Motor vehicle adaptation for the physically handicapped

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Motor vehicle adaptation or retrofitting for the physically handicapped refers to the conversion of the facilities of a standard motor vehicle for use and control by physically handicapped drivers .

Factual background

The car is an essential part of individual mobility . This is even more true of people with disabilities. In the case of severe physical impairments such as loss of limbs or paralysis, however, the operating elements of the motor vehicle provided for the average person often cannot be operated or cannot be operated safely enough.

In order to enable entry and exit and, in particular, the transition between wheelchair and driver's seat and to meet increased requirements for maintaining the driver's condition, additional fittings and equipment are necessary.

With a now comprehensive adaptation technology, motor vehicles can be adapted to the needs of disabled people. This supports their participation in work and social life.

Technique of adaptation

In order to adapt the motor vehicle to the needs and possibilities of physically handicapped drivers, additional devices are usually attached to the standard operating parts, which enable operation. The original controls are mostly retained in order not to impair the possibility of use by other people (e.g. family members) or the resale value of the vehicle.

The manual execution of the retrofitting takes place in workshops that have specialized in this area. Increasingly, more and more vehicle manufacturers are offering a suitably equipped vehicle ex works or in cooperation with retrofitters.

Vehicle control

For people with impairments of the lower extremities , devices can be mounted on the foot-operated accelerator and brake pedals , which lead at the height of the steering wheel and which can be operated by hand on suitable controls ( hand throttle , handbrake , handheld control unit ). If the right leg is impaired, the pedals can also be relocated . The normally foot-operated clutch can be replaced by an automatic clutch or an automatic transmission .

For small people, the pedals can be reached by means of extension or attachment pedals . Extension pedals are mounted directly on the footplate of the original pedal. For reasons of stability, the maximum length is approx. 10 cm. Attachment pedals are attached to a cross member mounted on the steering column or on the vehicle floor and connected to the original pedals via push rods.

For people with impairments of the upper extremities , the hand-operated steering wheel can be fitted with a knob or replaced by foot-operated steering or, more recently, by small, electronically operated lever or joystick steering elements.

Entry and body security

In order to allow the entry and exit, or to facilitate, the hindrance depending on the type patient lift , Hubsitze , swing seats , slide boards , up hoists or vehicle lowering installed. Further technical features to facilitate entry and exit are automatic remote-controlled door openers , sliding doors instead of pivoting doors, seats with flat side edges, electric seat adjustment and seat rail extensions .

To secure and support the body while driving, special seat fittings can be installed, for example with lumbar support or raised side edges and protruding backrest edges.

Using the example of the different suitability of either flattened or raised seat side edges, it can be seen particularly clearly that in the context of disability-related adaptations, contradicting requirements often have to be brought into line at one and the same place or compromises have to be made.

Safety and signaling devices

If the switches for lights , windshield wipers , indicators , hazard warning lights and horn, which are usually attached to the side of the steering wheel, can not be operated as intended, but there are better options for action with the other hand, operating levers are switched from one side to the other. Alternatively, "central controls " with several easy-to-use pushbuttons or control satellites can be attached to the steering wheel. For the exterior mirror and window adjustment, electric motor adjustments and drives with pushbutton switches can be installed.

Vehicle air conditioning

For people with physical impairments and allergies , air conditioning and breathing air conditioning are of increased importance. For this purpose, auxiliary heaters , seat heaters , air conditioning systems , dust and pollen filters can be installed.

Wheelchair transport

If a wheelchair is to be taken, which is difficult to load into the vehicle for a physically handicapped person, loading aids can be installed. The devices range from simple hand-operated cable systems with lifting boom to fully automatic mechanical transport of the folded wheelchair from the position next to the driver's seat to the trunk or in a special container on the roof with a Rollstuhlverladegerät .

Adaptation through model selection

Selection according to the equipment

Some car manufacturers offer special conversions ex works. At the same time, however, equipment that was previously reserved for luxury vehicles or the individual conversion business is increasingly being incorporated into series production . Typical objects of this are power steering , brake servo , automatic transmission , power windows , air conditioning, pollen filter, heated seats, electric seat adjustment , electric exterior mirrors , electric parking brake , central locking , door opening via radio, cruise control etc. In company-specific different ways this equipment is already included in base models, partly they are available on request or with certain special models.

By selecting appropriately equipped models, a vehicle can often be procured from the factory in the configuration that is optimal for a certain physically handicapped user. The current possibilities of the trade also allow a certain car model to be equipped ex works with additional components as desired, provided the manufacturer has provided this. Such a selection can be made on the home PC via the Internet with a model configurator . All car manufacturers on the German market support this form of customized series production. The aim is to manufacture customer-specific products at costs that are not or only slightly higher than in classic series production.

Selection according to vehicle dimensions

A large part of the problems for physically handicapped drivers lies in the design of the motor vehicle. On the one hand, this is optimized in terms of driving technology, for example through streamlined shapes and energy-saving size , and on the other hand, through the use of anthropometric standards and the ergonomically proven average body mobility.

The average non-disabled driver sits down on the side of the seat at the low car door with a combined crouching and bending position, then pulls his head and legs into the vehicle compartment and bends back out to grasp the door conclude. A person with paraplegia, for example, can only understand this movement process with great difficulty, and seniors are no longer able to do this so well. Another problem area would be the arrangement and size of the load space or trunk , which determine how well a wheelchair can be lifted into and loaded there with little effort.

A car that would avoid these different individual problems would often have to be designed like a minibus with low-floor technology or other complex special designs. Since this solution is considerably more expensive both financially and in terms of driving, most physically handicapped drivers still opt for an adapted and possibly converted standard car.

From the perspective of the body design and dimensions, there are also models here that are suitable to different degrees for a person with an individual disability and their intensity characteristics. The question is, what criteria can be used to select appropriate models. So far, no practical, handy indicators in the form of "suitability classes" have been used. However, certain dimensions can be identified on the vehicle that are related to specific problems in a linear context. For the above problem with the door entry, the primary indicators would be, for example, the door height and door width as well as the door opening angle and the seat surface height. Because of the different arrangements and the differently curved lines in each model, they are not absolute indicators, but they do provide important clues primarily by comparing competing car models of the same class (in the sense of "door at X is larger or smaller than at Y") for the selection decision.

Part of the body dimensions and their measurement points are in DIN 70020-1 "Automotive Engineering, terms of dimensions" standardized . The aim is to record the dimensions of all cars and make them available for selection decisions.

The table and pictures show a compilation of such dimensions.

Drawing
Digit		 Designation in DIN 70020-1 Dimension code in
DIN 70020-1
1 Entry height at the front H 115
2 R-point driver's seat up to standing level H 5
3 Effective leg room at the front, R point to the accelerator pedal L 34
4th Steering wheel to seat cushion H 74
5 Height of tailgate opening to standing level H 195
6th Height of luggage compartment floor to level H 250
7th Height of the lower edge of the opened tailgate up to standing level H 251
8th smallest width between the wheel arches W 202
Selected dimensions according to DIN on the car driver's seat
Selected dimensions according to DIN on the car hold

Legal provisions

This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

Driving license with converted motor vehicle

The German Driving License Ordinance (FeV) regulates the official approval of people to drive vehicles in road traffic .

According to Section 2 of the FeV, people may only participate in traffic if precautions have been taken so that they do not endanger others. "The duty of precaution, namely by attaching suitable equipment to vehicles, by replacing missing limbs with artificial limbs [...] is incumbent on the road user himself."

According to § 11 of the FeV "can driving license authorities if facts become known, justify the concerns about the suitability of the license applicant, order the Teach a specialist medical advice by the applicants. The applicant has to bear the costs. ”Article 7 of the Second EU Driving License Directive or Directive 91/439 / EEC states that a. The issue of the driving license depends on the fulfillment of health requirements in accordance with Annexes II and III of the directive.

The assessment guidelines for driving aptitude issued by the German Federal Minister of Transport and Annex III of the Second EU Driving License Directive specify the minimum requirements for defined clinical pictures and disabilities with regard to physical and mental fitness for driving a motor vehicle.

Section 23 of the FeV states, among other things: “If the applicant is only partially suitable for driving motor vehicles, the driving license authority can issue the driving license [...] subject to the necessary conditions. The restriction can in particular extend to […] a specific vehicle with special equipment. ”These restrictions and requirements are entered on the back of the EU driving license in column 12 in the form of coded key numbers. These key figures are regulated uniformly across Europe in the EU Directive 2006/126 / EC. In the version according to German law, the same is specified and described with some national additions in Appendix 9 (to Section 25 Paragraph 3) of the Driving License Ordinance.

In the event that a driver's license holder needs special modifications to the vehicle after illness or an accident with remaining physical impairment, the "precaution" according to § 2 FeV could be carried out independently without a new driving test. However, this behavior becomes critical for the physically handicapped driver if there is an accident and those affected express doubts about their ability to drive.

A report to the driver's license office with subsequent entry of the vehicle adaptations in the driver's license, on the other hand, would officially prove the vehicle's ability to drive and that adequate precautions are taken. Section 11, Paragraph 4, Clause 2 states: "The provision of an opinion by an officially recognized expert or inspector for motor vehicle traffic can be ordered to clarify doubts about suitability [...] [...] in the case of disabilities of the musculoskeletal system, in order to determine whether the disabled person drives the vehicle can lead safely with the necessary special technical aids. "

The submission of a report from an officially recognized expert or inspector for motor vehicle traffic (at the TÜV) can be ordered for clarification in the event of disabilities of the musculoskeletal system in order to determine whether the disabled person can drive the vehicle safely with the necessary special technical aids. This report can take the form of a test drive ( driving test ) with the converted vehicle accompanied by the examiner from the registration office. If the process is satisfactory, the examiner will enter the EU code number ("key numbers") for the technical equipment he has found during the exam directly in the existing driver's license. The driving test is completed with a training vehicle that contains the necessary conversions. In the case of very extensive conversions, your own vehicle is even used for training after completion.

Approval of the converted vehicle

The Vehicle Registration Ordinance - FZV currently regulates the official registration of vehicles for road traffic. The converted vehicle must be presented to the technical inspection center for assessment. The test center will possibly enter modifications and adjustments made in the vehicle registration document and initiate a driving test. It is therefore advisable to discuss the necessary conversions with the test center before converting or purchasing a converted vehicle in order to enable the test and approval to run smoothly. In order to avoid time-consuming and costly tests, it is also advisable to commission those companies that are authorized or recommended by the manufacturer for retrofitting. These companies carry out their conversions in coordination with the manufacturers, who, on a case-by-case basis, have to submit a "declaration of no objection" about the conversions to the test center.

Cost subsidy / financing

Depending on the case, statutory accident insurance , statutory pension insurance , the Federal Employment Agency and the providers of accompanying assistance in work and professional life can provide financial help in acquiring a suitable vehicle . The health insurance companies are clearly out of the question. The services provided by the various providers are all based on the requirements of the “Motor Vehicle Aid for the Participation of Disabled People in Working Life” or the Motor Vehicle Aid Ordinance (Kfz-HV), which is intended to facilitate the reintegration of disabled people into working life.

For additional equipment that is required due to the disability, its installation, its technical inspection and the restoration of its technical functionality, the costs will be fully covered upon reintegration, § 7 Kfz-HV. The funding is independent of the applicant's income or assets.

However, there it is also stipulated that instead of vehicle assistance, a subsidy for the transport of the disabled person , in particular by transport services , can be provided if this is more economical and reasonable for the disabled person. The same applies in the event that the disabled person cannot drive the vehicle himself and there is no guarantee that a third party will drive the vehicle for him.

According to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (KraftStG), the holding of vehicles for severely disabled people with the symbols “H”, “Bl” or “aG” in the severely disabled ID card (helpless, blind or extremely disabled) is exempt from tax. The vehicle tax is reduced by 50% for severely disabled people with an orange-colored area marking in the severely disabled person's pass (approved for free transport in local public transport) if the right to free transport is not used. An application must be submitted for this.

literature

Overview of relevant regulations

This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

Overview of relevant standards

  • DIN 13249 passenger cars for people with reduced mobility - requirements (current edition January 1993 and draft May 2006)
  • DIN 70010 system of road vehicles - terms for motor vehicles, vehicle combinations and trailers (current edition 4.2001)
  • DIN 70020-1 road vehicles ; Automotive engineering; Terms of dimensions (current edition February 1993)
  • ISO 3958 road vehicles; Passenger cars, hand reach of the driver

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b The business with mobility . Mirror online
  2. ↑ a b Handelsblatt.com on April 25, 2006
  3. ↑ Full text of the driver's license regulation. Federal Ministry of Justice
  4. ↑ Directive 91/439 / EEC (PDF; 254 kB)
  5. ↑ Assessment guidelines  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.bast.de  
  6. ↑ Directive 2006/126 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 20, 2006 on the driving license (new version) ( Memento of December 4, 2013 in the web archive archive.today )
  7. ↑ Traffic portal , FeV Annex 9
  8. ↑ Vehicle registration regulation in full.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Federal Ministry of Justice@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.gesetze-im-internet.de  
  9. ↑ Motor Vehicle Aid Ordinance, wording