The Road Traffic Act 1988
I've known for a while I'm supposed to have notified the DVLA that I have various mental health ailments, and significant relevant side-effects from the medication which make it unsafe for me to drive. I've just never been told how to notify them, nor could I be bothered to find out.
Today I investigated whether I could get a free bus pass for local travel and found that I would be able to apply for one if i fulfille dthe following: "would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol".
This lead me to investigate the Road Traffic Act 1988. After reading the relevant parts of the Act I was none the wiser. So I thought I'd check the DVLA website for information on the notification process - and on a footnote I found "Severe mental disorder is a prescribed disability for the purposes of Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988." and some regulations define 'severe mental disorder' as "including mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of the mind, psychopathic disorder or severe impairment of intelligence or social functioning.; which I think I almost certainly fit on 3 points, namely suffering with:
So the upshot is, I need to return my driving licence (not that I know where it is), get registered as disabled as defined by regulations persuant of the Road Traffic Act and some European directives and then to apply for a bus pass; which will save me at least £13 a week; possibly more as I could go for leisure rides more often.
Today I investigated whether I could get a free bus pass for local travel and found that I would be able to apply for one if i fulfille dthe following: "would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol".
This lead me to investigate the Road Traffic Act 1988. After reading the relevant parts of the Act I was none the wiser. So I thought I'd check the DVLA website for information on the notification process - and on a footnote I found "Severe mental disorder is a prescribed disability for the purposes of Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988." and some regulations define 'severe mental disorder' as "including mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of the mind, psychopathic disorder or severe impairment of intelligence or social functioning.; which I think I almost certainly fit on 3 points, namely suffering with:
- More severe anxiety states or depressive illnesses
- Acute psychotic disorders of any type
- Hypomania/mania
So the upshot is, I need to return my driving licence (not that I know where it is), get registered as disabled as defined by regulations persuant of the Road Traffic Act and some European directives and then to apply for a bus pass; which will save me at least £13 a week; possibly more as I could go for leisure rides more often.