Driving and being driven

 

Before learning to drive a car you need to know whether you can start to learn. Most people can start to learn to drive a car at 17 years of age. You can apply for your provisional licence 3 months before your 17^th birthday but the license is not valid until your birthday.

If you are in receipt of higher rate mobility component of DLA (Disability Living Allowance) or the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP (Personal Independence Payment), you can apply for your provisional licence 3 months before your 16th birthday, with it becoming valid on your 16th birthday.

 

When learning to drive you must be supervised in the car at all times. This can be done by friends or family (providing they comply with the law), and most commonly by a driving instructor.

To legally charge someone for driving lessons, an instructor must be on the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register or have a trainee’s ‘licence to give instruction’ issued by the ADI Registrar. Instructors must display their ADI registration badge in the front windscreen of their car.

When finding a driving instructor you may want to have a conversation and ask them some questions beforehand.

Questions you may want to ask include:

• What will you need to do before taking your practical test?
• Is the instructor able to teach someone with your needs or disability?
• Can I check if my instructor is registered on the approved Driving Instructor Register?
• What tests will I need to do?
• How much will it cost and how long will it take?

There are many ways you can find a driving instructor. You can find your nearest approved driving instructor on the government's website.

The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) website includes information about learning to drive and a directory of qualified driving instructors in your area. Not all driving instructors in your area are listed in the directory.

The Association of Disability Driving Instructors helps people with physical disabilities, special educational needs, and hearing difficulties. They have a directory of disability driving instructors which will allow you to find instructors near to where you live. Not all disability friendly driving instructors are listed in this directory.

 

Before taking your practical test you must complete your theory test. You can take your theory test at any point after you have turned 17. If you are in receipt of the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP (Personal Independence Payment), then you can take your test at any point after you have turned 16.

There are two parts to a theory test.

• The Multiple Choice Theory Test, which is questions based on three books. The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs, and Driving – the essential skills.
• The Hazard Perception Test, which tests your ability to spot hazards on the road.

When you book your theory test you should inform the DVLA if you have a disability, health condition or reading difficulty. Examples of support available for the Multiple Choice Theory Test includes:

• Extra time to take the test
• Take the test in British Sign Language
• Spoken test, which is an English speaking voice-over using a headset
• One to one reader/recorder, which is a person will read questions on the computer screen word for word and then record the answer given by the candidate. They cannot explain the meaning of the English language.
• Oral Language Modification, where the candidate has severe difficulty understanding the meaning of the language used for the test, the reader can explain the meaning rewording the questions to make them easier to understand. Technical terms may not be reworded.
• A private environment/separate room may be available on request

No special allowance is made when taking the Hazard Perception Test.

If you pass your theory test you can book your driving test. If you fail you can rebook your theory test after three working days.

 

When you book your driving test you should say if you have a disability, health condition, or learning difficulty. You'll still have to drive to the same standard to pass but the examiner can make adjustments to your situation.

You may be allowed more time for your test if you have certain disabilities. It will give the examiner time to talk to you about your disability and any adaptations fitted to your car.

 

Hearing impairment

If you're deaf of have a hearing impairment the examiner will use written notes at the start of the test to explain will happen. If you lip read, they'll also look at you so you can lip read what they're saying. The examiner will give directions using hand signals. These will be explained to you before your test starts.

You can take a British Sign Language Interpreter with you. They must be at least 16 years old. You need to arrange your own interpreter and pay any fees that they charge. You can claim the cost back after your test.

 

Reading difficulties

During the eyesight check at the start of your driving test, you can write down the number plate instead of reading it out loud.

 

Learning difficulties

The examiner can make adjustments for the independent driving part if the test. They may ask if you prefer to follow traffic signs instead of taking directions from a sat nav.

 

The scheme is designed to help people with disabilities to lease safe, reliable and affordable cars, powered wheelchairs, and scooters.

Many different types of car make and models are available, from small cars to MPV and SUV's. This also includes cars with manual, automatic, and semi-automatic transmission.

Driving adaptations are available on many of the cars as part of the scheme. These vary from simple attachments, to replacing all existing controls with a system individually designed for the user. More information about adaptations can be found on the Motability website.

Motobility cars must be used by the disabled person or for the benefit of the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. This means that other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping or other routine activities as long as the disabled customer benefits.

The Motability Scheme has an eligibility criteria for qualifying for their support. You can find out more about eligibility on the Motability website.

Many of Lincolnshire's car dealerships offer mobility cars, including cars through the Motability Scheme, you can find local dealers on the Motability website. You should speak directly to the dealership about these opportunities.

 

Driving Mobility are supported by the Department for Transport and co-ordinate 20 independent driving and mobility assessment centres across the UK. These centres include independent charities and NHS centres which offer professional information and assessments to enable disabled and elderly people to drive safely and gain or retain their independence.

For further information visit the Driving Mobility website.