I’m having my first driving lesson on Saturday afternoon in preparation for my assessment in November. I’m keen to know how I will be in a n adapted car after a five year break post my stroke.
Having being deemed as medically sound eyesight wise to take the assessment the lessons are to help me re engage with driving again.
I’m nervous but determined. There’s still forty years of experience locked in my skull so I need to unlock it and get back to driving.
It will help my independence enormously if I can crack it.
Good luck, Mark, though I am sure you won’t need it. You’ve been driving for years so it isn’t like you need to start from scratch.
I have to drive an automatic and used to like having a joy stick but have got used to the change and am okay with it. My pedal position is changed but that wasn’t hard to accept either. I have a mushroom thing on my steering wheel, it lets me operate lights, horn, indicators and again its easy to pick up.
The hardest part is confidence and feeling up to the job but after a few trips out that will return.
I started taking the car out locally where there was little traffic and at quiet times of the day.
Soon I was enjoying being behind the wheel again. Taking Hilary to the supermarket to do some shopping, going for a little run to the coast, having a short spin on the motorway.
As far as the assessment was concerned I found the two ‘examiners’ helpful, encouraging and supportive. It was obvious they wanted one to succeed though they did warn that if I wasn’t fit to drive they couldn’t pass me.
You have been through a life changing event. Driving will be a life changing event for the better.
I hope you have some fun and will soon be driving your partner to a local eatery for a celebratory meal.
(while I remember start now to apply for a blue badge if you haven’t got one.)
Best wishes Mark and get some photos taken !! These will be memories you will cherish.
To begin with Hilary accompanied me but recently I had an adventure to the supermarket alone. I parked up got my scooter out of the boot and went in bought a loaf of bread and proudly returned home. Silly simple thing but I was made up.
Thanks Bobbi I appreciate the encouragement I’m looking forward to the lesson as it can put some doubts to rest and get me back in the game again as driving is independent living and closer to my old self.
As you say I can take my wife shopping and go for a pub lunch rather than being chauffeur driven every place.
Good luck Mark, you will be fine I am sure. Your confidence will soon return. I found adapting to an automatic easier than I thought it would be…it helps that my leg won’t move on its own so it isn’t tempted to press pedals that aren’t there.
Here’s to you getting back to driving & being able to gain a bit more independence back.
Thanks Tony but alas I’m being delayed until Monday afternoon so nothing happening today,
I had to get an electronic version of my license from the government site and call DVLA to confirm it was okay to drive under section 88 of the RTA.
Perhaps il have more news on Monday evening but for now I wait.
Preparing for tomorrow afternoon and the lesson assuming there are no more delays.
The license issue of section 88 uses after surrendering the license and before the assessment is complete. Oh joy.
I’ve completed my first of five lessons today including reversing back into my driveway
/im struggling with my over working right arm and using the steering ball to steer the car is not easy or natural but looking forward to my second lesson on Friday. I hope my arm is up to it
Yes and no with great joy comes great pain and suffering,
Let me explain, the right arm is flagging after five years of continuous use.
The driving position is not comfortable nor is holding it at the angle that is required to steer the car. No left arm to balance my car position on the road and leads to me hogging the white line as opposed to to veering to the left curb. I find it most challenging adopting this new way of driving ahead of the assessment in November, which is quickly looking like a shit show if I cannot get this mastered in short time
