Breaking Barriers: Tina’s Journey to Empowering Drivers with Disabilities in Northern Ireland

Tina, 55, from Groomsport, County Down, decided to join IAM RoadSmart following a recommendation. But it wasn’t until she bought a Porsche that she decided to sign up for an Advanced Driver course. She explains: “I understood that if I was going to drive a fast car, I should be able to drive it well. You don’t realise how powerful it can be.”

Tina’s hearing loss required adjustments to be made during the Advanced Driver course. She says: “As a lipreader, I can't take my eyes off the road to lipread an IAM RoadSmart Observer or Examiner, and I can't hear them when they're talking. So, we adapted the training; I would drive to a designated point, and we would stop to discuss skills, before continuing. The written observations were detailed, and I asked my Observer plenty of questions until I fully understood the improvements I needed to make.”

Despite being nervous, Tina says she passed with flying colours. She said: “My observer was calm and patient, which helped me overcome my initial nervousness. I believe attitudes are more disabling than physical obstacles, and IAM RoadSmart has been excellent at being accommodating and flexible.”

Since passing the course, Tina says she’s more aware than ever of the vehicle and surroundings. She says, “I’m mentally talking to myself now when I'm out driving; I’m not just mindlessly going from A to B as I was before. I love the handling of my car and feel a lot more confident on the road now.”

For more information on the services IAM RoadSmart offers to drivers and riders living with a disability, click here