'Fantastic' moment blind veteran, 95, drives again after giving up licence
Jim Alison, who gave up his licence five years ago, has driven again with support from a charity.
In a heartwarming event in Wales, a 95-year-old veteran, Jim Alison, experienced the joy of getting behind the wheel again after losing his sight and having to surrender his driver's license five years ago. The former chauffeur, who served in the Royal Engineers for 22 years, took part in a charity event called Speed of Sight, aimed at helping people with disabilities enjoy driving.
Jim, who had to rely on an instructor with dual controls due to his vision impairment, managed to reach a speed of 90 km/h, describing the experience as "fantastic" and thrilling. Despite his macular degeneration, Jim never thought he would be able to drive again, but the event proved him wrong.
The charity, Speed of Sight, was founded by Mike Newman, a blind motorsports enthusiast who set up the organization after being told he could not be a racing driver due to his blindness. Newman created the event to give people with disabilities the opportunity to experience the thrill of driving, and many participants, including a 14-year-old with a visual impairment, enjoyed the adrenaline rush and excitement.
Dean Twaite, a 68-year-old veteran who lost his sight in an industrial accident, shared his exhilarating experience driving army vehicles as a member of the Royal Corps of Transport. He described the event as "exhilarating" and emphasized the freedom and confidence the experience brought back into his life. The event showcased that there is no such thing as "can't" and that with perseverance and determination, people can overcome their limitations.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
