PDAL Retraining & Driving Assessment Support
If you have had your license revoked for a medical reason and need or want to return to driving the DVLA will often issue a PDAL (Provisional Disability Assessment License). This is time restricted license with similar requirements as that of a learner provisional license (must display L plates and often requires the fitting of dual controls).
It is time bound that it lasts for only 3 months to allow retraining and/or familiarisation of new controls. It will expire on completion of the formal assessment at an assessment centre. The assessment centre will compile a report for DVLA who will, if deemed appropriate, re-issue your license potentially with special codes to reflect the special equipment now required to allow you to safely drive.
More information about returning to driving after an illness or medical reason can be found on disabilitydrivinginstructors.com
What is Involved
If you have been asked to find an instructor to help in readiness for an assessment, this may include a number of things; it depends on why or what condition has meant that your license was revoked, how long since you last drove, what additional equipment you now need to safely drive.
What Condition Has Led You Here?
If you have had or suffered from a condition that has permanently changed you physical capabilities, for example a stroke that has left you with permanent hemiplegia, then adaptations would be needed to allow you to operate a car safely with your left hand and left foot as an example. If you have had an epileptic episode but this now controlled then you may only need some confidence building. Each individual will come for different levels of help.
Additional Equipment
My car can be setup for hand controls (no or limited foot control or movement) with Push/Pull for accelerator and brake, this control has a pin switch to control the indicators as it needs to be used with a plain steering ball. If other ancillary controls cannot be used in this configuration then a steering controller can replace the steering ball which has buttons to control other accessories in the car (wipers/lights/horn/indicators). If there is a loss of use of the right leg then a left foot accelerator can be used to control the car.
I have completed all the training courses from Disability Driving Instructors in the use and teaching with these adaptations.
Addtional information on my adaptations can be found here.
Who may have referred you
In Scotland it is most likely that you have been referred to me by DriveAbility Scotland, more information can be found here.