Got my driver's license back after a rear-end accident

The member has been a professional driver for over 20 years and has driven children to and from school for several years. One of them was a student in a wheelchair, whom he drove on a regular basis. The two knew each other well, and used to play music during the drives. On the day of the accident, a familiar routine took a different turn than usual.

This day was different

Usually, the driver would park in the same spot and help the student out of the car. The student would then be met by someone else who would accompany him to his next errand. On this day, the student's father arrived earlier than usual to pick him up. The family was going on vacation, and the father parked his car next to the minibus.

The driver helped the student out, and the father took over. The driver perceived the situation as the father taking the student away from the car. When he got back in, his attention was focused on a school class passing by the area. He thought the student was off the road and began to back up.

He wasn't. The student was hit and pushed several meters in his wheelchair. Emergency services were called, and the student was taken to hospital with broken bones.

In court, the member said that he had misunderstood the situation. The incident had a strong impact on him, and that it still affects him. The student is now back at school.

The driver's license means the job

After the accident, the driver's license was temporarily confiscated.

For the member, it was about much more than the ability to drive. He has been a professional driver since the early 2000s, and describes this as his dream job. Without a driver's license, he didn't know how long he could keep the job.

YTF's lawyer Siri Dannevig assisted the member when the question of whether the temporary driver's license seizure should be considered by the court.

– This was a serious incident for everyone involved, and the member is very sorry for what has happened. A driver's license seizure has major consequences for a professional driver, and it was important to get the court's assessment in this case. When you are in a desperate situation, it is easy to forget that you also have rights. Therefore, it is good that he contacted us when the accident happened, says Dannevig.

In its ruling, the court held that the driver had not been sufficiently attentive before reversing. At the same time, the court looked at the whole picture. The member has had a driver's license for almost 30 years, and has driven professionally for over 20 years without previous traffic incidents. The court held that the accident appeared to be an isolated mistake, and that there was no basis for saying that he posed a general danger to traffic.

Upheld

The court therefore decided that the driver's license should not be confiscated while the case is being processed. Among other things, emphasis was placed on his long driving experience, his history as a professional driver and that there was nothing to indicate that he posed a continuing risk in traffic. The consequences for the work situation were also considered. Without a driver's license, the member could risk losing his job.

– We are satisfied that the court looked at the whole picture. This was an isolated incident, and the member has extensive experience as a professional driver without any previous significant accidents. This was important for the assessment, says Dannevig.

The court concluded that continued seizure would be too harsh. The police's request to retain the driver's license was therefore not granted.

You don't have to stand alone.

An accident can happen in a matter of seconds. For a professional driver, the time after can be both difficult and confusing. In addition to the incident itself, questions about your driver's license, job, and future can be an additional burden.

This case shows that even when there is a lot at stake, it does not mean that you are without rights or opportunities. As a member, help is there when you need it.

– The most important thing is that the member does not have to be alone in a difficult situation. When the driver's license is also the very basis of your job, it can be crucial to have someone who stands with you through the process, says Dannevig.

As a professional driver, you have a big responsibility every day. If an accident does happen, it's good to know that you have someone's back.

If you are not already a member , it is a good idea to become one before you need the help.