Should people be driving under the influence of an ED?
I ask this because of my rocky road to being a driver. I was refused my first provisional licence due to physical and mental health problems but argued my case along with the support of my GP and social worker and I got my provisional licence second time round.
It took me 7 driving tests until I finally passed my test which made me value my licence even more even though it was a 3 year medical licence. Then I had to fight for another licence once that expired and I got a 2 year medical licence. Then after that expired I had to fight again and it has taken me a YEAR to convince the DVLA that I was competent enough to have a licence again and I've recently received a 1 year medical licence. Better than nothing.
The thing is, I never drive if I'm starving myself, if I have low blood sugars, if I feel weak or faint, you get my drift. My team all know this hence backing me up with the licence. But there are so many bad drivers on the road and I wonder how many are driving when they shouldn't and have an ED. Is it these people who contribute to the likes of me not getting repeat licences.
Does anyone risk driving when they shouldn't really? And how do they justify it? Driving is not a right, it is a gift. It's taken so long to get back behind the wheel so I only go behind it when well enough.
Has anyone else had problems like me? And how do you cope/deal with it? Reapplying for a licence every 9 months is no fun. How do you stop it knocking your confidence or draining you?
Last edited by fragile as glass : 09-08-2014 at 07:28 PM.
GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
I think ultimately people need to take responsibility for their own safety behind the wheel. Lots of things impact driving (that don't get reported to DVLA). The obvious is alcohol/drugs, but things like excessive tiredness, not eating enough, medical conditions, or being distracted can all seriously impact driving.
A friend of mine died last year because he fell asleep at the wheel on a motorway. He was perfectly fit and healthy but had had a busy weekend followed by a busy week where he'd hardly slept in the last week. It happens, and actually it's not that uncommon.
Ultimately, when you get in a car, it isn't just your life you're gambling with, but other people's too.
(As an aside, my mum had a brain injury due to a blackout and wasn't allowed to drive for over a year after that 'just in case', and that was difficult given how rural we are and that it wasn't anything more than a simple faint).
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
So sorry to hear about your friend Sophia. That must have been awful for you.
I just find that people don't treat a car for what it is - in the words of my old driving instructor, a killing machine. You don't have to report an ED to the DVLA and I think thats wrong. I was truthful on my forms and I drive with care. Getting behind a wheel when ill is incomprehensible to me and I'm sure that bumps up everyones insurance whether ill or well.
GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
I think these things are suprisingly common. At least, it's common enough for people to be reckless; driving when they are under the influence, too tired, etc. it's probably fortunate there aren't more accidents.
I imagine it must be frustrating - you are careful behind the wheel and have had this fight, and others are reckless and get away with it. Ultimately, they're gambling with their own lives, and with the lives of other road users.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
Thanks for replying Sophia, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said I was careful behind the wheel yet had to fight for that gift of a licence and others in essence abuse their licences. It does make me angry, an emotion I hadn't considered having before.
Maybe the DVLA will change their policies one day and it will be mandatory to declare an ED.
(Slightly off topic but I know that epileptics have to wait a year from their last fit before they can drive again and that must be so frustrating but its there to protect them and other road users. Probably no consolation to them though.)
GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
I don't think its a case of other peoples actions slowing down the process of your application. You have health conditions such as dissociation that as far as I understand, usually preclude driving entirely under the regulation that includes the risk of loss of consciousness or loss of, or, altered awareness.
Notifiable MH conditions seem to be fairly extensive in itself, though some are only if it affects your driving - DVLA MH questionnaire seems more clear[/quote]:
I personally don't think that having an ed alone should stop people having a licence however once there is any flashbacks or dissociation thrown in it should be a no. People cannot tell when they might dissociate and may unintentionally drive dangerously. I think if you don't dissociate, you can decide that u cannot drive at certain times however one day u could have a flashback or dissociate while driving and therefore be unable to logically stop yourself.
Well you inferred you were when you wrote this; 'But there are so many bad drivers on the road and I wonder how many are driving when they shouldn't and have an ED. It's these people who contribute to the likes of me not getting repeat licences.'
What makes you think people with EDs that are not fit to drive who do drive contribute to you not getting a repeat; when you have gotten a repeat licence, its just been very slow?
It's hard when the process is slow, I understand that, I fully disclosed my history of ED despite not having a current diagnosis and it meant that the DVLA took from August last year till March this year to give me my provisional. My GP wrote letters and I answered their questions in a lot of detail in the hope it would help them decide. My understanding of the problem is that they had a backlog of over 3 months of more complex cases that their senior doctors needed to look at and it was literally a pile. The other problem was that the assumption is, if you have MH issues you have a psychiatrist, which is not always the case. So the slow process is due to a high volume of cases and comparitively low number of people dealing with them. Of course I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but I ended up ringing up DVLA and finding out what the specific concerns were relating to my conditions; ie, stability [not actively self harming], impulsivity, sedation [well I don't have daytime sedation, so that was what was specified], insight into my condition, I don't have dissociation or memory loss. Eventually that was considered enough, but the questionnaires GPs are sent are not as specific as this as far as I know. They ask about last admissions and so on, but if you don't take care of your health and don't visit the GP or go to hospital when you should, I guess the GP wouldnt be able to give that information.
Dissociation is classed as non-epileptic seizures and would fall under the regulation of loss of conciousness/altered awareness and I have never heard of anyone suffering from dissociation getting a driving licence at all. Especially if it is to the point of not remembering periods of time.
I drive and I have an ED. I have not once had an accident but I did get a speeding ticket trying to get to work on time. No I have not disclosed it and I know many people with MH issues that haven't. With out my car, I would not be able to have my independence and get to work, Uni or to my horse which would make me more depressed. So, in answer to your question, yes people with ED's should be able to drive. I'm more worried about those drinking and taking drugs and driving.
I drive and I have an ED. I have not once had an accident but I did get a speeding ticket trying to get to work on time. No I have not disclosed it and I know many people with MH issues that haven't. With out my car, I would not be able to have my independence and get to work, Uni or to my horse which would make me more depressed. So, in answer to your question, yes people with ED's should be able to drive. I'm more worried about those drinking and taking drugs and driving.
I found that an interesting response ^ I saw three car smashes within 3 days last week, all near my home, which made me ponder on what made them happen and as the help for MH has severely dropped in my area (as it has in some other places round the country) I was curious if that was to blame (that being ED's and other mental health problems - and I posted in the ED forum because typically that is the psychiatric illness with the biggest health consequences). I too love the freedom and independence that driving brings me.
I re-iterate, I know I have various physical and mental health issues and this is reflected in me only ever having medical full licences and my honesty to the DVLA leading to this licence only being a year long before review.
Last edited by fragile as glass : 09-08-2014 at 06:17 PM.
GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
I find it rich to say people who dissociate should not drive, or its 'law' they should not drive, yet someone who isn't eating properly, has blood sugars in their boots, and is shaky is any more capable. I think I've come to the conclusion its best to stick with case to case when it comes to the DVLA and sensibility when it comes to your choices at home and be prepared to live by them. I no longer think theres a set answer to this.
Auror, the UK is pretty strict on driving licences.
GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE