Sleep Apnea & Driving license

Diagro

Diagro

Diagro

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2012
Posts
11,117
Yo,

Just been diagnosed with a pretty bad case of Sleep Apnea. Need a CPAP etc.

Been told (Advised) i need to tell the DVLA... when I enquired what will happen, the doctor said they would very likely revoke my License based on my test results. Only to be re-instated when i have a CPAP machine and have shown positive results... (3 months wait for an appointment... 6 months for the machine...)

My question.. has anyone else been diagnosed with this? And did you bother advising the DVLA?

I simply cannot have my license revoked... I'd likely lose my job and other personal family issues would arise.

(By the way, I'm not tired all the time, nore do I fall asleep driving)
 
Diagro said:
Yo,

Just been diagnosed with a pretty bad case of Sleep Apnea. Need a CPAP etc.

Been told (Advised) i need to tell the DVLA... when I enquired what will happen, the doctor said they would very likely revoke my License based on my test results. Only to be re-instated when i have a CPAP machine and have shown positive results... (3 months wait for an appointment... 6 months for the machine...)

My question.. has anyone else been diagnosed with this? And did you bother advising the DVLA?

I simply cannot have my license revoked... I'd likely lose my job and other personal family issues would arise.

(By the way, I'm not tired all the time, nore do I fall asleep driving)
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Big issue there though is IF you fall asleep at the wheel and have an accident your insurance would be invalidated and you could end up losing your licence anyway as first thing insurance co would be asking for is medical records.

Your doctor may also report it the DVLA anyway meaning you could end up being pulled over and charged with driving not in accordance with licence etc.

Really isn't worth the risk, feel a bit puzzled by you posting about it mind given you seem to have already made up your mind
 
SilverTongue said:
Big issue there though is IF you fall asleep at the wheel and have an accident your insurance would be invalidated and you could end up losing your licence anyway as first thing insurance co would be asking for is medical records.

Your doctor may also report it the DVLA anyway meaning you could end up being pulled over and charged with driving not in accordance with licence etc.

Really isn't worth the risk, feel a bit puzzled by you posting about it mind given you seem to have already made up your mind
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I tend to only do short (5-10min) trips. So falling asleep is not a concern.
The doctor said he would not be reporting it. It's up to me to do so.
I asked here, if anyone else had a similar thing and what did they do... my mind being made up (which its not.. yet) is not relevant.
IF I actually was tired all the time and thought I was a risk, that would change things.
 
Diagro said:
I tend to only do short (5-10min) trips. So falling asleep is not a concern.
The doctor said he would not be reporting it. It's up to me to do so.
I asked here, if anyone else had a similar thing and what did they do... my mind being made up (which its not.. yet) is not relevant.
IF I actually was tired all the time and thought I was a risk, that would change things.
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The fact is, Sleep Apnoea is a DVLA notifiable condition, by not notifying them you are opening yourself up to a potential world of issues including ending up losing your licence for longer than the few months to get your CPAP sorted.

Whether you are tired all the time or not is irrelevant, the fact your has SA severe enough to need a CPAP is enough of a risk that you should be notifying DVLA
 
SilverTongue said:
The fact is, Sleep Apnoea is a DVLA notifiable condition, by not notifying them you are opening yourself up to a potential world of issues including ending up losing your licence for longer than the few months to get your CPAP sorted.

Whether you are tired all the time or not is irrelevant, the fact your has SA severe enough to need a CPAP is enough of a risk that you should be notifying DVLA
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Notify them so that they can ignore the facts and simply just revoke it anyway? Because that is what will happen.
I'd then have no ability to drive for at least 9 months.

What i'm better off doing, is buying a CPAP machine. THEN telling DVLA as they tend to not revoke when the condition is being managed.
 
Diagro said:
Notify them so that they can ignore the facts and simply just revoke it anyway? Because that is what will happen.
I'd then have no ability to drive for at least 9 months.

What i'm better off doing, is buying a CPAP machine. THEN telling DVLA as they tend to not revoke when the condition is being managed.
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Its a fairly straight forward risk question.

If you dont report it and end up in an accident and its determined you failed to report it you will be in a massive world of trouble.
If you do report it, you will likely have your license revoked within 4-6 weeks and then you have to wait until you can prove its being managed before you can get it back
​
The DVLA states:​
​
You must tell DVLA if you have:​
  • confirmed moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), with excessive sleepiness
  • either narcolepsy or cataplexy, or both
  • any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least 3 months - including suspected or confirmed mild OSAS
You must not drive until you’re free from excessive sleepiness or until your symptoms are under control and you’re strictly following any necessary treatment.​

In theory you could argue it doesnt cause excessive sleepiness, however if thats recorded on your medical notes you are up the creek without a paddle. CPAPs look to be about £500 - £600 so you might be best buying one and seeing if it solves your sleepiness.

The last dimension of course is the moral / ethical one - but im not going to comment on that side of things.
 
Diagro said:
Notify them so that they can ignore the facts and simply just revoke it anyway? Because that is what will happen.
I'd then have no ability to drive for at least 9 months.

