Driving Assessment Archives - Driving Mobility

Ayrshire’s Sarah with MS ‘back being Mum’ thanks 
to DriveAbility Scotland

Sarah Sullivan, 34 from Kilmarnock, has been able to continue driving with multiple sclerosis thanks to expert guidance from Glasgow’s DriveAbility Scotland.

Sarah Sullivan, 34 from Kilmarnock, has been able to continue driving with multiple sclerosis thanks to expert guidance from Glasgow’s DriveAbility Scotland.

Sarah, Mum of 10-year-old Charlotte, came to accept in the summer of 2022 that she was struggling to drive safely. Diagnosed with MS in 2014, her progressive condition meant she was experiencing mobility difficulties and reduced sensation in her feet – so operating a brake and accelerator pedal was becoming a challenge. 

Sarah already owned a standard automatic car; however, the driving controls no longer met her needs as she explains: “I had started to avoid driving as my MS was getting worse. I still hoped for a while that the symptoms would go away, but they didn’t, so I knew I had to do something to get back on the road. I was staying at home more and more. At one point I’d been in the house all week and I thought this is ridiculous, I can’t go on like this, I must do something to try and get driving again.”

Sarah’s predicament was impacting on many aspects of family life. The main problem was not being able to give Charlotte lifts to school, friends, and her performing arts club. Sarah’s shopping trips and regular hospital appointments also meant reliance on others or using public transport which was challenging for a time-pressured mum using a powered wheelchair. 

Sarah continues: “Things needed to change. So, after speaking to my neurologist, I was signposted towards DriveAbility Scotland who would assess me and recommend the right driving controls to get me back behind the wheel. I had an appointment at their centre in October and was assessed by an Occupational Therapist and Approved Driving Instructor.  I was quite apprehensive before my visit; however, they immediately put me at ease by explaining it was not a test, it was an assessment. Due to weakness in my legs and arms, it was agreed that I should try driving with a steering wheel under-ring and radial push brake.  Well, it felt a bit odd at first but to be fair, I got my head around using these controls pretty quickly. This meant I could drive without using my legs, amazing!” 

Following her assessment and receipt of a written report, Sarah was given the names of recommended vehicle convertors who could adapt her car with the new driving controls. Sarah chose AIC Glasgow to fit the under-ring and radial push brake and within a few weeks she was driving full-time and back ‘being Mum’.

Sarah concludes: “Being able to drive means we can live a normal life; I can be the ‘Mum taxi’ again. I spend most of my time driving Charlotte around to her friends and various activities and share the school runs with other parents. I’m absolutely loving it. Using my new adaptations now feels second nature. It took me a bit of time to get totally used to them, and remembering I can’t wave at people, but today I don’t think twice about how to get about. I think the superb support from DriveAbility Scotland has helped me get my confidence back so quickly and they were brilliant all the way through. I’d recommend their services to everyone in Scotland looking for ways to drive independently with conditions such as MS.”

Injured Romford rugby player discovers hi-tech driving independence with Herts Ability

Kevin Hartie, 46, from Romford, has attended a new hi-tech assessment service at a Hertfordshire Driving Mobility centre, to regain driving independence following a life-changing sporting injury.


Kevin received a C5 spinal injury playing rugby in 2000. Now a full-time powerchair user, he has not driven independently since his accident despite previous assessments to ascertain how he could safely drive with additional vehicle adaptations. As the strength in his upper body has improved over the years, Kevin recently decided it would be useful to be reassessed again.

Kevin explains: “I actually had my first driving assessment back in 2008 and another before the pandemic. They were helpful and recommended equipment that would be useful to me at that time. However, I was still unsure and held back. I have a carer who can drive me if needed, with ramp access to the vehicle for my powerchair. And I’m fortunate that I have good public transport links, so I can use the train and bus for work. However, following the pandemic, and after a bit of research, I contacted Herts Ability who told me they had a new hi-tech driving assessment which would be ideal for my spinal injury.”

Herts Ability, based in Welwyn Garden City, is a charity providing driving and mobility assessments, driving tuition and guidance on how to access public transport through their Mobility Hubs Service. They are accredited by Driving Mobility who oversee 21 similar organisations nationally and 70 outreach facilities in England and Wales, ensuring consistent service and standards. Clients can self-refer or are directed from the DVLA, Motability, Police and healthcare professionals such as GPs and Occupational Therapists.

In March 2022, Herts Ability added a new high-tech wheelchair accessible vehicle to its fleet of adapted vehicles, which is now enabling more people with a limited range of movement in multiple limbs to drive safely. The vehicle features a Paravan Space Drive system, which means the brake, accelerator and steering wheel can be activated by driving aids controlled by microprocessors, transmitting signals in nanoseconds. There is also lightened power steering, push/pull hand controls, an Autoadapt wheelchair hoist and an electronically adjustable driver’s seat.

Kevin comments: “I attended Herts Ability’s Harlow Centre and the team were very welcoming. I was met by Sean Lawrence, CEO, and Sarah Wright, Occupational Therapist, who explained the assessment would include a discussion of my physical abilities, a cognitive screening, and then an in-car assessment on the road.”

“I was told that the new vehicle featured advanced technology but actually, if I’m honest, my expectations weren’t too high beforehand. However, I’m really pleased that I went. By the time my driving assessment began, the staff had a thorough understanding of my physical mobility so were able to make personalised recommendations. They suggested I trial driving controls using both arms to begin with, and this actually went ok. Then we tried the joystick control, which I also felt worked really well and this will probably be the way forward for me.”

“This hi-tech driving assessment was so useful and has given me a clear understanding of what new vehicle adaptations are out there. These have really progressed over the years, so it was definitely worth me going for another driving assessment. This time I can see a way forward. Herts Ability were excellent and have provided me with really useful information. I will need a lot of driving lessons, but I can now consider a Motability car and I know independent driving is a viable option.”

 

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