What the on road Driving Assessment entails

[SamB0267]

Last week I undertook an on road driving assessment following a referral from the DVLA (as part of the exceptional case criteria), I know before my assessment I had lots of questions about what to expect, so I hope to help anyone who finds themselves in the same position.

Firstly - the companies that run the assessments for the DVLA are usually charities that help and support disabled drivers to return safely to driving where possible - so they are on your side and are supportive. They were friendly and relaxed as they want you to do the best you can on the day. It is NOTHING like having a driving test. Ultimately they only need to be satisfied that you are safe to drive with whatever conditions/restrictions you have.

What to expect
There are 2 people involved - one for the driving side of things and a clinician. There’s a bit of admin at the beginning such as confirming your details and then they’ll ask you to tell them of your experience (in our case Stroke) and how it affected you and how it affects you now.
You will also discuss your driving history - how long have you been driving for and how long has it been since you’ve driven etc.
The clinician will then do some basic mobility checks such as putting arms out, turning hands over - if you can do the macarena dance movements these will not be difficult for you - but if you have mobility limitations they are likely to explore this further and establish if you need any adaptations.
There are 3 cognitive tests - which were again done in a relaxed supportive manner. I’m not sure I should say exactly what these are as they are to test your functioning, but following a trail of numbers or letters or both on a page is essentially what 2 of them are.
They will ask you if you want to drive a manual or an automatic car - if you chose automatic there’s a chance that if DVLA issue your licence you may only be allowed to drive automatic vehicles.
Up until this point probably took about an hour and was informal.

Then they will take you outside and firstly check you can read a registration at 20 metres. Then they’ll show you to the car. I said despite it being the hottest sunniest day of the year I would remove my sunglasses so they could see my eyes for mirror checks etc and they both said no, no, we want you to be comfortable, it is not like the driving test, we want you to drive normally, how you ordinarily would and be as comfortable and safe as possible.

You’re given time to manoeuvre the seat and mirrors etc. You’re then given time to drive a little bit around the centre car park area and once you’re happy, they will take you out onto the roads. You are then given about 10 minutes to drive round fairly quiet roads at which point they’ll ask you to pull over. They check you’re ok, ask if you want to make any further adjustments to mirrors/seats etc, take a swill of your drink etc and then you sign to say you are happy to start the assessment.

If my life depended on it, I don’t think I could tell you the route we took, but it’s the same route for everyone from that specific test centre and is chosen to expose you to all sorts of driving scenarios - different speeds, from 30 to dual carriageway / de-restricted, residential areas with parked cars, some busier areas with lane changes etc. There will be a section where they will want you to manage to drive and follow signs, so for me, they asked me to follow the signs to the City Centre until they told me not to. They also asked in one section to follow the road signs until they gave me further instruction (this included a no entry and a one way street). At one point, he said we want you to take the 4th road on the left (which was about 1/4 mile away as it turned out, so I think that was checking if I could retain instructions and drive). They did NOT ask me to demonstrate an emergency stop, but I had to brake fairly quickly when someone nearly pulled out on me (on my right hand side which was GREAT evidence that I was safe as it was the side of my sigh deficit). They may ask you to perform an emergency stop.

You can drive in silence if you need to concentrate, or you can chat away - whatever you prefer to do. The driving assessor gives really clear instructions. The drive takes around 45-50 minutes. At the end of the assessment, they may huddle to discuss your drive and then they will tell you whether they think you are safe or not and next steps.

In my case, the drive went really well, so they told me in the car straight away without conferring. They gave me really good feedback and said that would be included in the report they provide to the DVLA who will be in touch. I spoke to them earlier today, my assessment was on Friday and they sent the rpeort report to the DVLA on Monday.

How long the DVLA take now is anyone’s guess, but I hope the above is useful for someone who is offered an on road driving assessment with a Provisional Disability Assessment Licence.

It’s NOT like the driving test at all, try not to worry.
Best of luck.

[SamB0267]

I forgot to say, they retain your provisional disability assessment licence as that is only issued to allow refresher lessons with a driving instructor, once the assessment has taken place, that licence becomes invalid.

[Bobbi]

That’s an excellent summary of the assessment.
It very closely follows the one I did.
It doesn’t feel like a driving test and is just a demonstration of your driving ability.

I was encouraged in a modified vehicle to attempt to use non-modified controls.
I am right sided affected and wasn’t confident that I could comfortably and safely work break and accelerator they were happy to simply use modified accelerator in an automatic, but at least I was given the option to try. Similarly with steering I had a go but decided an attachment to the steering wheel was the best thing for me. I now drive an automatic with modified controls and am happy about that.

I had to wait for a vehicle and then for it to be modified but it was great when it was mine to take where ever I wanted. My first trips were short and local, eventually becoming more extended.

One thing I would add. Apply now for a blue badge. There are all sorts of benefits including being in a position to avoid the hosepipe ban.

[SamB0267]

Ah thanks Bobbi, glad it worked out for you in the end - the patience pays off eventually!

[Mrs5K]

@SamB0267 thanks for sharing that. Many people will benefit from reading it and I am will be reassured that they are there to help.

Glad your experience was a positive one and heres to not waiting too long for DVLA to get back to you.

[Bobbi]

When I took my assessment I hadn’t driven since stroke, almost three years. Obviously I had to familiarise myself with driving, a new vehicle, automatic as opposed to gear stick, controls in different positions, test in unfamiliar territory and so on, with two people watching you.

Sounds horrendous but I never even thought about it until later. The two who were with me were supportive, helpful even. It didn’t feel like a challenge, a test or anything like that.

It felt more like an opportunity to get behind the wheel again which I had really missed. It was a pleasure to be driving around again. Strange as it may seem I really enjoyed myself. I wasn’t showing off just having a good time.

They had explained that they weren’t there to get me off the road, more they were looking at how I could continue to drive.

You can sink so low after stroke and being given an opportunity to prove to yourself that you are capable in some way goes a long way towards coming to terms with it all, no matter how others see you.

[SamB0267]

My license was updated online this afternoon, that’s 2.5 weeks since successfully passing the driving assessment. I had my dream car delivered this morning…. I drove to surprise my Mum this evening… it’s been quite an emotional day!

Wishing everyone the best of luck with their driving assessments…

[Mrs5K]

Oh wow that’s fantastic. Here’s to some independence back again. I bet your mum was thrilled to see you.

[Bobbi]

@SamB0267

I’m pleased that you are another to successfully return to driving. Your family must be so pleased for you. Happy motoring.

Thanks for telling the story – lots will want to know what is involved.

[StephenW]

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​I have been asked to fix an appointment for a driving assessment at my local centre but there is no mention on the letter of how and when I get issued with a Provisional Disability Assessment Licence. I need this to undertake the on road assessment, as my licence was revoked for visual field reasons. Can anyone explain what happens next please? I know I have to return a form giving the time and date of my assessment appointment but it’s not at all clear what happens about the PDAL. All it would have needed was one more sentence of explanation in the covering letter! Thanks.

[SamB0267]

Hi Stephen,

Great that they’re offering you an assessment.

I found the DVLA letters very confusing and I always thought I was further along in the process than I actually was as there was so much too’ing and fro’ing.

They offered me an on road assessment, for which you have to fill in a form they send to say that yes you would like an assessment.

Then they sent another letter a few weeks later with details of the different assessment centres, I think I then had to fill in another form for DVLA to say which centre I preferred.

I think it was at this stage they sent the PDAL to me. That comes with a letter/notice which gives the restrictions of your PDAL (mine was any lessons/refreshers had to take place in a dual control vehicle). Then they sent a referral to my chosen assessment centre.

I then started to call the assessment centre but they said to allow 10 working days for them to receive and process the referral from DVLA.

There was another form to tell DVLA that I’d made contact with the centre and was awaiting a date (or to give the DVLA the date of the assessment).

Then the assessment centre rang me with a date which was quite soon, I wanted a few refresher lessons and I was going on holiday so offered me another date some weeks later.

I then rang DVLA to tell them the date and they updated their records.

(When I say I had to fill in a form, it was usually a yes or no tick box, something just to navigate their process-nothing arduous).

As I say, it’s a lot of too’ing and fro’ing. I used to be really on top of admin but I found it harder post stroke and I nearly missed returning a form within the time frame as I was waiting and just hadn’t realised there was a cut off-so just re-read everything to make sure you don’t miss any step in the process.

Hope that helps? Best of luck & hope your patience pays off.

S

[StephenW]

Sam: Thanks for this helpful response.

[Mountaingoat]

Has anyone been able to take refresher lessons and their driving assessment in their own cars. Being totally deaf since contacting Meningitis at the age of 10 while having good eyesight and no physical disabilities I am finding it difficult to drive fairly new assessment centre petrol cars while My car is a diesel Jeep Cherokee. I had no problem with my automatic motorhome before my stroke 3 years ago but have not driven it since.

[SamB0267]

Hi @Mountaingoat

The conditions of my refresher was the vehicle had to be dual control which limited me to driving a driving instructors car. At first I read the letter and thought it meant someone just had to be prepared to take control of the car (ie like a supervising passenger in the passenger seat) but it was more than that, it had to have a brake pedal fitted on the passenger side.

The assessment centre will provide a dual control car for the assessment (manual and automatic).

Sam

[mrfrederickson]

Great summary I have my assessment next Wednesday so your summary is great and has helped my nerves