DVLA Revoked My Driving Licence

[endomorph]

Sorry to hear the bad news and agree with CarbsRok -

"When you say your fiance helped you do you mean she passed you hypo treatment?
If that's the case you have ticked the box in error. (So your fault, many have done it including Drs)
The assisted hypo is paramedics glucogon etc."

The DVLA is an ass and a pig to deal with. I had a run in with them 3 years ago. I passed my test when I was 17 (24 years ago). I was caught for speeding 4 years ago and had to produce my license. I had lost (cant find, not banned) it a few years before but had not bothered to get a replacement as I had never needed it. Upon applying to the DVLA for a replacement, I was told I did not have a full license entitlement ! I appealed and they said that they had searched their records and could find no trace. I duly found out that they only keep paper records for 5 years !

I spent months arguing through a solicitor but they would not budge. Unless I could prove it, I was out of luck ! So I had to take my test again. Funnily enough, the day I took my test, there was a programme on the BBC that evening regarding the farce at DVLA and they had many people in my position or people that had lost HGV or motorcycle entitlements on their license.

Only being recently diagnosed with T2, I was told last week by the nurse that I have to inform the DVLA and insurance !

 

[))Denise((]

If you are a Type 2 and treated only with diet or tablets you don't need to tell the DVLA https://www.gov.uk/diabetes-driving

I told my previous car insurer, they weren't particularly interested but put a note on my file. I haven't told my current car insurer as they didn't ask.

 

[ferret1o3uk]

hadders,
report this to your member of parliment asap, and the transport minister and your MEP A wee letter to the prime minister explaining how you can no longer get to work you will be requiring unemployment benefit along with housing benefit and full disability and carers allowence and motorbility so you can pay someone to drive you around as the EU have made it imposible for you to live your life it also infringes your human rights. If its ok with you i will use your entry and see what i can pull out of the bag at my end.
I too am type 1 driving for 25yrs never had an accident , i use my car for work ,my partner is in the army and in afghanistan .
If i go hypo normally at night in my sleep yes i require help now i won't be telling a soul, the worse case scenario is the hypo causing a heart attack and been found dead . But am sure the EU and DVLA won't care less . Good luck if all else fails go to the press panaroma question time the news etc anyone who will listen and i will help all can .

 

[ianpotter]

Hi There to one and all.
I'm new to the forums, and I would like to tell you of my similar experiences with DVLA!
I was put on insulin in July last year (2013) so due to the dosages not being correct, I had a hypo, but I recognised the symptoms and treated it myself, this was the only episode, so being an honest kind of guy, I put this down on the DVLA Medical form, stating that the episode DIDN'T require the assistance of another person, this was sent off and the reply came back! They taken away my Class 2, and the 7.5ton and Minibus entitlements!! I contacted them and was told that I'd have to wait until October 2014 to re-apply and in that time I shouldn't have had another hypo. I explained to them about the insulin doses being incorrect, but this didn't do any good!!! I contacted my MP who wrote to the director of DVLA on my behalf explaining the situation, same result!!! DVLA told me to get my Specialist Doctor from the hospital to contact them to explain things, the Specialist wouldn't do this because of Patient Confidentiality? DVLA won't contact the Specialist? All the time I'm stuck in the middle of this Bull Sh*t and on the dole losing money and spending my savings and getting deeper into debt!!!
Eventually after a lot of pleading the Specialist did send a letter to DVLA, and the result was? The information contained in the letter didn't support my case!!! WHAT? A Medical Officer who is possibly only a GP, can over rule a Diabetic Specialist Doctor who works with Diabetics 24 / 7 ????
DVLA are / seem to be putting ALL Diabetic Drivers into one pigeon hole and taking away everything on their licences and leaving just the basic car driving entitlements
I thought that we were supposed to be treated on an individual basis?
Have thought about going to my local paper, Citizens Advice for info on Legal Action against DSVLA, talking to their telephone operatives, the attitude is do it, we don't care!!!! Maybe I will??
Hopefully someone will be able to offer some pearls of wisdom?

