Doctor incorrectly claiming im not allowed to drive?
Discussion
Today I went off for a medical test required for a job (TA). Part of this included an eyesight test - I have poor vision in my left eye - refractive amblyopia (with glasses it is 6/9, otherwise its 6/36 or something similarly awful - third line on the chart). The vision in my right eye is perfect and as its the dominant eye I have had no problems and gain no benefit from wearing glasses, so I dont.
The NHS doctor today said that he does examinations for the DVLA and that legally I am not allowed to drive. A quick check of direct.gov - link below shows that he is wrong and indeed amblyopia is not even listed in the conditions you need to notify them of. I have had countless eyesight tests and the numberplate test you have to do for passing car and motorbike tests, none of which has said this is a problem, indeed one of them stating that with glasses even if I only had my left eye I would still be able to drive.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
That someone in a position to destroy peoples livelihoods through his incorrect advice is so obviously wrong deeply concerns me, especially as when I raised the above points with him he flat out refused to listen to my reasoning, repeatedly stating 'there is no argument. I am right and you are wrong'. When I said 'That's ridiculous' he got quite upset and was saying I needed to improve my attitude and not argue.
I am absolutely fuming at this and would like to see that this person gets set straight on what the law is. But first naturally I must consult the wisdom of PH to find out if there is even a shred of truth in what he is saying that I have misunderstood?
Also my medical records are going to now look a mess because I have had my left eyes vision recorded in both uncorrected and corrected forms.... I didn't think it would be worth getting glasses that I wouldnt use except at an eye test. seems I was wrong...
The NHS doctor today said that he does examinations for the DVLA and that legally I am not allowed to drive. A quick check of direct.gov - link below shows that he is wrong and indeed amblyopia is not even listed in the conditions you need to notify them of. I have had countless eyesight tests and the numberplate test you have to do for passing car and motorbike tests, none of which has said this is a problem, indeed one of them stating that with glasses even if I only had my left eye I would still be able to drive.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
That someone in a position to destroy peoples livelihoods through his incorrect advice is so obviously wrong deeply concerns me, especially as when I raised the above points with him he flat out refused to listen to my reasoning, repeatedly stating 'there is no argument. I am right and you are wrong'. When I said 'That's ridiculous' he got quite upset and was saying I needed to improve my attitude and not argue.
I am absolutely fuming at this and would like to see that this person gets set straight on what the law is. But first naturally I must consult the wisdom of PH to find out if there is even a shred of truth in what he is saying that I have misunderstood?
Also my medical records are going to now look a mess because I have had my left eyes vision recorded in both uncorrected and corrected forms.... I didn't think it would be worth getting glasses that I wouldnt use except at an eye test. seems I was wrong...
Considering you can drive with one eye totally missing so long as the remaining eye is fine then i'd say your doc is talking from his behind.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...
In that case I think I'll have to make a formal issue out of it with the NHS, in case this supposed doctor decides to try and get my license revoked.
Edit to add that I feel kinda bad now for complaining, whilst recognising that it does need to be done.
Edit to add that I feel kinda bad now for complaining, whilst recognising that it does need to be done.
Edited by shouldbworking on Saturday 6th August 19:29
Doctors are not there to police the laws of the road. They provide advice which you may or may not choose to follow. In this instance the doctor provided incorrect advice. It is your duty to inform the DVLA should you fall into one of the notifiable categories. You are still legally entitled to drive and he is wrong.
To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
ucb said:
Doctors are not there to police the laws of the road. They provide advice which you may or may not choose to follow. In this instance the doctor provided incorrect advice. It is your duty to inform the DVLA should you fall into one of the notifiable categories. You are still legally entitled to drive and he is wrong.
To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
Hmmm, pretty well every part of that post is wrong.To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
Sheets Tabuer said:
I'd get a second opinion PDQ.
It is up to you to notify the DVLA once informed and they then make the decision if you are fit to drive, I should think you'd be in a world of trouble if you had a crash and it came to light a doc said you shouldn't drive.
Agree of both countsIt is up to you to notify the DVLA once informed and they then make the decision if you are fit to drive, I should think you'd be in a world of trouble if you had a crash and it came to light a doc said you shouldn't drive.
