rolandrat Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 The latest D4 first page is now a Vision assessment which says can be carried out by a Doctor or Optician. A different format to the previous one, the DVLA seem to be tightening up on eyesight standards. There are 9 questions to answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 tell em your dyslexic ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I hit 70 next year so doing a bit of forward planning, I decided to get hold of one of these forms, to see what was involved. It is the same form used for checking the health of professional drivers (HGV/PSV) so effectively once you hit 70, a higher standard of medical fitness to drive is applied than when you were younger than 70 - and you have to submit a new form every three years from age 70 too. There is no age allowance involved, its the same medical standard for all. Hence the eye test by an optician or doctor, because you suddenly have to meet a minimum standard of ucorrected vision in each eye (in case your glasses fall off or you lose them) whereas previously yoiu simply had to be able to read a number plate at a certain distance. Introducing a proper health check at some threshold age is sensible - after all there is going to be a higher chance of developing health problems with age, which would affect your safety behind the wheel. But whether it is fair to suddenly start applying all the professional driver standards when previously, driving the same vehicle, a lower standard has applied doesn't seem entirely fair. We motorhomers are of course already stuck with having to take a full professional driving test if we want to drive a heavy motorhome (over 7.5 tons) and this involves the full range of skills which lorry drivers need, including understanding how to secure loads and how tachographs work and what the tachograph rules are, when you will never have to fit one. All because the EU didnt think of having a separate driving licence category for motorhomes, so they just stuck us in with lorries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 So is this 70 lark irrespective of what you are driving and just related to normal license or just over 3500Kg? Seems a bit harsh as there is no way I would pass eye test without glasses. I have 3 yearly tests due to diabetes, have had 3 (over 9 years) so far and touch wood OK, but one before last was a bit hit and miss but eyesight has improved due to better diabetic control...So it sounds like when you hit 70 and they want you off the road *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 JudgeMental - 2014-07-07 7:12 PM So it sounds like when you hit 70 and they want you off the road *-) Is it to do with driving over 3.5 ton licence :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 pelmetman - 2014-07-07 7:34 PM JudgeMental - 2014-07-07 7:12 PM So it sounds like when you hit 70 and they want you off the road *-) Isit to do with driving over 3.5 ton licence :-S It's to do with over 3.5 tons upwards to HGV1. Once an HGV driver reaches 65 then they have to have a full medical annually. The government should have allowed a little leeway when they upped the retirement age to 70 but they didn't so if you want to carry on working as an HGV driver until then you are lumbered with a hefty doctors medical fee every year plus now an extra opticians fee. The working class get hammered from every direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 rolandrat - 2014-07-07 7:53 PM pelmetman - 2014-07-07 7:34 PM JudgeMental - 2014-07-07 7:12 PM So it sounds like when you hit 70 and they want you off the road *-) Isit to do with driving over 3.5 ton licence :-S It's to do with over 3.5 tons upwards to HGV1. Once an HGV driver reaches 65 then they have to have a full medical annually. The government should have allowed a little leeway when they upped the retirement age to 70 but they didn't so if you want to carry on working as an HGV driver until then you are lumbered with a hefty doctors medical fee every year plus now an extra opticians fee. The working class get hammered from every direction. Aaaaah that explains why all the motorhome makers are promoting 3.5 Ton max campers ;-)..............I guess they have realised their future customers won't be retiring until they're 70 :-|.........Could this mean the end of the flight of the Concords to Southern Spain every winter? 8-)..................at least it'll mean less chance of being left in the shade :D................. Unless these rules don't apply in Merkel land........... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 JudgeMental - 2014-07-07 7:12 PM So is this 70 lark irrespective of what you are driving and just related to normal license or just over 3500Kg? ) Once you get to 70 you have to renew your licence, and renew it again every three years If you are driving a vehicle up to 3500 kgs there is no medical involved. :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madge Gentle Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I'm over 70 and had been thinking of getting my 3500kg MH re-plated to 3650kg (that was it's original Fiat base plate before being down rated by the MH manufacturer) or perhaps slightly higher but to do so involves an annual medical. I may be drooping at the edges a bit but I'm confident any Doctor who assessed me would/should find me fit enough to pass the medical. But when I asked at my Doctors about the charge I was told £111 was the going rate although I believe this included an eye test as well as the medical assessment. This seems a bit high to be paid on an annual basis for being allowed to carry a bit more wine back from France and I wondered what others had been quoted and/or charged for the medical formalities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Madge Gentle - 2014-07-08 8:46 AM This seems a bit high to be paid on an annual basis for being allowed to carry a bit more wine back from France and I wondered what others had been quoted and/or charged for the medical formalities. stick with the 3500 Kg and buy a trailer..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 It seems that some facts are needed in this thread, so here goes:--- The D4 medical standards were changed in 2013. Previously it was necessary to have a minimum standard of eyesight both with and without glasses, if glasses were worn, to meet the driving standard. In 2013, it only became necessary to meet the required standard while wearing glasses if worn, although the form still required the 'without glasses' test results to be entered. The D4 medical form is used for both LGV ( Lorry ) and PCV ( bus ) driving medical standards and as mentioned previously is also the same form for retaining your C1 class licence over the age of 70. I have been having D4 medicals and intermediate assesments for over 20 years for bus driving licence purposes. I use these people for the medical :- http://www.driversmedicals.com/ I pay about £54 I think. I have needed one every year for the last four years and I have not had any problems with them. They usually carry out the medicals at a bus company office or transport contractor etc. I do have a 'notifiable' medical condition which means that sometimes the DVLA will write to my own GP after receiving the D4 and licence application which can delay the renewal of my licence but I can still drive while it is being processed. ( as long as I have met the required standards ). When it does eventually get renewed they date it from the date that it is sent to me so that although I am 70 next year, if I do not want to renew my bus licence then, I still will not have to have another medical for the C1 until 2017. My apologies, I have digressed and hope I have not confused things. Go to the Driver Medicals website and select FAQ's I see no reason why they should not carry out the required medical for renewal of C1 licences: it is the same medical procedure but you can always 'phone them to confirm. hth Harvey ps. there are other companies that specialise in 'drivers medicals' but have never found any that are as convenient for me but a 'google' will find others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney123 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I use these people for the medical :- http://www.driversmedicals.com/ My GP quoted me £120.00 and I was going to have to wait 3 weeks for the medical, (he is still waiting for me to book the appointment and he has got a long wait) I then googled for driver medicals and found the one Harvey used, the charge was £58.00, the appointment was booked for 3 days later and all was signed, sealed and delivered in no time at all. So shop around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madge Gentle Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Harvey / Barney123 – thanks for your useful replies. Next week we go to France for a month and when we get back I'll explore the advice and links you've provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Apart from the cost of the HGV licence medical from September this year all HGV drivers have to have a CPC certificate as well. If you haven't then your off the road until you have sat the course. Another expense is the refresher course if you're involved in ADR dangerous goods transport. So much for extending the pension age to 70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 rolandrat - 2014-07-10 12:08 PM Apart from the cost of the HGV licence medical from September this year all HGV drivers have to have a CPC certificate as well. If you haven't then your off the road until you have sat the course. Another expense is the refresher course if you're involved in ADR dangerous goods transport. So much for extending the pension age to 70. Perhaps they should extened the driving licence to 75, in line with the retirement age?? Or even 80???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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