Hi,

I'm just wondering if I should tell the DVLA/ my car insurance company about being diagnosed with RA? although now with medication my driving is not effected & we have just changed our car to an automatic, I wondered if I didn't let them know this could be used against me if anything happened.......

Thanks, Louise

You should not need to report anything unless your doctor has advised you to do so. That said, we all need to be aware of the warning on dug boxes 'May cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive, or operate machinery.' But even then it's discretionary. However, driving under the influence of prescription meds is as much of an offence as under the influence of alcohol.

Your doctor will know the proscribed conditions for which DVLA reporting is necessary.

Does that help?

BTW, have fun driving theauto. I have driven the last 15 of my 40 ishdriving years in autos and would NEVER go back. The relief on my left wrist pain and left leg from not having to change gear is a godsend.

I've only been reading something today in a booklet from Arthritis Research about driving.

It states what the law says, if you hold a current driving licence and you develop arthritis and the illness affects your driving and has lasted for more than three months you must inform them. (DVLA)

I would imagine that it means that if you have had trouble driving for twelve consecutive weeks then you must tell them.

This question was raised three of four years go on here and an ex police man posted that you had to tell them upon being diagnosed. I did ring the DVLA up and asked and was told that it was Ok for me to drive and I didn't need to tell them. I did ask for a letter stating this, they did send me one, the only problem was that they just put your condition and didn't state what my condition was.

I have had on several occasions driven with my wrist splints on and have always wondered if I did have an accident if it would of been used against me by the other driver.

Paula

How I see driving in splints is this:

If we will be able to drive better with the aid of splints I can't see why we shouldn't wear them. After all people wear glasses to see better, so why should we be different?

But like I said, if we did have an accident that wasn't our fault and we are seen to be wearing splints you can bet the other driver would jump on it straight away.

I don't think I've been told not to wear splints when driving.

I've told my husband that the next time we change our car I want an automatic, we had one once and it was like driving a dodgem car, two pedals....the go faster pedal and the stop quick one.

Paula

My splints haven't got the metal bar in, that may make a difference.

I know what you mean about you feel like you are not driving the car with an automatic. We had one several years ago and I missed not changing gears, it was like I said, like driving a dodgem car.

I realise now though that not having to keep having to put your foot on the clutch when changing gear, having to keep moving the gear stick about and having to put the handbrake on when stationery would be a big plus factor if RA is not behaving.

Paula x