Driving and brain injury

What's peoples experiences with driving and BI ? I drove for years until 3 years ago. My car was my love but I had it repossessed due to not being able to manage finances for more than a day and cant understand information from official bodies. I tried so hard to to stay on track with it all but just couldnt.

[Marnie22]

Hi. I desperately needed to continue driving after my ABI due to a big negative change in my personal mobility from the injury. I carried on with my old car, (which was on its last legs,) having had all the appropriate assessments and evaluations via the DVLA. I had to stop working after my ABI, but fortunately I have been able to keep driving so far because I get the higher rate of Personal Independence Payments and that means that I can have a Motability car. Like you, I can't manage all the paperwork etc. now, but with Motability, it's all taken care of for you. I was wondering if any of this could help you?

[Hidden in reply to Marnie22]

I'm awaiting my decision from Pip I'm 12 weeks in to my claim and I've not been asked for an assessment this time. I tried to claim pip in 2019 on my own with no support and it were very traumatic for me because of my tbi it's taken many stressful conversations with my sons since then for me to apply again my family and I requested I dont attended another f2f as I cant do 1 and I havent heard anything back my claim form this time has the supporting evidence and statements from loved ones who live and support me. I keep saying to myself no news is good news. I took me so long to put it all together I just hope and pray I've done enough. Thankyou so much for this 👍👍👍

[Marnie22 in reply to Hidden]

Just to mention that the charity Scope is really good with advising people on PIP claims and appeals etc. They helped me a lot. Because they deal with people with all types of difficulties they are very understanding and after I initially explained about my brain injury and my problems with telephone calls, they were very helpful. I even got to speak to the same person each time. Their number is 0808 800 3333. Their website is good too. If you ever have to see anyone face to face for PIP, you might find it helpful to get an advocate. I found it very good to have someone with me especially as they do this type of thing a lot and know about the whole system. It also means that you have a witness. You can find advocacy services by Googling the term and adding the name of your area or put, 'near me,' in the search box. There will be lots of advocacy services, but every area has an advocacy service that is paid by the local council to provide free services to local people who qualify under certain conditions. I qualified under mental health support.

Best wishes. I really hope you have no problems with PIP.

[Hidden in reply to Marnie22]

Thankyou for your insight into pip it's very much appreciated. My 1st attempt claiming pip I tried to use Citizens Advice as just that but they failed to fill in my form properly and rushed it in resulting in 0 after the horrendous f2f. This time I've managed to tell my story of my 37 year struggles with tbi I'm hopeful this time now I've done enough with support from my family to get me over the line with pip...the not knowing the outcome is torture but the disicion will come at somepoint thanks again for yor comments👍👍👍

[Marnie22 in reply to Hidden]

Best of luck. 👍

[Browns12 in reply to Hidden]

Hi stammers 1 waiting for my husbands pip also 3 months now, it would be helpful if they sent a message to say not long now ha ha, I just hope after all this time they don't say no

[Hidden in reply to Browns12]

Hi thankyou for comment regarding pip the waiting for the decision and not knowing the outcome is torture even more so when I cant ring them anyway as I cant use a phone for myself. Best of luck to you and your husband regarding pip. As they say no news is good news 👍👍

[Juniorbhoy in reply to Hidden]

Hi just to let you know I applied for PIP for my husband who has a severe brain injury after being attacked. Applied in March and only heard this week from PIP he has been successful. It is a very long drawn out process and you do receive money backdated to the date you applied if award is granted. Good luck with your application xx

[Hidden in reply to Juniorbhoy]

Thankyou for your comment I have everything crossed for my own claim for pip..I've not heard owt since 6th September I've not been asked to attend a f2f either so I'm taking no news as good news. Congrats on winning yor pip..best wishes for the future👍👍

[Beachlovingkiwi]

Hi I find it really really draining and start yawning - my tired brain symptom after about 20mins when I’m driving . Even being a passenger takes its toll 😬 getting better but I’m 3 years from first and 2 years from second. I don’t know why but I find taking Panadol and nurofen together before long trips seems to help and stopping after an hour or so for a 15 min eyes closed break helps too.

[Hidden in reply to Beachlovingkiwi]

Thankyou for your comment I too suffer with fatigue after driving always have I always made sure I had a passenger too as it helped 👍

[Pairofboots]

Hi Stammer. Your injury is historic, I know from your previous posts that it does have current impacts, but you have been driving subsequent to your injury. Legally unless you have been told more recently by a medical professional, I doubt that you have cause to inform DVLA, and regardless to time, there are injuries that you would not be required to report.

If in more recent time you have had problems with finance, then this is more than likely unrelated to your ability to carry out driving. I would guess that you possibly already had the injury when you learnt to drive, and took your test.

[Hidden in reply to Pairofboots]

Thankyou for yor comment pal this is good to know as I've been worrying about it..my driving helped keep my mind focused until 3 years ago when it all went pear shaped I'm hopeful I will be back driving at somepoint in the future 👍

[Radelagun]

I'm thinking on driving after my brain injury. I suppose I'll need a test. Memory loss could be factor, I think.

[Hidden in reply to Radelagun]

Good luck with getting back driving after your BI 👍

[Futurecut]

Turn2Us are great with this sort of thing, check for local advisor.

