I received a letter from DVLA today. It says ‘We have received medical information that you have recently suffered a psychiatric illness so you should not drive at present.’ among other things. I’d understand if I was seeing cars everywhere and didn’t know which was real or not but come on! It really should be a case by case basis instead of seeing psychotic disorder and getting scared off. I don’t get how any of my symptoms would impact driving?
I am hoping to study optometry starting this year and I am worried that the same thing will happen in the health check. Has anyone here studied a health related course with sz or psychosis?
Is anyone else not allowed to drive because of sz or psychosis?
I have to have my pdoc fill out a medical form every year for the state so I can drive, if he doesn’t fill out the form im screwed. I’ll loose my license.
I have to pass a yearly physical because of both my head and heart issues. The doctor has certified me as safe for driving not only regular passenger vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles, but also passenger buses. We’re talking full-size passenger buses including school buses. It’s absolutely possible to drive with this illness – even professionally, but you will need to demonstrate to your doc that you are stable enough.
Ive not been in hospital since 2010. Been stable years…even got a son and partner. But…not allowed. Once they see schizophrenia written down its a big fat nope.
Did you ask your pdoc to write a short note stating your diagnosis/diagnoses does not adversely affect your ability to drive? Years ago, my pdoc wrote me a note and the DMV allowed me to renew my Driver License. As long as your doctor/prescriber says it’s okay for you to drive, you should be good to go. I greatly appreciate driving so I don’t have to rely on public transportation. I like being self-sufficient.
I was kinda encouraged not too for various reasons while psychotic but I’ve never been banned because of sz. I’m medicated and although it says it can affect such things I’ve never heard of anyone who has had problems driving whilst medicated.
I agree with others. Get your doctor to correspond with the licence people.
My doctor won’t allow me to drive. Filled out the forms, spent £90 on the test but when I asked my doctor he rejected it. I was gutted. Now everyone has to drive me everywhere.
I’m in the uk, and most doctors think like that here, it’s terrible, but I can understand. I mean, I could be on the middle of the highway and have a panic attack while driving.
This is why I’m not registered as mentally ill to receive benefits. Once you’re registered you have to pass a mental examination by the board to drive. I am registered as physically disabled instead so that I can drive, which is not a lie since I have a physical disability.
Here the candidate driver doesn’t have
to pass psychological tests before licence.
Nor mentally ill people are rejected for driving.
I know that if you have visual hallucinations,
you can’t drive. But not all szphrncs have visuals,
and we that we have, we don’t see em all the time
I dont have a license. I bike everywhere.
Tried to run away from home on my bicycle so i have lived off of it. So the bicycle can replace not only car but also house.
I was declared incapacitated. And I was from relapse hell And no one said anything. It was dangerous. But I drove anyway. I’m still driving. I’m glad I am though it’s not too bad now. It’s just like driving being a schizo. Lol. ( For lack of a way to describe it)