4 week driving ban | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:30

4 week driving ban - Tim Allcott

Turned 50 last week and celebrated by spending 4 hours in A & E on Sunday, having had an episode of "smeared" vision. Diagnosis is Transient Ischaematic Attack (mini-stroke) Hospital tell me a) no driving for 4 weeks, and b) inform DVLA. Former; O.K., will bite bullet. Latter; I'm going to wait until I've been to the T.I.A. clinic and had it confirmed as what it was.
a) what (if anything) will DVLA do? b) what worries me more, what will my insurance company do when I tell them?
any loud thunks from now on are the sound of bits of me falling off...
Tim{P}

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:42

4 week driving ban - Falkirk Bairn

I had problem of vision about 3 mths ago - went to GP - sent to hospital with diagnosis of either

1) Mini Stroke (TIA)
2) Migraine headache gone wrong - i.e. affected vision but no headache

After much going back & forward, CT scan etc diagnosis was Migraine gone wrong.

Difference in diagnosis I understand was that at no time did I pass out /faint just had shaky vision. I was not told to tell DVLA or insurance co.

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:53

4 week driving ban - Tim Allcott

I'll keep my fingers crossed, then. I didn't pass out either, so perhaps there's hope! Did you get the 4 week ban, though?
Tim{P}

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:57

4 week driving ban - Falkirk Bairn

Apart from the vision being distorted for 20/30 mins I had no other effects. Since then, 3 mths, 2 x vision again affected for short time but otherwise 100%.

I have driven all the time.

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 17:11

4 week driving ban - LHM

"2 x vision again affected for short time but otherwise 100%...... I have driven all the time"

So that's okay, then?

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:59

4 week driving ban - No FM2R

Really not wishing to be the bringer of bad news, but....

>I was not told to tell DVLA or insurance co.

Whether you were told or not, should you have another incident, perhaps serious, perhaps other people being hurt, and were they able to tie any part of the cuase back to an illness, condition [call it whatever] that was pre-existing, of which you had not told them, then they could....

1) Decline any accidental damage part of the claim
2) Recover any payments to third parties, and expenses in dealing with the claim from you - by just about any method the law offers.
3) Cancel your insurance and refuse to reinsure you causing you to be virtually uninsurable.

Even if that recurrance was of something as trivial [I know its not "trivial" but you know what I mean] as a migraine.

All provided that they found out about the earlier incident, that you had not told them of the problem, that the problem was material to the incident, and that they can show they would have refused or cancelled your insurance had they known.

Some of them can over-react to health issues, but the question is whether or not your doctor would confirm you as being fit to drive without restriction. If he would then you are unlikely to suffer too much if at all from your insurer, and even if yours does penalise you, then many others will not.

If he would not confirm you as being that healthy, then whilst you will quite likely suffer insurance difficulties, perhaps you should know so that you avoid driving anyway.

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 14:11

4 week driving ban - edlithgow

Few years ago the very infrequent visual disturbance I'd had over the previous decade (I described it as ä C-shaped "pixillated"area across the visual field, maybe migraine aura) started to go up in frequency and be accompanied by temporary episodes of dyslexia, (awkward when you teach English) which I provisionally diagnosed as strokes.

In for observation and tests. No confirmation of stroke (difficult anyway) but diagnosed with polyneuropathy from nerve conduction tests. They say incurable and slowly degenerative.

Seemed pretty b***** rapidly degenerative to me, so while my brain was still working I spent a lot of time on the Internyet, worked up a test program, and nagged them until they did it.

Seems I had a B12 deficiency, 100% curable and 100% fatal if untreated. The Internyet may have saved my life.

DONT TRUST THE EXPERTS.

The aura thing is, however, making a comeback lately (though mostly without the dyslexia) so may be partly or entirely unconnected. MRI and carotid ultrasound last week, results next.

No driving ban but my car is broken anyway.

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 16:53

4 week driving ban - tr7v8

Comment from our GP is that last thing you do is tell DVLA as once the cat is out of the bag it can be very difficult to get it back in.
Mrs TR7V8 is an RGN and it happened to her, very very difficult to get definitive diagnosis as to whether its a TIA or Migraine.
So Consultants reluctant to give a definitive diagnosis & therefore whether you need to advise DVLA.

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 17:10

4 week driving ban - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Friend's father had several TIA and got his licence returned each time once he had been though the medical mill.
Disclosure is the best policy.
You don't want a large insurance claim to be rejected because of not disclosure.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 18:47

4 week driving ban - Hugo {P}

NoFM2R, forgive me if I'm wrong but I didn't think insurers could load your premium for health problems provided you are fit to drive of course.