What i'm better off doing, is buying a CPAP machine. THEN telling DVLA as they tend to not revoke when the condition is being managed.
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No what you are better off doing is following the terms of your licence and doing the correct thing, like I said, why bother posting when you have clearly made up your mind...not going to bother replying any further, but will love to see the thread about when you end up losing your licence for not notifying the DVLA about a condition you are required to notify them of...
 
Bar said:
Its a fairly straight forward risk question.

If you dont report it and end up in an accident and its determined you failed to report it you will be in a massive world of trouble.
If you do report it, you will likely have your license revoked within 4-6 weeks and then you have to wait until you can prove its being managed before you can get it back
​
The DVLA states:​
​
You must tell DVLA if you have:​
  • confirmed moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), with excessive sleepiness
  • either narcolepsy or cataplexy, or both
  • any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least 3 months - including suspected or confirmed mild OSAS
You must not drive until you’re free from excessive sleepiness or until your symptoms are under control and you’re strictly following any necessary treatment.​

In theory you could argue it doesnt cause excessive sleepiness, however if thats recorded on your medical notes you are up the creek without a paddle. CPAPs look to be about £500 - £600 so you might be best buying one and seeing if it solves your sleepiness.

The last dimension of course is the moral / ethical one - but im not going to comment on that side of things.
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Yes.
I do not have sleepiness. Nothing more than having a 1 year old would give.
Not recorded on my record that I do. This sleep apnea diagnosis was the result of other health issues raising their heads.

I've ordered a machine, the same as the NHS use. I just need to collect the letter from the doctor and it will be here friday.
Then i'll get a letter from my GP that states that the condition is managed. Once that is in place, I'll advise the DVLA. (likely next week)

If I told them now. The license would be gone for months for no other reason than poor timing.
 
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Don't the symptoms as you described them to, and noted by the doctor, rather determine your course of action,
so you aren't currently documented as having excessive sleepiness (dvla requirement), inspite of the diagnosis.
 
Diagro said:
Been told (Advised) i need to tell the DVLA... when I enquired what will happen, the doctor said they would very likely revoke my License based on my test results. Only to be re-instated when i have a CPAP machine and have shown positive results... (3 months wait for an appointment... 6 months for the machine...)
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My brother did not have his license revoked. And why can you not just buy a CPAP machine? They're not exactly expensive. They're not cheap but they're cheaper than losing your job.

"Dear DVLA, I write to advise you that I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea. Based on my doctor's recommendation I have purchased Product X. I enclose a letter from Dr Y saying he is confident that this will handle the problem." Job done with all bases covered.

Speaking of your job, why not speak to your boss as follows, "Hi Boss, I've just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea. I've ordered a CPAP machine to handle it. It's scheduled to arrive in X days but until a day or two after that I mustn't drive. Can you assign me non-driving duties until then - maybe I could take care of issue A - or should I take sick / annual leave?"
 
pastymuncher said:
Things like this should be reported by the doctor for exactly this reason. You say you don't fall asleep but you potentially could and could end up killing yourself or even worse someone else. Is it really worth the risk?
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Then people just wouldn't go see a doctor? Also, I'm as likely to fall asleep on a 10min drive just as much as you would be.
 
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I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years back and it was reported directly to the DVLA by the hospital that treated me after I'd had two heart attacks (caused by untreated sleep apnea!) so I had no say in the proceedings! - there's a good chance you've already been reported I'd guess...

Ultimately, you have a condition that you must declare, if you don't you are leaving yourself open to a world of pain far worse than a license suspension for a few months.

I had to undergo this - and I'm an HGV driver - it's done for a reason, suck it up, get your CPAP machine and move on, it's what I had to do and you need to take this journey as well unfortunately.

You need to do what's right for the long term not your immediate situation I'm afraid.

It nearly killed me (said heart attacks) even though like you I thought I didn't have any problems...

Do the right thing, it's hard, sure. You have no other choice I'm sorry to say.
 
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I was reported by the doctor before I'd even had the sleep apnea test, as I had 1 time after a long day coming back off holiday where I nodded off for a second. The DVLA would not change their mind until I had the test results through. It took slightly longer to get my licence back as they interpreted me putting down that I was being monitored for glaucoma( as my dad had it) as I had it, so had to go for an eyetest at SpecSavers as this had a test machine that the hospital eye department hadn't.
Also if the doctor doesn't report it and something happens they get shafted aswell
 
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@Diagro
I'm literally going through the same thing!

I've informed the DVLA, filled out the forms and they're checking with my GP.

I've done my sleep test and awaiting CPAP.

I'm still driving whilst i'm waiting. No doubt DVLA will recind my license only for me to request it back immediately once i've received the CPAP...
 
Yaayuh! said:
@Diagro
I'm literally going through the same thing!

I've informed the DVLA, filled out the forms and they're checking with my GP.

I've done my sleep test and awaiting CPAP.

I'm still driving whilst i'm waiting. No doubt DVLA will recind my license only for me to request it back immediately once i've received the CPAP...
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The 6 month wait for a cpap is ridiculous. So that's why I've bought my own. I'm just waiting for the GP to get the diagnosis through. Then I'll fill in the DVLA forms with a letter from my GP attached saying I have the CPAP machine. That should hopefully stop them stealing my license.
 
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