DVLA and Age - advice sought

[Stewart]

After getting my oximeter I finally persuaded my 75 year old father to check his stats (I've been trying to get him to admit he has a problem ever since I was diagnosed.) His stats last night were an AI of 16 with some scarily low saturation levels now and then - 15% drop and yo-yo'ing over one 15 min period.

However he swears that he saw a TV programme in which a woman around his age was automatically disqualified by the DVLA as soon as she reported OSA to them. So he's adamant he doesn't want to involve the NHS.

Taking the view that any treatment is better than none; I'm more than happy to buy him a basic machine, mask, etc, and help him titrate himself, but I'd rather he went through the NHS.

Does anyone know what the DVLA's position is regards people of his age?

Any arguments that might help me persuade him to go down the official route?

thanks
Stewart

[Richard]

DVLA and age

I remember the TV programme clearly; the lady was well into her seventies or eighties and had been diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea. Driving her car meant a lot to her as she valued her independence (don't we all), but the law states that a diagnosis of Sleep Apnoea requires the patient to surrender their driving-licence to the DVLA.

Once the condition is under control, usually via CPAP Therapy, the patient can apply to have his/her licence returned, which is what happens in 96%+ cases. But this lady was not responding to treatment and was prepared to spend many thousands of pounds in persuading her physician that she should have her licence returned, because she needed her car. In effect, she was trying to coerce the medic. into contradicting the evidence of his own diagnosis. Of course, he would not budge.

Surrendering the driving-licence is nothing to do with the NHS, it's a requirement under the law, and failure to recognise this results in a very hefty fine. Moreover, at the age of 70 one's entitlement to drive come to an end anyway.

You may find this link helpful:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_4022086

From your own experience, Stewart, you probably have some idea of how long and protracted it can be to reach a diagnosis of OSA through the NHS.

Intus should be able to help your father with a home sleep-study, on a much condensed time-frame, so he can then decide for himself whether he is prepared to use CPAP Therapy. But, whether he chooses the NHS route or private medicine, he must have a current valid driving-licence.

If I can help further, do let me know.

best regards

Richard

[Tigers Fan]

A very balanced reply, Richard, if I may say.

I was discussing the DVLA and being 70 with my sister the other day - she is approaching 70 and shouldn't be allowed to drive (trust me). I was staggered to learn that she won't have to take a driving test - just apply for renewal.

What is the purpose of renewal without a driving test to prove competence? We've all been bemused and/or frightened by the antics of some elderly drivers as well as impressed by others.

TF (65 3/4)

[dravidio]

I have been frightened and bemused by many drivers on the road today - not least young men showing off, or white van drivers on a tight schedule. I just assume that everyone else is an idiot and likely at any moment to do something stupid and drive as defensively and safely as I can.

My father continued to drive until the age of 89 - when a series of blackouts led me to persuade him that it was no longer a viable thing to do. Of course that meant I took over chauffeur's duties until he passed away three years later. It was a nuisance at times, but I felt it was my duty and I am pleased I did.

[Stewart]

Thanks for the reply and link Richard,

Through my own experience I didn't think age entered into things, but my father had picked up the message from that programme that OSA = never driving again if you were in his age bracket. So thanks for clarifying the details of that case.

[James @ Intus]

People forget that it's not OSA(S), or any other medical condition that makes them inelligible to drive... It's "fitness to drive" that's key. So even if you deliberately avoid a diagnosis of OSA but are already sleepy, you are leagally already prohibited from driving. So delaying the sleep study does nothing for your right to drive.

You have to consider what's worse... On one hand, the chance of temporarily not being allowed to drive (note that most likely, you already aren't allowed to drive) or the continued onslaught on your body caused by OSA? The risk of driving yourself, your passengers and other road users to death or your chance to ignore your fitness to drive and get from A to B fast?

So as untreated OSA sufferers who are excessive sleepy are already not allowed to drive by law, they may as well go to the NHS or get a private sleep study done. The NHS may report you to the DVLA, the private route doesn't have such an obligation. You start CPAP, get sleepiness under control, inform the DVLA all in the same few days and you *should* be OK. But it all depends on how committed one is to making CPAP a success.