Motoring with a rthritis Contents ricability R Driving with arthritis 3 Choosing a car Choosing a car Plan of action 3 Details of features that Choosing a car 4 may help you and ways of Products and techniques 5 adapting a car Finance 9 A guide for older and disabled people 2011 Further information 10 ricability R Car c o ntrols Car controls Information on adapted This Rica booklet outlines some of the controls for dri v ing, the key things to think about when choosing different types and or adapting a vehicle for someone who how to g et them has arthritis. We tell you about useful A guide for older and disabled people 2011 features on standard cars and the ricability Getting a Getting awheelchair into acar specialist products and techniques t h at wheelchair into a car might help you. Information on equipment This information comes from to help you stow or carry a consultation with people with arthritis wheelchair 10 N 20 IO A guide for older and disabled people IT and other experts. Product and price ED ricability information comes from Rica’s market Getting in and out of a car Ge tting in research – use it as a guide only and shop and out of a car around for the best price. More detailed guidance on choosing Techniques that may help and using a car can be found in the Rica and details of equipment guides shown here. Request free copies that is available A guide for older and disabled people Spring 2011 by post or read them on our website: ricability Wheelchair accessible vehicles Wheelchair 020 7427 2460 www.rica.org.uk accessible vehicles I The website also has the Car sear ch Information on converted tool that lets you search for cars by their vehicles to carry you in measurements and will help you find a A guide for older and disabled people 2011 your wheelchair car to suit you. Family cars Mobility address list Issues affecting families of Addresses of all adaptation disabled children and suppliers and car converters information about cars and in the UK and details of the standard and specialist services they offer equipment 2 Driving with arthritis Plan of action Having a car and being able to drive can 1 Ask some basic questions provide a great deal of independence. Think about what you may need in future However, pain, weakness and stiff joints as well as about what suits you now. can make it difficult to get in and out of a Prepare to compromise as you may not car and use the controls. Sitting in the find everything in one car. same position for a long period of time How will you get in and out? Do you can also lead to backache and tiredness. need wide or high doors, or specialist You must tell the Driver and Vehicle equipment to help? See Products and Licensing Agency (DVLA) and your techniques (page 5). insurance company if your arthritis Will you be comfortable in the seat? affects your ability to drive, especially if And will you be able to reach the you need adapted controls. controls? For further information: Will you need specialist controls? There l go to www.gov.uk/driving-medical- is a big range – from simple gadgets to conditions or more complex controls (see pages 6-8). l get What you need to know about What equipment will you carry? Think driving licences (D100) from a about everyday and occasional use. Post Office. Do you use a wheelchair? Will you load it into the boot or travel sitting in it? If you wear splints to support your Will you need extra space for joints, ask your Occupational Therapist specialist equipment? (OT) if it’s appropriate to wear them when driving. If they make driving 2 Collect information difficult, the OT may adapt them. Start with motoring magazines, the If you have recently had surgery, ask internet and manufacturers’ brochures. your doctor to advise you when it will be You can also try the following: safe to drive again. Disability Now Learning to drive (www.disabilitynow.org.uk) has reviews and articles by disabled drivers. If you are learning to drive or Disabled Motoring UK (see page 10) returning to driving with publishes a monthly magazine with adaptations, you will benefit reviews and articles. from lessons with a specialist Mobility Centres (see page 10) offer instructor. They use cars with driving assessments and tell you what adapted controls or will teach equipment will suit you. Charges vary you in your own vehicle. from centre to centre – up to £130. It’s DMUK or your Mobility Centre free in Scotland if you are referred by a (see page 10) will help you find GP. It’s free UK-wide under Motability’s an instructor locally. Managed Adaptation Programme. 3 Mobility Roadshows and Motability One Big Day (see page 11) to see and try Choosing a car out vehicles and adaptations. Motability (see page 11) have a list of Cars with automatic transmission and accredited car dealers with specialist power assisted steering can be easier to knowledge and facilities for disabled drive if you don’t have much strength in people. They have free guides, in print your shoulders, hands or arms. Other and on their website. helpful features such as height-adjustable seats and steering are found on a wide 3 Try out before buying range of cars too. The less a car has to be Try any car you are considering. Dealers modified, the higher its resale value. may bring one to your house and should If you are going to get a standard car, be able to find an automatic version. Try use the list below to tick the features you getting in and out several times. If you might find useful. Alternatively, Products use a wheelchair, check that it fits. You and techniques (pages 5-8) tells you might be able to try out adapted cars at about equipment that might help. a Mobility Centre or an adaptation firm. They will also tell you if the adaptations GETTING IN AND OUT can be fitted to your chosen car. If your joints are stiff and painful, you may need a large door opening, so you 4 Get plenty of practice can get in and out without having to Make sure that you are not driving with bend too much. If you have weakness or adaptations for the first time when you tenderness, or find reaching difficult, collect the car. Your adaptation smaller doors are easier. Two and three company may have a demonstration door cars generally have wider doorways model and they must give you the than four and five door ones. Look for: chance to try your adapted car before l doors which move smoothly and you take it away. aren't stiff Mobility Centres can help you find l door openings that suit your needs specialist driving instructors locally. l no sills or low, narrow sills l conveniently placed handholds l seat heights that suit you Car search l electrically operated seats which adjust both ways, so you get the best n Rica has an online database of position for getting in and for driving. car measurements. n Search for cars with wide LOCKING AND IGNITION doors, low sills or lots of l remote and central locking headroom or look for a boot l keyless entry system – a card to to fit your wheelchair. unlock and start the car n Go to www.rica.org.uk and l push button start follow the link for the Car l windows that close automatically search tool. when the car is locked. 4 MOTORING WITH ARTHRITIS PRIMARY CONTROLS Products and For steering, braking and accelerating: techniques l automatic transmission can make driving less stressful and make the If your arthritis makes it difficult, tiring controls easier to adapt or painful to get in and out or drive a l power assisted steering – on some standard car , there is a range of cars the effort needed can be equipment and adaptations available to lightened by the dealership or by help. These pages, and our other guides specialist converters (see page 2), give more information. You l cruise control to maintain a constant can also get individual advice from a speed Mobility Centre (see page 10). l handbrakes can be stiff if you have a The equipment and adaptations weak hand and wrist – check that you described here are available from can put it on and off specialist suppliers and installers. You l some cars have electronic, push can find these in our Mobility address list . button handbrakes and you can have If friends or family also drive your car, one fitted to many others. make sure your adaptations do not prevent them from doing so or get SECONDARY CONTROLS in their way. For things like the horn, lights and indicators. Try to find a model where these are in the best position for you Accessories and l ook for: l electric windows n Easifuel holds the trigger open l electric and heated door mirrors on petrol pumps (£2.99; call l panoramic rear view mirror 020 8302 8858 to try before l heated windscreen you buy). l automatic wipers and lights n Car Caddie and Handybar l parking distance sensor – sounds if provide an additional hand hold you are near an obstacle when getting in and out. One l reversing camera attaches to the top of the l park assist – steers the car into the window frame, the other to the parking space for parallel parking.