DVLA has banned me from driving for 4 years..and it wasnt me
Discussion
barncooseboy said:
I was just putting out there a body that can HELP SORT IT the P and H Ombudsman (accessed through your local MP\) has discovered DVLA forging peoples medical records to justify disqualifications and has ordered DVLA to pay substantial compensation of £30k to affected drivers Its overall opinion was that the DVLA is not fit for purpose A damning opinion surely.
It's certainly a damning indictment of your comprehension skills, because you're massively exaggerating what that report actually said.http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/about-us/news-centre/p...
Did it exonerate the way DVLA handled the cases it looked at? All eight of them...? No.
Did it declare that the entirety of DVLA was unfit for purpose? No.
They said that the "fitness to drive" tests are not fit for purpose. That was all that was not fit for purpose. It said that the guidelines were sloppy and unclear, and that complaint handling was poor and defensive.
It's also completely and utterly irrelevant to the OP, because it's looking solely at the medical decision-making, not the communications between the judicial system and DVLA, which is what's caused the problem here - and which was quickly and accurately resolved.
ToMBoMB said:
chilistrucker said:
OP, I'd be very interested to hear what reply you get from Chris Grayling.
I went down this route, for different reasons but DVLA related. The reply from the Sec of Transport was that they couldn't deal with the matter directly but had passed it on to the head of complaints at the DVLA.
If the same happens I'd also be interested in the DVLA's reply,
ta.
Will keep the thread updatedI went down this route, for different reasons but DVLA related. The reply from the Sec of Transport was that they couldn't deal with the matter directly but had passed it on to the head of complaints at the DVLA.
If the same happens I'd also be interested in the DVLA's reply,
ta.
Only I'm sleeping with one eye on the phone and one eye on the computer screen, and it can be tiring.
Luckily I am massively trained.
jshell said:
JM said:
Don't drive a vehicle over 7.5 tonnes on a NSL road in excess of 40mph or you could be without your driving license for a while.
Except the single carriageway A9...GC8 said:
And the limit was raised to 50mph long enough ago for me to call it years. The reality was that you would only ever have received a 3pt fixed penalty from a scamera partnership or a particularly snide police officer. Experienced traffic officers would be happy for you to keep up as much as possible.
50 mph does not apply in Scotland (except A9) where it is still 40 mph.TooMany2cvs said:
barncooseboy said:
I was just putting out there a body that can HELP SORT IT the P and H Ombudsman (accessed through your local MP\) has discovered DVLA forging peoples medical records to justify disqualifications and has ordered DVLA to pay substantial compensation of £30k to affected drivers Its overall opinion was that the DVLA is not fit for purpose A damning opinion surely.
It's certainly a damning indictment of your comprehension skills, because you're massively exaggerating what that report actually said.http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/about-us/news-centre/p...
Did it exonerate the way DVLA handled the cases it looked at? All eight of them...? No.
Did it declare that the entirety of DVLA was unfit for purpose? No.
They said that the "fitness to drive" tests are not fit for purpose. That was all that was not fit for purpose. It said that the guidelines were sloppy and unclear, and that complaint handling was poor and defensive.
It's also completely and utterly irrelevant to the OP, because it's looking solely at the medical decision-making, not the communications between the judicial system and DVLA, which is what's caused the problem here - and which was quickly and accurately resolved.
chilistrucker said:
Although not relevant to the OP the PHSO report is worth a read to those who may have been affected by the failings of the DMG. If you read the report in FULL it clearly shows the many, many failings by the DMG that have had huge affects on peoples lives. I can list them if you want, but we would be a very long time and it wouldn't be fair to the OP.
What is DMG??DuraAce said:
KevinCamaroSS said:
What is DMG??
Drivers medical groupThey are a body of the the DVLA that deal with all things medical.
Unfortunately they're pretty bad at their job. Yes I have been wronged by them but read the PHSO report on them, all 57 pages of it and it will give you an idea on quite how good they are at monumentally f
king up.The worst thing in that report is this.
PHSO said:
The report recommends that DVLA should improve the way it communicates with both licence applicants and medical professionals and produce robust standards to fairly assess people with medical conditions. Without robust standards, there is a risk that people who are fit to drive will be denied a licence to do so, and others, who pose a risk to the public and themselves, will keep their licence and continue to drive. DVLA has not accepted this recommendation.
Since other people will have been affected by the failures uncovered in the report, it recommends that DVLA puts in place appropriate arrangements to put things right for those people too, including, where appropriate, financial compensation. DVLA does not accept this recommendation, thus denying justice to others affected.
This attitude by the Agency is utterly disgraceful and the Secretary of State should act to bring this unaccountable organisation to heel. Though given who the present incumbent is that's about as likely as seeing a unicorn elected as an MP. Also, most SoS for Transport never stay in office long enough to actually do anything worthwhile (in 14 years only two have been in post for longer than 18 months).Since other people will have been affected by the failures uncovered in the report, it recommends that DVLA puts in place appropriate arrangements to put things right for those people too, including, where appropriate, financial compensation. DVLA does not accept this recommendation, thus denying justice to others affected.
chilistrucker said:
DuraAce said:
KevinCamaroSS said:
What is DMG??
