Disabled Driving Enthusiast From Dudley Appointed 2017 Mobility Roadshow Ambassador

11th May 2017

Richard Viner, 31, from Dudley, who was born with Left Hemiplegia and Hydrocephalus, has been appointed as an Event Ambassador for the 2017 Mobility Roadshow. (NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 1-3rd June)

A committed driving enthusiast, Richard has regularly attended the annual Mobility Roadshow since passing his driving test in 2002. He is delighted to be promoting this year’s Stoneleigh event in his role as Ambassador, and joins an inspirational group of enthusiastic volunteers who raise awareness of The Mobility Roadshow through their communities and network of contacts.

Richard comments, “Driving for me is so much more than just getting from A to B. I really enjoy it. I started driving lessons in a manual car, aged 17, but soon realised that my condition prevented me from operating the gears easily so I changed to an automatic. Since then my love of driving has increased year on year, and I have found visiting The Mobility Roadshow a great opportunity to discover vehicle options in a no-pressure environment. The exhibitors and driving instructors are so helpful and understand when you need to try out little things, such as testing the indicators to see if you can manage them. I spend most of my time on the test drives and have built up a reputation for driving every available car if possible! I believe giving visitors this opportunity is probably the biggest strength of the show. It has allowed me to source so much information - I even had a chat with a driving instructor last year about gaining my racing license.”

Richard, who is currently not eligible for the Motability scheme, believes visiting The Mobility Roadshow events has helped him decide upon suitable private vehicle purchases and which driving controls work best for him.

He comments, “In a normal dealership, I have had strange looks when I have dismissed a car because the cruise control is on the wrong side and therefore unusable for me. However, The Mobility Roadshow is a “hands-on” show, so visitors are encouraged to try everything out and gain expert advice. Over the years, this helped me become quite knowledgeable and I realised that I didn’t require any major vehicle adaptations on my personal vehicle and could drive well with just added factory options. I now drive an automatic 2013 MINI Hatch with gearshift paddles, iDrive controller, automatic lights and wipers as well as a multifunction steering wheel. I can say that I drive a completely standard car, which I guess is a pride thing more than anything else. As with many things in my life, I find ‘my way’ to do something!”

Richard adds, “I am delighted to be an Event Ambassador for the 2017 Mobility Roadshow as I would like to offer something in return for all the help I have received. It’s a great family day out and free-to-attend and I would encourage people living with disabilities who are looking for vehicle and mobility options to come along if they can. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with show visitors and I’m sure I will be participating in test drives on the Stoneleigh circuit!”