 

[Spiker]

That's terrible. By DVLA definition, it's not a "severe hypo" if you are able to recognise and treat it yourself. I think that is the line of attack to use. See if you can get your specialist doctor to write to the DVLA in appeal, making that point. Or your MP. It's a point of law, not a matter of medical opinion.

Unless the criteria are stricter for PCV / PSV?

 

[noblehead]

Unless the criteria are stricter for PCV / PSV?

I wonder Spiker, the form does ask if you've had hypo's and for most the answer is Yes if treated by insulin, however the next question asks if a third-party was needed to assist (I can't quite remember the wording) so provided you've answered NO then I can't see why they would revoke Ian's licence, it might just be they are stricter with Class 2 licences.

 

[Auckland Canary]

I have a general type question. My last UK licence expired in about 2010 and as I was living in NZ I obviously didn't bother trying to renew it .I came back to the country last summer and was driving on my NZ licence. However I was having some severe issues with night time hypos and I voluntary stood myself down from driving and haven't been behind the wheel since .I didn't inform the DVLA of this. I just stopped driving and cancelled my insurance etc.

Since then I have attended a DAFNE course and although I am sometimes hypo unaware my general levels are much better. So I am thinking about getting my UK licence renewed but as I haven't had a valid one here for 4 years will this mean I may have to resit a test etc? And if not does anyone know if there is a limit for the gap between licences?

 

[Spiker]

I have a general type question. My last UK licence expired in about 2010 and as I was living in NZ I obviously didn't bother trying to renew it .I came back to the country last summer and was driving on my NZ licence. However I was having some severe issues with night time hypos and I voluntary stood myself down from driving and haven't been behind the wheel since .I didn't inform the DVLA of this. I just stopped driving and cancelled my insurance etc.

Since then I have attended a DAFNE course and although I am sometimes hypo unaware my general levels are much better. So I am thinking about getting my UK licence renewed but as I haven't had a valid one here for 4 years will this mean I may have to resit a test etc? And if not does anyone know if there is a limit for the gap between licences?

I believe you can just exchange your NZ licence for a UK one. DVLA have a form. You're required to notify them that you are on insulin. This may cause a delay in granting the licence while they do medical checks via your hospital consultant or GP. I believe you can drive on your NZ licence while you wait. You can elect not to physically surrender the NZ licence I think.

I did this with a Swiss licence a few years ago so hopefully the same for NZ, though NZ is not in the EU/EEA so it might be different.

Shame as my Swiss licence had no review until I was 80 or something. The Swiss are crazy like that.

 

[ianpotter]

I believe you can just exchange your NZ licence for a UK one. DVLA have a form. You're required to notify them that you are on insulin. This may cause a delay in granting the licence while they do medical checks via your hospital consultant or GP. I believe you can drive on your NZ licence while you wait. You can elect not to physically surrender the NZ licence I think.

I did this with a Swiss licence a few years ago so hopefully the same for NZ, though NZ is not in the EU/EEA so it might be different.

Shame as my Swiss licence had no review until I was 80 or something. The Swiss are crazy like that.

 

[ianpotter]

Thanks People for the replies.
Have decided that I am going to go to Citizens Advice and take their advice on taking legal action against DVLA. Why should they revoke my licence even after them being given 6 not 3 months of stable readings? To me this sounds as if they're "blanket Discriminating" against Diabetics?
The reason that I'm doing this is, that DVLA says that the only way that you can make a complaint against their decision is to take them to your Magistrates Court, they even warn you to beware that this could prove costly? Is this their way of telling you that "we're not budging?" Our decision is FINAL:....
Do Diabetes UK, have any "printable" fact sheets that I can swot up with?

 

[Auckland Canary]

I believe you can just exchange your NZ licence for a UK one. DVLA have a form. You're required to notify them that you are on insulin. This may cause a delay in granting the licence while they do medical checks via your hospital consultant or GP. I believe you can drive on your NZ licence while you wait. You can elect not to physically surrender the NZ licence I think.

I did this with a Swiss licence a few years ago so hopefully the same for NZ, though NZ is not in the EU/EEA so it might be different.

Shame as my Swiss licence had no review until I was 80 or something. The Swiss are crazy like that.

