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Steering aids, push/pull brake & accelerator and secondary controls
Hand controls are additional control units usually fitted to the steering wheel. They allow driving functions to be controlled from one place and one hand, including braking and accelerating. There is a variety of different options available so speaking with one of our technical team is recommended to ensure your needs are met.
Clark and Partners can supply and fit a range of steering wheel attachments to aid drivers with restricted movement. From steering aids that turn the wheel, to remote controls for everything from the indicators to the windscreen wipers. Many are detachable meaning they won’t get in the way should someone else be driving the vehicle. We can take care of everything.
A push-pull brake and accelerator hand control can be used to accelerate or brake, depending on the direction it is pulled or pushed. Gently pulling the lever towards yourself smoothly accelerates the vehicle, whilst pushing it down with your palms or finger tips to brake. This way, the learned response to push to brake in an emergency is already in place.
There isn’t a hand control to operate clutch as the other hand is needed for remaining in control of steering the vehicle, so an automatic vehicle is necessary.
The vehicle can still be driven by others, the pedals are still usable. However, to prevent the driver using hand controls accidentally hitting the foot pedals, a hinged protector can be installed to shield them.
Often drivers with limited mobility may have their hands occupied with controlling a braking and accelerator hand control, leaving them with just the one hand to steer. Steering balls and pegs allow the driver to fully control the steering safely with just one hand.
Steering aids come in a range of different shapes to suit the user: ‘ball’, ‘mushroom’, ‘tulip’ and pegs. Most feature ‘quick release’ attachments to make changing drivers even speedier. However, some models are permanent fixtures.
When a combination of a steering aid and a hand control for braking and accelerating is in place, it leaves no spare hand for utilising secondary controls. As that leaves no free hands to control secondary controls like headlights and indicators, a wireless keypad can be added so the driver can use these functions with the same hand they are steering with.
This combined steering aid and secondary controller can be referred to as a ‘lollipop’ (left) because of its shape. See also the wireless key pad added to steering ball in the above section.
Some brake/accelerator hand controls can also be installed with an integrated indicator switch (right).
We have been adapting customer vehicles for many years and are familiar with the range of available options. Our technicians and surveyors based at our head office in Sheffield are on hand to discuss your options and help find the right solution. We have a fully adapted car with a variety of adaptions inside for you to view and try. As retailers of wheelchairs, powerchairs and mobility scooters, we also have extensive knowledge of how these products work with our equipment hoists.
We are Motability accredited and can therefore fit adaptations to cars for customers on the mobility scheme. New cars arrive to us before being delivered to the customer so we can complete any adaptions before customers receive their new car.
All work is carried out in our workshop based at our Sheffield Head Office based on the Dore House Industrial Estate (27A Orgreave Drive, S13 9NR). For this reason, anyone looking for Clark & Partners to carry out any adaptations should factor the transportation of the vehicle to and from the site, as well as aftercare of the equipment.
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