DVLA has kept me waiting nearly TWO YEARS for my driving licence

A WOMAN was forced to walk to work after DVLA kept her waiting for nearly TWO YEARS for her driving licence.

Annie Coltman-Thomas, 56, claims the driving regulators have told her to “be patient” since March last year – but the mum from Killingworth, North Tyneside, says she’s now at her wits’ end.

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Annie’s issues started in September 2020, when she blacked out while driving on the A19 – but thankfully no one was hurt.

As a result, she was advised to stop driving for six months while the cause of her blackout was investigated.

And when the six months were up in March 2021, Annie said her GP and neurologist were happy for her to get her licence back.

She then applied to the Government’s agency for her driving licence to be re-issued – but 11 months later and she still hasn’t received it.

Furious Annie told ChronicleLive: “I have had no blackouts since and I had not had one before.

“I had just lost my fiancé earlier that year, and I think everything was just getting on top of me and it was down to stress.

“I have waited and waited.

“I sent everything off together with a letter from my neurologist at the RVI confirming I was cleared to drive, and I am still waiting.

“Since my original application, I have changed my name by deed poll to reflect my late fiancé’s name, so I had to resend everything again.

“I can’t get car insurance because I don’t have a licence which proves I am fit to drive.

“I need to sort my house out, but it is difficult with no car, especially as I work shifts and am having to walk to work.”

Annie is now having to rely on her daughters for lifts – and she has to walk home from night shifts because her licence hasn’t come back.

She added: “I am relying on my daughters for lifts when I need them, which I don’t like doing as they are both busy carers in the community and don’t have much spare time.

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“I am getting fed up of finishing a night shift on Sunday morning and having to walk home when I have a car that I can use, which would make life so much easier.

“I am really sick of waiting now, I just want to get in sorted and find out how on earth it takes this long?

“I am endlessly being told by DVLA that my application is being processed but they can’t tell me how long it will take, and I was told that I couldn’t drive until I got my licence back.

“I think I have waited long enough.”

A DVLA spokesperson said: “When considering an application to issue a driving licence we aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.

“However more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed, will take longer. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

“Although we can’t comment on individual cases, once a driver has submitted their application they may be able to continue to drive while we are processing it, provided they have not been told by their doctor or optician they should not drive.”