Amputee Ash Hall appointed IAM RoadSmart ambassador; set to inspire with drive and ambition in spite of huge setbacks

IAM RoadSmart has announced this week that Ash Hall, who lost both legs serving in Afghanistan but has started a new career as a racing driver, will become an ambassador for independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

Ash, 27, from Colchester, starts his work with IAM RoadSmart with immediate effect.

He will be giving feedback to IAM RoadSmart on its courses and products and how they can be made better for disabled customers, visiting IAM RoadSmart local groups for talks, plus spokesman activity on behalf of the charity. He will also be taking IAM RoadSmart’s advanced driving course.

Ash served in the Royal Engineers for 10 years; whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2010, he was hit by an improvised explosive device causing serious injuries - which led to the amputation of both legs above the knees and shattered his pelvis.

He spent many months receiving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and at the military rehabilitation centre in Headley Court, and underwent countless operations to provide him with greater mobility.

Ash then became involved with Team BRIT, which is aiming to become the first ever all-disabled team to enter the Le Mans 24 Hour race by 2020.

Having taken part in the team’s rookie day last October, he passed their assessment and took part in his first race with Team BRIT at Oulton Park later that month.

If that wasn’t enough, Ash has continued to take part in sports at the highest level since sustaining his injuries and represented Great Britain in the Invictus Games in Canada in September where he won a silver medal for wheelchair rugby.

He also holds a Guinness world record for the longest distance travelled in 24 hours using a go-kart with hand controls – an incredible 1,888.6 kilometres.

Ash said: “I consider myself lucky to have been given such great opportunities since my injuries to prove to people that life with a disability doesn’t have to end. I want to be able to inspire others in a similar situation, and I am sure through IAM RoadSmart I will have the chance to do that.” 

Mike Quinton, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have Ash on board – he has overcome massive adversity to become a success. He represents a different viewpoint for us and we will really value his advice and input now and in the future.”

Dave Player, Team BRIT CEO and Founder, added: “We were very pleased to be approached by IAM RoadSmart about the possibility of offering Ash an ambassador role.  We have a shared aim of making driving safe and accessible for disabled people and we look forward to seeing the impact that Ash will have on this important area of work.”

ENDS

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IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com                                  

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart’s Driver Retraining Academy visit www.iamdra.org.uk                           

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups