Disabled people's independence stalled by driving lessons wait
One of those affected is Chelsea Moon, 24, who has atypical osteogenesis imperfecta – a bone condition that stunts growth.At just over four feet tall, her additional needs mean she has waited a year for lessons."In a normal car I can't see out the windscreen very well, and I need specially adapted steering and braking."But I really want my independence, instead of relying on public transport." Her instructor Emma Hallett bemoaned the UK-wide lack of those, like her, who have specialist training. "It can be very rewarding, whether you're giving lessons to new learners or existing licence holders who've been taken off the road by an accident or medical incident," she said.
Having qualified as a disability driving instructor in 2015, Ms Hallett said the shortage had "always been an issue".However, as a part-time employee at Cornwall Motability in Exeter - an organisation helping disabled people tackle mobility challenges - she said that "measures are underway to address it".Ms Hallett added that the organisation has been given a grant by the Motability Foundation to set up a driving school with two adapted vehicles, which local driving instructors would be trained to use and take wherever needed.She said the pilot project is due for completion in 2027 before being rolled out across their other centres in Truro and Plymouth.
Mr Rogers said while interested in training, many instructors were either already "too busy" or put off by the cost of adapting their cars - a process which can cost "thousands, even with the discounted manufacturers prices available".In a statement, the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA) said it was "working hard to provide a level playing field for learner drivers with disabilities".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
All the changes considered in road safety overhaul
The UK government is planning a significant overhaul of road safety laws, with proposals expected to be published in the autumn as part of a new strategy. Key measures under consideration include reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath from 35, aligning it with Scotland and most of Europe. Ministers are also reportedly considering mandatory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70, with a driving ban for those who fail. Further proposals include tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and those failing to wear a seatbelt, and allowing police to use roadside saliva tests for drug-driving prosecutions. These reforms aim to address the persistently high number of road deaths and serious injuries in Britain, which saw 1,633 fatalities last year and cost the NHS over £2bn annually.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Michail Antonio gives update on his football future - just eight months after serious car crash that left him fearing for career
Michail Antonio has opened up on the next step he plans to take in his footballing career after leaving West Ham as a free agent - eight months after the forward was involved in a potentially life-altering car accident. The Jamaica international was driving through Epping Forest last December when he lost control of his Ferrari and crashed into a tree. The 35-year-old had to be cut loose by emergency services after being trapped in the wreckage for more than 45 minutes. After being taken hospital, Antonio learned that his leg was badly broken, with his femur shattering in four places. But after an impressive recovery that saw him training just four months after the collision, Antonio and his club took the decision not to extend his deal after the two parties were unable to agree on new terms. Antonio has been adamant that he wants to return to competitive top-flight action and continue his career, but remains without a club during this transfer window. The star has even pivoted to punditry roles, stepping onto the other side of the microphone during coverage of Sunday's Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace. However, during a recent interview, the forward revealed that there are plans afoot to change that, with Antonio sharing that a number of clubs had discussed offers with him. 'No, definitely not,' Antonio told talkSPORT when asked if he would be focusing on media duties full-time. 'I'm speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we'll just see how it goes. 'To be honest, there's a mixture, we're talking to clubs here, we're talking to clubs abroad, but I'm going to leave it very vague - talk to clubs in England and abroad.' Antonion added that it was his aim '100 per cent' to feature for his country at next year's 2026 World Cup in north America. 'That's one thing I've not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it.' But, Antonio continued, 'it's not just that, I just wouldn't want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally. 'So I've got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last 10 years. 'Even before I did the car crash, I was starting for West Ham, so it shows I've still got that ability about me and I can do it again.' A squad veteran, Antonio was a lynchpin in the dressing room and on the pitch for the Hammers, playing a key role in their winning of the inaugural Europa Conference League title. Antonio leaves West Ham having made 323 appearances for the east London side since joining 10 years ago. During that time, the player scored 83 goals and registered a further 43 assists for the Hammers. Should Antonio make it to the World Cup at the end of this season, he could play alongside former England starlet Mason Greenwood. The ex-Manchester United star is believed to have acquired a Jamaican passport amid the process of possibly switching allegiances to the Reggae Boyz. Greenwood was told his playing for England again was 'not a consideration' by former manager Gareth Southgate, following his 18-month hiatus from club football after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour in January 2022. Charges against Greenwood were dropped by Crown Prosecution Services in February 2023, but after a six-month internal investigation carried out by United, it was agreed between both parties that he would never feature for his boyhood club again. Greenwood now plays for Ligue 1 side Marseille.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Hugh Grant allows excited passerby to start his £925k Ferrari in Mayfair... as fans laud the 'jolly old fella' for the sweet exchange
Hugh Grant delighted a fan earlier this week, when he let the passerby press a button to start his £925k ($1.2m) Ferrari F12tdf. The Notting Hill star, 64, looked suave as ever in a clip shared on TikTok, in which the fan leant into the car to press the button that starts the supercar, which is described as 'a high-performance, track-focused variant of the F12berlinetta'. Opting for a sleek silver colour in his choice of vehicle, Hugh, whose net worth sits at an estimated £111m ($150m), was more than happy to indulge the fan. The sweet exchange occured outside the Bluerider art gallery in Mayfair. In the video shared on the site, the user shared the caption: 'I started hugh grants f12 tdf . #hughgrant #ferrari #f12tdf #supercar #london'. TikTok users flooded the comments section of the video, writing: 'Never seen a single clip where I've not liked the guy... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around... TikTok users flooded the comments section of the video, writing: 'Never seen a single clip where I've not liked the guy... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around' 'He's normally a bit blunt with people so letting you start it is really nice of him!... Class act what a nice person... obsessed that Hugh Grant has become a somewhat jolly old fella in this elderly age'. The sighting comes shortly after Hugh condemned schools for indulging pupils' screen addictions - as the actor called for laptops and tablets to be barred from classrooms. The Hollywood star and father-of-five made the call at a campaigning event at a school in west London, as he also criticised education chiefs for restrictions on children playing outside. Notting Hill and Four Weddings And A Funeral star Hugh accused schools of making 'pathetic' calls on what their students were allowed to do. And he described himself as 'another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen'. He took part in the move organised by group Close Screens, Open Minds - appearing alongside US psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt as well as actress Sophie Winkleman who is wed to King Charles's second cousin Lord Frederick Windsor. The event took place at Knightsbridge School in west London, a nearby district to Kensington where Grant has previously owned homes including a penthouse that was advertised for sale for almost £8million in 2021. Some 98 per cent of teachers now use technology in classrooms across primary and secondary schools Grant, who has been married since 2018 to Swedish TV producer Anna Eberstein, lambasted classroom Chromebooks for pupils as 'the last f***ing thing they need'.
