Special Needs Tests & Instruction

[Jonathan]

I'm looking for a bit of advice on behalf of my girlfriend, who has a mild form of Cerebral Palsy and failed her driving test last week because of a couple of errors she made during the independent driving part of the test.

I wasn't there so I can only go on what she's telling me, but although there are no problems with her eyesight (that she knows of - off to the opticians tomorrow to rule that out) she seems to have difficulty interpreting written direction signs quickly, so when asked to follow signs I think she must have gone off route and lost her nerve. According to the DSA the directions for the independent driving part of the test can be provided on a map if requested so it seems a bit odd to me that they've asked her to follow signs in the first place.

By the sounds of it the instructor was less than helpful, and insists that she has an eyesight problem which I suppose is understandable if they do not properly understand all the implications of her condition. By all accounts the rest of her test was fine and she's generally driving safely and competently. I think it's knocked her confidence a bit - we're wondering if there are any recommendations for instructors in the Surrey area who specialise in helping learners with disabilities and special needs if that's the best way to get to the bottom of this?

[martine]

My understanding of the independent driving part of the L-test is you are allowed to ask for directions again before you start AND during the independent drive itself. The examiner has to repeat the directions and you will not be penalised - what they are looking at is your ability to work out how to negotiate junctions and roundabouts safely and legally without it being spelt out to you as it is in the rest of the test.

If your girlfriend asks for directions to be repeated it's not a problem but she will accumulate driving errors on the examiner's marking sheet and ulitmately fail if she does anything unsafe or causes another driver to change speed or direction (as she would in the rest of the test).

I can't help you with recommendations for Surry instructors but hopefully someone else here might be able to help.

[vonhosen]

The examiner can do it by showing a diagram or asking you to follow direction signs. They'll have different routes requiring one or the other (They probably won't have diagrams for all test routes). As said you can ask to confirm directions before or during the independent bit without penalty & if you go off route it's not a failure either, they'll just try yo get you back on route. Of course if your driving deteriorates as a result of confidence loss (after going off route) then you are going to pick up what ever driving faults you commit.

[ROG]

Sit in with her next time if she allows you to

The instructor should already be sitting in so what do they say?

[Horse]

Try asking John Brown?

systems2people@yahoo.co.uk

www.drivingincludesu.co.uk

[fungus]

Try asking John Brown?

systems2people@yahoo.co.uk

http://www.drivingincludesu.co.uk

John is local to me, and although I don't know him personaly, is very highly regarded in ADI circles. He may well be able to help with a specialist instructor in your area.

As Martin said, you may ask for the directions to be repeated. That does not constitute an error, just as taking the wrong exit off a roundabout would not be marked as an error provided that the manoeuvre was executed correctly. ie. candidate asked to turn right, forth exit on a four exit roundabout, checks mirrors, signals right, moves into right hand lane which is for exit three and four, takes up the correct lane on the roundabout, checks mirrors correctly and signals correctly, but does all this for exit three, no error committed. Examiner finds another way back on to their route.

As our local test centre manager said when giving a talk on the independant driving ellement of the test. "they will have forgotten the instruction before they get to the end of the road."

[Jonathan]

Thanks - all very useful. I had not come across John Brown before and we'll certainly get in touch.

The instructor sat in on the test and from what I understand could only grumble at her for losing confidence and not disclosing an eyesight problem - which may well not exist anyway. She's put a lot of money and effort into getting as far as she has so what she really needs is someone more sympathetic towards her problems to put her back on track I think.

[zadocbrown]

Presumably she passed the eyesight test before going out (not that it's very demanding).

It's more likely that in splitting her attention to search for the correct directions she made other errors, such as failing to check mirrors adequately. This is exactly the kind of issue this part of the test is designed to pick up.

Not wanting to put too fine a point on it, I don't see why an eyesight problem should suddenly show up on test, having remained undetectable during lessons...

[Jonathan]

Presumably she passed the eyesight test before going out (not that it's very demanding).

I thought that too. Presume the test could not have continued otherwise, although she says even reading the registration plate took her a few moments. My understanding is that the problem is more to do with how the brain interprets what the eyes see, which is why direction signs are proving an issue.

[Horse]

Thanks - all very useful. I had not come across John Brown before and we'll certainly get in touch.

FWIW His first book is a good read for any instructor [I've not read the other two]

The instructor sat in on the test and from what I understand could only grumble at her for losing confidence and not disclosing an eyesight problem - which may well not exist anyway . . . what she really needs is someone more sympathetic towards her problems

TBH if that's what he did then he wasn't being either positive or professional. I'd have hoped for an instructor to be analysing the difficulties and formulating solutions.

[zadocbrown]

even reading the registration plate took her a few moments.

Examiners tend to start off at significantly over the prescribed distance, so if you find it tricky it doesn't necessarily mean you're verging on illegal.

My understanding is that the problem is more to do with how the brain interprets what the eyes see, which is why direction signs are proving an issue.

I'm not convinced that there is a specific problem, from what you say. It's not unusual for even experienced drivers to get into difficulty trying to find the way on an unfamiliar route. What exactly did she fail on? Have you seen the mark sheet?

[Jonathan]

I'm not convinced that there is a specific problem, from what you say.

It did occur to me that it might just be down to lack of practice on this specific part of the test and the added pressure of having to navigate and perform the driving task at the same time - perhaps it is to an extent - but even with me driving she's able to read direction signs quite a bit later than I would. An eye test has not shown up any problems there, just as we expected.

I have not seen the mark sheet yet, but the serious/dangerous errors were committed during that part of the test. I think she'd been expecting to be shown a map and not to have to follow any signs, so that threw her completely.

[Wessex]

Her instructor should have given her plenty of practice on Independent Driving. It is a relatively new element (04.10.2010) but has now been around long enough for every instructor to sit in and get first hand experience on how this element is conducted.

I don't wish to knock fellow instructors but was he really grumbling? I've only once torn a strip off a candidate and that was for refusing to correct a bay park even when the examiner invited him to. Rear wheel was over the line and he thought it was in the box. Too lazy to check the bullseye mirrors or even open the driver's door to check.