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Ciara
31/10/2004
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Subject: Driving
Message:
Is it safe to learn to drive if you are dyspraxic/dyslexic?
I hope that this isn't a question that has already been asked a million times, but I have been brousing the net all night and haven't found any good assesment of the statistical risks of driving for a person with dyspraxia.
I'm 32 and never learned to drive before, mainly because of epilepsy that I had all my life, but I recieved the all clear a few years ago, and was told I could now drive if I wanted too.
I have made a few disasterous attempts since. Disasterous doesn't begin to describe it. I find it impossible to judge the distances between myself and other trafic on the road, or tell if a car is parked or moving untill I'm on top of it. I also found myslef moving the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the one I wanted too. I gave up in total frustration.
The problem now is that a) my partner finds it frustrating that I can't drive, as he constantly has to act as my chauffer.
b) I am also afraid that not learning to drive will adversly affect my career progression.
I would like to know if there is any information availible on the safety (or lack thereof) for people with dyslexia and dyspraxia learning to drive
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Sue
02/11/2004
| RE: Driving
Message:
Ciara, my daughter has dyspraxia and wanted to learn to drive, in the book "Living with Dyspraxia" from the Dyspraxia Foundation, it suggested going to MAVIS (Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service)(tel 01344 661066) for an assessment. We looked this up on the internet and emailed them, they sent application forms and we paid the £60 for an assessment. It was well worth the money. We went to Crowthorne where she had a chat and physical assessment of reflexes etc for almost an hour, then had an hour each driving three different vehicles on a private road system (she had a break for lunch in between and we were supplied with unlimited tea coffee and biscuits in the waiting room). After the driving assessment the assessor spent a further hour or so discussing the outcome and providing us with information re driving schools who cater for people who need adapted vehicles etc and a list of people who adapt vehicles. The advice was that foot pedals were not an option as she cannot tell where her feet are and kept hitting the brake and accelerator at the same time, an automatic car was also recommended.The assessor was not sure whether or not she would be able to learn to drive, but suggested trying a few lessons, then going back to MAVIS (at no extra charge) for further advice. She has done this, though we did have a challenge finding a driving school locally with adapted vehicle, we drive 30 miles and she has a two hour lesson each time, but it has been worth it. she has passed her theory and took her first practical test last week, didn't pass first time, but her instructor is happy with her progress.(She uses hand controls). We went back to MAVIS after the first few lessons and she had another couple of hours tuition on the private road system and on the local roads. So the £60 has funded 5 hours driving and almost 2 hours assessment and advice, a bargain compared to lessons at over £20 per hour. She has needed more lessons than the average learner, and practising in between wasn't possible until she bought her own car and had it adapted recently. Re the dyslexia, my daughter is not dyslexic, but I believe that it is possible to click on the questions in the theory test and the computer speaks the questions, if reading is an issue. Hope this helps.
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Sue
05/3/2005
| RE: Driving
Message:
Just to say that my daughter has passed her practical driving test a the second attempt and completed pass plus - she started driving to work this week, not the best week in view of the snow we've had, but she's now independently mobile.
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Marian
26/3/2005
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hi -
A message for Sue, just to say how heartening it is that your daughter learned to drive - I feel there's hope for my son who really wants to learn once he's old enough. I was afraid he wouldn't be able to, but now feel he might. Thank you, and congratulations to your daughter!
Marian
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Andrew Hatton
31/3/2005
| RE: Driving
Message:
I have driven for nearly 40 years and am dyspraxic. I know of several other dyspraxic adults who drive and of others who do not.
It all depends.
The problems I have are in following roadsigns particularly at roundabouts.
I sometimes forget what was on the sign at the entrance to the roundabout by the time I get to the exit and it is not unknown for me to go right round whilst I work out which exit I need. It is the short term memory problem that has always give me the most trouble with daily living.
So far I have not had a high speed accident and have travelled many miles. At one time my work involved driving 200 hundred or more miles on some days to unfamaliar places. I sometimes had bigger problems on local journeys where I went wrong on the first time I made the journey and repeated the mistake again and again. That seems to be where something got stuck in my memory, the opposite to a short term memory loss.
I have had several low speed accidents particularly manuovering in car parks and "forgetting" the location of one obstruction whilst manouvering around another one. Such as reversing into a low wall at the rear whilst carefully avoiding a parked car alongside.
The only time it might have been serious was when ten or more years ago I drove into the back of another car who was in a traffic queue ahead of me on as I joined the M25 at a roundabout. I was adjusting my radio and just drove into the back of the other car which only caused minor damage and with hindsight was probably connected with dyspraxia. I still tune my car radio as I drive but I have that image in my mind and hope it prevents a recurrence.
