Driving Centre
Our Driving Centre offers driving ability assessments to people with disabilities to ascertain which type of vehicle would best suit them and to determine if they would benefit from any adaptations to the vehicle, in order to drive safely. We also offer assessments to those who are concerned about whether they have the cognitive ability to drive in safety, perhaps following a head injury or Stroke. The Centre has achieved full accreditation as a member of the Forum of Mobility Centres.
We have eight dual-controlled vehicles, some of which are specially adapted. The adaptations include hand controls, lightened power steering, left foot accelerator pedal and remote controls that enable people with the use of only one arm to steer and operate the secondary controls such as the indicators etc..
The Centres Department Manager is David Wooder and he is joined by Senior Assessor Matt Miller and Driving Assessors Sean Lawrence and Darren Pratt. We are also very proud to have a team of three Professional Occupational Therapists who have many years of experience. As a team they have a large variety of specialist skills and knowledge working in physical, cognitive and behavioural disciplines.
Contact The Driving Centre Team on 01707 384263 or by filling out our Contact Form.
Driving Assessment
If you are looking to gain greater independence, freedom and choice, we can help you.
If you are considering learning to drive for the first time or returning to driving following a break or even if you’re currently driving but are experiencing difficulty, we can help you take the first step in becoming a safe and reliable driver and to gaining or re-gaining your independence.
We provide driving assessments with our team of experienced and professional driving instructors/assessors both here in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
If you have a physical disability, the assessment will help you to ascertain which type of vehicle will suit you best and which adaptations will enable you to control the vehicle safely.
Alternatively, if you have a medical condition, or perhaps have had a head injury, which may cause cognitive difficulties such as slowed reactions, memory loss or problems with concentration, our assessment will determine whether you have the ability to continue or return to driving in safety.
Following your assessment, you will receive a written report containing our recommendations and advice, which will be recognised by other mobility organisations such as Motability and the DVLA.
Pricing
We subsidise the cost of driving assessments for those clients who refer themselves. Our current fee for a full driving assessment is £90 + VAT*. We will subsidise this further to £60 + VAT* if you are referred to us by a healthcare professional. You can download a copy of our referral form by clicking the link below, or contact us for more details.
DRIVING ASSESSMENT REFERRAL_FORM.pdf
If you are a professional body such as a case management or insurance company, please contact us for our fees and details of our service.
*If you have a long term medical condition, you may be exempt from paying VAT.
Related News: "Guy flew from Inverness to have driving assessment!"
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Transfer Assessment
We can help you with advice and assessment on products that can make it easier for you to get in and out of your car. For example, this ‘Autoadapt’ ‘Turnout’ seat can make transferring from a wheelchair easier.
This ‘Kivi’ ‘Thigh Raiser’ gently raises you until you are in a near standing position or until you stop it.
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Scooter Assessment
We can offer you advice and assessment on choosing the correct and most suitable mobility scooter to suit your needs. We have a range of class one, two and three scooters that you can try out at our centre, where we can also provide training in safe scooter driving. We also offer advice on DVLA registration, insurance, storage, servicing. We can provide you with all the help you need to remain mobile and independent!
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Tuition
We can provide tuition for you if you require adaptations to your vehicle in order to drive it safely.
We have automatic transmission vehicles fitted with a variety of adaptations including 'push-pull' hand controls, left foot accelerator, steering wheel control pads to operate controls such as the indicator signals. We also have a vehicle fitted with a steering wheel mounted accelerator ring and extra light power steering.
All our vehicles have dual controls fitted for your safety and our Approved Driving Instructors have many years experience in teaching people with disabilities to become safe drivers and pass their driving test.
We can also provide tuition for experienced drivers who require familiarisation lessons with new controls following a driving assessment.
Driving lessons can be provided in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, Hertfordshire area.
Please contact us for more information and take the first step to becoming a safe, reliable and independent driver.
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Contact Us
Contact The Driving Centre Team on 01707 384263 or by filling out our Contact Form.
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FAQs
“Can I take a driving assessment in my own car?”
Unfortunately, some of the clients we see are not suitable for driving, and make serious mistakes whilst on the road. We therefore only use our own, dual-controlled vehicles for the assessment. We have a range of vehicles available, including manual and automatic transmission, and vehicles adapted to help you overcome a disability; for example fitted with hand controls to control acceleration and braking, or a left foot accelerator pedal. We will not expect a perfect drive during the assessment, and you will be given as much time as you want to familiarise yourself with the vehicle and the controls.
“Do you fit vehicle adaptations?”
No, but we can give you details of local, Motability Approved installers.
“Can you provide food while we wait for our relative who’s having a driving assessment?”
No, but we do have a patio area where you can eat your own food, weather permitting, and a microwave oven that you can use to heat pre-prepared food of your own. We can, of course, provide hot and cold drinks whilst you wait.
“Do you provide driving lessons?”
We can provide tuition to novice drivers who are learning to drive for the first time, or experienced drivers who require familiarisation lessons using new controls. There may be a waiting time to provide lessons, but all Instructors are Driving Standards Agency approved, and specialise in teaching people with disabilities.
“Do I have to live in Hertfordshire to have an assessment?”
No – we welcome referrals from all areas. Our farthest travelling client to date, was a man who travelled from Inverness for a driving assessment and who is now back on the road, enjoying his independence again. We also have an office at the Disability Resource Centre in Dunstable where we can provide assessments for those clients travelling from the Beds./Bucks./Northants. area.
“How do I Join the Motability Scheme?”
Anyone aged 3 or over who currently receives either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and has at least 12 months’ award remaining, is eligible to lease a car from Motability.
This includes a parent/guardian who can order a car on behalf of a child aged 3 or over who is receiving the HRMC of the DLA and non-drivers who can name up to 2 other drivers.
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Links
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