How has disability motoring advanced?
In the UK today, around 20% of the population are registered disabled, with just under half of that figure wheelchair-bound. The journeys that we make each and every day are simply not possible for some of those people without assistance from someone else but fortunately, developments in disability motoring are making the life of thousands of disabled people so much easier.
Let’s take a look at the developments in disability motoring
Technological advancements within the motor industry have increased tenfold since the turn of the millennium. Driverless cars is a concept that seemed like a pipe dream not so very long ago, and yet in 2020, it is more a question of when, instead of if, they could finally gain acceptance and be available for use on the UK roads. Driverless cars could provide a multitude of benefits, not least in terms of the independence using such vehicles could extend to many disabled people.
With the help of Lookers Ford, registered dealers of Ford Disability Cars, we look at how the engineering and technological developments of the motor vehicle industry have already positively impacted the lives of those living with disabilities and will, without doubt, continue to do so.
What is the history of disability vehicles?
Back in 1946, the NHS was beginning to find its feet and, simultaneously, hundreds of thousands of injured servicemen and women returned from the war. Bert Greeves, a French-born engineer and motorcycle enthusiast, invented the very first accessible motor-driven trike, to give some form of independence back to his cousin Derek. These vehicles were designed for one person and certain models could reach up to 82mph. Alongside the isolation these vehicles brought, they also weren’t particularly stylish, with even their owners referring to them as ‘noddy cars’.
What adaptions can be made?
For someone with a disability, it isn’t just a case of arriving at their local showroom and picking out the car they want based on horsepower or its in-built surround system. The ‘extras’ that could potentially be added are going to be a need rather than a want. For example, for those who have difficulty applying pressure to the standard-issue pedals, hand controls such as a push/pull lever can be fitted. Similarly, pedal modifications can be made, allowing drivers to adjust the position of the pedals when hitting the road.
Northern Irish woman Alison Lockhart who suffers from spina bifida suggests:
Having a vehicle professionally adapted to suit your needs opens up so many opportunities in employment and social activities, that otherwise would have been virtually impossible.”
Alison requires a wheelchair and recently purchased her new car that includes various adjustments including a steering ball. Working more than 20 miles from her house, her life would be completely different without her own car.
Back when Knight Rider appeared on our screens, no one can deny being fascinated, and a tad jealous, by David Hasselhoff’s ability to speak to his car. But voice activation in the car is no longer a concept relating to your old VHS player – it’s readily available with a simplistic Bluetooth feature in your car. Have you ever considered how much of a difference this function could make to someone with a disability on their daily journeys? Making a call home, navigating through a busy city centre or even turning the temperature up and down, can all be done via voice command.
What’s in store for the future?
Having taken a very brief look at the past, now let’s assess what the future holds for developments within the motoring industry and how it can further assist the lives of those living with a disability.
The news as of late is awash with the latest updates of autonomous vehicles – one simply can’t get away from it. Realistically, it won’t be any time soon before we see the arrival of driverless cars on our roads. However, the UK Government is set to amend the laws regarding this area within the next two years.
We have recently seen Google testing their new project, Waymo, labelled the world’s most experienced driver — and it’s a far cry away from Bernard Greeve’s initial development. Reports have already discussed how such cars will reduce the stress of parking, as they find the space for us. Similarly, free time will be in abundance due to the reduced hours spent behind a wheel when we could be doing so much else. But, more importantly, these advances could ultimately provide independence for millions of people across the world otherwise restricted by their disability.
The developed technologies touched on above, dating right back to 1946, have proved to be particularly beneficial in aiding those suffering from disabilities in getting through their day-to-day lives, and from the metaphorical A to B. However, the future looks to hold a whole lot more.
Sources
http://www.disabilitysport.org.uk/facts-and-figures-about-disabled-people-in-the-uk.html
https://www.motability.co.uk/cars-scooters-and-powerchairs/adaptations-overview/adaptations-available-on-the-scheme/
http://www.friarsmotorcompany.co.uk/brief-history-wheelchair-mobility-car/
https://waymo.com/