DRIVER PROFILE NAVDEEP VIRDI:
MY PERIPHERAL VISION IS HEIGHTENED!
As PHTM readers will know, we like to feature stories about licence holders from all over the country and from every possible background and experience. This month’s driver certainly is no exception – and in fact has a unique story of his own.
Today’s traffic can be congested with mul- tiple vehicles whizzing past, but this is no problem for Navdeep Virdi, who has been deaf since birth. Navdeep doesn’t regard his deafness as a loss of a sense; in fact he claims that his peripheral vision is height- ened as a compensation for his lack of hearing, which is a phenomenon proved by science.
The National Geographic News reported a publication explaining how unused brain cells are recruited to improve sight -
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/ne ws/2010/10/101011-deaf-enhanced-vision- brain-health-science/
The study – interestingly, using cats as the catalyst (no pun intended) – shows that deaf people with enhanced vision can thank otherwise idle brain cells for their heightened sense of vision. That is because the brain recruits cells normally devoted to hearing to help them see bet- ter, the research revealed.
“The brain is very efficient and it’s not going to let this huge territory that is the auditory cortex and all the processing that it has go to waste,” said study leader Stephen Lomber of Canada’s University of
interpreter comes to mediate conversation between Navdeep and his clients.
This efficient communication mode sup- ports Navdeep to be able to function in his role as a taxi driver and puts him on an equal basis with his colleagues.
Navdeep Virdi
Western Ontario. The auditory cortex is the part of the brain that controls hearing. “So it makes sense that other senses will come in and colonise.”
FOLLOWING HIS PASSION
Getting back to our driver: Born in Pun- jabi, India, Navdeep, 31, moved to England four years ago as he followed hiswife Anna who met him during her travels in Mumbai. They have now added a baby son Ekam to the family, who celebrated his first birthday last month.
It has always been Navdeep’s passion to become a taxi driver for prestigious clients after his previous jobs as a caretaker at a luxury resort where there were some super cars. Now he has maintained his reputation as clients have appreciated how he has escorted them around in his new Toyota car and has received a number of compliments.
One may wonder how he communi- cates with
his
clients: Pointing to his mobile phone, Navdeep explains the benefits of advanced technolo- gy where he can communicate with his clients, members of
the public,
authorities and a range of other peo- ple via an app called SignLive (
www.sign-
live.co.uk) where an
14
“We are especially interested in meeting more partners like Navdeep to join us.
If you are interested then please email
drivers@shuttlme.com”
OCTOBER 2018
It is Navdeep’s ambition to build his repu- tation as a courteous driver and he looks forward to meeting new clients as he con- tinues to drive around Redhill and London embracing the superior views with his heightened peripheral vision.
Navdeep was engaged as a driver by the RoadRunners Group based in Redhill. The firm has recently undergone a re-branding exercise and is now known as Shuttl Me.
Rachel Beckett told us: “Shuttl Me is the new operating company set up under the leadership of Darren Payne to transform the provision of private hire journeys in and around Redhill and Gatwick. Based out of our operating centre in Redhill we have a vision to set the standard of how private hire services should be provided.
“We will still keep the strong brands of RoadRunners Gatwick and Belfry Cars, with our distinctive green and yellow wing mirrors and smartly dressed drivers, but as an overall business will be known as Shuttl Me. We are always keen to recruit new drivers who value customer service and doing an important job very well.
“As a company, Shuttl Me is continuously looking at ways to provide equal oppor- tunities for all partners irrespective of age, gender or disability. We have abso- lute admiration for Navdeep and have welcomed him with open arms.
“His customer service and driving skills are outstanding, as demonstrated by the 5 out of 5-star rating given to him by his customers. We continually support and encourage at every opportunity and look forward to growing our business with him.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
