A PENSIONER who had his driving licence renewal refused after a memory assessment says he is “fighting fit”.

Brian Marshall was sent by his doctor for the memory test.

The 84-year-old, who lives in Kingston near Lewes, said: “I consider myself to be quite normal, sometimes I go into a room and forget what I went in there for, but I know a lot of people are the same.

“My doctor sent me for a consultation because I mentioned this.”

After this assessment, he was contacted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) asking him to send in an application to renew his licence.

This was then refused.

Brian said: “They are saying they won’t be renewing it, I have been banned for life but I’ve done nothing wrong. The only reason they have given is that it’s on medical grounds. I’m extremely fit, fit as flea, and I know that I’m not going to make mistakes, I’ve never been an idiot driver.”

He said that he relied heavily on his car.

Brian said: “I live in a rural area and I need my car to get around.

“I usually play sports with friends but I can’t get there anymore, I’m having to readjust my whole life.

“I’m a retired estate agent and I used to say I was in the people business, I like to talk to people.

“But, I lost my first wife to cancer about eight years ago, and my second wife died about ten weeks ago after getting a blood clot.

“Since she died, I’m completely on my own.

“Now is a really important time for me to be able to get around and see friends.”

A spokesman for the DVLA said it considers a balance between safety and people’s personal mobility when issuing a licence, but all drivers are required to meet appropriate standards.

He said: “The medical standards for driving have their basis in legislation.

“Anyone with concerns as to how a medical condition could affect their fitness to drive should speak to their doctor or a medical professional involved in their care.

“Where a licence has been refused or revoked, we appreciate that circumstances can change with time.

“We will always consider new medical evidence submitted to us by a driver’s doctors as part of a new licence application.”

Background

The Alzheimer’s Society says on its website that “a diagnosis of dementia is not in itself a reason to stop driving” and one in three people with dementia still drive.

The charity says what matters is an individual’s ability to drive safely, both legally and practically.

According to the organisation, this involves attention and concentration, keeping an appropriate speed and road position, judgement and decision making, and reaction and processing skills.

It says if the dementia progresses, the person may need to stop driving.

The DVLA says drivers must tell the organisation if they suffer from dementia.

If they are not told, the individual can be fined up to £1,000 and may be prosecuted if they are involved in an accident as a result.