Drivers medical groupThey are a body of the the DVLA that deal with all things medical.
Unfortunately they're pretty bad at their job. Yes I have been wronged by them but read the PHSO report on them, all 57 pages of it and it will give you an idea on quite how good they are at monumentally f
king up.Riley Blue said:
chilistrucker said:
DuraAce said:
KevinCamaroSS said:
What is DMG??
Drivers medical groupThey are a body of the the DVLA that deal with all things medical.
Unfortunately they're pretty bad at their job. Yes I have been wronged by them but read the PHSO report on them, all 57 pages of it and it will give you an idea on quite how good they are at monumentally f
king up.My problems are my problems, but they as an organisation have ruined my life. I know that this too many may seem a little far fetched but you have to have lived it, to understand it. Dealing with these useless, faceless, inept idiots is very, very trying.
To try and put it/them in perspective try and imagine this scenario.
Imagine you are quite happily plodding along in life, and after 20 years of hard graft in your chosen profession you have worked your way to the upper end of your career ladder and enjoy your work and the decent wage/lifestyle it gives you.
One day, someone comes in to your office or place of work, (we'll call them the DMG) and says you are no longer fit for purpose so to speak and without giving you any just reason or clarity. Their ruling means you have to immediately stop work, and can no longer work in this field until you can prove to them that you can tick all of their boxes and they then allow you to return to your chosen career. Worth remembering at this point that because a medical expert has passed you fit for work you are not entitled to any form of sick pay or benefit/help from the system.
You have written proof from an individual at the top end of their career that proves you are fit for purpose, and questions the DMG's rulings. You phone said DMG to discuss this further but are told you cannot speak to them on the phone, they will also not communicate with you as an individual via email, they have chosen only to deal with you via the postal mail service.
The only person they will speak with on the phone in reference your case is the above expert in his field, but they have already chosen to overrule him and will not listen to his expert opinion. They are quite happy doing this as they make the rules, and you or your medical professional are below their wealth of expertise, dare to question them at your peril. You can, but they will then make it much, much harder than it already is, (I have the proof!!!!!)
You write to them to question this, you have to write as remember they won't communicate with you on the phone?
Every letter you write to them, on average takes a 4 week turn around time for a reply, so from your initial dismay, phone calls and first letter, 5 weeks have now passed. They take approx 3 weeks to reply. Whilst waiting you phone for updates but are just told your case is being dealt with and you can't speak with them on the phone you will have to wait for any response to come through the post.
After 3 weeks you finally get their reply, which is pathetic, makes no sense and has no proof. You are now fuming at the pure stupidity of this ridiculous affair, but remember you can't phone them, you can only write a letter.
You write said letter and know you will have to wait approx 4 weeks for them to deal with this.
You have now lost somewhere in the region of 12-14 weeks of you life and remember because your career was in somewhat of a specialist field you can't just easily find, 'other work.' Worth remembering that you are now in your mid 40's and because you only ever worked in 1 specific field your chances of changing career are quite limited as who wants to take on a middle aged man, with only 1 real career set, re-train them and pay them an equivalent wage or close too what they were earning before things all went sour.
The above 'scenario' could just be the start of things if you were unlucky enough to fall into the hands and be at the mercy of, the DMG.
Repeat the above for approximately 2 years before you have just about been destroyed and given up any hope of common sense or justice.
In this time you may or may not have lost any of the following,
your career, your partner, your family and friends, your house, your dignity and self worth.
As a 100% honest example, I have lost my career and suffered massively from a financial perspective. My partner I've kept and family. I've lost a few friends because I've struggled to deal with the injustice of everything, the longer it has gone on the more I slowly became withdrawn and tried to avoid phone calls from friends. They were all living life normally, and it just seemed that every time they contacted me all I ever had was yet more bad news and knock backs. I began to feel like a bad penny, so rather than taint others lives, because I'd been forced into a dark place over time by the DMG I found it easier to bury my head in the sand.
Stupid I know, but once the darkness gets a grip of you, it can slowly take over.
It has definitely cost me my dignity and self worth. I had a nice collection of "things" because that's all they are now, just things I 'once' owned. Anything I ever had that was of monetary value has gone, including some really nice stuff from my years on tour, but needs must.
Self worth, none. When you try so hard to fight an injustice of something that is so wrong, but can do nothing about it and the impact of this has such a huge knock on effect, you really do begin to question your own self worth and existence.
Far fetched? No. I have stared at the floor far to many times. I have in my head questioned why the f
k my Mrs has put up with all this st, and stayed with such a failure. The simple fact is though that she did, and its that, that made me realize 1 thing, I'm so lucky to have her. Without her fighting my corner with me, knowing how to pick me up in my darkest days I know I would not have got through it. I owe her so much.Anyway waffle over, just trying to make a few valid points, (yet again) in relation to the DMG/DVLA.
