I’m contemplating getting a car adapted to accommodate my needs. I’ve know some garages do this, but first I’d like to know a bit about what’s involved. I don’t know what’s available or how I would go about it. If any one with any experience could offer some advice as to where to start, where to look, how grateful would I be?..very.
I recently decided to have hand controls fitted to my next car (on order). First I contacted Motorbility to tell them of this, they then arranged for my to go to an assessment centre. The assessment was ok they took me round their circuit to assess my usual manual driving then they tested me in a hand controlled car. They then took me on the open road using both manual and hand controls. They Tested my strength, balance and cognitive function. I didn’t do too well on the cognitive tests, it’s one thing knowing I’m not as quick mentally as I once was but another thing entirely having someone point it out to me. Anyway to cut a long story short the result was the assessment centre are happy for me to continue with the usual controls but agree with my reasoning to start using hand controls, I have decided to swap between hand and manual controls depending on how I am on any given day.
You have to send a copy of the assessment to DVLA, I rang them to ask where to send and they then sent me all the medical forms to fill in again. I am still waiting on a response from them. While common sense tells me they will allow me to continue driving, there is a little part of me wished I hadn’t bothered and simply continued driving manual till forced to make adaptions.
Not sure what would happen if you wanted to adapt your own car, I’m led to believe it’s quite expensive. Motorbility paid for my assessment they will pay for hand controls to be fitted and up to six driving lessons with BSM in the use of hand controls. I am also getting a hoist fitted that I have to pay £145.00 towards, again I don’t know the cost to fit your own hoist if you needed one.
Jan x
Hi Loulla,
May I suggest visiting the Motability website (http://www.motability.co.uk/) to see what modifications are available for your vehicle, and the appropriate contact details.
Depending on how & when they can visit you, whoever you select may be able to arrange a demo/test before you commit to making a purchase and arranging fitment !!
Good luck,
Dom
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Try Allied Mobility or Brotherwood Automobility on the net.
Dawn
…There are also a number of other sites that are identified if you put the search term “vehicle hand controls” into Google !!
Dom
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Reading this has made me wish I could still drive. I now have trouble driving my wheelchair round the house, everything has marks gouged out at five inch hight. ooooopoops
Good luck with getting it sorted.
Hi Louella
When I realised that my legs were getting slightly less reliable and I was particularly concerned about my reaction speed, I was already driving an automatic car but had no idea what to do about it. At the time I didn’t get DLA so didn’t have a motability car.
I did an Internet search and found a mobility assessment centre not too far away (the Queen Elizabeth Foundation in Surrey) and contacted them. I arranged to go there for testing. I had my cognitive ability tested as well as movement and functionality of limbs etc. Then I was put through a battery of different tests including reaction times both manually and using my feet. I then had a small drive around their track in an adapted car. (Which was weird!)
They worked out that my reaction times using my feet were actually just about legal, but recommended that I consider getting my car adapted for hand controls. (After all it was only likely to get worse.) They gave me a list of places where I could get the work done as well as a list of driving instructors who could help me make the adjustment. They then posted me out a detailed written report. They recommended that I have a push/pull brake/ accelerator, a steering ball and an indicator wand that would allow me to indicate without taking my hand off the push/pull.
I decided to get my car adapted so arranged to get the work done, and also phoned a driving instructor for a few sessions in order to learn how to drive with the adaptations. In the end I had 3 sessions with the instructor, I could have left it at two but wanted to be sure. It’s not a legal requirement that you do this, but I’ve always erred on the side of caution with driving.
It’s a little bit different using just hands to drive the car, but you do get used to it fairly quickly. The most annoying thing is taking tickets at car park barriers. You end up having to put the hand brake on in order to open the window. Of course, putting the windscreen wipers on and off is a bit awkward too, but you adapt.
In total I think I spent something like £1000 (but this was in 2006!) the assessment cost about £145, driving lessons about £20 each, car adaptations about £750. You do of course need to already have an automatic car. Once your car is adapted, it can still be driven by an able bodied person using normal pedals, or you can get them boxed in to avoid touching them.
If you already qualify for DLA (high rate for mobility) or PIP (enhanced mobility component) then you can do all of this through motability.
Sue
Louella,
a few years ago, weakness and numbness in my right leg meant that I was struggling to drive. I got my Honda Civic adapted to add a left foot accelerator. If my wife wants to drive my car, she flips the left accelerator up and the right one comes down. If I’m driving the car, I do the opposite. Very simple bug very effective as it means that for the last 5 years or so, I’ve been able to drive. It cost les than £200 to make the change. Very much worth the money.
derek
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I forgot to add that once you start driving an adapted car, you have to tell DVLA. My licence now restricts me to a car with these adaptations. But then you should have already notified DVLA that you have MS and completed a medical questionnaire.