How Safe Are Car Adaptations For People With Disability?

Drivers with a disability have to overcome a range of driving challenges, including speed control, steering, and signaling. Car adaptions range from simple devices attached to car controls, to a complete change to the car’s systems. Most vehicles will keep the original controls with the driving adaptations working alongside them. There are car adaptions to cover all controls, from hand controls to sophisticated electronics, like remote radio controls.

There are a wide range of car adaptions available for people with lower or upper body disabilities, and drivers with both. Car adaptations must make the driver and passengers feel safe when on the road. This then enhances their mobility and makes them feel more independent.

How Safe Are Driving Aids And Adaptations?

Driving aids cover a range of car controls and meet the needs of different disabilities. Safety of adaptations is designed into the product at the outset. When having a car adapted the first step is to make a thorough assessment of the person’s needs concerning their disability. Different controls should be matched to disabilities and how they affect different parts of the body.

When fitting car adaptions the driver must be confident in using the controls and understand how they work, using your hands to operate the brakes, for instance using hand controls or electronic aid. This will be part of the overall package provided by the installer who adapts the vehicle.

Suitability

Choosing the right adaptations to support driving a vehicle with the help of a qualified advisor will ensure it is right for you, keeping you confident to maintain your mobility.                   

This is dependent on several factors:

•         Your disability
•         Which parts of your body are affected by your disability
•         Your range of movement
•         Your overall body strength and power of your grip
•         Any functions you need help with

There is no one-size-fits-all when fitting car aids, if your hands have strength, simple hand controls will work, if not then electronic car adaptations which don’t need grip will be more suitable.

Back-up Systems

Modern vehicles are fitted with sophisticated electronic hardware and software that controls many of a car’s functions. These can be adapted to work with driving aids, such as push-pull hand controls to remote radio devices. These types of adaptations have back-ups built in, in the rare event of failure, another system will take over.

As part of the assessment when designing an adaption package, the backup will be matched to the disability of the driver, giving the driver confidence that they can drive safely.

Service And Installation

Any vehicle adaption has to be the right solution for you. Using a company with a team of qualified personnel will give the client an individual, bespoke solution. At the beginning of the journey from assessment to handover, service to the customer is vital.

PB Conversions have many years of experience in adapting cars using well-known brands and manufacturing their own products for a bespoke solution. Once fitted and on the road, the same as the car itself, the car adaptions need to have routine servicing and adjustment, normally yearly, to keep them in good working order.

The key with any car adaption is having the right solution for you, your mobility and safety are our first priority.

Get In Touch For More Information

PB Conversions offer a complete car conversion service to meet the needs of each customer, offering a valued and excellent service from our team.

Find out more on their website or contact for a quote from their friendly and dedicated team.