Driving

TOBRUK

well, if you just phone the motability number to request an assessment, they will contact the driving assessment service and you will then receive a simple form to fill in and post. You will then receive a letter for an appointment - which you can change to suit you. The motability will tell you (when you phone) where the nearest assessment centre is.

When I phoned to request an assessment they did ask me whether I intended to take up a motability car in the future and I replied that I didn't know. My present car (I have had for almost 18 years!) I bought myself and paid for the adaptions myself. I am intending to do the same again rather than taking up motability.

Hope this helps.;)

Cyclamen

thanks tobruk

if they say i need lots of gadgets or adapttaions i think i'd have to look at a motability car.. but if its just a few things like bigger mirrors and steering wheel knobs i think i'd look at buying a cheap little car.

i will phone them tomorrow

thank yo9u

Cyclamen

Hello reporting back as promised..

i phone motability first.. they said they can't help me and to contact a local driving instructor. They said they can help with advise and assessments for adaptations but not if you should still drive, so no luck for me there.

I then phoned my nearest cenetr from here http://www.mobility-centres.org.uk/services/drivingassessment.htm who can help and are sending me the forms. If my GP refers me i can get an assessment for free so i will wait and ask at my next appointment.

The staff at the assessmnet center seem to have lots of knowledge with different health conditions and cognitive/physical impairment so I am going to trust what they say.

I am hoping that if I am not well enough this time they wont ask dvla to take my license away do i can try again in a few years.. it's the only photo ID I have.

Just waiting on the forms now and will see what happens.. i would only drive on a good day anyway so hope the assesment lands on a good day.

Thanks for help folks

TOBRUK

Hi cyclamen,

That is strange, I contacted the mobility assessment centre and was advised that I needed to phone motability number where they send out the form for assessment with the mobility centre! It seems you have had to do so back to front as it were! However, Motability would not be able to tell you whether you were fit to drive.

It is one of these centres I am going to on Wednesday. This is the same form they sent me - which they need before making the appointment. Hopefully your doctor will refer you, otherwise the cost is £80. The form is straight forward; there is a section asking about any disability or illness you have, they ask your permission to look at your medical records etc if they need to. A question there asking if anyone has advised you not to drive.

Once you have sent the form they are very quick to send a letter of appointment for your assessment - if there is a problem with the date they give you for assessment, the date can be changed to one that suits you.

They have different machines which tests your reaction etc. Nothing to be scared of. The assessment takes roughly 2 hours. If there is a problem they do contact the DVLA.

They are very helpful and will advise you. Here is hoping that you get an assessment soon.

Cyclamen

Thanks againTobruk,

I think its a case of confidence with me. I got quite poorly very suddenly and new i wasn't fit to drive so just stopped and sold my car.. no doctor ever told me to.. perhaps they would have if I had asked them?

I am happy to pay to get professional advice.. i loved driving and would enjoy doing it again but dont want to do it if my body can't cope.. i am not sure i remember what normal reactions are so being tested would be reassuring.

I have been thinking and if they tell DVLA so be it.. i would want dvla to stop anyone else from driving if they thought them unsafe so the same should apply to me. I have been researching on some other disease charities websites and it seems quite common to be given a short term license that you reapply for after a set time IF they decide you are safe to drive.. that seems sensible but a little scary.. i got so anxious for my first test.

I am waiting for the papers to be emailed and will go from there. I will give permission to check my medical records etc.. I need to know my abilities are within what the dvla class as acceptable before i ever get behind a steering wheel.. but i cant help dreaming off getting driving again and have even been looking at small second hand cars .. a bit prematurely .

TOBRUK

It sounds like you will be fine. The reason they asked me whether I had informed the DVLA was because of a disability I had - as it is put on my licence (which I did when I started driving again after an accident and became disabled) and there are certain illnesses also that you need to let DVLA know.
Good luck.

TOBRUK

Hi Cyclamen,

I had my driving assessment on Wednesday which took around 2 hours - the time flew!

