Dvla !!

[derekpara]

My wife's driving licence expired in Sept 2020 and was extended for 11 months ' due to Covid'
She duly completed a renewal form on line in July of this year .She is over 70 with long standing medical conditions but approved to drive.
Within two weeks she received a letter from the DVLA (with ref No) stating they need to make new confidential enquiries into her fitness to drive.
Having filled another questionnaire, consent form etc she returned all the required documentation and returned it to the DVLA by post on 21st July complete with cut-up old licence.
The DVLA states that one can drive while enquiries are being made ( Section 88 Road Trafic Act.) I have heard nothing since.
It's impossible to speak to a human being at DVLA and we can only manage to get so far with their tracking system before meeting a brick wall -' You do not qualify for this service' with no further guidance. ' No-one is available to deal with our enquiry' is the final push back.

Is my wife still legal to drive, even though I have no confirmation from DVLA ? I have copies of all communications etc. Has another extension been granted due to huge backlog etc ?

Many thanks for any help.

[barry1010]

Yes, she is still legal to drive
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla

[THECORBYLOON]

The link to the leaflet includes, "To continue driving under Section 88, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Your doctor must have told you that you are fit to drive. If your doctor is unsure about how a medical condition affects driving, they should refer to ‘Assessing fitness to drive – a guide for medical professionals’ at www.gov.uk/dvla/fitnesstodrive"

Rather than your wife being telt she is unfit to drive, has her doctor confirmed to her she is fit to continue driving?

[derekpara]

Thanks, both.
Her doctor has been treating her for years and is fully aware of her ailments, which are mainly mobility related. Also, her eyesight is good and the optician confirms she meets the legal driving requirements, with spectacles.
Incidentally, is the onus on the patient to put the question, ' Am I still fit to drive ?' to the doctor, or on the doctor to tell the patient they are no longer fit to drive a motor vehicle ?
The GP has never made any reference regarding her ability to drive so is it safe to assume the status quo stands unless/ until the GP officially declares otherwise ?
Has any doctor ever said to you, 'Oh, by the way, you are fit to drive' ? when you've complained of a boil on your bum, as apparently required by the DVLA requirement you quote.
I am over eighty, fairly recent IAM, but with Cancer etc and my GP has never used the words ' You are fit to drive' Hence, an assumption is made, as with your painful bum !
Cheers.
D

[barry1010]

My GP has told me in the past that I must not drive and told me to inform the DVLA. Whether he told the DVLA I don't know.
My license was restored after three months.

[THECORBYLOON]

Your question was, "Is my wife still legal to drive, even though I have no confirmation from DVLA ?"

It's not a case of carrying on until her doctor says "No", it's carrying on, only if the doctor confirms she is fit to drive still.

If the question isn't asked of the doctor, I would think she is committing an offence by continuing to drive.

Why not just make an appointment so the doctor can confirm she is fit to drive and keep it legal?

[derekpara]

Will do, TCL. Well answered.
Thanks again.
D

[THECORBYLOON]

It might be an idea to get something in writing from the Doc confirming he said your wife is fit to drive to show to police if she's stopped in the meantime.

[derekpara]

Top of my 'To do' list, TCL.
Cheers.
D