My late mother returned to driving after each of a number of incidents. IIRC her premium was not loaded but the insurers made a note of her health history.

H

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Tue 28 Feb 2006 20:31

4 week driving ban - aaflyer

Hugo - you are, as far as I am concerned, absolutely correct. I have a history of sleep-only epilepsy. My licence was taken away from me for a year after diagnosis (you have to be seizure-free for one year (and I have been now for 15)). I have always been upfront to DVLA, etc.

With regard to the earlier poster (NoFM2R), I would always follow a GP's or Consultant's advice, but be warned of what could happen to you if you were involved in an accident and had not admitted medical problems to DVLA if you had been told to by doctors!...

While I have a medically restricted licence (3 yrs), the fact is that I have a licence - period. Have a look at the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (1995). As long as you have a licence, they can't discriminate against you; the DVLA, consultants in the field and DVLA's doctors and other health professionals have said it's safe for you to drive. Why should you be discriminated against?? A well-known recovery service who provide insurance will quote you twice as much if you put down a history of epilepsy - that's just greed and ignorance of medical facts, IMHO.

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Thu 2 Mar 2006 23:25

4 week driving ban - deepwith

Short episode of strange vision can also be caused by disc/vertebra pressing on spinal cord, this sometimes can be accompanied by pins and needles somewhere else: ie if in the neck then arms and downwards. This would not compromise driving safely. But, there always is one, if you have been told to inform DVLA then it is best done.

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Fri 3 Mar 2006 07:55

4 week driving ban - Dwight Van Driver

a) What will DVLA do:

May suspend your Licence while they invoke medical investigate to ensure that not only are you not a danger to others on the road but also yourself.

Offence not to notify them of your condition/episode.

b) Insurance:

In the event of an accident, Insurance will pay the third party and because the possible extra risk has not been notified, they will recover the monies they have paid out through civil action. Thats why they put the clause in the Policy that they should be informed of such matters.

Forget doing nothing or if you do don't drive in North Yorkshire.

DVD

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Fri 3 Mar 2006 10:02

4 week driving ban - Tim Allcott

Thanks DVD. I don't intend doing nothing; and haven't touched the car keys yet. What annoys me is the waiting for a full screening and medical diagnosis to let me know what caused it. When I have that diagnosis I will inform insurance and DVLA as to outcome (and let the forum know the result)
Tim{P}

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Fri 3 Mar 2006 10:22

4 week driving ban - expat

I had a loss of some vision in my left eye for about half an hour one day fairly recently. When I closed the eye I could see a jagged line in a Vee shape. When it was still like that after half an hour I got the wife to drive me to the local A&E. Got in the car to go and my vision came back. I was astounded and very worried that problems which go away by themselves come back by themselves also. Went down the city the next day and saw an opthalmologist who told me it was a 'flash' and not anything to worry about. Merely the vitreous coming away from the retina. It certainly did worry me but it hasn't come back and I am back driving ok.

Hope yours turns out to be ok Tim.

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 10:48

4 week driving ban - FoxyJukebox

Exactly the right approach.

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Sat 18 Mar 2006 19:21

4 week driving ban: update - Tim Allcott

Well, it's not easy, but so far, so saintly. Last weekend was tricky; Hull to Lancaster on a Friday night weather was disgusting, and going round Manchester on the motorway little fun. Fortunately SWMBO doesn't read this forum... she doesn't like night driving much as is. Still, we both survived, and the divorce is not pending.
Went to "T.I.A" clinic Wednesday (Transient Ischaemic Attack). Nurse said 4 week ban is not legal imposition, but advice from British Stroke Association. Said it was just as well I hadn't informed DVLA prior to talking to him, as they'd have required my licence for a year as an automatic response.. awaiting CAT scan (3 weeks) and appointment with consultant, but, fingers crossed, back on the road next weekend.
And, as a nasty afterthought, what would you do if told tomorrow, that that was it, and you could never drive again? I think I'd have to take up motorsport (if there was any for which I could get a licence) or find a friendly airfield owner.. not being able to get behind the wheel has reminded me how much I love driving. Bizarre, isn't it?
Tim{P}

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Sun 19 Mar 2006 14:40

4 week driving ban: update - doctorchris

1 month driving ban is not a recommendation, it is a legal requirement. Sometimes nurses do not give the most reliable advice, but that is another story.
However, if there is no residual neurological deficit 1 month after either a stroke or TIA, there is no requirement to notify DVLA, though informing your insurer would be prudent.
A driver experiencing multiple TIA's over a short period of time may require 3 months freedom of attacks before driving and must notify DVLA.
Source, DVLA guide to current medical standards of fitness to drive for medical practitioners.

