Car controls (view report contents)
Introduction
This guide is for disabled and older drivers who need to adapt the controls in their car. The range of controls is now so wide that almost anyone can drive, providing they meet DVLA requirements – see Who can drive for details.
Adaptations start from very simple attachments which can just be bolted
on to a vehicle to the replacement of all the driving controls with a
system individually designed for you. As long as you have enough controllable
movement car controls can be adapted to take advantage of it.
This guide gives a run down on the main types of control you can get and
gives information on how you go about getting them. It cannot tell you
what is best for you, since everyone is different. However it points you
towards sources of expert advice and tells you where you can get an assessment
of your abilities. It also tells you where you can get help towards the
cost of equipment and about organisations who have useful services.
We are very grateful to the 238 members of the Disabled Drivers’ Association (now Mobilise) who took the time to tell us in detail about their experiences and about the controls they have used. The advice given in this booklet is largely based on their experiences and on the experts we consulted.
You may also find the three other guides in this series useful – People lifters, The Ins and outs of choosing a car and Getting a wheelchair into a car
Acknowledgements
Ricability gratefully acknowledges funding from the Department for Transport.
The authors of this guide are employed by Ricability. Any views expressed
are not necessarily those of the Department for Transport.
We are grateful to Paul Gambrell, Dave Elvin and Lesley Riley of Motability,
Rolf Lamsdale of the Mobility Advice and Information Service (MAVIS),
Jim Kerr of Leslie Reeson Assessors and to David Walker, Roy Walters and
colleagues at NMEDA UK for help and information provided during the course
of this project.
Research: Dylan Simanowitz
Update: Tom Crawley
Edited by: David Yelding
Design: PriceWatkins
Illustrations: Clive Goodyer
Photography: Robin Beckham
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
