Hi I had about 10 hours of tuition from a specialist disabled driving instructor,all in London where I live in NW1 where it is mainly 20mph limits and 30 mph on main roads.
I had not driven for 10 years and had little or no practice on 70 mph roads so on my assessment was a little hesitant .I did drive at 70 mph on a section of trunk road near the M25.
Where I felt most rusty was on 60 mph roads and I gave my instructor that feedback that I would have benefited from longer 3-4 hour lessons that enabled me to drive on more suburban and country roads rather than central London.Not a criticism of the instructor but as to what you can do in a one hour lesson in central London ( I live in NW1 )
Best wishes and good luck
@tony_cave as someone who lived in London and drove in London to work I would say a lot of people would find it a challenge for sure. Your right there is only so much you can cover in a 1 hour lesson. I now live very rural so transport is very poor so being able to drive would be very helpful, best wishes
Member of my support group very keen to get back to driving but leaving off having the test, for a while, hoping there might be some improvements in her vision. She said you can have only one test after a stroke . True or false ? Sheās putting off having test for this reason
I have been told by an assessment centre you only get one chance to do the assessment so you need to be the best you can be. But then I spoke to a stroke doctor recently and they said, In the assessment If all is ok they issue a full driving licence. If they feel it was ok but you need more practice they will allow a retest. If dangerous and they felt you were a danger and had not adapted at all then they would revoke the licence and its difficult to get a second assessment after this (but not impossible, you just need to prove you had adapted further). Itās alot of pressure. If anyoneās had a second attempt Iād be interested to know
I was informed last night that next year the dvla are reviewing their list of visual issues and hemiopia may be changing maybe even removing it so watch this space
Also I find my peripheral vision is vastly better in the morning after a good night sleep.
Hi Elle Iām no clearer than you I asked my wife and her view based on the way it read was hemopia was coming off the list of specific conditions but I will wait to read the final version in 2024
I am in the same situation. Itās really hard. I was born with a congenital disability so have always used a wheelchair, but worked hard to have an adapted car and have driven my whole life as it gives you such independence. My stroke has left me with left homonymous hemanopia and i have just had the dvla letter telling me following the test I am definitely not allowed to drive. It affects everything, work, life, friendships. Accessible transport is pretty poor where I live so trying hard to find some positives. Think the only one so far is in the cold dark nights I have been able to say to people if they want to meet up they have to come to me now!
@Smurf13 hi & welcome to the forum. Really sorry to read of your sight issues. It really does take away a lot of your independence when they tell you yiu canāt drive. Have you been told that your vision could improve? If so you might get your licence back one dayā¦no help for now though I know.
Maybe a couple of others are that you wonāt have any car maintenance costs? No insurance costs? Maybe a little windfall cash from selling the car? You should also fully qualify for the most highest level of PIP - and if they donāt award it to you I havenāt awarded it then you should appeal .
I see youve been on the forum for quite some months <but this is your first post) so Iāll say welcome to the community of post authors rather than just a broad welcome Ciao
Simon
Thanks Anne and Simon, Yes first post. been reading for a while but has taken me a while to process / accept my diagnosis and different life. Was really hoping DVLA assessment would be different, but felt like it has bought a finality to the processā¦ Been a tough year, but appreciate it could have been worse. Thank you for your support and kindness.
Welcome Smurf13, Iām same as you, vision loss on left side but enough to get by . Out in sticks , rural bus service just about adequate. Unlike you can get to bus stop under my own power, cross the road like slug with hearing aid , remembering Highway Code
Look left, look left again and beware of silent electric cars that take you by suprise. As Simon said, look at the advantages. My trip to the optometrist fresh out of hospital let me know it was unlikely I drive again, but he then said ā Iām not saying itās impossible. So letās live in hope. . Paul
Yes Paul I have had visual field tests year on year and have recorded improvement in scores not enough yet to drive but improving thatās the point of an annual assessment.
Using eye exercises and vision therapy software on my iPad
Same luck to you Fella. To be honest now , have accepted the fact, But Iād have to be a 100% certain if something dramatic happened. Could survive by myself using poor bus service but my wonderful Wife more than makes up for the disappointment. But sheās taken to driving my old van when we go out wooding for our woodstove. So I do have a bit of fun. Paul
Thanks Paul I too am fully reliant on my long suffering wife who does the driving now
As I am still not recovered enough to walk to the bus or train Iām a passenger now and bar a miracle will remain that way. The incidence of recovery is rare and or long but you never know.
been reading for a while but has taken me a while to process / accept my diagnosis and different life. Was really hoping DVLA assessment would be different, but felt like it has bought a finality to the processā¦ Been a tough year, but appreciate it could have been worse. Thank you for your support and kindness.
. Paul