I think you are only allowed to drive on an overseas licence for 1 year after coming to the country but I'm not sure if that is only if you haven't originally had a UK licence in the first place. I have also moved home in the last few months and have not attended an appointment with my new DSN etc so this will also cause a problem.

I'm actually not sure if I even want to drive again though as I live in London and have public transport and love my bike too much as well. I am sure my insurance will be huge as well. I hated not driving to start but have actually not missed it since. I understand I am in a lucky position and it can affect people a great deal more than me though.

 

[Spiker]

I know what you mean. Since coming back to London I have totally gone off driving. I just don't see the appeal any more, it's just pure stress.

You are right about the 12 month limit but they are not very strict on it so probably not a major issue (apart from if you have an insurance claim??)

 

[Tubzi]

Whilst at the doctors yesterday i was told that the dvla may pick up on the fact that i ordered a hypokit and hypogel recently and take it that i need help from other people during a hypo. This is not the case, i ordered the hypokit as my other one has expired and the hypogel to keep at my partners house for emergencies. Since being diagnosed 7 years ago i have never needed any help during a hypo, fortunately. Even my doctor agreed that the dvla are going about this the wrong way!


Type 1 diabetic since 2007.
Lantus & novorapid & carb counter.

 

[noblehead]

Whilst at the doctors yesterday i was told that the dvla may pick up on the fact that i ordered a hypokit and hypogel recently and take it that i need help from other people during a hypo. This is not the case, i ordered the hypokit as my other one has expired and the hypogel to keep at my partners house for emergencies. Since being diagnosed 7 years ago i have never needed any help during a hypo, fortunately. Even my doctor agreed that the dvla are going about this the wrong way!.

That's rubbish, if your glucagon injection kit has expired then it's only right that you order another, it's there as a precaution in case you can't get out of the hypo yourself, anyway it will be on your gp's records when you last ordered one.

As for the hypogel, some use Jelly Babies some use Glucotabs for their hypo's, if you prefer to use hypogel then so-be-it. The DVLA know that type 1's can't avoid hypo's completely but are more concerned with the frequency of them and whether you can detect them coming on.......without a third-party assistance.

I personally don't have any issues with the checks that the DVLA do as long as they carry them out correctly and mistakes are avoided, I had to wait 6 weeks for my last licence to be issued as they decided to carry out some thorough checks, to me it's about keeping everybody safe on the roads including ourselves so checks are unfortunately necessary I'm afraid.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Thanks People for the replies.
Have decided that I am going to go to Citizens Advice and take their advice on taking legal action against DVLA. Why should they revoke my licence even after them being given 6 not 3 months of stable readings? To me this sounds as if they're "blanket Discriminating" against Diabetics?
The reason that I'm doing this is, that DVLA says that the only way that you can make a complaint against their decision is to take them to your Magistrates Court, they even warn you to beware that this could prove costly? Is this their way of telling you that "we're not budging?" Our decision is FINAL:....
Do Diabetes UK, have any "printable" fact sheets that I can swot up with?

I was advised as well that only way to appeal dvla's decision was a Magistrates court, and also told that the DVLA would win! Fortunately in the end I did not have to consider the Court action.

A DVLA person on phone also told me that if you ticked the box for not having hypo's as a type 1- that would also mean an automatic refusal as well.. Because all type 1'shave hypo's so if you say that you don't - then the decision is made against you for not recognising any hypo's.

They are a rule to themselves. Never seen any advice from DUK on appealing, probably because it's not recommended.

Hope some members come along that may have suffered similar to you and can say what they did...





Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[mo1905]

The DVLA are a nightmare to deal with but if you have good control of your diabetes and fill the form in correctly there should be no problem. Prior to completing form, take time to read guidance notes. I appreciate there are a few that do everything correctly and still have problems but these should be a very small minority. It took me nearly a year to get my LGV license back and was a complete pain in the a** but if you jump through the hoops and read up a little it can be done.

 

[SpikeThacker]

does anyone know f DVLA have plans to get a DATA cloud, so that we can download our meters to it, and they can then see at a glance that we are staying inside the LAW GUIDELINES?