BSM driving instructors bravely take to the passenger seat for a charity ‘blind drive’.

• Blind and sighted drivers blindfolded for the racetrack challenge
• Money raised to help local sensory impairment charity Walthew House

Brave BSM driving instructors from across the North West volunteered to take a spin around a racetrack with a blind driver.

Three instructors guided drivers around the Three Sisters Racetrack in Wigan on Monday, March 26^th.

Many of the drivers had a visual impairment, but they all wore a blindfold so their degree of vision was the same for the drive.

Debbie Lewis, BSM general manager for the North West, said: “As BSM instructors, they are all experts in good communication, patience and holding their nerve, but they needed all that, and more, for this event.

“Being driven by a blindfolded driver is a real challenge but they are all experts and it was a great day, helping a worthwhile cause.”

The money raised from the event will go to help local Stockport charity Walthew House, which helps people with sensory impairments.

Kathryn Sheldon, Walthew House fundraiser, said: “It was a fantastic day. The visually impaired people taking part were absolutely thrilled to be behind the wheel again or in some cases, for the first time ever.

“For those of us taking part blindfolded it was also a nail-biting but extremely informative experience. To put your trust in someone else like that was really scary. I’d like to give a massive thank you to the BSM instructors for giving up their time and keeping their cool, they were amazing.”

Further information about BSM instructors who took part:

Stephen Wood from Bolton has taken part in three previous Blind Drives. He teaches across a wide area from Bolton to Rochdale, Blackburn and Burnley. He specialises in teaching people with disabilities and has a specially adapted automatic tuition car to do this in.

Stephen Knowles from Winstanley in Wigan, teaches across Wigan, Warrington, Widnes, Runcorn, St Helens, Ormskirk and Southport.

Anthony Shaw from Warrington teaches around Warrington, Wigan and Leigh.