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Episode details

Radio 4,02 Jul 2018,28 mins

In the Driving Seat

The Untold

Available for over a year

Beth has vision in just one eye. Gary is her driving instructor. Can she pass her test? Gary is a former medical rep turned driving instructor who became bored teaching 'ordinary' pupils. He now specialises in lessons for people with particular challenges, whether they have autism, or a missing limb, or - in Beth's case - just one useful eye. Beth's in her early 20s and has Stickler syndrome, a condition which led to the retina in her right eye detaching when she was 11 years old. That eye has almost no useful vision, certainly nothing that helps when it comes to driving. Beth first took lessons when she was 18, but her instructor made her feeling too nervous to continue. She thought she would never drive. But then she found Gary. With his vast well of patience, not to mention his car which is kitted out with all kinds of accessories including a huge panoramic mirror, her confidence has improved to the point where she can take her test. Beth's life is about to completely change: she's starting university in a new city and her partner works away from home, so she needs the independence that driving bring. But will she pass? Producer: Karen Gregor.

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