British Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) became known for notoriously delaying the re-issuing of the driver’s licence to truck drivers who have been subject to medical treatment, causing uncertainty and distress.
In May, Hayton Coulthard has had an operation after he was diagnosed with a supraventricular tachycardia, i.e. is an abnormally fast heart rhythm which can be an early sign of a heart attack. He was operated and the cardiologist issued papers indicating that he is fir and ready to go back to work. Nevertheless, he never obtained his license, reports Commercial Motor.
Similarly, Keith Samuel, after a successful operation, received a clean bill of health from his cardiologist and with papers in order applied for reissuing of his license. Since May he has not gotten a response, although he even attempted to reapply in July.
Another case of owner-driver, Ray Fry, follows the same pattern. This time the driver had a motorbike accident about a year ago. Although the initial brain scan was interpreted as showing evidence of pre-frontal contusion, in February the neurologist dismissed the misinterpreted reading. He explained that what was showing on the scan was, in fact, a subarachnoid haemorrhage. As a mild injury, it doesn’t disqualify Ray from continuing his work as a professional driver. However, Ray has never gotten his license back.
Financial hardships and mental problems
I have had to sell my artic, but I have not been able to drive my car and I am not mobile. We’re struggling to pay the rent. It’s been hard for us. All the DVLA does is make you wait. It goes on about the shortage of drivers and then behaves like this,” said Fry for Commercial Motor.
Although in Fry’s case the DVLA promised to reissue his licence and apologized for the delay, it is not so certain if the outcome will be positive in two other cases. Keith Samuel admits that his family is in distress and his mental health is deteriorating due to a prolonged lack of work and income. DVLA assures that it is doing its best to process all the applications but for some families, it might be not enough.
We deal with around 700,000 medical licensing cases a year and the majority are dealt with swiftly and correctly,” responded the DVLA spokesman when asked about Fry’s case.
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