Richard Dutton, 65, from Bristol, recently attended the Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England), to assess fitness to drive, twelve years after a serious vehicle collision resulted in partial loss of vision.

The charity, Driving Mobility, is a network of sixteen independent organisations, many with satellite centres, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which offer professional, high quality information, advice and driving assessment to people who need to gain or retain independence through mobility. Driving assessments include checks of visual, cognitive, and physical abilities with all centres staffed by Occupational Therapists as well as Approved Driving Instructors. The Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England) provides passenger, driving and scooter assessments and enables people to stay independently mobile, in safety and comfort.

In 2006, Richard was involved in a head-on collision with a motorist travelling in the opposite direction, who was overtaking six cars simultaneously. The impact was so severe that Richard spent the following month in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxfordshire. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by the force of the sudden head-on impact resulted in Homonymous hemianopia – a visual field loss on the same side of both eyes. It is often seen as a result of strokes and traumatic brain injuries due to the way vision is represented in the brain.

Richard underwent a standard eye test, the binocular Esterman visual field test, used by the DVLA to assess if people are fit to drive, and his right-hand side vision was graded as being lower than the acceptable benchmark.

Mr Dutton comments: “The day of the crash, I was on my way to work. A trained jazz musician and performer, I was teaching music at Magdalen College School in Oxford and had also taught prison inmates for 15 years.  I simply could not escape the car coming towards me on the same side of the road. My injuries meant that I had to surrender my driving licence and as I was unable to transport music equipment in my car, unfortunately my professional career stopped at that point.”

In 2017, having relocated to Bristol, Richard decided to see if his driving could be assessed again. Accustomed by now to using public transport, he also felt that he had adapted to his altered vision and would like to see if he could regain his licence. The DVLA requested written support from medical professionals and his new GP contacted them. He also received support from a private neurologist in London, who was familiar with Richard’s eye condition and felt he was fulfilling DVLA criteria.

Richard comments: “The DVLA have now agreed to reconsider my case under Section 88 permission. They referred me for an initial assessment with the Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England), at the Vassall Centre in Bristol, who provide comprehensive assessments of ability to drive a vehicle safely. I had a meeting with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and an Occupational Therapist, who then accompanied me out in a car.”

Richard continues: “This is the first time I had driven in twelve years and I admit to being a little rusty on the gears and clutch! Mark and Helen were both incredibly supportive however. Afterwards, we spoke about things that had gone well and they also highlighted some areas of concern. The centre has now sent a report to the DVLA and recommended that I take a short course with an accredited driving instructor. The services offered by the Driving Mobility centres are so beneficial and I really hope people are made aware of them in the early stages of rehabilitation. I shall be returning for a second assessment and I am hopeful that as I will be familiar with driving by that stage, a clear picture of my abilities will emerge.”

#MyDrivingMobility

One Big Day on 11 August at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate provides the perfect opportunity to discover everything you need to know about worry-free motoring with Motability. There is a huge range of cars, adaptations, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, scooters and powered wheelchairs on display and what’s more, admission is free!

At One Big Day Harrogate specialist advice will be available from:

• Motability Scheme advisors
• Adaptation and WAV specialists
• Disabled Motoring UK
• Driving Mobility
• Kwikfit, RAC and RSA Motability

All Motability Scheme events bring everything available on the Motability Scheme together in great accessible locations, to make joining the Scheme as easy and informed as possible. They’re totally free and a great day out for all the family. At One Big Day, Harrogate there will be:

• A huge display of cars, WAVs, adaptations and scooters
• The opportunity to test drive adapted and non-adapted cars
• Motability Scheme advisors available to chat to
• Free parking, free tea, coffee or soft drink
• A children’s play area including a jumping castle and more

Find out more here: https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/

#MyDrivingMobility

Two of Driving Mobility’s main centres, Cornwall Mobility and Wessex Driveability, will be exhibiting at the One Big Day event at Exeter, so please do go and talk to them for any information or advice on gaining or retaining your independence through mobility.

What’s On At One Big Day, Exeter

One Big Day Exeter brings together everything available on the Motability Scheme to make joining the Scheme as easy as possible. It’s free to attend and a great day out for the whole family. There will be:

• Over 80 cars, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and adaptations on display
• The opportunity to test drive adapted and non-adapted cars
• Motability Scheme advisors available to chat to
• Free parking, free tea, coffee or soft drink
• A children’s play area including a bouncy castle and more…

Specialist Advice Available

At One Big Day Exeter specialist advice will be available from:

• Motability Scheme advisors
• Adaptation and WAV specialists
• Disabled Motoring UK
• Driving Mobility
• Kwikfit, RAC and RSA Motability

For more details please visit https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/exeter/display/

#MyDrivingMobility

Dr Mary Stevenson, 54 from Anglesey, has become a Trustee of The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service after its team ensured her driving freedom following a stroke.

The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service is a registered charity whose main office is based at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff.  The North Wales Centre is based at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire  The overall service is managed by the Director based in South Wales supported by Centre Managers in the north and south Mobility Centres. The charity is an accredited member of Driving Mobility which is an umbrella organisation made up of twenty member centres, many with satellite centres nationwide, which offer professional information, advice and driving assessments to people seeking independent mobility. All centres are staffed by Occupational Therapists as well as Approved Driving Instructors so that safety for drivers with injuries, disabilities or restricted mobility is maximised. As well as conducting assessments on behalf of the DVLA, Motability and health professionals such as Doctors, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, Driving Mobility also accept self-referrals.

During her rehabilitation, Mary employed the services of one of these centres so that she could learn to drive again and crucially, regain confidence on the road. Without the help and support of The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service, Mary’s driving freedom would have been lost forever.

