But the DVLA did tell me that, as I had informed them, I was legal until THEY told me otherwise!
It's most unlikely that they will stop you driving while they get doctors' reports.

Mr B
Can I point out that from Road Traffic Law point of view you would not have been legal to drive with defective eyesight - if you were stopped by the Police and given a roadside eyesight test which you failed you would have been required to have a test carried out by an Optician to prove that your eyesight met the required standards. Only in this way would you avoid a prosecution for 'Driving with Defective Eyesight.'

The DVLA do not make the Road Traffic Law and neither are they responsible for enforcing it. That responsibility rests with the Police and then ultimately the Court's.

Ken

 

[ShyGirl]

That's really surprised me as I was told you have to inform them even if you are T2 and on meds. Why can't they make up one set of rules and stick to them?

 

[mrburden]

Mr B
Can I point out that from Road Traffic Law point of view you would not have been legal to drive with defective eyesight - if you were stopped by the Police and given a roadside eyesight test which you failed you would have been required to have a test carried out by an Optician to prove that your eyesight met the required standards. Only in this way would you avoid a prosecution for 'Driving with Defective Eyesight.'

The DVLA do not make the Road Traffic Law and neither are they responsible for enforcing it. That responsibility rests with the Police and then ultimately the Court's.

Ken
Hi,
As I'm sure you appreciate, a "roadside sight test" does not prove whether you can see anything other than a number-plate at a set distance, which I can even now, some 9 years after being stopped from driving by DVLA. Other, more dangerous conditions such as poor field of vision and the inability to see in varying light conditions are not likely to be proved at the roadside, but in controlled test environments. So my guess is that many, many more people are stopped from driving by the DVLA than by roadside eyesight tests.
Even opticians and eye surgeons are not allowed to make such decisions themselves, but write reports for the DVLA and the DVLA's medical officers have the final say in whether a person is fit to drive. I'm sure that a roadside test can give one an indication as to whether a persons eyesight is likely to be below the required standard but, as with a roadside breath test, a more detailed examination is needed before one would be charged with an offence. Therefore, it must be the DVLA who, in medical instances, advise the police as to whether an offence has been committed or not and not simply a police roadside test.

 

[cugila]

If you drive a motor vehicle with Defective Eyesight you run the risk of the following penalty.

Besides the obvious increase in your chances of being involved in a road accident if you drive with defective vision, it also carries a fine of up to £1,000, three points on your license and a possible driving ban.

That is the penalty a Court can impose on you. That is regardless of anything the DVLA can do in relation to your licence. I hope everybody who is a driver is aware of that. You would be surprised at how many drivers are prosecuted for this offence. This information is for the benefit of all our members so they can avoid falling foul of the Law.

Ken

 

[Dippy3103]

So would someone who is having annual eye tests be considered to be taking reasonable steps to comply with the law? For years my opticion has described my eyes as boarderline for driving. I do wear glasses to drive.

 

[Synonym]

So would someone who is having annual eye tests be considered to be taking reasonable steps to comply with the law? For years my opticion has described my eyes as boarderline for driving. I do wear glasses to drive.

I would have thought that you were taking reasonable care but I do wonder what the optician means when he describes your eyes as borderline for driving and would that be with or without your glasses? :?

 

[cugila]

If you wear glasses to drive and you are able to read the number plate at the requisite distance whilst wearing them then you will have complied with the Law. Always providing you wear the glasses at all times whilst driving.

Ken