The good news is that I was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
The bad news is that, as I’ve now had two seizures in six weeks, I’ve had to surrender my driving license to the DVLA. I can’t get it back until a doctor confirms that I haven’t had a seizure for 12 months, so it’ll be next summer at the earliest before I can drive again.
Reporting to the DVLA
The doctors who were treating me in hospital advised me to contact the DVLA to tell them I was no longer fit to drive. This is done online and is quite thorough, although you probably won’t get an immediate outcome. As it was, I received a letter through the post a couple of days later, confirming my unsuitability to drive and with a pre-addressed envelope to send my license back in.
As much as it will be a pain not being able to drive for at least the next 12 months, we’ll manage. Christine thankfully passed her test 18 months ago and so she can drive. Once I start going back to work in the office, I can take the train – we bought our house before I passed my driving test and so public transport remains an option for me.
Meanwhile, I’m taking anti-seizure medication twice a day and will have some further tests and scans to narrow down what’s caused the seizures. This may include surgery in future, but, fingers crossed, I won’t have another seizure in the next 12 months. Obviously, if I do, then the 12 month counter resets.
The need to self-report
Unlike most other European countries, it is an individual’s responsibility to tell the DVLA that they’re no longer fit to drive. And, unfortunately, some people carry on driving despite being told not to, sometimes with deadly consequences. It’s a particular problem with older drivers with failing eyesight, and who end up in prison for causing death by dangerous driving rather than enjoying their retirement. Nobody wins.
Hopefully, in future, there will be a system set up for healthcare professionals (doctors, but also optometrists and others) to report people unfit to drive to the DVLA directly, rather than relying on self-reporting. That way, people unfit to drive who are reluctant to give up driving can be forced to do so. It would need enforcement, and arguably resources to help people find alternative transport, but could save lives.
In any case, I understand why I can’t drive and have done what I’m legally required to do. I would never want to be responsible for injuring someone (or worse) because of a seizure whilst driving. And even if all I do is injure myself or damage the car, driving against medical advice will almost certainly invalidate my car insurance, leaving me out of pocket. It sucks, but driving right now just isn’t worth the risk to me or anyone else.
