Car controls (view report contents)
Controlling speed
This section covers:
What to look for
Safety
Combined Controls
Floor mounted levers
Separate accelerators
Accelerator rings
Accelerator levers
Knee and other accelerators
Separate brakes
Levers
Floor mounted brakes
Cruise control
Clamp on controls
Blue badge scheme
A spinner with hand controls for acceleration and braking on an automatic
car are the only adaptations that many people need. Adaptations to help
you accelerate and brake are usually fitted at the same time as they are
used together, and some controls combine both functions. They can be powered,
and the force needed can be adjusted to suit you. They come in various
shapes, which can themselves be adapted.
Look for:
- comfort - this depends on the control's shape, its padding and its ease of use. Find out where the control can be put. Try it out for warmth to the touch, lightness, range of movement and smoothness of operation. See if you can rest your hand or if gripping it for a long period would cause problems
- controls which are not tiring. Many people keep their thumb on the steering wheel and operate the lever with their hand. If you do this, look for a control which can be worked easily from this position on a long journey
- controls which do not get in the way of your knees or make it difficult to get in or out of the car. Will anyone else who drives your car have a problem?
- controls which leave enough room for your feet. You
may need to fit a pedal guard or install flip up pedals to avoid the
danger of pressing them accidentally or stopping them moving freely
- click here for more details
- controls which do not stop other people driving the car. All controls Motability accredit aim to do this. Controls must be unobtrusive enough to allow others to drive the car, be of a type that can be switched off or, for simpler equipment such as pedal guards, be removable
- controls which can be fitted with switches for the things you need to work while accelerating or braking. Indicators, horn, headlights, dipper and headlight flash are often fitted to hand controls.
Safety:
- some controls are linked to parts of the car by rigid
metal rods. These could stop the steering column collapsing or could
injure you in a crash, particularly if they are placed near your knee.
Look for protective guards or designs in which the rods are hidden or
placed well away from your knees
- if the controls are connected to parts of the car by
metal rods, check with the supplier before adjusting the steering column,
as this could alter the position of the rods and be dangerous
- choose controls and develop a driving technique that allows you to reach and use all the secondary controls you need while driving.
Combined controls
Combined controls come in various shapes. They can be mounted on either
side of the steering wheel. They cost from around £350.
A Techmobility lever fitted under the steering wheel. You push the lever to brake and pull it towards the steering wheel to accelerate. This one does not have any connecting or exposed rods or linkages in front of the knees. This would be safer in an accident, makes getting in and out of the car easier and looks neater
The shape and its closeness to the steering wheel make this Cowal control easier for some people to keep their hand on the wheel. This one has controls for horn and indicator
Jim Doran radial lever. With this type you move the lever clockwise to accelerate and push it away from you to brake. This can be easier for people with limited use of their fingers. The weight of your arm may be enough to maintain your speed. Check you will have enough space - in small cars your knees may get in the way
Floor mounted levers
You pull a lever back to accelerate and push it forward to brake. It
can be fitted with cruise control so that you don't have to keep your
hand on it. Some have a button which holds the vehicle still on hills.
There is a choice of handles to match the interior of the car, and they
can also be fitted with grips shaped to suit different people, such as
a 'T' bar. More elaborate controls have built in switches for secondary
controls such as head lights indicators, horn, windscreen wipers as well
as the cruise control and a brake lock. The height and length of movement
- and the strength required - can be set to suit you
The Menox fitted to a Toyota
The Menox multifunction control
The Carospeed E control
Separate accelerators
The advantages of separate controls for braking and acceleration are that they can be fitted in different combinations to suit you. Some people prefer the accelerator and brake to be separate.
Accelerator ring
People with weak arms may find a ring easier than a lever. An advantage
is that the steering position feels familiar, and you can keep both hands
on the wheel. The ring fits above or underneath the steering wheel, depending
on type. If above you press to accelerate. If it is below you pull it
towards you. They are often used with a brake lever fitted to the side
of the steering wheel as shown below. Make sure the airbag is unaffected
by the ring (£1,000 - £1,600).
The Guidosimplex ring. This electronic type needs little effort and has no mechanical parts connecting it to the accelerator pedal. It can be switched off
Accelerator levers
Come in various shapes, similar to those shown above under combined
controls.
Jim Doran separate accelerator and brake levers fitted side by side
This KC Mobility satellite accelerator (£1,555) gives very light fingertip control
Knee and other accelerators
Accelerators can be fitted which are worked by pressing your knee against a pad. Controls can be custom built to be worked by other parts of your body.
Separate brakes
There are two main types of brakes.
Levers
These are similar to the accelerator levers described above except that you push them to brake. They can be mounted on either side of the steering wheel (£200 - £300).
Floor mounted brakes
Brake lever (around £380) - you push the long lever forwards to brake
Cruise control
Cruise control can be set to maintain any speed above a certain minimum.
This allows you to relax pressure on the accelerator and is particularly
useful on long journeys. They only work above a certain speed - usually
25mph. Travelling at a set speed can help keep down fuel consumption and
makes it easier to keep to speed limits. Cruise control is standard on
some cars and is available as an extra on others. Adaptation firms can
fit it for around £450+.
There are several designs including controls on stalks and buttons fitted
to the dashboard. More elaborate types allow you to accelerate and decelerate
in steps and go back to a previously set speed at the touch of a switch.
Choose carefully, some are small and fiddly to operate.
Cruise control
CLAMP on controls
The Lynx system
Some hand controls are made to be simply bolted on to the pedals. This system can be fitted quickly to most automatic cars. The hand control consists of a T shaped handle which you press to brake and a button you push to accelerate. They are connected by rods to the pedals. The system is supplied with the three spanners needed for fitting. These systems allow temporary use in a hire car, for example. Cost around £350.
Blue badge scheme
The Blue Badge scheme allows disabled people to park in restricted areas. Details from:
Mobility and Inclusion Unit
Department for Transport
Zone 4/23, Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Tel: 020 7944 8021
Fax: 020 7944 6102
email: miu@dft.gsi.gov.uk
www.dft.gov.uk/access
Follow the Access for Disabled people link at www.dft.gov.uk
Report Contents
Introduction
Starting
points
Standard
equipment that may help
Some features
you can find on new Cars
Good design
The controls
Seating
Primary
controls
Gripping
the wheel
Other ways of
steering
Controlling
speed
Changing Gear
Parking brake
Pedals
Advanced
controls
Secondary
controls
Combined
Controls
Maintenance
Custom building
Moving controls
Safety
Who can drive
& other useful information
Finance
Helpful organisations
Mobility
Centres
Useful
publications
Addresses