If he wants to drive encourage him, it can give a real encouragement to be able to go places alone. Get a good driving instructor. If you live in Sussex I can recommend one.
Ask the instructor about pass rate rather than just his/her cost. It costs more if you have to restart after failing test. I passed third time but it was b4 theory test.
You can get extra time with theory test for disabled people and possibly other adjustments.
Basically if a person is good enough to pass the test they are good enough to drive, and if lessons take place in a dual controlled car, there is nothing to lose by having driving lessons and much to gain.
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Amanda Kirby
14/4/2005
| RE: Driving
Message:
My son is 19years and learning to drive. He has had lots of lessons and we have taken him out for lots of practice- roundabouts are still a bit of an issue!
He passed his theory test easily and will take his test soon- he has learnt only on an automatic car and i would say this is definitely the best strategy
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Bryan
05/3/2006
| RE: Driving
Message:
I'm a driving instructor myself and have just had a pupil with dyspraxia pass first time in a manual car !
I'm afraid it just takes a litte longer with a bit more patience on both sides ,
It can get very frustrating at times especially for the pupil however just remember everyone makes mistakes NOBODYS perfect
He's now about to take pass plus ,
A word of advice when selecting an instructor get a recommendation if you just ring one of the larger driving schools they'll charge you a premium with no better service than an independant instructor,
All driving instructors are self employed the brand name means nothing
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kelly
17/7/2006
| RE: Driving
Message:
I'm 22 years old and have just found out that i have Dyspraxia. I had a few driving lessons when i was 17 but didn't like it as i couldn't tell how far i was to other cars on the road. I also couldn't judge distance and couldn't get to grips with the pedals. I thought it was because i was young and have left it this long to start again. Now i'm worried as i was going to start this week but feel that i'll have the same problems. Will i ever be able to drive and will i be a danger to myself and others? My short term memory is so bad and my directions are terrible. I can't read maps and i couldn't direct anybody to anywhere!
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jan
17/7/2006
| RE: Driving
Message:
I was the same. Although I was never diagnosed dyspraxic, my son has, and having read all the information realise that that was my problem. I had driving lessons at 17 and gave up because of not being able to judge distances, speed and my reactions were not good. I then tried again at 21 and although challenging, found that as I was more mature, I coped with it better. Do, however take time and expect to do more lesons. Try and find a sympathetic instructor and explain your difficulties to them. They should take you to somewhere easier to take your first lessons so that you can get used to driving the car before having to cope with any other cars on the road.
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sherie
18/7/2006
| RE: Driving
Message:
my son is now having assessments done for dyspraxia, but not yet diagnosed. i have all the same problems as him and feel that i have dyspraxia too. learning to drive was a total nightmare for me too, before lessons i was often sick through feeling so anxious. I found i couldn't judge roundabouts or if there was a parked car on my side of the road i had to wait for the traffic to clear on the other side before i would go round the car as i could not judge whether there was enough room for me to get past without hitting on coming traffic. i got there in the end and passed, but now drive an automatic as it allows me to concentrate on the road. i still take a little longer to pull out of junctions and roundabouts and will still wait for the traffic to clear if passing a parked car, but this does not matter as long as you are safe. parking is a nightmare, i have to have four spaces to be able to park, but this means you just leave a bit earlier to get parked! i can't do motorways as can't judge the speed of traffic. please keep trying to learn, once you have passed you become more experienced and find ways to help you judge things better. i also still find it dificult to know where i am going, but find if i get someone to go through the route with me on a map pointing out places along the way( certain shops garages etc) i find it easier to remember and just run through the route two or three times in your mind the night before, i still have to do this with journeys i have done several times!i feel sometimes that i am the safer driver because i have to take longer and drive slower. i love being able to drive though as it enables me to go out with friends, take my kids to parties and after school clubs, they realise it might take mum half an hour to park, but it doesn'nt matter because we get there in the end. good luck, happy driving!
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ellie seaton
08/1/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hi, I just wanted to say how encouraging it is to read all your messages. I am 26 and Dyslexic and because of this I have tried a couple of times to learn to drive an failed. The reason for this, I believe, is not the Dylexia but the lack of confidence in ones abilities it brings with it. But, I am going to try again and after reading all the messages on this page I am greatly encouraged. Like Jan said, perhaps if I can find a patient instructor it will make all the difference. :)
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John
23/1/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hi, I am a driving instructor, and I have taught a couple of pupils with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.
For the theory test, when you book the test, the booking office will ask if you have any special requirements. Tell them you are dyslexic, and they will arrange for you to have extra time for the questions, and the computer will read the questions to you over headphones. Quite a help for some of my pupils in the past.
