Appropriate vehicles for disabled drivers

By Stuart Johnston

Disabled drivers have specific needs when it comes to choosing a car . But according to experts in this field, when it comes down to making a buying decision, it’s pretty much down to personal requirements and taste.

Ari Seirlis, the CEO of the QuadPara Association of South Africa, says that it is impossible to single out any particular make or even style of car that could be considered the best vehicle for a disabled driver.

“It all depends on the level of the disability,” says Seirlis. “You have disabled people who need to be transported in their wheelchairs in vans or buses, and in these cases, one needs to look at the overall height of the vehicle, because some parking garages have roof heights that are too low to accept a tall bus or van.

“The other factor is how easily the floor of the van can be adapted. Most vans have a corrugated floor, and you need to ascertain whether a smooth plate or floor covering can be inserted easily so that the wheelchair can roll easily into position on the floor.

“It is worth pointing out here that there are requirements for securing both the wheelchairs and the passengers once they have been loaded into a bus or van. These mounting systems are SABS approved.”

What about cars that disabled drivers can operate?

Seirlis says that when it comes to paraplegics who are able to drive themselves, most cars on the market are suitable for this. But there are major considerations that need to addressed before a purchase decision is reached.

Transfer from the chair to the driver’s seat.

This is a critical factor for people in wheelchairs. The most important factor here is the seat height of the vehicle. Many wheelchair users enjoy the independence of being able to carry out this task themselves with no outside assistance. They transfer themselves into the driver’s seat, then fold up the wheelchair,  and hoist it over their laps into the passenger seat of the car.

Is an indicator stalk preferable on the right or left side of the steering column?

Once hand controls have been fitted to a vehicle, to operate the  accelerator and brake, the driver has to decide whether he or she is more agile using an indicator mounted on the left side of the steering column, or the right side.

What about boot space?

Seirlis says that boo space is naturally a prime consideration, and, if the driver can afford it, he recommends opting either for an SUV or estate car (station wagon). But many sedans and hatchbacks also have boot spaces able to accommodate wheelchair.

If a wheelchair hoist is to be used, where should it be mounted?

Seirlis says that there are pros and cons to the mounting position of a wheelchair hoist, which lifts the chair onto the roof rack of a car and automatically secures it. If the hoist is mounted for side-hoisting, this requires more space in a parking area to the side of the vehicle. For hoists mounted at the rear, this prevents the vehicle from being used as a tow vehicle.

Should the car chosen be an automatic transmission car?

Ari Seirlis says that in almost all cases he would recommend using an automatic transmission car for paraplegic drivers, although he knows of some cases where manual transmission cars have been converted to hand-control use.

What other considerations should disabled drivers take into account?

Air conditioning is important, because disabled people often suffer from hot weather more. Other comfort considerations to consider are electric seat height and reach adjustment.

Does the fitting of hand controls devalue a vehicle?

All modern hand control units these days are adjustable and easy to install on a variety of  modern cars. They are designed to quickly mount to the accelerator and brake mechanisms of modern cars without the need for any cutting or drilling. So they can be easily removed without devaluing the vehicle.

What about car hire for disabled drivers?

QASA has hand controls available for hire for disabled drivers who want to hire a car after flying in to a city far from their home base. QASA will arrange for these controls to be delivered to an airport at the required time.

 Seirlis says that Avis also has cars available at most airports in South Africa for disabled drivers. It is recommended that disabled drivers wanting to hire a car should  contact the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) by visiting www.qasa.co.za.

Do disabled drivers receive any purchasing benefits, when buying a new car?

QASA points out that if a disabled driver buys a fully imported vehicle (not a locally assembled car), then he or she is entitled to a full rebate on the import duty on such a car. This can amount to a very large discount on the price of a new car.

What are Ari Seirlis’s three favourite cars for disabled drivers?

“I have been a huge fan of the Subaru Outback for many years. The seat height suits me perfectly for transfer from my chair to the vehicle.

“As far as smaller cars are concerned, QASA has had very good service from the Toyota Corolla sedan, which has good luggage space. And as far as hatchbacks are concerned, we found the Hyundai i20 to be very good, especially as far as its light power steering is concerned.”