Driving test and wearing a mask

Hi my daughter is due to take her driving test soon and is worried about having to wear a mask as it makes her glasses steam up and this makes her anxious and this together with the anxiety of the driving test is going to make things a lot worse.  She also has a  processing  disorder and when she is a anxious or nervous this makes it even harder to understand instructions.  Can we say she is exempt from wearing a mask during her test and if so is there official document we need.

Parents
  • Hi, Kitaj

    Your daughter should not be expected to wear a mask when she is driving. Who said she has to wear one behind the wheel? Wearing any face covering when driving can cause impaired vision (especially if you wear glasses as well).  If people are driving with masks, they are increasing the risk causing harm to themselves and other drivers in car accidents.

    You will also invalidate your insurance if you have an accident and you were wearing a mask when it happened.

    I've heard some people say that driving instructors have asked candidates to wear a mask after July. When you make your booking tell them that your daughter is exempt and will not be wearing a mask. All she needs to do is to flash her Autism Card, or Sunflower Lanyard, or Hidden Disabilities Card if any examiner starts being an arsehole about it. 

    How is she with other people wearing masks around her? I ask people to remove them if they want to interact with me face-to-face, otherwise I won't engage with them while their faces are covered.

    I can't think of anything worse than taking your driving test with an examiner sat beside you with their face covered. 


    I wish our daughter luck on her test!

Reply
  • Hi, Kitaj

    Your daughter should not be expected to wear a mask when she is driving. Who said she has to wear one behind the wheel? Wearing any face covering when driving can cause impaired vision (especially if you wear glasses as well).  If people are driving with masks, they are increasing the risk causing harm to themselves and other drivers in car accidents.

    You will also invalidate your insurance if you have an accident and you were wearing a mask when it happened.

    I've heard some people say that driving instructors have asked candidates to wear a mask after July. When you make your booking tell them that your daughter is exempt and will not be wearing a mask. All she needs to do is to flash her Autism Card, or Sunflower Lanyard, or Hidden Disabilities Card if any examiner starts being an arsehole about it. 

    How is she with other people wearing masks around her? I ask people to remove them if they want to interact with me face-to-face, otherwise I won't engage with them while their faces are covered.

    I can't think of anything worse than taking your driving test with an examiner sat beside you with their face covered. 


    I wish our daughter luck on her test!

Children
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