The chap who did the assessment was lovely, first we had a chat (after he made me a coffee) about the difficulties I had, disability and illness and how it all affected me and what medication I was on. Then he did a few tests - nothing scary! I then went on to a simulator (inside of a car with adaptions/controls) and tested reaction times etc all very relaxed.

After that, he showed me the different adaptions, explaining how it worked and showing the controls.

Then he took me out driving with the adaptions he advised I needed, wow, what a difference to my old adaption! I drove around for about half an hour (he gave instructions just like a driving lesson) out on the road and it was really good.

I hope you get an assessment soon, and don't worry about it at all as the assessment is all good and they are very friendly and helpful. It will do you good and also, it will give your confidence a boost!

They will tell you what adaptions you need and advise you. You can also ask them what vehicle they would advise for you. I was told I should make sure that the vehicle I get should be fully automatic as there are some vehicles that are semi-automatic etc.

You can ask them anything and they will help you. As I was leaving the chap was writing a report to send to the DVLA and gave me information on what I need to do. The chap told me to contact them anytime if I needed to ask anything or for advice.

I really enjoyed it.;)

Cyclamen

Thanks Tobruk,

Hit a bad patch here.. problems with care agency and its sapped all my energy for things. So I havent actually got anywhere yet.

My problem is post exertional malaise/payback from activity.. so i am starting to doubt myself completely now.. and think its a foolish idea.. but oh how wonderful it would be to drive to the park.

I am not really sure what i am going to do.. i have all the forms here .. i think i am improving a little in strength and health.. but not back to how well i have been (still poorly but i am guessing you understand what i mean).. so at the moment i just dont know

it all seems a little overwhelming.. the assesment center is an hour away so would involve hotels and trains and resting time.. so i need to save up some money for that.

Part of me is wondering about getting a 30 minute driving lesson in an auto (i drove one before with dual control) to see how my body reacts to driving and the PEM..to see if i can drive.. before going through the whole should i be driving thing.

I ahve family happy to insure me an dlet me try.. bless my Dad but i am really not up for that .. as a minimum i'd want the instructor to have a set of brakes.

Back to the drawing board.. dealing with care always reminds me i am poorly and causes an increase in anxiety .. so will let that settle first.

BUT .. thank you so much for taking the time to describe everything, it does seme like a great supportive meeting and i am so glad they have found a better adaptation for you

TOBRUK

Cyclamen wrote: »

Thanks Tobruk,

Hit a bad patch here.. problems with care agency and its sapped all my energy for things. So I havent actually got anywhere yet.

My problem is post exertional malaise/payback from activity.. so i am starting to doubt myself completely now.. and think its a foolish idea.. but oh how wonderful it would be to drive to the park.
........

Back to the drawing board.. dealing with care always reminds me i am poorly and causes an increase in anxiety .. so will let that settle first.

BUT .. thank you so much for taking the time to describe everything, it does seme like a great supportive meeting and i am so glad they have found a better adaptation for you

I understand completely Cyclamen. I am suffering since my travels last week - I have M.E. and I am now exhausted!

Cardiff is 100 miles away but luckily my sister drove me back to her home last Sunday which was only half an hour away from the centre and I then had Monday and tuesday to rest, as travelling for over two hours there took it out of me! My sister then drove me to the centre on Wednesday, and then drove me home on Thursday afternoon!

I wouldn't have managed a 2 and a half hour drive to the centre and drive back!! It is going to take a few days if I'm lucky to get over it! I am so lucky with family to help me and go out of their way to try and make my life easier!

Yesterday I had a written report from the driving centre regarding my assessment on Wednesday (extremely quick!) and a copy for me to send to the DVLA.

Thedisabled mobility driving centre is very accomodating to your difficulties/disabilities/illness, and will help you.

Hope you are better soon.:)

Cyclamen

Thanks again Tobruk

I have just trie dto message you but can't so will say a little of it here

Thank you so much for explaining things.. it does give me hope that with the correct adaptations i may be ok for short journeys. The whole thing is just so ruddy scary.. no one tells you anything about living with a disability in advancean di often feel i'm blunderinga round looking for answers .

Please can i ask what sort of adaptions they recommended? are they things you can bolt on to a normal car or do you have to use motability?

thanks again