I feel confident I'm not in any violation of the law, supported by both every optician I've consulted in the last 13 years (that I've been driving) as well as the direct.gov site. This doctor did say he was there to assess me for the army not the dvla and didnt say he would pass on anything but just the same I am not happy about it.
I was supposed to be called back by the NHS within an hour after I spoke to an operator about it but they havent called. I'll forgive them as its a weekend
I was supposed to be called back by the NHS within an hour after I spoke to an operator about it but they havent called. I'll forgive them as its a weekend
Deva Link said:
ucb said:
Doctors are not there to police the laws of the road. They provide advice which you may or may not choose to follow. In this instance the doctor provided incorrect advice. It is your duty to inform the DVLA should you fall into one of the notifiable categories. You are still legally entitled to drive and he is wrong.
To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
Hmmm, pretty well every part of that post is wrong.To be frank, ignore him and forget it.
Deva Link said:
Hmmm, pretty well every part of that post is wrong.
Please see links and f
k offhttp://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Fitness-to-Drive.h...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&...
ucb said:
Please see links and f
k offhttp://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Fitness-to-Drive.h...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&...
ucb said:
Did you read point 7 of that guidance?A colleague of mine has just gone through this for vision reasons and once the quack says you can't drive, that's (at least in the medium term) the end of your driving career. He had no idea he shouldn't drive and has recently got his licence back, but to give you an idea how long it's taken he's moved house in the meantime to be on a public transport route for work.
In the OPs case it sounds like more of an off-the-cuff remark, but if he annoyed the Doctor enough he'll be getting a letter from DVLA asking him to return his licence.
shouldbworking said:
Today I went off for a medical test required for a job (TA). Part of this included an eyesight test - I have poor vision in my left eye - refractive amblyopia (with glasses it is 6/9, otherwise its 6/36 or something similarly awful - third line on the chart). The vision in my right eye is perfect and as its the dominant eye I have had no problems and gain no benefit from wearing glasses, so I dont.
Based solely on this the law is quite clear. You need to see a no plate at 20.5 m (new plate not old, they are slightly different) or 67ft in good daylight. Currently there is no snellen equivalent (the 6/9 denotation you mentioned. This may change with European law soon but hasn't yet.Its very vague but there you are.
The no plate test is about 6/10 on an optometrists chart.
Google Drasdo et al from Aston Uni. Its an old paper but still cited.
You can achieve this no plate test with however many eyes you have that work. Lots on one eyed people drive quite legally as long as they can meet the visual field requirements.
As long as that is all the info you have been incorrectly advised and whilst there may be some hassle even the GP's records seem to show his advice was somewhat misplaced.
Hopefully it will come out in the wash.
ETA - just read the part about the army. They may have different rules for their driving (there certainly is for entry to the forces) and if you are looking at LGV or PSV driving then there are more specific rules involving both eyes individually.
For driving your own personal car, not on business duty, then the above is correct.
Edited by DKL on Sunday 7th August 12:06
Deva Link said:
ucb said:
Did you read point 7 of that guidance?A colleague of mine has just gone through this for vision reasons and once the quack says you can't drive, that's (at least in the medium term) the end of your driving career. He had no idea he shouldn't drive and has recently got his licence back, but to give you an idea how long it's taken he's moved house in the meantime to be on a public transport route for work.
In the OPs case it sounds like more of an off-the-cuff remark, but if he annoyed the Doctor enough he'll be getting a letter from DVLA asking him to return his licence.
I suggest that the OP checks with the DVLA espescially if they feel the doctor is incorrect. Fromthe post aboev regarding the legal requirements, it appears that the medics are indeed wrong.
ucb said:
I suggest that the OP checks with the DVLA espescially if they feel the doctor is incorrect.
If it was me then I really wouldn't want to draw myself to the DVLA's attention like that.If the OP is confident he's OK, then fine. If in any doubt getting a test done with confirmation he's OK might be useful just in case the doctor does take it further.
Well, NHS confidence further eroded as they will not investigate it because the doctor was acting as a contractor to the army at the time. They suggested I take it up with the army... great, im sure they will pay a lot of attention to someone who isnt even a serving soldier ringing up to bleat about the doctor who did their medical...
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