Tweet
I'm currently navigating a challenging situation with the DVLA regarding my driving licence and am looking for advice or shared experiences.
My situation:
- I have had focal aware seizures for over a decade, manifesting as déjà vu due to epilepsy, without affecting my consciousness or functionality.
- My neurologist and GP support my ability to drive, confirming these seizures do not impair my driving.
- Initially, the DVLA issued me a 5-year restricted licence, aware of my condition - I have been driving for 4 years now.
- On my neurologist's advice, I contacted the DVLA to keep them updated that I still have seizures a few times a year as he wasn’t too aware of the rules. They asked me to fill in forms for a medical review, which I did, back in May 2023.
- I continued driving under Section 88 provisions - as advised by the DVLA when I called. However, 6 months after the medical review, my licence was revoked yesterday, for 12 months from my last seizure.
Based on the DVLA's special conditions, I should be eligible to drive regardless of the quantity of seizures, as long as they remain unchanged and do not progress and are non-impairing.
Specifically, the condition states that relicensing may be granted if the person, over at least 1 year, establishes a history of seizures which do not affect consciousness or cause functional impairment, and if they've never had any other type of unprovoked seizure. They included this page of special conditions in the letter revoking my licence.
I'm contacting the DVLA to ask them to reconsider and the next step is to apply to the magistrates and appeal the decision - but this is going to cost me a small fortune in solicitor fees and lost income from not being able to drive (I’m self-employed).
I would appreciate any insights:
- Has anyone had their licence reinstated under these specific DVLA conditions?
- What approaches or key points were effective in your dealings with the DVLA?
- Any advice for the appeal process, particularly for cases with non-impairing seizures like mine?
Your experiences, suggestions, or any advice on how to proceed would be greatly helpful. Thank you!
My situation:
- I have had focal aware seizures for over a decade, manifesting as déjà vu due to epilepsy, without affecting my consciousness or functionality.
- My neurologist and GP support my ability to drive, confirming these seizures do not impair my driving.
- Initially, the DVLA issued me a 5-year restricted licence, aware of my condition - I have been driving for 4 years now.
- On my neurologist's advice, I contacted the DVLA to keep them updated that I still have seizures a few times a year as he wasn’t too aware of the rules. They asked me to fill in forms for a medical review, which I did, back in May 2023.
- I continued driving under Section 88 provisions - as advised by the DVLA when I called. However, 6 months after the medical review, my licence was revoked yesterday, for 12 months from my last seizure.
Based on the DVLA's special conditions, I should be eligible to drive regardless of the quantity of seizures, as long as they remain unchanged and do not progress and are non-impairing.
Specifically, the condition states that relicensing may be granted if the person, over at least 1 year, establishes a history of seizures which do not affect consciousness or cause functional impairment, and if they've never had any other type of unprovoked seizure. They included this page of special conditions in the letter revoking my licence.
I'm contacting the DVLA to ask them to reconsider and the next step is to apply to the magistrates and appeal the decision - but this is going to cost me a small fortune in solicitor fees and lost income from not being able to drive (I’m self-employed).
I would appreciate any insights:
- Has anyone had their licence reinstated under these specific DVLA conditions?
- What approaches or key points were effective in your dealings with the DVLA?
- Any advice for the appeal process, particularly for cases with non-impairing seizures like mine?
Your experiences, suggestions, or any advice on how to proceed would be greatly helpful. Thank you!
