Amazing developments in design and technology has enabled
manufacturers to develop automobiles that can be driven by motorists suffering
from disabilities. Many of these developments involve making the operating of
the car much easier by changing how it is controlled - this could include
replacing the steering wheel with a joystick, or replacing the pedals with hand
controls. In 2016, there were an
estimated 1.9 million disabled drivers in the UK, which made up approximately
6% of licensed drivers.
Are these Vehicles Dangerous?
Some may think that changing the way in which a car
operates will make it dangerous to drive. This is not the case, however, as a study revealed that disabled drivers
were not found to have a collision involvement that was different from the
total population. The reasoning for this is that any motorist, able-bodied or
not, must pass a test where they drive to a required standard. Although a
disabled motorist may operate the automobile differently, they must still drive
to the required standard.
Disabled motorists will learn in an adapted automobile
and from a tutor that specialises in teaching disabled drivers - this ensures
that they are able to operate an adapted automobile to the same standard that
an able-bodied motorist can operate a standard vehicle. The only difference
will be that the disabled driver’s license will show that they are only
licensed to drive an adapted vehicle and it will state what kind of adapted
automobile. Therefore, they will legally only be able to operate the type of
vehicle that they passed their test in and, consequently, disabled motorists
are just as safe as other users on the road.
The Major Reasons for Collisions
So, what are the major reasons for collisions? Studies show that failure to look is the
most commonly reported factor, whilst loss of control is the most frequently
reported factor in fatal accidents. Unsurprisingly, driving whilst over the
limit and users distracted on their smartphones remain very prevalent issues
that lead to many collisions. In terms of the type of motorist that is found to
be involved in the majority of collisions, young males remain the most
dangerous group.
The adaptations that have been made to automobiles to
enable disabled individuals to get behind the wheel are superb, with companies
like Allied Mobility leading the way. Due to
the fact that these motorists learned in one of these vehicles and passed their
test ensures that they are just as safe as other road users, whilst the main
reasons for collisions remain the same.