Nine vision impaired youngsters had the chance to take to the wheel and drive at real-world road speeds as part of Norfolk sight loss charity Vision Norfolk’s programme of activities for young people and their families.
The charity teamed up with national organisation Young Driver to enable the nine, aged between 9 and 17 to take a half-hour driving lesson at the Norfolk Showground, learning clutch control, reversing and other roadcraft.
Each of the young people spent half an hour with a government-approved driving instructor learning the basics of car control around a specially laid-out course at the 150 acre showground.
“Many of these young people will never be able to have driving lessons on the road, and the chance to take to the wheel in this safe way will really boost their confidence and help them feel they are not being left out,” said Josh Bartholomew, children, young people and families co-ordinator at Vision Norfolk.
One of those talking part was 17 year-old Marcus Dunn. “This is something I won’t be able to do on the road, so it’s a good experience to come here and do this,” he said. “It’s something that very few vision impaired people will ever get to do, let alone young people.”
Another of those talking part was 14-year-old Ryan Powell, who touched speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour during his lesson. “I never thought I would get the chance to drive a car, I was really exciting coming here,” he said. “I found it easier than I thought it would be.”
Young driver offers young people between the age of nine and 17 a taste of proper driving in a full-size, dual-controlled road car.
Vision Norfolk’s Children, Young People and Families programme runs a series of activities across the year. For more details, go to www.visionnorfolk.org.uk/get-support/children-young-adults-and-families.