Mary, who originates from Glasgow, was 37 and working as a hospital consultant specialising in Genitourinary Medicine and AIDS in Birmingham, when she was diagnosed with a giant brain aneurysm. As the aneurysm was acting like a tumour, there were recognised symptoms which allowed an operation to be scheduled. However, Mary was informed the surgery would be extremely difficult and inherent risks meant a low survival prognosis. Mary defied the odds to survive the operation but experienced a stroke in the process. She spent the next few weeks on ventilation before being moved to Hillcrest Hospital in Birmingham for three months of rehabilitation.

During this time Mary notified the DVLA of her change in circumstances, her driving ability was assessed by the hospital’s mobility centre and she had to return her license. Four years ago, Mary and her husband moved to Anglesey and she made a New Year’s Eve resolution to learn to drive again. An online search highlighted Driving Mobility and Mary contacted her nearest centre –  The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service.

Mary explains: “I had no idea what to expect but from the moment I arrived, the staff were very friendly and made everything so straightforward for me. They really held my hand throughout the whole process – from start to finish.  I was assessed by an Occupational Therapist to ascertain my abilities and driving requirements and then Gary Jones, the Centre Manager, accompanied me for a drive in an automatic car. As I can only use one hand, the car had a steering knob fitted with secondary controls so I could use all controls safely and independently. After a few hours, I left with a full plan of action advised by the centre.”

Mary comments: “Driving Mobility recommended an external driving instructor, who was a specialist in teaching people with disabilities, who helped me initially. Then Chris Jones became my new instructor, driving to my home to collect me for lessons. Around this time, my husband had a cardiac pacemaker fitted and couldn’t drive for a few months. I thought – what if neither of us were able to drive permanently and yet lived in a rural area? This really spurred me on and with Chris’ encouragement and support, I completed my final driving assessment in June 2017, allowing me to begin driving independently again.”

Mary now drives a Seat Ibiza with a steering knob and Lodgesons secondary controls. She is delighted to be behind the wheel once again and is continuing to gain confidence with ongoing support from Chris. She is also thrilled to have recently been invited to join the centre’s Board of Trustees and hopes her driving and medical experience can be helpful to other people in similar situations.

Mary concludes: “It can be very difficult to hear the news that you shouldn’t be driving. Knowing that facilities such as the Driving Mobility centres are available to assess people and to advise on matters such as driving adaptations and specialist tuition can be extremely helpful – to both doctors and members of the public. I am extremely thankful for the experience I have had with Driving Mobility. They have been absolutely brilliant. I hope through being on the Board of Trustees of The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service that I can support other people, in the way that Driving Mobility has supported me.”

#MyDrivingMobility

This year The Big Event is taking place at an exciting new venue, the NEC, Birmingham and Driving Mobility is delighted to be part of the new speaker sessions.

The Big Event – NEC, Birmingham – Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July 2018 – 9am to 4pm

Come along to this flagship event to see the UK’s largest display of vehicles for disabled people and discover everything you need to know about worry-free motoring and accessible driving with the Motability Scheme. It’s free to attend, with free parking and everyone’s welcome!

For the first time ever, The Big Event welcomes a range of expert speakers to its event line-up. Between 10am and 3.30pm, guests will be able to attend several talks to find out more about the Motability Scheme. The talks will include top tips for visiting a dealer, more information on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and adaptations, and guest speakers from Driving Mobility, DMUK and Transport Focus. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes and the speaker will be available after the talk to ask any questions you may have on a one to one basis.

You can hear from the Driving Mobility experts at midday on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July.

Driving Mobility is the national network of independent centres which deliver fitness to drive assessments with support from HM Government. They address all aspects of driving as well as passengers, transfer and specialist seating including for children. The network aims to bring the service to within a 30 mile or 1 hour journey of most of the UK population.

Description of the Driving Mobility talk – Hear about the support available.

For the full list of talks or for more information please visit: https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/the-big-event/speakers/

The charity Driving Mobility has successfully held its Annual Conference at The University of Chester for Professionals and Practitioners to share developments and ideas regarding accessible driving.

The event was attended by staff and managers from all nationwide assessment centres along with board members, educational specialists and guest speakers. The comprehensive agenda involved a variety of topical presentations and discussions focusing on developments within Driving Mobility and the accessible driving sector as a whole.

Strengthening Existing Services and Developing New Centres

Driving Mobility Chief Executive, Edward Trewhella, provided a compelling update regarding the charity’s business strategy and how it focuses on strengthening existing services and developing new centres. This presentation was followed by a series of speakers from within the organisation outlining current educational initiatives, operational standards and assessment training. The morning session came to a close once AGM formalities were completed and new board members were voted in – Alan Norton (Independent), Phil North (OT), Laura Holly (ADI), Ann Frye (Independent) and Anne O’Shea (OT/Cornwall Board).

External Speakers

The afternoon programme was equally as rewarding for all attendees. Driving Mobility welcomed a series of external speakers so that the latest developments and challenges within accessible driving and driver assessment could be highlighted. Guests included Owain Read from Motability; Jon Quinn from Research Institute for Disabled Consumers; Dr Paul Donaghy, Academic Clinical Lecturer, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University; and Kim Morgan, Assistant Director Specialist and Elective Services, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The final slot of the day involved a fascinating presentation from Ann Frye, recently appointed board member and highly experienced inclusive transport specialist. She outlined the latest initiatives in public transport accessibility and how individuals can remain independent if driving is no longer possible. Colin Barnett, Driving Mobility Chair, successfully summarised the day’s achievements and brought proceedings to a close.

Edward Trewhella concludes: “A really interesting day was had by all and it was really positive to see senior representation and participation from DVLA, Motability, DVSA and the Department for Transport.”