On 24 Jan 2011, nearing the age of 45, I took the HGV Medical. I work for the Royal Mail and the medical was performed by the works Doctor.
Unfortunately, my eyesight, without glasses, did not meet the minimum requirement. On that day I was taken off driving at my place of work.
After 3 weeks now, I am still waiting to hear from the DVLA. I called them last week and they as good as told me that my licence will indeed be revoked. The final decision, though, will be made by the DVLA Doctor, who I wasn’t allowed to talk to.
I would be grateful to any of you out there that can give their thoughts, even if that means myself being told my HGV career has now come to an end. Also I see from some postings it maybe some weeks still before the DVLA finally let me know for sure, would others agree with that? This is another reason why I’d appreciate your input so that I can now really focus on what I am to do next.
I’ve seen on other postings the suggestion about going to an optician to obtain a correct assessment, but as I, shockingly, couldn’t even read the first big letter at the top of the eyesight chart at the medical, I think it’s pretty certain that the assessment at the opticians will just confirm that my eyes do not reach the minimum requirement. But others may know differently?
What’s strange to me is my eyes were probably as bad as they are now when I passed my test in 1995, but maybe, back then, there wasn’t a minimum requirement, without glasses? Does anyone know if the medical has changed in this area since 1995?
Lastly, will my eyesight affect my entitlement to drive an ordinary car? and am I allowed to drive company vehicles in line with an ordinary car licence entitlement?
As best I can remember the medical I took in 1990 was the same, you had to be able to read the first letter unaided. It is bollock though. If they can correct your sight with lenses then what is the issue, as far as I can see?
I am sorry to hear this. Now if they remove your entitlement to drive a truck then it is down to the company to find you other employment, and it is down to the government to train you for other employment, and to fund that training. They, by their arcane laws, have removed your ability to work, so now they have to help you out. Seek advice and seek it now.
LASHHGV:
I thought they had to test you with your glasses on if needed. Do you normally wear glasses?
They do test you with glasses on but there is still a minimum standard to be met without wearing your glasses. If you meet the minimum non glasses standard but need glasses to pass the actual sight requirements for the licence then you get a code on your licence which shows you must wear glasses at all times while driving.
Have you considered laser treatment !!! Go see a qualified optician and get a second opinion. If your eyes are really that bad then it may be an option, not a cheap one though.
Personally speaking I think one`s eyes are to precious to start lasering or cutting into but it works for some.
You can have intra ocular implants which is a simple operation where they remove the lenses in your eyes and replace them with new one’s that have the same prescription as your glasses. This is the same operation that people with cataracts have and only takes about 45 minutes per eye. They do recommend a minimum of one month between treatments on each eye though?
You will probably never have to wear glasses again to drive and also keep your licence. You would probably need glasses to read though.
There are different rules if you passed your test before 1992 and 1997. Type in “HGV medical” and the D4 Medical Exam Report comes up, that details the different requirements.
waddy640:
So they might revoke your C licence but you will retain your B licence, is that correct?
Depends they could revoke his altogether
If you do not wear glasses atm the best option would be to have your eyes tested ( I had mine done free not long ago but this was due to an "illness " that I had so you may be able to get a free test )
DVLA medical section dont hurry sorry to say & you can only speak with the people that answer the phone which dont give you much help ( this is my experience )
bobthedog:
I am sorry to hear this. Now if they remove your entitlement to drive a truck then it is down to the company to find you other employment, and it is down to the government to train you for other employment, and to fund that training. They, by their arcane laws, have removed your ability to work, so now they have to help you out. Seek advice and seek it now.
Not any more as there is no funding available for training now this was taken away a few moths back but there has been nothing put in place to replace this
The thread has been covered before in much detail, but I have worn glasses for 45 years on and off and consider the top letter on a Snellen chart quite easy to read unaided
I am shocked that you have been putting the safety of others at risk by driving any type of vehicle, let alone an LGV, on the public highway with such defective eye sight.
How were you reading direction signs?
Did you not realise you were unable to read number plates until you were virtually on top of them?
Driveroneuk:
I am shocked that you have been putting the safety of others at risk by driving any type of vehicle, let alone an LGV, on the public highway with such defective eye sight.
How were you reading direction signs?
Did you not realise you were unable to read number plates until you were virtually on top of them?
To be fair, things have improved immensely in recent years. In the old days many drivers were hardened alcoholics on TIR & local stuff. Anyone remember Shaky Dave?
On 24 Jan 2011, nearing the age of 45, I took the HGV Medical. I work for the Royal Mail and the medical was performed by the works Doctor.
Unfortunately, my eyesight, without glasses, did not meet the minimum requirement. On that day I was taken off driving at my place of work.
After 3 weeks now, I am still waiting to hear from the DVLA. I called them last week and they as good as told me that my licence will indeed be revoked. The final decision, though, will be made by the DVLA Doctor, who I wasn’t allowed to talk to.
I would be grateful to any of you out there that can give their thoughts, even if that means myself being told my HGV career has now come to an end. Also I see from some postings it maybe some weeks still before the DVLA finally let me know for sure, would others agree with that? This is another reason why I’d appreciate your input so that I can now really focus on what I am to do next.
I’ve seen on other postings the suggestion about going to an optician to obtain a correct assessment, but as I, shockingly, couldn’t even read the first big letter at the top of the eyesight chart at the medical, I think it’s pretty certain that the assessment at the opticians will just confirm that my eyes do not reach the minimum requirement. But others may know differently?
What’s strange to me is my eyes were probably as bad as they are now when I passed my test in 1995, but maybe, back then, there wasn’t a minimum requirement, without glasses? Does anyone know if the medical has changed in this area since 1995?
Lastly, will my eyesight affect my entitlement to drive an ordinary car? and am I allowed to drive company vehicles in line with an ordinary car licence entitlement?
Many thanks to you all.
regards
Paul
Am i missing somehing here? Just go and get your eyes tested and a prescription for glasses and wear them so you meet the required standards. You then get a code 101 or something on your licence. I’m not seeing the panic or drama?
Yes I’m afraid you’re missing the point that there’s a minimum uncorrected eyesight requirement to pass the medical and this is what the OP has failed
iltgtwts:
I’ve seen on other postings the suggestion about going to an optician to obtain a correct assessment, but as I, shockingly, couldn’t even read the first big letter at the top of the eyesight chart at the medical, I think it’s pretty certain that the assessment at the opticians will just confirm that my eyes do not reach the minimum requirement.
That may be correct but for the sake of £20 what have you got to lose, to be honest given that your livelihood is at stake I’m amazed that you’ve waited three weeks without having your sight checked by a qualified optician
Mate I mean no offence but in your situation I would have known my precise sight test results within a couple of days of being taken off driving.
Go and see (no pun intended) an optician and get your sight checked properly by someone who’s specialised in the job in question, then you will know for certain whether or not the works doctor was correct in his findings.
As I recall, you had to be able to read the top letter of the 6 metre chart at 3 metres… Is this what happened? If not, then you would have grounds to appeal…
Have things really changed that much then?
Are you, if you find yourself forced into unemployment, really that far out on your own?
this was taken away a few moths back but there has been nothing put in place to replace this