Returning to driving...
Discussion
I’ve got my licence back today, after an 18 month layoff (medical), and although I’ve been out pottering about, was wondering if anyone has an words of wisdom regarding returning to driving, that they’d care to pass on?
The tale is a sad and irritating one, certainly not helped by the dilatory DVLA. Suffice it to say getting my MP involved brought the matter to most satisfying conclusion, very quickly.
Thank you!
The tale is a sad and irritating one, certainly not helped by the dilatory DVLA. Suffice it to say getting my MP involved brought the matter to most satisfying conclusion, very quickly.
Thank you!
I had my licence revoked for 12 months for medical reasons. To be honest....I just got in and went for a drive. My first drive I went with a family member, although I'm not sure what they'd have done in the event of something going tits-up 
)
Honestly.....after a few minutes it'll be like you've never not driven and it'll feel like second nature again.
Congratulations, and enjoy.
and yes, the DVLA are a bunch of t
ts, I absolutely loathe them. When I got my licence back it was valid for 3 years, and then I'd need to have it reviewed. It expired November 2018, sent all of the forms to them and I called them in January to check everything was OK...."yes, we've got your details and it's being reviewed". So, in March I got a letter from them, thinking it was my new licence....nope, just a letter telling me they're looking into my case. Nothing come by June, I called them, said I was going on holiday in July and needed my licence showing a valid date so I could hire a car...."OK, we'll fast track you"....we are now in the middle of July and I'm still waiting....so basically 8 months now. Ridiculous.
)Honestly.....after a few minutes it'll be like you've never not driven and it'll feel like second nature again.
Congratulations, and enjoy.
and yes, the DVLA are a bunch of t
ts, I absolutely loathe them. When I got my licence back it was valid for 3 years, and then I'd need to have it reviewed. It expired November 2018, sent all of the forms to them and I called them in January to check everything was OK...."yes, we've got your details and it's being reviewed". So, in March I got a letter from them, thinking it was my new licence....nope, just a letter telling me they're looking into my case. Nothing come by June, I called them, said I was going on holiday in July and needed my licence showing a valid date so I could hire a car...."OK, we'll fast track you"....we are now in the middle of July and I'm still waiting....so basically 8 months now. Ridiculous.The DVLA. I used to deal with them on a professional basis, but it’s only since dealing with them on a personal level have I realised how stultifyingly inept they are. I don’t necessarily mind busyness, or simple mistakes; but deceit, lying and obfuscation are another matter.
Anyway I’ve done about 120 miles in all traffic today (Truro, Penzance, etc). No mystery roundabouts (and I need to know more about that), but an utterly unsurprising deterioration in driving. Even in only 18 months things are much worse than previously.
Regrettably I will be unable to drive again until Friday, but the bug has bitten.
Anyway I’ve done about 120 miles in all traffic today (Truro, Penzance, etc). No mystery roundabouts (and I need to know more about that), but an utterly unsurprising deterioration in driving. Even in only 18 months things are much worse than previously.
Regrettably I will be unable to drive again until Friday, but the bug has bitten.
As already indicated overtaking is a lost art so just bumble along in a queue with everybody else.
Your fellow road users will have become more impatient & intolerant.
New fixed speed cameras may have given birth but more likely most of the speed limits you knew will now be10mph less.
Plod will be in more unlikely vehicles such as SUV's.
More will be driving & using a mobile phone, even laptops & now that many service areas have drive-in Costa's & no car dare be sold without a drinks holder many will be sipping drinks as they drive.
Cyclists even more than caravans motor homes & horse boxes will ruin what was once a nice Sunday morning drive.
Forget drunk drivers the real threat to your life are those drugged up & behind the wheel.
Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
Your fellow road users will have become more impatient & intolerant.
New fixed speed cameras may have given birth but more likely most of the speed limits you knew will now be10mph less.
Plod will be in more unlikely vehicles such as SUV's.
More will be driving & using a mobile phone, even laptops & now that many service areas have drive-in Costa's & no car dare be sold without a drinks holder many will be sipping drinks as they drive.
Cyclists even more than caravans motor homes & horse boxes will ruin what was once a nice Sunday morning drive.
Forget drunk drivers the real threat to your life are those drugged up & behind the wheel.
Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
I stopped driving for 18 years through choice (good public transport, really didn't need a car).
Circumstances changed, I needed a car. Went and bought one and got in it and drove home. Only stalled it once.
But as noted above the skills never leave you - you'll be absolutely fine. I must confess I did do a little 'woo-hoo' as soon as I got onto a road by myself.
Just don't do what I did and look for a choke....or freak out because there were buttons for the windows instead of windy things. Or light steering.
18 months ?
A mere drop in the ocean - muscle memory will kick in almost instantly.
Circumstances changed, I needed a car. Went and bought one and got in it and drove home. Only stalled it once.
But as noted above the skills never leave you - you'll be absolutely fine. I must confess I did do a little 'woo-hoo' as soon as I got onto a road by myself.
Just don't do what I did and look for a choke....or freak out because there were buttons for the windows instead of windy things. Or light steering.
18 months ?
A mere drop in the ocean - muscle memory will kick in almost instantly.
WJNB said:
As already indicated overtaking is a lost art so just bumble along in a queue with everybody else.
Your fellow road users will have become more impatient & intolerant.
New fixed speed cameras may have given birth but more likely most of the speed limits you knew will now be10mph less.
Plod will be in more unlikely vehicles such as SUV's.
More will be driving & using a mobile phone, even laptops & now that many service areas have drive-in Costa's & no car dare be sold without a drinks holder many will be sipping drinks as they drive.
Cyclists even more than caravans motor homes & horse boxes will ruin what was once a nice Sunday morning drive.
Forget drunk drivers the real threat to your life are those drugged up & behind the wheel.
Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
Thanks! It’s coming back to me. I’ve been out in rush hour a couple of times because there’s nothing like pressure to test your technique. 😂Your fellow road users will have become more impatient & intolerant.
New fixed speed cameras may have given birth but more likely most of the speed limits you knew will now be10mph less.
Plod will be in more unlikely vehicles such as SUV's.
More will be driving & using a mobile phone, even laptops & now that many service areas have drive-in Costa's & no car dare be sold without a drinks holder many will be sipping drinks as they drive.
Cyclists even more than caravans motor homes & horse boxes will ruin what was once a nice Sunday morning drive.
Forget drunk drivers the real threat to your life are those drugged up & behind the wheel.
Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
It’s so good to be back on the road, for all of its many hindrances, annoyances, frustrations, and limitations. I can get from Truro to Hayle in 30 minutes rather than the hour and a half it would take the bus on a good day.
WJNB said:
Forget drunk drivers the real threat to your life are those drugged up & behind the wheel.
Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
This!Despite all this gloom good luck & glad you are in better health.
The smell off skunk in London traffic is just unbelievable these days, especially in East London for some reason.
The other day me and my son were driving down the A12 at the NSL with no other cars around us when our car filled with the stink of weed. There was another car about 100m ahead driving a bit erratically.
We overtook and sure enough the driver was puffing on a big doobie, at 70 odd miles an hour. FFS!!
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