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Sun 19 Mar 2006 17:34

4 week driving ban: update - Tim Allcott

Thanks, Doc. Valuable advice. No reoccurence yet.. The Nurse said he thought it was an H something H something (should have got him to write it down) and that he'd only seen one previously... I will await the consultant's verdict and update everyone.
Tim{P}

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Mon 20 Mar 2006 11:00

4 week driving ban: update - geoff1248

Like you I had a TIA in August last year. Only difference was that mine effected my speach and I talked absolute rubbish for about half an hour (no wise comments please). Nothing else was effected only my speach; I could hear, understand and see perfectly. Thing was that I was driving at the time down the M1 at 70mph (honest officer!!) taling to my better half. Went to the docs the following day and she diagnosed a TIA and sent me for a battery of tests. No one mentioned stopping driving. All tests came back clear as a bell so I didn't notify the insurance coy. No further attacks since and I just think that I had early warning and was able to change my life style. Many folks don't get the early warning, think yourself lucky in a strange sort of way.

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Mon 20 Mar 2006 11:58

4 week driving ban: update - doctorchris

Probably a homonymous hemianopia.
A TIA affecting vision only is also known as Amaurosis Fugax, Don't ask me what that means.

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Mon 20 Mar 2006 12:45

4 week driving ban: update - Tim Allcott

O.K., I'm impressed. How many other motoring discussion boards would produce a medical diagnosis? I think it was homonymous hemianopia, rather than Amaurosis Fugax, because the latter is said to be monocular. Mind you, a web search indicates the former to usually be permanent.. mine wasn't. Sorry mods; I'll not talk about this one again until I have a diagnosis!
Tim{P}

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Mon 20 Mar 2006 14:26

4 week driving ban: update - Stuartli

In 1993 my wife (then 53), who had been suffering from regular TIA attacks that the doctor had put down to stress caused by organising forthcoming family events, suffered a stroke on the first night of a holiday in Scotland.

She was taken 200+ miles to Glasgow Southern Royal where she was kept in for three weeks and, fortunately, made a full recovery apart from permanent problems with balance and co-ordination in certain situations.

The specialist who treated her stated that a) her doctor should have been fully aware of the TIA symtoms and the type of images she would see and b) that her blood was "as thick as syrup". She had been taking blood pressure tablets since approximtely 1960.

A couple of years after the stroke, she decided she would like to take up driving again and was taken out by a driving instructor friend (she had terrified me whilst I had accompanied her!) who gradually built up her confidence.

However, my wife thankfully decided that she would give up driving permanently and I think, looking at it from various viewpoints, that it was a sensible decision.

I'm not hinting in any way that this may apply to you, only that you do require the treatment and guidance of specialist medial personnel to ensure that you make a full recovery.

It's stating the obvious, but as shown by my wife's case with the doctor's analysis, it is not always forthcoming.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 10:38

4 week driving ban - RT

Turned 50 last week and celebrated by spending 4 hours in A & E on Sunday, having had an episode of "smeared" vision. Diagnosis is Transient Ischaematic Attack (mini-stroke) Hospital tell me a) no driving for 4 weeks, and b) inform DVLA. Former; O.K., will bite bullet. Latter; I'm going to wait until I've been to the T.I.A. clinic and had it confirmed as what it was. a) what (if anything) will DVLA do? b) what worries me more, what will my insurance company do when I tell them? any loud thunks from now on are the sound of bits of me falling off... Tim{P}

Calm down, stress will only make it worse!

You don’t need to tell DVLA if you had a TIA and have recovered www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

You don't need to tell your insurer UNLESS you have to tell DVLA

Use the 4 weeks to de-stress and recover !

Note - no idea why this old thread appeared as "new" this morning?

Edited by RT on 20/07/2019 at 10:40

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 11:12

4 week driving ban - Ethan Edwards

He's 63 now If still alive I'm sure he's calmed down by now.

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 13:07

4 week driving ban - badbusdriver

Note - no idea why this old thread appeared as "new" this morning?

There was a meaningless comment with a (probably well dodgy) 'link'. The post, complete with link, appears to have been deleted.

Calm down, stress will only make it worse!

But, as Ethan says, i'm sure he has calmed down by now, after all it was over 13 years ago........!

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Sat 20 Jul 2019 13:13

4 week driving ban - Avant

Yes, there was a post wth a dodgy link. If I change a poster's category to 'spammer' the post disappears: so if someone replies to the spammer the reply may not make a lot of sense.

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