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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2013 10:58:36 GMT
2014 EDIT - this lead post is now out of date. Most of us do not need to inform the DVLA or insurance companies BUT check to find out if you do.
If you have ADHD the DVLA requires you to inform them www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-drivingnote - the website might change, let me know if the link breaks or appears to be no longer relevant It's not a big issue - they need to know if you are safe to drive - if you have already passed the driving test then you probably are...it's a tough test for ADHDers. They will ask for a confirmation letter from a doctor, possibly your specialist. If a doctor says you are safe then you are OK - the DVLA cannot question the decision of a doctor. Your insurance company will also require informing. They make their own rules but so far most people have not had their premium increased...obviously this can change. It'll be a bit of a pain with the paperwork but otherwise OK.
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 23, 2013 0:41:57 GMT
It would seem out of character for an insurance company to fail to claw a bit more money out of people if they thought they could get away with it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2013 10:45:45 GMT
It would seem out of character for an insurance company to fail to claw a bit more money out of people if they thought they could get away with it. I was gobsmacked when my declaration resulted in no increase (they didn't even ask what the condition was) - I'm guessing that the insurance companies haven't got enough information to calculate the risk on this group (yet) and since it's OK with the DVLA then they'd rather keep the business. The cynic in me says it can't last.
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 23, 2013 12:52:13 GMT
I agree, it's only a matter of time.
If you hadn't put the specific condition down, what had you told them?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 19:52:40 GMT
As you say, pd, it'll only get priced in if there is a demonstrable (statistical) link to loss events. And since diagnosed adults are probably safer than undisgnosed (many of us drive medicated), we're probably distorting the outcome. Undx adults' accidents can't be attributed to ADHD so won't attract a premium for it.
Motor insurance pricing is already cut-throat within an overall environment where insurers are struggling to control costs and claims. The industry is constantly having to justify its prices without adding more for a factor that carries no risk weighting. So I think we're probably safe for now...
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Post by mighty on Jan 28, 2013 21:23:41 GMT
Do people really do this...
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murtster
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Post by murtster on Mar 10, 2013 21:06:29 GMT
I haven't declared it, 20 years on the road without a penalty point... Not bad for an inattentive guy?
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nytol
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Post by nytol on Mar 12, 2013 21:16:14 GMT
Driving is one of the few times I am able to focus without distraction.
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bibbles
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Post by bibbles on Mar 27, 2013 19:27:06 GMT
i agree with Nytol, its one of few times i can focus entirely. i consider myself a great driver, not one crash that i caused (2 crashes where other faults).
why should we tell DVLA if it makes no difference? can they use it against us in a crash or something?
Jonathan
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2013 19:46:36 GMT
Why should you tell them?
Because the onus will be on you to prove it's not your fault if you don't and you get sussed.
In a serious accident you will be required to give a sample and your medication will be discovered (if on stimulants).
Driving on drugs will land you in trouble - use the defence of medication and you'll be seen as already being dodgy because you didn't declare - talk your way out of that one. You will automatically be at fault unless you can prove otherwise - if you've ever been involved with the courts you'll know that the truth, and fairness, aren't as popular as they claim.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2013 3:01:48 GMT
...and if it does all go pear-shaped that way, and you haven't declared, you might also find you've invalidated your insurance.
Why play probabilities and hope you never have an idiot ruin your life? It costs nothing to declare to DVLA (and I've posted elsewhere my hypothesis on its impact on premiums). And the indications are that they make sensible decisions, so it looks like a bit of a no-brainer to me.
My big problem is the admin! Form! Doctor's report! Argh!!!
It's on my to-do list...
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Post by mannycalavera on May 7, 2013 14:06:20 GMT
Mine to, though I am terrified of being retroactively punished. Really wish I had just declared at the beginning. I find concentrating and driving a little tricky. No problem with motorcycling though. I think that is because it is so involving, both physically and mentally, it seems to channel so much input into my body and head that it 'captures' my brain. The times I feel most in control and most mentally at peace is on a bike. Even if that is blasting down country lanes at 60mph. (edit: actually that's no quite true...there have been...um...moments...)
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Post by lonelyprisoner on May 11, 2013 11:00:55 GMT
I can identify with this. At 180mph (just joking) my mind is calm and methodical. Very strange really......................
