by Joe Bradley
It is fair to say that most people want to learn to drive, they crave the freedom and independence that driving gives you.
For a person without disabilities this is a fairly straightforward process; you find an instructor local to you (of which there will be many), you take your lessons, prepare for your tests and then, fingers crossed, pass. You are then on the road to freedom and independence. But what about those people with disabilities who can’t drive a standard vehicle, is the process still as straightforward?
In the UK there are a limited number of driving instructors who have vehicles which are adapted to meet the needs of disabled drivers and I truly believe this is due to a lack of knowledge surrounding vehicle adaptations and what would be required to teach a person to drive who has a disability. Based on last year’s figures there is a 43% increase in the amount of people on the Motability scheme who are having adaptations fitted to their new vehicles and this is set to increase year upon year. So, where to start?
There are a wide range of adaptations available to meet the varying needs of disabled drivers. One of the most popular adaptations available is the Push/Pull Brake/Accelerator. This adaptation brings the control of the foot pedals to the hands and is a simple operation where you pull to accelerate and push to brake. These are available as column mounted and also floor mounted, the floor mounted option providing the benefit of being able to adjust the steering wheel height, an important feature for a driving instructor who is teaching lots of different people.
In terms of hand controls there is also the Ring Accelerator which is placed under/over the steering wheel, a Twist Grip Accelerator which is used like a motorbike handle and even a Thumb Touch Accelerator which is operated by either the left or right thumb.
A Left Foot Accelerator pedal is an excellent adaptation for those drivers who struggle to use their right leg. Fitted to the left of the brake, it is operated by a dash mounted switch which enables you to choose between left and right accelerator. As with many adaptations, this can be easily removed if required.
Another excellent adaptation for disabled drivers is a Secondary Remote Control, which brings the secondary controls such as lights, wipers, horns, indicators to the driver’s fingertips. The device will also act as a steering aid, providing greater control of the steering wheel.
As a driving instructor who currently doesn’t teach disabled drivers, this process might seem quite daunting and complicated, but this really doesn’t have to be the case. There are specialist vehicle adaptation companies who will provide you with all the advice and guidance needed on choosing the right adaptations in order to be able to teach people with a range of disabilities. Most of the adaptations are designed to be removable, meaning that you can still use the original controls of the vehicle. Some of these companies will also provide ‘driving school packages’, which will give you a discount when choosing a selection of adaptations. There are also companies out there who will provide training on each adaptation, so you can feel completely confident when delivering your lessons.
Driving shouldn’t just be a privilege for people without disabilities, it should be accessible for all and there’s never been an easier time to make this the case!
For more information on any of the above you can visit www.basnw.co.uk or phone their office at Rixton on 0161 776 1594 and one of their team will be able to help you!
