Driving & Cars
Driving Licence
Now you need to know that driving is not one of my 'must do items', in fact I am not that keen. I do not mind it when I can get on the motorway or an open road and enjoy the drive, but I am not keen on traffic and congested town driving.
Never-the-less, I do hold a full car licence and am obliged to notify the DVLA about any changes that might impact upon my ability to drive. I went to the DVLA website and filled in a form that was then submitted. This resulted in an A4 envelope full of information leaflets and an application form for a new picture card licence. This caused various confusing questions.
- There is no cost involved for this application.
- A photo must be supplied.
- If you have a new British Passport, you do not need to get the photo signed.
- You need to specify the extent of your disability.
When you have completed the form, send it back and after a week or two you will receive a new style licence. The odds are that it will not have any restrictions, other than the fact that any car or vehicle you drive must be suitably adapted to meet your disability. The first criteria affecting this is whether it is a right or left leg amputation.
Left Leg
An automatic or semi-automatic transmission (No clutch)
Manual transmission with a hand clutch conversion
Right Leg
- Modified accelerator pedal for left foot use (Usually a folding pedal that goes out the way for other drivers)
- Hand controlled accelerator
- Automatic transmission
Manual transmission with a hand clutch conversion
The main point being that the car must be suitable to be driven with suitable adaptation to meet your the limitations .
Points to watch
It is difficult as an above-knee-amputee to discern where your foot is and there is a tendency for it to move around as you drive due to bumps and road shocks, so if you drive with your leg on, you must be very careful as you can find your foot has displaced itself under the brake pedal and you only find out when things are going wrong.
Cars
Most medium size cars will accommodate a wheelchair in the boot. Small cars present a challenge, but there are good and not so good models out there. There is no doubt that almost all the cars can take a wheelchair with the rear seats laid flat, but you will find it is easier to lift a wheelchair in vertically than it is horizontally. I found that the Honda Jazz gave the best amount of usable room and ease of use, also the VW Polo, Ford Fusion and Nissan Note seem to offer good facilities. Always try before you buy. You may have to compromise but in the long term your care giver will thank you for not giving them a bad back.
I also found a strap fitted to the seat mountings that secures the wheelchair in place is worthwhile, as it stops it continually banging on the rear window.
Still not enough room for the family luggage as well!
Using a bike rack from Halfords we devised a wheelchair rack that could fit on the rear of the car to free up the boot space.
Normally the rack is mounted so that the bikes hang from the out-stretched supports, but by turning it upside done and mounting a plywood base it was possible to stand the chair securely in place. The plywood was varnished to provide water protection and an additional number plate will be required.
To use this kind of adaptation, your car must be fitted with wing mirrors, which on modern cars is fairly standard.
VAT relief available on the purchase and maintenance of cars.
If you buy a NEW car, have it modified by the supplier for
disabled use, the car is then zero rated for VAT...ie the purchase price,
servicing, repairs , tyres etc.
If you require more info. on this, ring HM Revenue & Customs (0845 302 0203)
select Option 3 and ask for a copy of "Motor vehicles for disabled
people" Notice 701/59 March 2002.
Motorbikes
It is still possible to ride a motorbike, but this also will need suitable adaptation. The foot gear change lever can be moved and hand controls used to work the rear brake. The biggest problem would be balance when the bike is stationary.
Support Agencies
There is the Blue Badge scheme that gives you the ability to use reserved car parking spaces and also the Motability scheme that provides cars, wheelchairs & electric scooters for people with disabilities. Go to the Support & Agencies page for details.