TonyB

Quick update - pretty bizarre goings on but you have to laugh!! I was told it'd take 2-3 weeks before the DVLA sent my licence back but obviously was expecting a delay to that. I telephoned them yesterday (3weeks since eyetest) to check how things were progressing and they told me they had the results from Specsavers and were waiting for my Medical Records. Now it might just be me and a foolish way of thinking but why, if the Binocular Esterman test conducted by my consultant at the hospital was not satisfactory proof that I meet the DVLA standards, why is what she's written in my Medical File so important? Anyhow, I asked them when they'd asked for it and they told me 29th March and again on the 20th April. I contacted the Hospital and found my original consultant has left however, the new consultant had replied explaining that fact and stating both they and my Opthamologist fully supported my application to have my licence reinstated. I rang the DVLA and was told that it had to be the person named on the letter who replied and they couldn't take the information from someone else. I asked "So if my original consultant had passed away, I would never be able to drive again?" This was met with "Well that's just stupid and if you continue with that sort of attitude, I'll hang up!" Whilst remaining extremely calm, I asked if they could change the name on the letter to the new consultant's name and resend the request which she said she would and for which I thanked her for most profusely. I then asked , in the meantime, could I now drive? I was told "That's your decision". I asked " But would I be driving legally as I don't want to break the law and get pulled over?" She replied " I can't tell you what to do, it's your decision". I left the conversation at that but rang back a short while later and spoke to a different person. This very helpful lady offered to send me a letter explaining Section 88. She suggested I keep it in the car to show the Police if I should be pulled over. So still no licence but at least things seem to be moving on!!!!

Thank you Sami. The licence means my job. Working from home/ sat in an office just isn't me as I've found out over the last few months!

Just back from my eye test SMASHED IT!!!!!!!!!! Only one missed spot in the high left area which the optician said was completely irrelevant. Hopefully that means my licence will arrive soon but I'll wait until that day to celebrate properly. Thank you Johnnie and Tina for your calming words

Thanks Johnnie, I'm not normally a person who gets stressed but for some reason this has got me so wound up! As you say, the choice to surrender my licence was a personal one but, looking at the website and from other legal advice, I shouldn't have to do another test whether it be an eye-test or driving assessment. The DVLA is breaking its own rules (I believe it's Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act) but reading through a lot of posts on here, I can see it is quite often the case that the goalposts get moved . As you also say, look at the light, click the button and get licence back, easy ! I'll be back with an update!

Thanks very much for your reply Tina. I've been lurking around the Forums for a few months and , in the main ,have taken great comfort from the experiences of others. When I surrendered my licence I knew it was the right thing to do but was under the impression that, as long as my consultant agreed, I could drive once DVLA had received my application. To be told to go for another eye test is a shock and very annoying but as you say, I should pass it anyway. I'll certainly be back with updates.

Hi Everyone I had my event(stroke) in June last year but was lucky enough to suffer none of the more serious side effects other than my vision. I lost my total left peripheral vision which was completely weird and I couldn't walk safely never mind drive. Fortunately most of my vision recovered very quickly (about 4/5 weeks) but I was left with a blind spot area to the top left of my vision. I had an eye test at my local hospital in October which confirmed to me that there is no way I should drive so I surrendered my licence....I didn't want to risk it, I knew I wasn't right. Over the next few months, things improved A LOT and an eye test at the hospital in January(Estermann with both eyes) showed I met the standard to reapply for my licence. I haven't driven in the meantime even though the DVLA website says I can but waited and waited for my little bit of plastic to come back to me. I finally got a response from the DVLA this week saying I have to pass another eye test at Specsavers. This has got me so nervous and I feel as though I'm going to fail it probably due to false positives because of the aforementioned nervousness. I've met all of the DVLA's criteria to drive so why do I have to prove myself again? The DVLA's own criteria is that, because I surrendered my licence, if my doctor and I say I'm Ok, and as long as they receive a correct and complete application, that's it, licence back. But that's not what's happening. If I fail this next test I assume they'll revoke it so what is ****** point of voluntarily surrendering ????