Useful Websites - Filling Your Car

If you are an unaccompanied disabled driver it can be very difficult getting the help at petrol stations. The situation has been made even more difficult by the introduction of chip and pin as this has made paying very difficult for drivers who cannot easily get out of their vehicle, as standard card terminals cannot be used on the forecourt.

myhailo.co.uk

Simply press the button on your MyHailo fob to alert filling station staff that you need assistance. This is a rebranding of the Contacta system we reported on in a previous edition. If you have a Contacta fob it will work just the same. This system has been adopted by Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco and Cooperative service stations service-call.net This is system uses an infrared transmitter and has the benefit of there being a very large number of participating stations.

fuelservice.org - recommended by Heather Murrant

This is a smartphone app that will let you find a petrol station know in advance of arrival if there is a person available to help you at the petrol station before you arrive. If you don’t use a smartphone there is a text messaging service you can use. It has plenty of stations across the country, and the nearest to the centre are at Middlewich, Northwich and Sandiway.

New Road Tax Rates 2017

If you receive the enhanced rate for mobility for PIP or the higher rate for mobility for DLA then you are eligible to apply for exemption of Road Tax.

If however you receive the standard rate mobility component of PIP then you are eligible to apply for a 50% reduction.

To claim the 50% reduction the vehicle must be : • Registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name. • It must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. That means
the vehicle can’t be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use. • You can only have one vehicle tax exemption or reduction at any one time • You can apply for the 50% reduction if you get the Standard Rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If you are entitled to the 50% discount, then you can ONLY obtain this by sending the appropriate paperwork to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DZ.

For more information visit: www.gov.uk/ financial-help-disabled/vehicles-andtransport

Assessment of Fitness to Drive by Gary Jones Centre Manager

Opening of an accredited driving assessment service for the Cheshire and Wirral region.

With increasing demand for drivers to undertake assessment of their Fitness to Drive following onset of cognitive or physical changes that could impact upon driving ability, a new accredited driving assessment service will begin operation  in March 2017 to serve the Cheshire and Wirral regions.
Supported by The Department for Transport this  new venture will be staffed by a team of experienced Occupational Therapists and Driving Advisers to ensure the most complete and robust assessment of  cognitive, visual and physical abilities in relation to an individuals’ practical Fitness to Drive.

As an accredited member of Diving Mobility (www.Drivingmobility.org.uk), Chester Driveability is able to deliver assessments on behalf of DVLA, Motability and health professionals who are advising on the Fitness to Drive of individual patients.

Chester Driveability will be operated by The Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service (www.wmdas.co.uk) who have over 25 years’ experience of assessment of Fitness to Drive on behalf of DVLA, health professionals and individual service users.

Informing the DVLA about Changes in your Health - Jon McVey

I like driving, I have always enjoyed the feeling of independence that enables me to do many useful and enjoyable things.

After spending time in hospital following a head injury after a fall I was advised by the doctors that I couldn’t drive for 3 months and  needed to inform the DVLA.  I completed a form B1to report my medical condition to the DVLA.
 
If a doctor tells you that you must stop driving, or if your health means that you cannot drive to the appropriate standard you must surrender your licence.  If you don’t you can be fined up to £1,000.
After I had informed the DVLA I was quite quickly sent a letter which explained that the process would take some time. My details were referred to the medical committee which resulted in additional delays. They wanted additional information including an assessment with my GP. If I had completed the original form with my GP, this stage might not have been necessary and saved some time.  In future I will certainly do this. When the three months were up I still hadn’t heard from the DVLA or received my licence back.  That was a concern as we were about to go on holiday and not being able to drive would have been a problem, so I phoned the DVLA Drivers’ Medical Enquiries line. 

They informed me that this was not a problem as there is a provision in law under Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act (RTA) 1988 that allows you to drive while DVLA processes your application. In practice, this means that when you send your application to DVLA to be renewed and your license expires (runs out) while they are processing your application, you may be able to continue driving so long as your doctor says that you are fit to drive. There are times however when you may need a licence, e.g. travelling abroad or changing your motability car. 

With relief, I finally did receive my new licence. I now have to renew it every three years and have renewed it once. Changes in my ability to use a handbrake meant that again it was a long process, but I was able to continue driving while they reviewed my application and arranged assessments.