Getting away with dangerous driving!

[JonathanRyan]

I think if there is to be any sort of re-testing in future it should be done in a simulator type environment that tests reactions. There is no need to take them on the road.

I once met somebody whose job was to retest drivers who had suffered head injuries. She told me that driving is about the most complicated thing most humans do and that surprisingly little head trauma could basically stop people driving safely. Maybe something like that would be good.

BTW I disagree that a person with dementia would automatically fail a roadside eyesight test. Even if there's an element of memory in it I think they could often pass.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Sorry, the sweary filter did that.



Yup, something with hazard awareness and a plain, old fashioned sight test along with reactions.



The DVLA can and DO revoke licenses, that's why I'm off the road. I've asked several times how to appeal and just keep getting told that I can but not how. As I said above, I waited for my GP to tell me he felt I was fit to drive before applying in December '12 - he even filled in the relevant numbers for the surgeon for me but a "doctor" in Swansea decided in MAY last year that they should tell me that they had changed the rules in JANUARY '12 regarding my illness and that I shouldn't drive, at which point I stopped. Since then, I was told in October last year that I should hear within 12 weeks - 12 weeks came and went with no word so I phoned and was told that the paperwork had been sent somewhere else and the 12 week clock had been restarted. IIRC, that was 12 weeks ago today (13/2) so I reckon it's phone time again and that I should be more persistent about getting appeal info.

Yes, this is exactly what I'm talking about. If a licence is suspended or revoked it should be possible to appeal against it without the DVLA (or anyone else) putting barriers in the way.

It may be that in the vast majority of cases revoking or suspending a licence is absolutely the right thing to do, but there must be an effective, affordable and simple appeal procedure for people who want to appeal.

 

[Nod]

There's no doubt that I wasn't fit to drive before the op (and before I knew I was ill!) - the scrape I put in the back door of my old car was testament to that. However, as I said, I'm now so much better than I have been for years and was allowed to drive for a few months and did so with no problems, including an Exeter - Birmingham and back in a day trip.

Heather, I will be contacting my MP next week but the local paper is a waste of time - printed once a week and had Katie Hopkins as a columnist...

 

[wack61]

Totally agree, At 70 there should be a retest, and then at 75 and every 2 years after that.

All there is now is a box on a form

Are you ok to drive [/] carry on then

Ridiculous

Could you clarify this for me please Luke

Cheers

Clarification

 

[Mitch78]

That's pretty impressive. Can't have been easy to get it balanced so well.

 

[DorsetDude]

Clarification

 

[munch]

What the hell has dementia got to do with eyesight. Just because someone has dementia doesn't mean they can't see all of a sudden. No wonder there is so much crap about dementia. And yes I talk from experience I buried my mother on Wednesday who died of vascular Dementia.