A group of blind and vision impaired Norfolk people had the chance to get behind the wheel during a special offroad adventure day organised by sight loss charity Vision Norfolk and Explore 4×4 on the Elveden Estate.
Many people experiencing sight loss saying that losing their driving licence is a significant moment for them, so the day was designed to demonstrate that they can still achieve things many thought were not possible.
A dozen people with varying degrees of sight loss took part in the driving experience in 4×4 vehicles, tackling the offroad course at Elveden in the company of Explore 4×4’s experienced instructors.
One of those taking part was Jamie Carter from Thetford, who started losing his sight two years ago and now has just 18% vision. Before he started to lose his sight he was a keen driver, and this was the first opportunity he had had to get back behind the wheel.
“When you have driven for nearly 20 years of your life – all manner of vehicles including racing motorbikes, lorries, vans and cars – and then you suddenly go to not being able to drive at all, it’s a big blow,” he said.
“To really put your trust in your instructor suiting next to you was amazing – scary, but sometimes scariness brings a bit of trepidation, which makes it more exciting.
“It just makes you beam with pride to think, ‘You know what, I can still do this with the right people, a bit of time and some patience’.
“I have the biggest smile on my face ever, because it’s something that I have really missed, and to be given that opportunity to do it again has been amazing.”
Also taking part was David Page, who lost his driving licence in 2015, meaning this was the first time he had been behind the wheel for ten years.
“When you lose your driving licence you feel as though you’ve lost all your independence,” he said. “I used to do a lot of off-roading when I could see, so to do it now is just fantastic, it has really made my day.
“It wasn’t really so different to driving when I could see, because I was listening to the engine revs and everything, so I was in total control – I just needed the instructor to tell me when to go left or right!”
The offroad driving experience was part of Vision Norfolk’s extensive programme of social, leisure and sporting activities aimed at vision impaired people in the county.
In 2025 the charity is marking 220 years of empowering people living with sight loss to live independent and fulfilled lives.
