DVLA made me wait over YEARS to get my license… I had to quit my job as a driving instructor

A DRIVING instructor claims he was forced to quit his job after waiting over a YEAR for a new license.

John Swindail, 70, had to rest on the road after breaking his back, leg, ribs and nose in a minor crash in 2011, which left him reliant on crutches and a wheelchair.

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Despite his injury, the 70-year-old said he is now fit to drive but has not been able to do so since January 2021, when he was first given an extension recurring license from the DVLA.

John, who lives with his wife Elizabeth Anne, in Werrington, now wants to get back on the road.

But those over 70 must have their licenses renewed every three years, and his application has yet to be approved.

John said to StokeonTrentLive: “I lost a year of my life in an accident. I have no memory of what happened. I flew my microlight to the ground. I had undiagnosed sleep apnea at the time. I think that I slept.

John added: “I still haven’t got my driver’s license back. Contacting the DVLA is not possible. There has been no contact other than the letter stating they received the document. I had to put the license on the post with details from the doctor too.

“It’s been over a year. I gave up. You’re fed up with waiting and resigned to the fact that you don’t have a driver’s license yet.

Now it’s been over a year. I gave up. You’re fed up with waiting and resigned to the fact that you don’t have a driver’s license yet.

John Swindail

“I want it back. I’m fit to drive. They’ve taken away my independence. My car is sitting out there and barely used. If I have to go to the hospital, my wife has to take it. I go.

“Terrible. I will never quit my job until I have to. I want my license and an apology.

“I haven’t been able to drive for a year. It’s not an inconvenience, it’s a life changer.

“They are people without faces and you should never speak to the person in charge.”

LICENSE TO KILL TIME

The DVLA apologized for the “constant delay” in paper applications, citing problems related to the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing requirements and strike action.

A DVLA spokesperson said: “Our online services are operating normally and without delays. There is a delay in paper applications and more complex transactions, such as if a medical investigation is needed, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

“When we request additional information from the driving physician, we will have full confidence in receiving this information before we can make a decision.”