Independent driving and dyslexia

In the UK the DSA (driving standards agency) and DVLA work closely with charities to ensure that all would-be learners are not discriminated against regardless of disabilities, age, sex etc. The UK prides itself on helping people with disabilities or conditions that may prevent them from driving to find an alternative. For example if you have lost a limb or have no use your legs, you can get a specially adapted car that allows you to control it using your hands or other body parts. All learner drivers with a disability or medical condition will need an assessment on whether or not it is safe to drive but in most cases, adaptations and special requests can be taken into consideration.

Now that it is official that Independent Driving will commence at the beginning of October, the British Dyslexia Association has voiced concerns on whether it will be fair to those who suffer from this debilitating memory condition. Dyslexia is a condition where the sufferer has a weaker memory than the average person and the process to remember instructions given will be harder to remember. In the UK 15% of the population suffer from this condition making it more common than you may think, 4% may be seriously affected by this meaning 7 million people may have a severe form of dyslexia.

As well as suffering from the inability to remember instruction people with dyslexia may also have the following problems:

• Finding it hard to identify left from right
• Easily distracted
• Slower at processing information from the brain
• Inability to focus

The DSA has ensured The British Dyslexia Association that they are qualified and specially trained at helping all learners pass the driving test. There is no reason why a person suffering from dyslexia should not be able to learn how to drive and pass the test and go on to become a successful and independent driver. Driving instructors will now have to find alternate ways of teaching pupils who suffer from dyslexia as some may find illustrated diagrams easier to understand than verbal instruction.

The same will apply to the Independent Driving part of the test, examiners will rephrase questions to make them easier to process and include hints and tips in the direction, such as:

• Making left and right easier to identify by using ‘your side and my side’
• Giving no more than two set of instruction at one time
• Using points of interest as landmarks such as a petrol station, cinema or park
• Showing diagrams on a clear neutral background to reduce distraction

Remember examiners are here to assess a person’s ability to drive safely and not to see if they can remember directions given to them. As long as you can show you are a competent driver who is able to drive without distraction or much guidance you will pass.