Driving lessons in a disability adapted car (left foot accelerator?)

[feltpens 10]

Can anyone recommend a driving instructor in Sheffield who has a left foot accelerator adaptation in their car?

 

My right leg works OK for walking but I can't use it to drive with (due to some unusual knee problems). I was hoping this would give me an excuse to avoid learning, but my partner has recently had a seizure and can't drive at the moment, so I am biting the bullet! Or at least I will be if I can find a driving instructor.

 

I have a plan B, which is to get an automatic car now and get it adapted, then have lessons in my own car... I do not want to have to carry out plan B! Am sensing the insurance would make this a very expensive option.

 

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

 

(also, any advice from anyone else who had to learn to drive with their left leg... I had some lessons with my right leg before my knee problems got worse, so I am hoping my brain has forgotten the experience and doesn't get too confused!)

[Lancs_Lad 10]

I don't know of any in the Sheffield area but if you contact Clarke and Partners they may know of someone to assist you. There are one or two specialist driving schools around the country but I dn't know of any locally. http://www.qef.org.uk/ offer specialist help but unfortunately they're in Surrey. You could try and contact them and see if they know of any other companies in this area.

[muddycoffee 10]

I suspect the car would have to be an automatic anyhow for that kind of adaption.

 

You would probably have to go through medical assesments before even being allowed to drive, as this kind of disability would have to be notified to the DVLA, and they would require medical assesment.

 

I work which a chap who has reduced mobility in one leg due to MS. He has to go through regular testing to keep on the road and he has had his license indorsed as he is not allowed to use a motorcycle any longer, not that he would want to. He is now only allowed to drive cars also.

Edited May 3, 2012 by muddycoffee

[IRONMONGER 10]

Having driven right footed for 42 years an accident left my right leg disabled. I did not think that I would drive again.

Clark and Partners adapted my car but I still couldn't drive it. I took it back and Clark's were extremely helpful, after some fine tuning I took to the road.

I wasn't very safe at first. My advice is to find a really quiet road, my wife took me up to Redmires Dam every day, and practice, practice and practice.

Now I can reverse safely into my very tight garage and over the past few months have driven over most of the country.

[newstar 10]

I've taught people to drive using their left foot, if you would like to give me a call, happy to see if I can help.

[tahititwo 10]

Just a quick question have you thought of hand controls? A friend of mine doesn`t have use of his legs and his auto car was adapted with them, pull to brake & pushed to accelarate (sp)

[medusa 16]

Just a quick question have you thought of hand controls? A friend of mine doesn`t have use of his legs and his auto car was adapted with them, pull to brake & pushed to accelarate (sp)

 

^^^What s/he says!

 

If you have a car which is adapted to have a left foot accelerator it's expensive, it needs to be done to every car you have and it stops anybody else from driving the car because of the adaptions.

 

If you have a car that's got hand controls you have a bit of kit that you can add and remove from the car that means that you can move it from car to car (usually) and because of this you can remove the kit and whoever else is around can drive the car too.

[newstar 10]

If you have the option of left foot accelerator or hand controls, I woud go for the left foot accelerator as this leaves you with both hands to steer and use other controls such as windscreen wipers etc.

 

^^^What s/he says!

 

If you have a car which is adapted to have a left foot accelerator it's expensive, it needs to be done to every car you have and it stops anybody else from driving the car because of the adaptions.

 

If you have a car that's got hand controls you have a bit of kit that you can add and remove from the car that means that you can move it from car to car (usually) and because of this you can remove the kit and whoever else is around can drive the car too.

Edited May 4, 2012 by newstar

[feltpens 10]

Thanks very much everyone for the comments and suggestions, it's much appreciated!

 

I know someone else who had a driving assessment to get advice on the best adaptations for them, so maybe that's what I need to do next - I had assumed the left foot pedal would be best, but maybe not. I read it was possible to get a pedal that flips up and down so others could use the car right footed (my partner also prefers an automatic car but uses the normal leg) but I don't know much about it. Doesn't look like there is a mobility centre in Sheffield unfortunately, but I think that's probably a good next move!

 

Just reread my first message and realised it didn't make it clear that I can't actually drive yet! I had some lessons in a manual car ages ago when my right leg worked a bit better, but never passed. So I need to start from scratch rather than practising with the new adaptation on my own. I'll definitely be getting in touch with the instructors who have posted here/been recommended through PM when I know a bit more about what I need!

 

Thanks again everyone.

[newstar 10]

You are correct in what you are saying. You can alternate the pedal depending on the user.

[Saxon 10]

If you contact BSM, the person who teaches in the automatic for them (called Lee) has had specialist training in teaching people wih your kind of disability and last time I spoke to him, I'm certain he said that he carried all sorts of adaptations for his car

 

Might be with a call rather than just going for a normal automatic

[Happy25 10]

Definitely agree with Saxon on this one. Lee is a fantastic instructor.