Thankfully, as time has gone on, there have been an increased amount of ways to help aid accessibility in a vehicle. The industry has brought out quite a few different vehicle hand control devices as each decade has progressed.
Drivers can purchase a car with these adaptations already installed. This does mean that people with a disability that are looking to purchase a car will need to find out which vehicle hand control system will be most beneficial to them, and help aid their driving.
Hand controls typically allow the driver to operate both the brake and gas pedal by using a system of levers that are normally mounted below the steering wheel and attached to the pedal themselves. Below, we take a look at the main types of vehicle hand control setups, however, it is highly recommended that you speak with a respectable hand controls seller, who will be able to guide you through the full range of their offerings.
What Should I Know About Vehicle Hand Controls?
Hand controls allow the driver to operate both the brake and gas pedal using levers that are typically mounted below the steering wheel and attach to the pedals themselves.
Push/Pull
These work by pushing the lever forward on the handle, the vehicle’s brakes will then engage, and when it is pulled backwards, the vehicle will accelerate. For even greater control, a three-post hand interface can be installed to allow the user to maintain contact with the handle. This mode would be a good option for a person with limited finger dexterity.
Push/Right Angle
Another good option for people with limited finger dexterity is a push/right angle control. This allows the operator to push the handle upward toward the instrument panel to brake, and then downward at a right angle to accelerate.
Push/Rock
With this control, a driver can apply the accelerator and brakes by hand. When the upright handle is rocked rearward towards the user, the accelerator is applied.
Push/Rotate
This allows for a ‘push/twist’ style of the hand control. This is a good choice, especially for a larger driver or a small car situation, where space in the vehicle is limited. With this setup, economical use of space is taken advantage of as the lever only needs to be moved in order to apply the brake. Throttle control is achieved by twisting the grip in the same way as you would for a motorcycle.
Electronically Assisted Hand Controls
Here we have an option that offers two types of controls. Primary controls that manage gas, brakes, and the steering wheel. Then there are the secondary driving controls that are designed to operate other vehicle options.
Manual Driving Controls
These are controls that work the clutch and allow the operator to shift gears, but these are not too common. It is important to remember that every disability is different and that each person will require different driving aids. To help determine the most suitable option, an evaluation can be performed by a certified driving specialist.
We hope this article has been helpful to finding the perfect driving aid for your car. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01525 850588 or head over to our contact page to fill in our online enquiry form. Here at PB Conversions, we offer a range of hand controls for vehicles and can help to ensure you choose the best one.
Recently had my fourth vehicle adapted by Paul At Pb Conversions.always does a first class job and with first class service & always easy to deal with. Thanks for the great service Paul from you and your crew over the years.
Kiran was very helpful today explaining some of the issues I had with my hoist, and how to avoid them from happening again.
Dealt with the adaptations for my son's new motability vehicle - very friendly, efficient and helpful. Really pleased.
Very helpful and knowledgeable engineer, fast and efficient service
Thank you so much for all your advice, help and very professional job on adapting our car. Without your advice I would never have known to apply for a grant. You were excellent, thank again.
Due to my husband's condition we need a car with adaptions, we were advised by his paraplegic group to visit and this place is the best. Felt so relaxed talking about what we needed, all the staff were so friendly and so well informed, going above and beyond, especially Paul Berridge. I fully recommend this business. Honest and reliable. Thank you.
Staff are super super friendly, helpful, extremely informative and really nothing Paul & Co can’t do to any vehicle. PERFECTION is their middle name! Thank you so much for your outstanding service to me over the years and I look forward to using your company all my driving life.
Excellent work done on our car and very professional company. Great customer service and prompt response to emails.
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If you are a disabled driver, or know a disabled driver in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Northamptonshire, please contact PB Conversions for a free no obligation quote to assess what products would benefit you.