Pontypool woman who lost part of brain learns to drive
A young woman is learning to drive after losing “a golf ball sized” part of her brain in an horrific road crash.
Sarah Phipps was in a coma for three weeks and given a one-in-300 chance of recovery after suffering head injuries while driving her moped to college.
The 20-year-old from New Inn near Pontypool, Torfaen, has had to learn to eat, talk and walk all over again.
She remembers the crash but said she was not scared of driving after being granted a provisional licence.
She was involved in the crash on icy roads three years ago and said she was slightly nervous when she first got back into a car.
“I’ve been in the car a couple of times as a passenger since my accident,” she said.
She said she was determined to start driving herself as soon as possible.
“I’ve always loved driving – it’s your independence,” she added.
She still has vivid recollections of the crash despite losing part of the frontal lobe which affects memory.
She said: “I remember everything, from leaving college to driving along the road and hitting the ice.
“Then I remember just flying through the air.
“The last three years have been hard. I’m determined to get on with my life even though a part of my brain is missing.
Since the crash she has only been behind the wheel of a driving simulator as part of her assessment.
She was granted a provisional licence by the DVLA after passing a medical assessment by her doctors.
Her mother Clare said: “It was a terrible time – we didn’t know how well she would recover.
“While we were in hospital, we saw so many people who would never get better and that was very scary.
“She’s been through so much, but now she just wants to get on with her life. I’m very proud of her. Driving is a very big step”
A DVLA spokeswoman said: “Drivers are required to report any medical condition they suffer which may affect fitness to drive now or at sometime in the future.
“With regard to serious head injuries, there is a minimum period of 6 months required off the road, after that DVLA will need to assess whether the injury has caused any continuing neurological symptoms which may affect safe driving.
“The fitness of most drivers can be assessed on the basis of reports from their doctors but occasionally practical driving assessments are required.
“Once an individual has completed the appropriate time off road they can reapply for their licence.”
From : BBC website
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