Driving..
 

If during a conversation with your doctor you mention that youre going to take up driving again and he says that i shouldnt because of lack of concentration and thoughts and such like and says that im mentally unfit to drive.....do i just not drive until he says im mentally fit to. I really dont want to mention it to the DVLA as i dont want to take a test again and im not sure if you have to notify them. But i dont think i do have to and if i just dont drive til he thinks im safe, that will be ok wont it?

hmmm, i'm sorry he said that Rowie, I know you were planning on getting back into it. If he has said that you should def not be driving hun, maybe (and im not sure if this would be legal, i guess it would be ok) you could get T to take you to car parks and industrial areas so he can sit with you to get your confidence back until such a time where your GP thinks its ok for you to drive. That way you are getting some practice without endangering anyone?

If you're not driving I don't think there is any need to tell them. Your GP would have to notify them if he thought you were going to drive. You could ring up somewhere like DIAL or CAB to check.

There is a place near us with disused roads etc on a small industrial area..we were wondering about that...he bought me a car so i could drive and now this has happened, i really would like to show willing and be ready when i can drive on proper roads..im just not sure on the rules..thank you Claire xx

Thank you...my gp knows my husband always brings me to the surgery as im not allowed to collect scripts. meds...its just that he drives everywhere taking the kids to work etc and it was an opportunity to take some of the pressure off him.....i think i may just keep quiet about it and keep off proper roads til hes says im fit again...its just a bit complicated right now xx

i can't think of any problems wiht you driving on those disused roads if T is with you, after all ppl with a provisional can do that with no issues

My understanding was if you are considered unfit to drive then you can't drive because your license and therefore your insurance would be invalid. You would be able to drive on your own private land but not on any public land. I'm pretty sure that is what the ward told me when they said I was not medically fit to drive.

^This is true. You also face prosecution if you drive with an invalid license.

I'm not allowed to drive, but I don't own a car/have access to one so I haven't handed in my license. If you're not able to drive, you may be entitled to free public transport. Check your local CAB.

Doctors tend to infrom the DVLA if you are unfit to drive even if you don't tell the DVLA yourself. You face a long term ban and a huge fine if you are caught driving. You don't have to retake your test if you are declared fit to drive again. You just get a new license once it has all been cleared

say you were dignosed ( which i wasnt an never will be) with depression and are adviced to go on anti depressants. do you have to notify your insurance company. for say uk/ireland

From personal experience I know that you need to inform the DVLA due to side effects if you are on them long term, but I don't know if you have to inform insurance companies. But I imagine the DVLA would inform insurers that you where unfit to drive if you applied for insurance.

You're only obliged to inform the dvla about any medical conditions/medication,as far as I'm aware insurance wise you don't have to.
With regards to licence,what the others has said is true about it being illegal to drive whilst unfit.you have to inform,or should inform the dvla as if you don't your insurance isn't valid and nor is your licence.
If the dvla decide you unfit they revoke your licence for a specified period,then before that's up send you paperwork to re apply,they write to everyone involved in your care then their drs decide whether to reinstate your licence or not,if they do give it you back they usually put a time frame on it,ranging from 1 year+.

Example,my licence was originally given for 3years,then I re sent medical forms and got it for another 3,then it was revoked for a year,reinstated for 1 then upped to 3,shortly due for renewal.
Bonus is you get an up to date licence....
Insurance wise most sites ask about medical restrictions now and I haven't noticed a difference in premiums...just incase anyone was wondering you can also still hire a car!x

Thank you all x
I think I will speak to my doctor next time i see him...see if he has contacted the dvla..if he hasnt then i will stay off any type of road until he feels im fit to drive again..I think thats how it works from whats been said x