Adaptations for upper body difficulty

If you struggle or have limited mobility with your upper body whilst driving, then there are many vehicle adaptations that can be fitted to help you. Or if you’re under the impression that you can’t drive because of an upper body disability, don’t be!

In this post we want to share with you the most popular adaptations available that help to alleviate pain and create a more comfortable and safe driving experience for people with reduced upper body mobility.

Steering Aids

Steering aids are a popular driving adaptation that assist drivers with limited hand movement or arm strength by reducing the force required to steer. There are different variations of steering aids, but essentially it is a mechanism that that spins around, allowing the user to rotate the steering wheel using just one arm rather than having two hands gripping the wheel.

You can find more detailed information about what types of steering aids are available here.

Gearshift and Handbrake Easy Release

The Gearshift Easy Release is designed for drivers with limited hand movement by reducing the amount of grip required to move the gearshift and eliminates the requirements to depress the button. The handle enables the driver to use their whole hand rather than the thumb and fingers, making it especially useful for those with limited dexterity and/or grip.

The handbrake easy release works in the same way – It is fitted over a standard handbrake and allows the driver to engage the button without flexing their thumb joint.

Secondary Controls

Secondary Controls allow drivers with limited mobility to operate a range of secondary functions such as the indicators, horn, headlights, wipers and washers all from one device. This is particularly beneficial for drivers using hand controls to operate the accelerator and brake as well as the steering as it can be dangerous to release those controls in order to operate secondary functions.

Drivers with limited arm strength / mobility can also benefit from Secondary Controls as it can be difficult or painful when reaching to operate secondary functions.

Our vehicle adaptation specialists are on hand to help. You can arrange an individual assessment with us where we will be able to advise you on the best adaptations to suit your needs, just get in touch with us here.