Driving Lessons, age etc

Brassedoff

I now have another weekly out patients appointment every Friday in the city 16 miles away. Problem is, for the sake of my marriage, it is the day my wife "has off" and goes out with her sister for a break from me. My son does not go to college on that day and looks after me in her place. So cutting to the chase I need to get to the appointment, but my son needs to learn how to drive.

So my question is, is there anything on the mobility scheme that would help with driving lessons? If he did have his licence, would I be able to add him onto the insurance? The car is insurance group 8.

Any advice gratefully received. Any opinions about free motability cars etc, don't bother posting.

moose1982

I think the driving lesson help is only for the person who is claiming the Motability car, but no harm in phoning them up I guess to check/see if the rules have changed.

You can add your son to the insurance yes, however, if he will be a third person on the insurance, then they do charge for this. I'm only saying third because I'm unsure if you and your wife are the main two. The insurance group is fine as it is now going on the now 1-50 groupings and even my (1-20) insurance group 10 Focus is fine for someone under 25. Only thing will be that he will have a higher excess, £300 normally or £200 if he does a passplus.

Hope this helps, even a little bit, even to just calm your nerves

supergran2007

Hi


Not too sure about this, but I think some hospitals run a hospital transport scheme ( run by volunteers ) using their own cars.
This assists patients who have out-patients appointments and have difficulty travelling / with transport.

Its just a thought, but may be worth phoning the hospital to ask,
( even if its a stop-gap until your son can pass his test.)

HTH:)

Richie-from-the-Boro

HiYa Brassedoff, - you don't mention his age, I know the letters to each and every lease holder in the land started going out a couple of weeks ago.

Brassedoff

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

HiYa Brassedoff, - you don't mention his age, I know the letters to each and every lease holder in the land started going out a couple of weeks ago.

Hi Richie, he is 17 and lives with me so that is OK. The only question I have is can he drive as a learner with me in the vehicle?

Bigmoney2

Brassedoff wrote: »

Hi Richie, he is 17 and lives with me so that is OK. The only question I have is can he drive as a learner with me in the vehicle?

Only if you are capable of taking over the driving if needs be.

Presumably you couldn't or you would drive to the appointment on your own or do you just need assistance once out of the car?

Brassedoff

Generally using the clutch. Left leg no longer works as well as it did prior to the doc cutting my spinal cord and naffing up the nerves. So he would drive and I would take over in the event of needing to.

You might say get the wife to change her day, but the wife's sister is off on that day and as many on here will testify their partners need a break otherwise they crack up and the disabled person then finds themselves on their own.

By doing this, we maintain as near as possible a normal life, which we find so important.

MrsManda

In order to be an accommpanying driver you need to hold a full driving licence for the relevant vehicle category and need to have held the licence for at least 3 years.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022661

If you're unable to use the clutch, have you told the DVLA and do you have restrictions on your licence stating you need to use an automatic?

If you get DLA high mobility would it be worth getting an automatic car then you could drive yourself?

As Supergran suggested you may be able to attend your appointments using a patient transport service. It's worth speaking to your hospital about it.
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1079.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=154

Richie-from-the-Boro

Brassedoff wrote: »

Generally using the clutch. Left leg no longer works as well as it did prior to the doc cutting my spinal cord and naffing up the nerves. So he would drive and I would take over in the event of needing to.

You might say get the wife to change her day, but the wife's sister is off on that day and as many on here will testify their partners need a break otherwise they crack up and the disabled person then finds themselves on their own.

By doing this, we maintain as near as possible a normal life, which we find so important.

I honestly don't know - never come across this Q before, best to give them a ring and check, or better still because things do & will go wrong with a learner get it in writing from them.

Go here and click on the Ask Mo on the TRHS.

That way not only have they agreed to have him as a named under 21 but you have it in writing, that they know he is a suitably supervised learner.

Best of luck M8

Brassedoff

MrsManda wrote: »

In order to be an accommpanying driver you need to hold a full driving licence for the relevant vehicle category and need to have held the licence for at least 3 years.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022661

If you're unable to use the clutch, have you told the DVLA and do you have restrictions on your licence stating you need to use an automatic?

If you get DLA high mobility would it be worth getting an automatic car then you could drive yourself?

As Supergran suggested you may be able to attend your appointments using a patient transport service. It's worth speaking to your hospital about it.
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1079.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=154

There is no need to notify the DVLA that I cannot fully use a clutch. You are categorising it in the same manner as a heart condition or blindness. It is not notifiable. Tut!

As for the car, I could use the clutch when we first got it, but have a year left on the lease, so will have to wait until I get one.

Patient transport will only move you from home to your local hospital. After checking with them this morning, they will not take me to three of the four I have to visit as the are out of the area, one by a long way.

akabee

Brassedoff wrote: »

There is no need to notify the DVLA that I cannot fully use a clutch. You are categorising it in the same manner as a heart condition or blindness. It is not notifiable. Tut!

As for the car, I could use the clutch when we first got it, but have a year left on the lease, so will have to wait until I get one.

Patient transport will only move you from home to your local hospital. After checking with them this morning, they will not take me to three of the four I have to visit as the are out of the area, one by a long way.

Give Motability a call and tell them your problem with the clutch.
You can end your contract early and maybe get an automatic.