Hi Guys, May I ask what your experiences has been like if you have had to stop driving specifically in the UK. And how long was the ban/exclusion and how long did it take to get your licence back ?, The reason I ask is that I was asked not to drive for 6 months after Craniotomy (July 7th 2014) I reapplied and the DVLA got my reapplication forms 20th Nov 2014 (approx. 8 weeks before Jan 7th when my exclusion ends). So I got a letter 19th Jan saying that they were waiting on information from my surgeon and they didn't even ask for this info till 16th Jan (After my exclusion was up !)
So I now get a letter today 25th Feb 2015 saying that they have my info (which I knew ages ago) and that this will be reviewed by the DVLA Medical panel but this could take up to 9 weeks !. So maybe even though my GP and Neuro are both happy for me to drive and my DVLA Medical ban was only till 9th Jan, I will still be waiting on the "admin" side of things for the next 9 weeks !. I'm a little frustrated and have 3 young kids with development issues that have a lot of medical appointments and when you live in Scotland the weather isn't exactly like Florida !, Anyway end of rant and hope you guys can comment on how things went for you good or bad :) . Thanks again.
Hi Martin. I'm afraid I can't help as I haven't had treatment for my AVM. But this sounds diabolical to me. Unfortunately like all government agencies the DVLA seem to take ages to do anything (except when it suits them). They don't take personal circumstances like location or family into account at all and probably are unaware of the fact you are now being penalised for the slowness of their admin procedures. I wish I could give you some good advice. But I think you'll just have to wait for them to do the things they need to. Best of luck with getting it sorted soon.
Hi Lulu, Yes I agree and also I'm sure they would be much quicker if they were looking to take money from me ! :) , But saying that it will be at least 9 weeks from now is a joke given that I have been cleared by the specialists in the field.
Hi Martin, the exact thing has just happened to my daughter, Mollie. She was refused a driving licence in May last year when she turned 17, because she had a funny turn in the February.(think we have had a discussion on this before) They said to re-apply a year later from the date she had the funny turn but to do it 8 weeks before as it takes such a long time to be reviewed etc. So we did exactly that and re-applied beginning of December hoping that the DVLA would have made a decision by now but like yourself we had a letter from them last week saying it could take up to another 9 weeks. Looks like we should find out round about the same time then! Fingers crossed for you both! let us know! Lisa x
Hi Lisa, Thanks for your reply and yes we've spoke about this before as you mentioned, Its just such a slow process and I think I've seem somewhere that the medical panel only meet so many times per year and if this is the case its rubbish :( . Yip know what you mean I told them about my surgery last year in Jan and they didn't get round to telling me not to drive before my second surgery July, So very frustrating.... just waiting :( , My 3 kids have developmental issues and its just much easier to get them places with a car, It doesn't help paying insurance and tax when you cant drive it either lol !.
i was diagnosed January 14 with an AVM on my left side in my cerebellum through an MRI due to headaches have not had a bleed i had surgery to remove it in Nov 14 and at anytime by my neurosurgeon or any of his team I did not get any advice about driving. After my craniotomy i took it upon myself that i would not drive till i would be seeing my surgeon @ my 12 week post check. When i went to see him 4 weeks ago i asked if it was ok to start driving and was told to sort advice from DVLA i rung them and they said oh no anyone who has had craniotomy is @ least 6 months we will send you relevant forms to fill in and to we get back to you to follow your surgeons advice send forms back still have not heard anything hoping i hear before the end of may which is 6 months!!!!!
Hi Amanda, I understand your frustration, I am still waiting to drive again :( , So the DVLA got my application on November 2014 and I was due to drive (after 6 months) on 7th Jan 2015 .... but they didn't even pass my case to the medical panel till Feb 20th and they have a back log so I'm still waiting, I called them yesterday and they said that the doctors were looking at cases from 4th Feb and that means around 3 > 4 weeks before they even look at my case :( , I have gone this long without it and can see now that its more of a luxury than a need to have. Public transport gets me around along with my father who drives me places also. I think the kids miss out most :( so maybe next time I post here will be the good news. My Docs have cleared me to drive so I'm sure its just a formality :) . Hope it all goes well for you Amanda and I would just advise to get your forms all in order and mailed as soon as ou can this starts the long long process. Take care
Hi Guys, just an update on my situation, I've been cleared to drive "verbally" on my last call to the DVLA !, I called on the 14th May and they guy said that my case was assessed on the 13th May and I was cleared to drive again :) , But I had to wait till my new licence came in the post. Great news ! .... well maybe ... except that its now June 1st and I'm still waiting ! :( , I assumed that it would be a few days to get a new licence in the post.... but seems not. My life is on hold as my wife took unwell and I struggled to visit her and also deal with the kids school run (3 kids at different schools) I also have wanted to book a well needed lodge type holiday for my wife and kids and was thinking that I could driver there but again I cant book it as I still cant drive almost 3 weeks since I was told via the phone that there's no medical reason I cannot drive. I just wish to set the expectation for the rest of the guys in the UK who may or may not be told they cannot drive due to an AVM or surgery. Be prepared to wait a long time , I should have been driving again 7th Jan 2015 ... so its getting to almost 6 months late due to DVLA "workloads" :( , but on the good side there is light at the end of the tunnel :) , I will drive again at some point ! , Hope you all are well .