Having the ability to drive gives us more freedom to do exactly what we want to. However, driving with a disability can make the process much more daunting or difficult and could even be impossible for some. This leaves some disabled individuals reliant on friends and family to provide transport. Mobility cars feature adaptations that allow disabled individuals to drive themselves and improve their level of independence.
How Can Mobility Cars Help?
Modified mobility cars can solve all of those issues for people with mobility problems. Car adaptations can be provided in several different variations that cater to a wide range of disabilities to make it much easier to operate a vehicle, feel more comfortable driving, and explore the world more freely at their leisure.
Car conversions can be tailored to the individual needs of the driver after a thorough assessment. These cars can also be accessed through mobility schemes, offering grants and funding opportunities to make the cars more affordable.
- Hand Controls
For people with limited movement in their lower body, hand controls for the brakes and accelerator may be more appropriate and safer to use. They are operated by placing pedals or levers around the steering wheel, so they’re easy to access and manoeuvre.
- Radio Remotes
Radio remotes can control more of the leisure features inside the car from an easily accessible place. If you struggle with limited arm movement, it may be easier for you to access all of your in-car controls from the steering wheel without having to reach over to change the volume on your radio, increase the air conditioning, or use your windscreen wipers, for example.
Radio remotes can also come with a miniature steering function or stick steering which allows you to control the movement of the car within a much smaller area.
- Wheelchair Hoists
Before you even begin to make operating the car easier, the most important thing is to ensure you can sit in the car comfortably enough to drive. There are mobility cars available that will provide a wheelchair hoist to help lift you from your chair into the seat of the car.
- Swivel Seats
Once you’ve been able to adequately access the vehicle, you’ll also need to be able to get out again. Swivel seats can be provided which allow you to unlock the seating position and turn the seat to the side. This gives easier access and can make climbing out of the car much more simple.
- Drive From Wheelchair
Wheelchair driving in certain situations is also possible. This allows you to access the whole of the car’s functionality from your wheelchair. It will require a larger vehicle with ramp access but limits the amount of movement you’ll need to make to drive the car and removes any need to get in and out of the wheelchair.
- Left Foot Accelerator
A left foot accelerator can be installed to cater to people with limited movement on their right side to allow for easier use of the pedals with a single foot. These cars will always have an automatic gearbox so there’s no clutch to operate either.
The Process
Deciding to learn to drive with a disability is a big step. First, you’ll need support and to undertake an assessment to pinpoint exactly what adjustments need to be made to the vehicle to make it usable.
Once you’ve managed to secure a car with the required changes (which may take a couple of months to design and create) then it will take some time to learn to drive the mobility car. If your disability is the result of an accident or surgery and not something that has been from birth, it may still take a while to re-learn to drive in a mobility-modified vehicle.
Once you’re used to the changes, it will undoubtedly provide a refreshing change to your daily lifestyle and improve your level of independence. If you would like to find out more about the products listed above, please get in touch with our friendly team on 01525 850588 or head over to our contact page for more information.
Recently had my fourth vehicle adapted by Paul At Pb Conversions.always does a first class job and with first class service & always easy to deal with. Thanks for the great service Paul from you and your crew over the years.
Kiran was very helpful today explaining some of the issues I had with my hoist, and how to avoid them from happening again.
Dealt with the adaptations for my son's new motability vehicle - very friendly, efficient and helpful. Really pleased.
Very helpful and knowledgeable engineer, fast and efficient service
Thank you so much for all your advice, help and very professional job on adapting our car. Without your advice I would never have known to apply for a grant. You were excellent, thank again.
Due to my husband's condition we need a car with adaptions, we were advised by his paraplegic group to visit and this place is the best. Felt so relaxed talking about what we needed, all the staff were so friendly and so well informed, going above and beyond, especially Paul Berridge. I fully recommend this business. Honest and reliable. Thank you.
Staff are super super friendly, helpful, extremely informative and really nothing Paul & Co can’t do to any vehicle. PERFECTION is their middle name! Thank you so much for your outstanding service to me over the years and I look forward to using your company all my driving life.
Excellent work done on our car and very professional company. Great customer service and prompt response to emails.
Would you like an assessment?
If you are a disabled driver, or know a disabled driver in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Northamptonshire, please contact PB Conversions for a free no obligation quote to assess what products would benefit you.