• Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 28 subscribers
  • Views 548 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Disclosure of diagnosis with regard to driving

classic codger

I've seen a few people chatting about the 'who to tell' dilemma. Since I was diagnosed, I've tried to be careful about who I tell, mostly because I don't know when, where, how or why it might be appropriate...

However, today it suddenly popped into my head that ASD might be something that the DVLA and my insurance company should know, but I've no idea whether or not it falls under their respective 'medical disclosure' requirements.

I'd like to know if anyone has done so, was it actually required at all, and if you have, how did it go?

  • I have just checked and the website says:

    "You must tell DVLA if you have Asperger syndrome and it affects your driving.

    You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.....  Check with your doctor if you’re unsure whether your Asperger syndrome affects your driving"

    www.gov.uk/asperger-and-driving

    So basically you only need to tell them *if* it affects your driving (which it probably doesn't)

    The website has loads of conditions listed, from the obvious (brain tumours, epilepsy) to anxiety, tourettes, and OCD. Eating disorders are listed, which brings up images of people crashing due to stuffing their face with cake on the motorway [apologies for non-PC humour.. am an ex-bulimic]

    www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

  • Thank you, it helps to hear that.

    It says on the DVLA website that ASD is a reportable condition when applying for a Provisional or over 70 renewal, or if it 'may' affect driving ability, but that's so non-specific as to be meaningless to me. I don't feel impaired, I'm just confused as to whether or not reporting requirements apply. My only concern is in trying to avoid giving out personal information unnecessarily.

    It's just one of the many parts of trying to sort my life out since I got my diagnosis

  • As far as I know, you only need to tell them about things that are impairments. So if you are not impaired, then no. None of the autistic people I have met have trouble driving, and I have friends/family who are probably on the spectrum who are very good drivers and have never had accidents. 

    If you are concerned I would contact them anonymously and ask.