As far as the driving lessons and test and Dyslexia, I have mainly found the problems to be telling the difference between left and right. A simple L and R written on the hand gives some of my pupils the confidence to sort that one out. However, if they do go the wrong way, even on test, then it is not a problem, providing they go the wrong way safely. As for reading road signs, if I know a pupil is dyslexic, then I try to tell them directions in a way I think they can understand, using hand-signs where appropriate. Getting a pupil to talk themselves through a roundabout, so they know where they are going also helps quite a lot too.
As for the Dyspraxia, I have only had two pupils with Dyspraxia. One girl passed second time, and has been driving for two years with no accidents. I have a current lad who I am gearing up for test. Whilst his dyspraxia does not seem quite as severe as some of the posts mentioned above, it does worry him somewhat, but we are getting there.
As an instructor, one of the main things I would urge anyone concerned is to explain to the instructor concerned that you have this problem. For my Dyspraxic girl, I didn't know until about 2 months into the lessons - I had never heard of Dyspraxia until then. Now she has explained to me how it affects her, we adjusted the lessons accordingly. To learn how to do the manoeuvres I let her watch me time and again. I even took a camcorder in and she filmed me doing a turn-in-the-road so she could watch it over and over between lessons.
I am very interested in the information regarding MAVIS and will be calling them tomorrow. I spoke to Swindon Dyslexics Association, who told me that Dyslexia / Dyspraxia is no barrier to learning to drive, but didn't give me any practical help in how to help potential pupils.
Long and short is that I am sure people can get through. Just a case of finding the right instructor (a good sense of humour helps too !) and taking time.
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John
23/1/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hi, I am a driving instructor, and I have taught a couple of pupils with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.
For the theory test, when you book the test, the booking office will ask if you have any special requirements. Tell them you are dyslexic, and they will arrange for you to have extra time for the questions, and the computer will read the questions to you over headphones. Quite a help for some of my pupils in the past.
As far as the driving lessons and test and Dyslexia, I have mainly found the problems to be telling the difference between left and right. A simple L and R written on the hand gives some of my pupils the confidence to sort that one out. However, if they do go the wrong way, even on test, then it is not a problem, providing they go the wrong way safely. As for reading road signs, if I know a pupil is dyslexic, then I try to tell them directions in a way I think they can understand, using hand-signs where appropriate. Getting a pupil to talk themselves through a roundabout, so they know where they are going also helps quite a lot too.
As for the Dyspraxia, I have only had two pupils with Dyspraxia. One girl passed second time, and has been driving for two years with no accidents. I have a current lad who I am gearing up for test. Whilst his dyspraxia does not seem quite as severe as some of the posts mentioned above, it does worry him somewhat, but we are getting there.
As an instructor, one of the main things I would urge anyone concerned is to explain to the instructor concerned that you have this problem. For my Dyspraxic girl, I didn't know until about 2 months into the lessons - I had never heard of Dyspraxia until then. Now she has explained to me how it affects her, we adjusted the lessons accordingly. To learn how to do the manoeuvres I let her watch me time and again. I even took a camcorder in and she filmed me doing a turn-in-the-road so she could watch it over and over between lessons.
I am very interested in the information regarding MAVIS and will be calling them tomorrow. I spoke to Swindon Dyslexics Association, who told me that Dyslexia / Dyspraxia is no barrier to learning to drive, but didn't give me any practical help in how to help potential pupils.
Long and short is that I am sure people can get through. Just a case of finding the right instructor (a good sense of humour helps too !) and taking time.
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Sparky
16/6/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say thanks for the wealth of encouraging stories to be found on this page. I've had a couple of gos with my dad in an automatic over recent months, but still find steering a huge problem (especially knowing which way to turn the steering wheel to reverse!). It makes me v. despondent sometimes, however, I'm aware that things do take longer with dyspraxia and am determined not to give up. The MAVIS info is a hugely encouraging insight; I'll certainly be getting in touch with them as a next step. We can all be such a great source of encouragement to one another, so let's keep using this messageboard to do just that! it's really cheered me up and got me to think on. Hope others feel the same.
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Sparky
16/6/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say thanks for the wealth of encouraging stories to be found on this page. I've had a couple of gos with my dad in an automatic over recent months, but still find steering a huge problem (especially knowing which way to turn the steering wheel to reverse!). It makes me v. despondent sometimes, however, I'm aware that things do take longer with dyspraxia and am determined not to give up. The MAVIS info is a hugely encouraging insight; I'll certainly be getting in touch with them as a next step. We can all be such a great source of encouragement to one another, so let's keep using this messageboard to do just that! it's really cheered me up and got me to think on. Hope others feel the same.
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Rachel Cross
14/11/2007
| RE: Driving
Message:
I am dyslexic and dyspraix. From my experences of learning to drive it is harder. Judging spaces for me is a nighmare and also trying to reverse. If you find a good instructour who can help and support you and you are determined then it can be done.
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