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pipster
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Post by pipster on May 22, 2013 12:25:07 GMT
Mine to, though I am terrified of being retroactively punished. Really wish I had just declared at the beginning. I find concentrating and driving a little tricky. No problem with motorcycling though. I think that is because it is so involving, both physically and mentally, it seems to channel so much input into my body and head that it 'captures' my brain. The times I feel most in control and most mentally at peace is on a bike. Even if that is blasting down country lanes at 60mph. (edit: actually that's no quite true...there have been...um...moments...) You beat me to it. I have a chequered history with cars although I do have 6yrs no claims now. But being on a motorbike is one of the few times I can concentrate. I put it down to the immanent danger. Being on the edge of death is focusing for an ADHD'er. I'm a motorcycle courier in London. Supposed to be one of the most dangerous jobs you can have. I learnt my road sense in Greece and I ride in Saigon and Vietnam when I lived over there. I didn't know you had to declare ADHD. I thought it was anything that would effect your driving and I would argue that ADHD doesn't effect my driving. I'm sure I googled it at the time. But yes, I've just googled it again and this time it does say i have to declare. I have only just got insurance for my car and it's with a low risk insurer. I'm worried they may not insure me if I tell them. But yes, understand I may not be insured if I don't
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Post by Kathymel on May 22, 2013 12:41:37 GMT
I'm wondering if they will be contravening the Equality Act if they penalise ADHD. They have had to stop gender penalties, after all.
Having said that, I'm not sure how they can do that and not have to level the playing field for everyone. Why is it still OK to penalise for age, for instance, or for the job you do?
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Post by simonwgill on May 22, 2013 12:49:19 GMT
I'm wondering if they will be contravening the Equality Act if they penalise ADHD. They have had to stop gender penalties, after all. Having said that, I'm not sure how they can do that and not have to level the playing field for everyone. Why is it still OK to penalise for age, for instance, or for the job you do? Jobs are a choice and carry different risk profiles. Shift workers are more likely to drive in the middle of the night when alertness is low for instance. Not sure about age... that might be next on the chopping block since I think it's also a protected characteristic. They can proxy that with no-claims bonus though, it'll just make no-claims even better for the people that can get it.
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pipster
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Post by pipster on May 22, 2013 13:05:48 GMT
I'm wondering if they will be contravening the Equality Act if they penalise ADHD. They have had to stop gender penalties, after all. Having said that, I'm not sure how they can do that and not have to level the playing field for everyone. Why is it still OK to penalise for age, for instance, or for the job you do? Yes. I think it's a real conundrum. Insurance companies are allowed to discriminate to identify risk. But are not allowed to take into account things that don't matter. For example being black wouldn't make any difference to your driving but just arriving here with a licence from Ghana might. And being a woman "shouldn't" ( ) effect your driving. The problem I have with ADHD is that 100's of 1000's of people must be driving around with varying degrees of ADHD undiagnosed and unbeknown to the insurance companies. All the ADHDers who declare will be on meds and a lot safer (I guess) than the rest of the unknown.
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Post by Kathymel on May 22, 2013 13:51:16 GMT
And being a woman "shouldn't" ( ) effect your driving. Although, apparently, being a man does.
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pipster
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Post by pipster on May 22, 2013 14:12:39 GMT
And being a woman "shouldn't" ( ) effect your driving. Although, apparently, being a man does. Not any more apparently...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2013 16:44:17 GMT
....I didn't know you had to declare ADHD. I thought it was anything that would effect your driving and I would argue that ADHD doesn't effect my driving. I'm sure I googled it at the time. But yes, I've just googled it again and this time it does say i have to declare..... The DVLA website changes frequently - sometimes it mentions ADHD specifically and sometimes it is implied in very strong terms (something you can't mistake if you actually read it) and it has been like that for several years. Research suggests that properly medicated ADHDers are an average risk but unmedicated ADHD is calculated as equivalent to driving whilst on a mobile phone.
