You could, but it is unlikely especially if you have only been diagnosed recently. The DVLA will study the information on your completed PK1 (the form mentioned in the answer to the previous question) and, if satisfied that your driving ability is not a hazard to other road users, will issue a three year licence in the majority of cases. At the end of three years, they will review your situation.
The DVLA wants to give drivers with a current or potential disability the best chance of keeping their licences, but it is also responsible for public safety. It is helpful to know how the system works. For example, there are a series of questions on the reverse side of the notification form (PK1) to which you have to answer
‘yes’ or ‘no’. If your answer to any of questions 2–11 is ‘yes’, you should send a covering letter in which you clarify your answer and explain why you still consider that you are fit to drive. If you do not do this, you may find that your licence is withdrawn unnecessarily.
It is also helpful to discuss your driving ability with your GP and specialist as the DVLA may contact them for their opinions. If there is any disagreement between your doctors and yourself, or if you have some concerns about your driving abilities, it would be worthwhile trying to arrange for an assessment at one of the specialized driving or mobility assessment centres (see Appendix 1 under ‘Mobility Assessment Centres’ for addresses). There is a question about these centres later in this section.
What does my GP know about my driving ability?
Your GP should know how your medical condition is affecting your use of your hands and legs, and how it could interfere with other faculties like vision which are essential for safe driving – although, even for some of this, he will need good and accurate information from you. Unless he or she has driven down the road
behind you, it will not be possible to judge your general driving ability! The variability of Parkinson’s itself and, in some people, the unpredictable nature of their response to medication, makes all these judgements more difficult than in some other conditions.
That is why it is so important to discuss your driving with your doctor and to request a special driving assessment if there is any disagreement or uncertainty.
How do I arrange for a driving assessment?
You should contact your nearest driving assessment centre (see Appendix 1 under ‘Mobility Assessment Centres’ for how to obtain this information). These are specially staffed and equipped centres around the country which will test your driving capabilities (with adaptations if necessary) and give a report.
This report will help you decide whether you want to go on driving, and may be essential evidence if you do lose your licence and want to appeal against the DVLA decision (there is a question about making an appeal later in this section).
There is a charge for these assessments which varies between centres and with the type of assessment required, so it is important to ask for information on charges when you contact the centre.
My driving ability is now rather variable, depending on how I am feeling and how well my tablets are working.
I don’t want to lose my licence but I don’t want to be a danger to myself or other people either. What shall I do?
We sympathize with your dilemma which will be shared by several other people with Parkinson’s. However, all drivers have a responsibility to ensure that they are medically fit to drive at all times and to knowingly drive whilst unfit may invalidate insurance cover. You should use your discretion – if in doubt, don’t drive. You need to discuss this further with your GP or specialist as soon as possible. An assessment by a mobility centre would also be a good idea. These are listed in the PDS booklet, Parkinson’s and Driving(B64).
My husband’s licence has been withdrawn by the DVLA and he is devastated. We both feel that he is fit to drive – do we have any right of appeal?
Yes, your husband has the right to appeal and, to use it he should write immediately to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) giving notice of his intent to appeal. Even those who are unsure whether to appeal or not are advised to register their intent to do so, as appeals have to be lodged quite soon after notification of the DVLA decision – within six months in England and Wales, and within 21 days in Scotland. The application to appeal can be withdrawn at any time prior to the hearing. All driving licence appeals are heard in the Magistrates’ Court (or, in Scotland, in the Sheriffs’ Court).
It is extremely difficult to succeed with an appeal unless you have some new evidence – from your doctor or from a driving assessment centre – which was not available at the time of your original application to the DVLA. We would strongly advise that your husband discusses the matter with someone who has special experience in such cases. Possible sources of such advice are your local DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line), or your Citizens Advice. It is very important to be clear about your chance of succeeding with an appeal before going to the hearing because, apart from the distress that an unsuccessful appeal can cause, the DVLA normally seeks to recover its costs (which are likely to be several hundred pounds) if the Court upholds its original decision.
My husband does not want to tell his insurance company about his Parkinson’s as he is afraid they will stop him driving. Could they do this?
The answer to this apparently simple question is ‘no’ and ‘yes’. It is not the insurers but the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) that is able to decide whether your husband is fit to drive and so may have a driving licence. However, it is illegal to drive on public roads without at least third party insurance, so the insurance company does have some influence on whether a
person is able to drive or not. Your husband must notify his insurance company that he has Parkinson’s.
All insurance companies require their clients to tell them the full facts about any disabilities or serious illnesses that they may have and about all adaptations made to their cars. Failure to do this will probably invalidate your husband’s insurance. Not only could this present problems with any claim he might make in the future, it would also mean that he was driving illegally. The main problem your husband could face is increased premiums but these are not inevitable. It is very important to shop around and get several quotations before making a final decision. It is also essential to read any potential policy thoroughly, including the small print. By doing this, your husband will be able to judge what he is getting for a particular premium. If your husband’s present insurance company increases his premium because of his Parkinson’s, it would be worth contacting some of the insurance brokers which specialize in insuring disabled drivers. There is a list of some of these companies in Parkinson’s and Driving (B64) published by the PDS. We know someone who used one of these specialist brokers and who paid a lower premium than before his diagnosis!