'Kin 'ell. 
Are you perchance the Mr A featured in the PHSO report?
Just read this gem.
Far from ensuring road safety the DMG is managing to do the exact opposite. You couldn't make it up.
Are you perchance the Mr A featured in the PHSO report?Just read this gem.
PHSO report page 32 said:
More worryingly, it* has given us information about a 2012 Freight Transport Association survey into sleep apnoea which showed that 98% of drivers and employers would not refer themselves to DVLA following diagnosis of sleep apnoea for fear of losing their licences.
* 'it' being the Sleep Apnoea Trust.Far from ensuring road safety the DMG is managing to do the exact opposite. You couldn't make it up.
I feel for you CT, sounds like a st situation. I'm currently trying to sort out an admin mess on a much smaller scale regarding car tax fines and its exquisitely frustrating to be told that the department only communicates by letter and that if I want to find out what's happening I should send them another letter. It's 2017 for fks sake. Letters?!?
t situation. I'm currently trying to sort out an admin mess on a much smaller scale regarding car tax fines and its exquisitely frustrating to be told that the department only communicates by letter and that if I want to find out what's happening I should send them another letter. It's 2017 for fks sake. Letters?!?chilistrucker said:
One day, someone comes in to your office or place of work, (we'll call them the DMG) and says you are no longer fit for purpose so to speak and without giving you any just reason or clarity. Their ruling means you have to immediately stop work...................
Anyway waffle over, just trying to make a few valid points, (yet again) in relation to the DMG/DVLA.
Yes, but what?Anyway waffle over, just trying to make a few valid points, (yet again) in relation to the DMG/DVLA.
What did they say you had done, or failed to do which meant that they took your licence away?
Red Devil said:
'Kin 'ell. Are you perchance the Mr A featured in the PHSO report?
Just read this gem.
Far from ensuring road safety the DMG is managing to do the exact opposite. You couldn't make it up.
I have often wondered??? I got to read the report the day after it went public and when I got to MR A's story I had to read it three times, I then showed the Mrs and she said, "Is that you?" It is so close it could be, but I don't think it is as at the time I was unaware that the PHSO was a route I could go down and as of yet they havn't investigated my case. I have spoke with them and they are very, very helpful. They have told me that if I still don't get my licence back on this the current attempt I do have other options. Are you perchance the Mr A featured in the PHSO report?Just read this gem.
PHSO report page 32 said:
More worryingly, it* has given us information about a 2012 Freight Transport Association survey into sleep apnoea which showed that 98% of drivers and employers would not refer themselves to DVLA following diagnosis of sleep apnoea for fear of losing their licences.
* 'it' being the Sleep Apnoea Trust.Far from ensuring road safety the DMG is managing to do the exact opposite. You couldn't make it up.
The next would be the independent assessor route, and if that were to fail the PHSO have hinted they would get involved and this is why I am currently the most hopeful I have been since the whole sorry affair started. The sleep apnoea thing is worrying but a good example of how things are in relation to the DMG. The PHSO report is excellent, I like the way it highlights so many failings and errors but it is frightening to think that although there are people being wronged by the DMG, due to its massive failings there are also people out there who currently hold a licence that are not fit to drive and could indeed be a danger.
You are right you couldn't make it up.
Every one of these idiots who are responsible for the DMG's failings should indeed be brought to justice not just for ruining peoples lives but also for putting the general public at risk. It is a disgrace but both Oliver Morley the DVLA Chief Exec and the Ministry of Transport continue to try and brush everything under the carpet.
I refuse to accept that, and will always fight to try and to have them held accountable for their failings.
Monk.
The DMG have said to me that in Their opinion because of the injuries I had I am now a seizure risk and until I can prove I am less than a 2% seizure risk I cannot have my LGV licences back. My consultant at the time and my GP have always said how can you prove anyone is less than a 2% seizure risk. I never questioned anything until I had been given the all clear from the consultant that all the bleeds on my brain had gone.
It seems crazy to me that still to this day I have never, ever had a seizure. It was not the cause of my fall or injuries and I have never been treated or taken any form of medication seizure related. In fact during my week in the hospital and when they discharged me the only medication I was given, was normal headache tablets and yet the DMG have chosen to put me in that 2% box and have point blank refused to ever listen to any further evidence or opinions presented to them.
It drives me insane especially when it is clear to see in the PHSO report that the DMG's rulings in cases like mine are over 20 years old and have not in that 20 years been amended or updated, that is a disgrace. I found the minutes of one of the DMG groups meetings, (the group that specifically rule on head trauma type cases.) In those minutes they themselves address that there are issues with the current set of rulings not being accurate. They also state that the rulings are indeed out of date and this is now causing issues in many individuals cases. They went onto say that it was something that needs addressing.
Oddly though, as of yet nothing has been done.
Just another example of for the most part what a shower of s
t they really are. I could list example, after example after example but have probably already bored people enough.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff