• A specially-converted Ford Transit van could make independent travel a reality for hundreds of severely disabled people.
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The Transit has been adapted for the Department of Transport's Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service (MAVIS) to enable severely disabled wheelchair users to enter and drive the vehicle entirely independently.
"Van like this have been in use by disabled people in North America for some years now," says Junior Transport Minister Peter Bottomley, "but this is the first time that such a vehicle has been made available in the UK." The conversion includes: D Automatic opening and closing side and rear doors which can be operated either by a key or through infra-red remote control; Ci Side and rear wheelchair lift, also operated by key or remote control; O A "drop floor pan" which allows a person in a wheelchair to take up the driving position. The seating height can be altered according to the driver's needs and a wheelchair locking device secures the wheelchair for driving pErposes; L l Power-assisted steering needing only 4Nin of effort.
O A rotary throttle and braking system with vacuum-assisted braking, operated by either the right hand or left hand; O A cantilever hand brake.