Medical For Cat C Licence

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

I’ve had info through from A1 in Biggleswade, sent me forms D2 & D4, I understand as I’m borderline legal for driving a car without specs, I need to enclose a current prescription, not more than 4 months old with my provisional C licence app. However not due back until end of June for test.

The other thing is doctor did sign me off with anxiety and depression, could that stop me getting a licence, though I’ve not had any real thoughts of self harm/suicide recently. Even if I did I wouldn’t want to risk taking others with me, as I think that would be selfish. I wouldn’t jump in front of a train , as I know train drivers, as I worked on the railway I know train drivers who have taken time off sick due to having a jumper. I enjoy driving cars with music going , that’s what makes me happy so I feel happy about the thought of getting myy Cat C licence , and possibly going on to get HGV. Just re care , I’ve only been under the care of my GP, no mental health teams involved. Do I go to one of these specific HGV medical providers rather than my doctor, just worried that being signed off with anxiety/depression means I’ll be turned down for a licence. I do think the depression starts as been applying for many jobs (even the railway), just I worked on the railway since leaving school, until i WAS MADE REDUNDANT, and my then husband became seriously disabled with MS, so I was his carer, worked doing care work, then looked after my Nan, until she died. I do voluntary work with my local Royal British Legion. I got to testing stage for trainee train driver in February this year , other jobs no luck, been trying to get back into work . I know I’ve always wanted to be a train driver or join the RAF, HGV driving interests me , as does museum work , I could see myself in a railway or transport museum.My Mum has come round to me being a LGV/HGV driver, as she was dead aginst it as she seemed to think it was going over to Europe with immigrants trying to jump in the back of the truck at Calais, when returning to UK, or sleeping in laybys, and she has agreed to fund training, I did say I’d pay her back if I get work. Yes I’ve put in for boring old admin jobs ZZZZZ to get money coming in & in an attempt to try and fund it myself.

Is it worth going to optician to check my vision, before the medical, and also what about the anxiety/depression, though I’ve only ever been under the care of my GP for it, I’m just worried that if I mention it at a medical the DVLA will think I’m a suicidal maniac and not grant me a provisional Cat C licence. I love playing music and driving a car, have applied for van delivery drivers, also to Asda and Tesco to deliver grocery ordere placed online, I gather I could drive on a car licence, as didn’t seem to specify on ad need C1 or above.

2

Where to start dissecting all that to reply!

In my opinion I’d ask your doctor his opinion on your career path as he knows what level he treated you at.

We can only guess on here.

If he’s ok then yes I’d get an optician to do a test and ask them to fill in the eyesight part. Specsavers did mine free.

Take each step one by one and see where you are before forking out loads of money.

3

RELAX! I hold a class 2 and I am a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who has to see a cpn once a month and a shrink every 6 months. you will be fine :slight_smile:

the only problem I face is having to do a medical every 12 month’s, so long as I keep my appointments there is no problem.

4

Thanks jbaz, I’m sure depression won’t be that great a barrier. I think as far as getting back into paid work goes, I know rejection letter after rejection letter gets me down, and as paid employment has been at best erratic, I’d prefer to retrain to do something I’d love to do, and with the rejection letters I began to think “I really must be unemployable”, I know perhaps I shouldn’t think like that but I do. As far as my doctor goes I know she’s supporting me to return to paid work, as long as i CAN TAKE IT AT MY OWN PACE, and if it’s something I enjoy.
I’ve a prescription for specs which is 22 months old, is that still valid for licence app, or should I go to optician to see if anything has changed, before the medical.

5

Have appointment wit Dr on Friday, so could discuss with her about getting licence. Only thing is the surgery charge £132 for medical report, tho been given details for drivermedicals who charge £48-54.

6

I have to use my gp because of my condition, its worth checking the same doesn’t apply to you, or you may end up with them rejecting your medical from a different doctor. may not apply in your case but at least I’ve told you.

your biggest barrier will be confidence, I picked that up from your post, getting the license is only half the battle. you need to show confidence when you interview if you want them to send you out on the road with a hundred grands worth of kit.

7

True, I know in the past I can make myself look impressive on paper, or on an electronic app, but if I get to the interview stage, I just get so anxious, I think interviewers pick up on my anxious vibe, even if they don’t say anything. I gather the first time I’m sent out with £100,000 of kit I will feel a bit apprehensive, though probably not so bad once your doing it. I try and tell myself an interview isn’t a ■■■■ or communist regieme interrogation, though that doesn’t seem to calm any nerves.
I remember the first time I drove one of two British Railways Class 31 diesel locomotives :smiley: I was like a kid in an old fashioned sweet emporium :smiley:. I think maybe the station supervisor found a 16/17 year old female a little much to handle. So I asked the driver, when invited for a footplate ride “Can I”? He said "yes as he was an instructor driver. I’m not your stereotypical female, I love things with engines, If I’m not driving something with an engine then maintaining them in museums or prserved railways is my thing http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/engines/index_31.htm :smiley:

8

Been to opticians, got form signed as no change to vision, optician said current prescription was valid for 2 years. Was going to bock eye test, but they said I didn’t need one. Been to see the medical doctor today, he said he wasn’t sure if DVLA would accept optician’s report as sight test not done in last year, but on the mandatory page he contradicts himself, he said he wrote it. mkdriversmedicals.co.uk/mand … ement.html Should I just send licence app off anyway , confused now, thought I had it solved Tuesday.

9

BP was 154/84 or similar today , normally it’s around 120/80, though doctor said it wasn’t that high, I was a little anxious sbout the exam.

10

It does say in INF4D leaflet “However if the prescription has not changed and the actuity standards can be met the prescription does not need to have been dated within the last 4 months” I did say to optician as had booked appointment for test, that I wanted to get my provisional LGV licence.

11

Had letter back from DVLA to say that medical is out of date as eye test was dated 29/06/13. I did book a sight test at Specsavers in April, but they said I didn’t need one as sight test still valid. So optician signed the form. At the LGV medical centre I took prescription and doctor didn’t do an eye test, though it did say they would as part of the medical (had a spare D4, just incase of errors) . The DVLA have seprated the pages of my D4, and sent a new one to fill in, surely the rest of the medical was done on 23/04/15 so that’s valid. Owner of Elite Training (where I’ll be doing my LGV training) said get on to medical centre. I gather if it comes to it I can get a eye test done, though to get one on NHS would have to wait until end of June. My Mum has agreed to pay for LGV training (took much persuasion, I offered to pay her back once I start work ).
The DVLA have separated the pages of my original D4 form, so will they accept that back with the new one if it’s only the optrical part that’s out of date.
Why do Specsavers say a prescription is valid for 2 years, yet the government say every 4 months. I wonder do the opticians get LGV/HGV/PSV drivers running to them every 4 months.