Car controls (view report contents)
Who can drive & other useful information
Who can drive?
There’s no top age limit to driving. You have to renew your licence
at 70 and every three years after that. A form will be sent to you by
the DVLA.
You must tell them of any disability when applying for a licence for the
first time. You must also tell them if you have a new medical condition
or one which has got worse since passing your driving test or since your
last licence was issued.
Conditions you have to tell them about include fits or blackouts, seizures, diabetes, angina attacks which are provoked by driving, memory problems, stroke, brain injury, brain surgery, pacemaker, difficulty in using your arms or legs and any visual condition which affects both eyes.
You may be sent a questionnaire and will be asked to give permission
for the Medical Advisor to contact your doctor or specialist. If you need
adaptations, this information will appear on your driving licence. Further
information What you need to know about driving licences available
from a post office or contact
Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Medical Unit (GB)
Tel: 0870 600 0301
Fax: 0845 850 0095
e -mail: eftd@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
Medical Unit (Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 402 4000
Fax: 028 7034 1422
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
Learning to drive
Mobility Centres and other organisations
(see Helpful Organisations) will be able
to help you find a driving instructor who specialises in teaching disabled
drivers. They use cars with adapted controls or will teach you in your
own vehicle.
Driving test
Drivers of adapted cars take the same test as everyone else. If you drive
an adapted vehicle and you have advised the Driving and Vehicle Licensing
Agency details will appear in code form on your licence. You can only
drive cars with similar equipment.
The adaptations recorded are: modified transmission, modified clutch,
modified braking and acceleration systems, modified control layouts, modified
steering, modified rear view mirrors and modified driving seats.
Hiring a car
There are few adapted cars for hire. However some firms have vehicles with hand controls and some have wheelchair accessible vehicles for rent. Lists of firms with them are available from Mobility Centres.
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