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Post by DKL - darkknightslover on May 22, 2013 20:51:32 GMT
Crikey! Do you know where we could find that research?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using proboards
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pipster
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Post by pipster on May 22, 2013 21:23:17 GMT
....I didn't know you had to declare ADHD. I thought it was anything that would effect your driving and I would argue that ADHD doesn't effect my driving. I'm sure I googled it at the time. But yes, I've just googled it again and this time it does say i have to declare..... The DVLA website changes frequently - sometimes it mentions ADHD specifically and sometimes it is implied in very strong terms (something you can't mistake if you actually read it) and it has been like that for several years. Research suggests that properly medicated ADHDers are an average risk but unmedicated ADHD is calculated as equivalent to driving whilst on a mobile phone. No idea how they could come up with that. As the saying goes...you've met 1 person with ADHD, you've met 1 person with ADHD. As some people have said on here, they can concentrate when driving.
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pipster
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Post by pipster on May 23, 2013 15:49:09 GMT
So if I tell my insurance company now, will I be charged?
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Post by Little Owl on May 30, 2013 8:51:50 GMT
This issue terrifies me. I can feel the anxiety levels rising every time I think about it. My situation is complicated by the fact I have comorbid bipolar. My life and that of my family would be devastated without a car, almost certainly the imposition of a ban would in itself throw me into depression.
A few years back I looked at the DVLA website and support sites – the conclusion I came to was the situation is a quagmire. If my ADHD memory serves....
. The outcome of any assessment is (according to the support sites) hugely variable. . The rules on temporary bans are based on medication changes alone i.e. if your medication is decreased you should not drive for 3 months. . No safe behavioural changes to accommodate one’s disorder are taken into account.
I know I have the information I found in my logbooks but cannot bring myself to make a more informative post. BTW my psychiatrist has said repeatedly that he deems me save to drive and my driving record is good.
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Post by chickster on Jun 28, 2013 21:10:28 GMT
I am NOT going along with this. If it means staying private I will. I used to be bad, but actually Im a good driver, no accidents in 12 years. WHY is this being introduced? The cynic in me says Insurance companies want to avoid payouts & are lanning on using this - declared or not. Bah.
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Post by chickster on Jun 28, 2013 21:11:28 GMT
I am NOT going along with this. If it means staying private I will. I used to be bad, but actually Im a good driver, no accidents in 12 years. WHY is this being introduced? The cynic in me says Insurance companies want to avoid payouts & are lanning on using this - declared or not. Bah.
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Useless
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Post by Useless on Jun 28, 2013 22:51:04 GMT
Yeah yeah......I'll sort it out tomorrow.
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Post by Old Vagabond on Jul 6, 2013 12:36:26 GMT
Adult ADHD doesn't exist.
There's no bloody way I'm risking an insurance refusal on my bike* because I've said I've got a disorder which doesn't exist. F##k 'em, I'm declaring nothing.
*it's 2,300cc - so it's in a high insurance group already
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Post by Little Owl on Jul 27, 2013 14:21:45 GMT
Today, the DVLA says that "You must tell DVLA if you have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)." See www.gov.uk/adhd-and-drivingThe full list of conditions that may have to be reported to the DVLA is on www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-drivingThe form you have to fill in is the M1 form at www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_066650.pdfI know this because I have had to renew my license and have declared my conditions. BTW it was not clear whether I should send my renewal + M1 form to the Drivers Medical Group (stated in the M1) or the renewal group stated in the renewal form. I sent it to the Drivers Medical Group. It would be nice if the Drivers Medical Group sent you a letter or email to say that they had received the form, but they haven't. Even nicer would be something reassuring that says I can drive while they investigate. After all, the DVLA are dealing with people who are quite naturally anxious about their future ability to drive (its a big thing to the individual; a matter of routine administration for the DVLA). I am concerned that my driving license will expire while they investigate, leaving me unable to drive because I have been honest. I feel as if I am starting to shout so I'll sign off.
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Post by chickster on Jul 30, 2013 14:55:36 GMT
I'm wondering if they will be contravening the Equality Act if they penalise ADHD. They have had to stop gender penalties, after all. Having said that, I'm not sure how they can do that and not have to level the playing field for everyone. Why is it still OK to penalise for age, for instance, or for the job you do? Exactly. But if they werent planning penalising people why are they asking? Ok, maybe sometimes some people with ADHD can be more careless (innattentive), but I find the fact that this is 'required' information deeply disturbing. If they start saying its a 'handicap' like poor eyesight what then? No, no, no, call me cynical but I dont see this going anywhere good for anybody with 'declared' ADHD.
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