Porsche Driving Grounded
Following much personal anguish and trepidation, I have decided to post the following experience which I have been forced to endure recently, as a direct result of the DVLA Medical Service's cumbersome, and apparently glacial approach to the administration of driver's licence renewals.
As this is a public forum I shall keep the specifics factual and brief. Those members who follow my 718 Cayman posts and have previously read the "Reality Check" article published in Porsche Post, will already know that in 2015 I was diagnosed with a localised form of Motor Neurone Disease known as monomelic Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The symptoms are currently only affecting the grip and dexterity of the fingers of my right hand. Some muscle wasting is also evident in my lower arm and hand, but as the full range of movement of my right arm and hand are otherwise normal, and other limbs are unaffected, the condition does not impinge upon my ability to drive both a manual and PDK car. Those members who know me through chatting at various PCGB events will know that my ALS condition is a very mild one, and thankfully progressing very slowly.
Following early consultations in January 2019 with the consultant neurologist and my GP, written reports from both medical officers were submitted along with the DVLA documents for the renewal of my 3 year full driver's licence. I was bound by law to declare my MND condition to DVLA following confirmed diagnosis. The papers were posted via Royal Mail Next Day Service which were delivered to DVLA Medical Service, Swansea, on 1st February 2019. The Royal mail tracking confirmed delivery. So far so good. Or so I thought.
As the weeks and months went by nothing was forthcoming from DVLA regarding my licence renewal application. No letter acknowledging receipt, email, or SMS message was received. When it came to within 4 weeks of the expiry of my current driver's licence my concern was rising and became more acute by the day. Had any correspondence been mis-directed through the wrong letterbox, I wondered. I decided to phone DVLA to chase up my application and check whether they had posted any communications to my address. Their response was the typical "your case is currently being processed, and we shall be in touch in due course", and the voice confirmed that nothing had been posted from DVLA. I left it for a further week and phoned DVLA a second time. A similar response was all I got. When it came down to the final week before the expiry of my licence, panic was beginning to set in. I posted a further letter to DVLA, again by Special Delivery, and chased up my ongoing renewal application on the official DVLA Medical Service website. A response within 14 days was promised!
Now the real horror story begins. The law states that you may still drive after your driver's licence has expired, provided DVLA are currently investigating your case. This is known as the Section 88 rule, as stipulated by the Road Traffic Act 1988. As the week of the expiry date dawned, I became ever more anxious. I reported my circumstances to the local police station, who were extremely helpful and sympathetic. However the law is the law, and if I were required to produce my expired driver's licence to a police officer for any reason, I would be in serious trouble. I was advised to carry copies of the supporting DVLA documentation with me in the car at all times following the expiry date. The police officer also suggested I contact my car insurance urgently to advise them of my Section 88 status.
I made a third phone call to DVLA, this time I very firmly expressed my displeasure at having fallen into the Section 88 rule entirely due to DVLA taking 3 months to process my renewal application. This time around, an apology for the long delay was expressed and a promise was given to escalate my renewal application as high priority. An email and text message was subsequently received confirming this.
My next task was informing my insurance broker Marsh, who provide insurance for both my cars, of the default Section 88 status resulting entirely from the DVLA administration lapse. To my absolute horror, I was informed that the underwriting insurer Aviva, required written current evidence of my fitness to drive from both my neurologist and GP before they would provide cover under Section 88. When I explained I had copies available from both medical officers dated January 2019, Aviva would not accept these as they were 4 months out of date! Frantic phone calls to medical centres followed, only to be informed that both medical officers were off on leave for Easter. Flaming Nora! It would be next week before they could be contacted. Pleading in desperation to my contact at Marsh, I was subsequently given immediate full insurance cover under Section 88 for the Abarth only, ironically the manual car. My 718 Cayman GTS however was effectively grounded.
I decided to disclose this sorry tale as a warning to others who may have a declared medical condition with DVLA, and believe me it is a long list of conditions and you don't need to be over 70 to fall into this category. Check the website for yourself. Anyone falling under the Section 88 rule is treated with the utmost suspicion by insurers. In their eyes, Section 88 is for borderline cases where DVLA are debating whether or not to grant a driver's licence. I fell under this net by default due entirely to DVLA's maladministration. I am not out of the woods yet, as I still have to procure and submit current medical reports for Aviva to reinstate my Porsche insurance cover.
I shall report the next instalment of this sorry saga after the Easter holiday.
Happy Easter all.
Brian
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