Vehicle Options for Disabled Drivers and Passengers

If you are thinking about having a car adapted for driving with a physical disability, or you are looking to buy a large vehicle to be able to transport disabled passengers then here are some things to know.

Legally you are able to drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats using your current car driving licence, as long as there’s no payment from or on behalf of the passengers.

The conditions you must meet to be able to drive a large minibus are that you’re 21 or older; you’ve had your driving licence for at least 2 years, and you’re driving on a voluntary basis and the minibus is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body.

Allied Fleet works with several leading manufacturers to provide a wide range of minibus conversions to suit your preferences. These are available with bespoke adaptations including seating type and layout, access lifts and ramps, wheelchair restraints and other accessibility features.

Their wheelchair accessible minibuses are available with a wide choice of accessibility features, such as folding rear access ramps and electrically operated tail lifts are easy to use and stow away neatly within the vehicle. Wheelchair tie downs, restraints and three-point seatbelts all ensure the safety of wheelchair users and other passengers. All their minibuses are also available with high visibility step edging grab rails and grab handles.

Allied fleets work with you to design the layout and features of your wheelchair accessible minibus to achieve the optimum combination of carrying capacity and accessibility. Available with up to 17 seats and up to four wheelchair spaces there are endless possibilities in regards to the design of your vehicles. Having these options available ensures that your vehicle will overcome any transportation scenario.

If you are looking to drive with a disability then getting your car adapted so that driving is safe and comfortable can be achieved by installing a number of items to your vehicle. These include hand-operated brake and acceleration controls, a control column type accessory to help with steering, a knob fitted to your steering wheel to make turning the wheel easier, adapted mirrors, safety belts and rotating seats.

Before you purchase a vehicle you should ensure that the car you want is able to be adapted to meet your needs. It may be an idea to contact the company that will carry out the adaptations to your car to confirm that the car you wish to buy is suitable for these modifications.

Although having a car adapted so that it is suitable for your needs will cost money, it may be possible to get some financial assistance towards this. It is worth investigating carefully, as conversion costs can be high on some models.

With today’s technologies we are seeing more people with disabilities driving and commuting. With the right adaptations to vehicles, the numbers can continue to grow.