The reason for having disabled vehicles is in order for disabled people to be able to get about without having to rely on dial a ride or public transport. There are several varieties of mobility vehicles available on the market and out of them all, the ones with rear access doors are more common. By converting a vehicle for those with disability, the aim is to achieve an improvement in both safety as well as comfort for the disabled people.
Out of all the variety of mobility vehicles that are available on the market, the small mobility van is proving to be one of the most popular types. Due to the increase in demand for these disabled vehicles, major car manufacturers are producing custom made vehicles.
There are several major features that go into producing a mobility vehicle. One of the major ones is a light weight ramp that is often incorporated into the design of the vehicle. Sometimes they are electrically operated and others are operated via a winch system. Larger mobility vehicles have lifts that bring the disabled person into the vehicle with a minimum of effort. These lifts or ramps will usually be located at the rear of the vehicle or in some cases, the side.
Other features that are very essential in a mobility vehicle are things like tie downs for the wheelchair, lug spaces and seat belts for other passengers. In most cases the mobility vehicles come with power steering and also automatic gearbox. Other features are ones such as extra sensors that enable the driver to know what's going on in the vehicle and also additional seating so children can accompany the disabled person on shorter journeys.
There are two main types of mobility vehicles. One is where the disabled person is able to drive the vehicle themselves with the help of specially converted controls. The other type is built to carry a disabled person in their wheelchair while being driven by someone else.
Another special feature of a mobility vehicle is the raised roof or lowered floor of the vehicle that is needed to permit entry to the vehicle by the disabled person. If the disabled person is particularly tall, then special attention will need to be given while selecting the right kind of mobility vehicle. Width wise, most mobility vehicles will be okay as almost all wheelchairs are made to an industry standard.
As you can tell, there is a lot of thought needed when looking to buy a mobility vehicle and the above is only an outline of what to consider. As purchasing a disabled vehicle outright is a big decision, leasing one may be an option that would be worth your while considering.
