Driving Test

[starone]

Can you, or will you, someone of you knowledgeable people who use AB settle an argument. Is it possible to take the driving test if you cannot read?

[baza]

its a long while since I took my test but I think that there is a written part of the test these days.

[Jeza]

Cannot speak for now Star as there is a written test. Back in the 60's then the answer is or was Yes.

[Jeza]

Having said that, there are a lot of foreigners who don't speak English who are driving on our roads so maybe the answer is yes.

[Buenchico]

I've known several people (within the travelling community) who can't read but have still passed their driving tests.

People who can't read can ask for an English language voiceover in the theory test:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test/if-you-have-special-needs

The only 'reading' required in the practical test is to read a number plate. If the candidate can't verbalise the characters on the number plate he/she can simply copy them down:
https://www.gov.uk/practical-driving-test-for-cars/special-needs

[Sycamore3House]

My son is severely dyslexic. He took his theory test 4 times before he passed it.
The first two tests he had no help. The third test he used headphones where he listened to the question but that was not succesful due to him being unfamiliar with the equipment and wasting time trying to get the machine to repeat a question that was not understood. the fourth test he had a human reader who read each question to him and he could ask it to be repeated easily.
When he took his practical he only had 2 minors against him.

It is both strange and fascinating and frustrating how a person with a dyslexic brain works. But he has a great sense of direction can follow road signs and always gets home (we live in the South West so there is always a sign for SW M5 Exeter he knows he will be on the right road)
To gain access to a human reader he had to produce his Statement of Special Needs which was given to him when he was at school.

My son is 23 years old now has still not read a book and he carries his details name address etc in his wallet so he can copy it if need be.
Hope this settles your argument.

[starone]

Thanks everyone especially sycamore. You will be interested to know, I expect, that I won the argument as I was convinced one could have the questions read out. I think sycamore's son is extremely brave to tackle the test and congratulations on passing.

[Graham-W]

You can have the voice-over in a choice of 21 different languages or, if your language isn't covered by these 21, you can have a translator assisted test.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test/if-you-have-special-needs

[joko]

i understand people with reading difficulties can have assistance for the written test, but i must say i am surprised that people can drive around but are unable to read road signs at all - warnings, place names etc... i know most traffic signs have a graphic to explain but not all of them.
i mean to not even be able to pronounce letters?!
its one thing to struggle with long words etc but to not even know the alphabet?

i would have thought that they would have had to take some kind of basic literacy course and test before hand.

[IggyB]

Joko wouldn't that situation be like me driving in France - I can't understand the written signs but I am familiar with the graphical elements and learn the important sign markings. I am considered safe over there and foreign drivers are considered safe over here.

A driver that can't read may have a bit of difficulty with directions in some situations, but probably nothing a sat nav or map wouldn't assist with, I imagine that they know the rules of the road as well as anyone else so are probably just as safe