partner had TBI a year ago>recovery going well bu... - Headway
partner had TBI a year ago>recovery going well but he wants to try driving again,( he stopped voluntary How does he go about it?
I can't answer from experience, but it might be worthwhile him having some lessons with an instructor experienced in teaching disabled/people with special needs to make sure he's fit to drive again. There might be hidden difficulties that aren't known about until he gets behind the wheel again and it's important to find out if any exist.
I was assessed and tested by Astly Ainsley. They specialise in head injuries i think, probably wrong.... Any way they test vision, reaction speed, peripheral vision and things on a simulator and then if you pass these tests you can get into the car. It was them who told me that i wasnt safe to drive, that i was invalidation my licence because of double vision. This was after i wrote a car off after my injury accident. My ABI specialist went a bit mental when he found out because he wasnt aware that i was driving. I dont remember anyone telling me i couldnt, so i did it when i felt ready. You are supposed to inform DVLA and they ask questions, maybe a form to fill in, You should also inform the insurance company.
Not sure if this helps much. I got my eyes fixed as best they could and was given a patch to wear when i drive, although this affects my distance perception. I dont drive in low light, i dont drive in snow at night and i dont drive in heavy rain because i cant control my eye whee it looks. I also have to not drive if i am feeling tired which means sometimes i need a lift home.
Hi, my husband had a TBI 2 years ago and he informed the dvla and he had to apply for his licence 1year post injury again. He had to get neuro rehab consultant and GP to confirm to dvla and he was sent his licence. Before going out alone I booked him driving lessons in a dual controlled car and he attended a centre for driving with disabilities and they assessed him physically and cognitively and okayed him to drive. This process also gave me confidence too. A stressful process for the family but worth it when a small part of independence can be regained.
Bad news for us is that he suffered a seizure 2 weeks ago.....completely out of the blue but thankfully not when driving! So no further driving until seizure free for one year. I plan to post a blog about what happened soon.....
Good luck x
Many thanks-No one actually said "don't drive again", but just realised you are supposed to tell the dvla yourself! it was just his neurologist mentioned about taking a test again??I have been a bit too protective and get scared of him doing anything so maybe it will do him good (but then i will worry about him driving anywhere! guess it will be like having the third teenage son!) The seizure bit worries me because i know that after a TBI it is a possibility but then you think we have had so much bad luck that cant possibly happen-but as we all aware everyone on this website knows different!!
thanks everyone for the info-very informative (we were very blinkered!)
Danslatete , not being funny but the post you have written here i think you should give up driving .. your a risk to yourself and other road users and id hate to be responsible for causing an accident .. get someone else to drive if you need to
i am intrigued as to your view as to why i should give up driving as you state that i am a risk to myself and others? My point was that after my husbands accident that resulted in his injuries (TBI , broken bones etc, 2 months in intensive care) as a result of a drunken boy racer!, i have become protective with regard to road accidents and having two teenage sons who drive I try to install in them the dangers of safe driving and the impact. hence I want to make sure that my husband is completely fit to drive again and appreciate the sensible advice that is given in the replies. I am also sure that many forum members are concerned when their partner returns back to driving after involved in near fatal RTA!
The people from the driving centre refused my licence for over 2 years. I was restricted after that. Now i drive but am aware of my limitations. I have written off 3 cars since my head injury. Someone drove into me at an island and broke the rear axel in half aswell as bending in the doors, it was written off because of the bend in the car. Then the next one was when the engine blew up due to fault and lastly before christmas this year i slid on ice into a rather large jeep, it made a small dent in his door and wrote off the front end of mt car and it cost more than car worth to fix it.
I live in a rural area that is not serviced by public transport on more than two days a week. I was very isolated untill i got my licence back. I drove with my mum and my dad (before he got ill and passed away) It was a long process and i am happy with my ability.
is quie simple if ime consuming i contaced he dvla who gave me conac details for local assessment cenres and tutors who are par of the nhs 6 lessons an assessmen no a test no pracical and job done motabiliy lease a car a huge selecfion to choose from bu a deposi is needed if you can afford he deposi motabiliy do have a grans division
I had my TBI in 2005. I am now officially 'blind', as, when looking straight forwards, I see nothing to my right. If I look to my right, I can see there, fine, but I most definitely can't see well enough to drive! I think I still have my license, somewhere (I don't think I had to hand it in) but I most certainly am not safe to drive, now.
Luckily, I don't *need* to drive - there are shops and schools within walking distance, and I always got the train to work, before my accident. It's sometimes a pain, not being able to drive, but hey, I figure I was lucky to survived my TBI. I can cope with not being able to drive anymore!
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