[Hidden in reply to Futurecut]

Thankyou for your comment it's good to know👍

[paxo05]

Hi , i must admit i was glad to be able to drive again. Like has been said unlwss told not to drive their is little point in informing DVLA. Having said that , although many years ago, when they were informed of my injuries i did not have to surrender my licence rather voluntarily stop driving. I was told i would need to pass a medical driving test to continue.

If anyone has to take one of thesetest i would advise them not to be to worried.

It is a long test but only a test of your ability and capabilty.

Any habits picked up over the years are not considered unless extremely dangerous. Its also not a memory test. I forgot where we were heading until after the junction. I didnt panic just doubled back when safe.

At that point i thought i had failed but was told it was about how you respond to getting lost rather than getting lost.

I agree with understanding budgets and finance as it seems a foriegn language to me.

All the best ,

Pax

[Hidden in reply to paxo05]

Thankyou for your comment it's nice to know that I will be able to get back on the road in the future. My driving skills are on the ball it's the paperwork and other info I cant manage at all I drove for my job up until 3 years ago. I were ready to throw the towel in regarding my driving but reading these comments has restore my faith that i will drive again

[Painting-girl]

My neurologist and neuropsychiatrist supported me going back to driving when I felt up to it at the two and a bit years point, but hugely impressed on me that if I was fatigued after ten minutes driving I shouldn't be behind a wheel at all. The DVLA took a few months to process the form, but ok'd it. DVLA highlight that even if you have a licence, it's up to you to determine whether you are fit to drive each and every time you get behind the wheel - so driving with fatigue is definitely out.

I've been driving since last December and took it very cautiously at first. I love it, and am fairly comfortable now that my driving is about as bad as it's always been - i.e. no new glitches. But I noticed that when I slightly pushed the fatigue thing, that I did have a couple of ( small) near misses, so if I'm out, I need to be ready to either nap in the car till I'm ok, or to leave the car and come back to it later. I'm only using it on local roads at the moment.

I didn't hand in my licence, I just voluntarily stopped driving, and sent the application forms to DVLA when I wanted to restart. They then approached my doctors. My insurance company said that if the DVLA was happy then they had no issues.

[Hidden in reply to Painting-girl]

That's awesome news for you and well done to you. Losing my car because I cant understand paperwork has been the toughest time as it gave me FREEDOM which is something all us with BI know is so important in recovery. I miss my car so much but dont miss the paperwork. The finance package I took on with my last car was me making another attempt at being a normal person. It all went wrong very quickly due to my BI and not understanding paperwork. Reading these comments has given me a real sense of hope that I will once again in the future be back doing what I love the most.. driving and being free👍

[Painting-girl in reply to Hidden]

I find it really difficult to do paperwork now, despite years of habit doing it for my job. Three and a bit years on, it still gives me blinding headaches after very short spells, so I dread doing it, and put it off - not always a good plan!

So sorry you've had these difficulties, there were good suggestions for help with paperwork I saw on this thread though.

The upside of not driving ( though, as you say, the freedom is wonderful) is that though planning public transport takes much more effort initially (and Google maps is a total godsend for this) I am definitely not as fit this year as I was before I got reunited with my car.....

[Hidden in reply to Painting-girl]

I can relate to the headaches and tiredness regarding paperwork it's just too much for me it always has been. Driving helped me keep my mind focused. I cant use public transport anymore I tried and it's just too much for me to bare. My car gave me the ability to just up and go without seeing or speaking to anyone and was so good for me and not driving only adds to my despair..baby steps to greatness well hopefully..thankyou so much for this your comments along with everyone else has given me a real calmness. I will one day be back out driving for pleasure and not work thanks again 👍👍

[Rachel497]

Well I know how you feel. I have just posted a question re driving again as had an SAH in 2017, my family sold my car for me, however, the DVLA continue to give me back my driving licence. Don’t feel I’m quite ready yet, however, after 7 years , which is the time scale they give me for a full recovery, which, would be in 2024 I would like to think I’d be driving again.

Comments please.

Kind regards

Rachel Mitchell

[Hidden in reply to Rachel497]

I'm sure you will be back behind the wheel before long and only you will know when you are ready to drive again..best of luck with it moving forward👍

[FlowerPower62]

It amazes me that so many people with TBI s can drive! I think it's wonderful. My husband surrendered his licence after his nearly 3 years ago, and he won't even try and drive again, he lacks confidence. I so wish he would, as I think the independence would help him enormously. I just don't know how to go about it - does he need to apply for a new licence, and would that be a provisional one? If a test is needed, how do you get that? Do driving schools deal with this sort of thing, getting people driving again. In some ways his symptoms don't seem as severe as some people on here, and yet they can drive and he can't. Frustrating!

[Hidden in reply to FlowerPower62]

Confidence is a big one when driving..I hope I will be o.k with confidence once back at the wheel but my sons are guna be a passenger when starting back on the road..my tbi cost me my freedom once my car went back but hopefully I will be driving again in the future..best of luck 👍

[Marnie22 in reply to FlowerPower62]

The Headway helpline can advise on this: 0808 800 2244. Best wishes.

[FlowerPower62 in reply to Marnie22]

Thanks Marnie x

[Marnie22 in reply to FlowerPower62]

😊👍