One of the most important disability charities has effectively just celebrated its 100th anniversary. Here Ransome Mobility, who supply adapted cars for sale in Norfolk as well as our home county of Suffolk, look at the history and influence of Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK).
How it All Started
Originally known as the Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club, it was formed by a group of First World War amputees at a hospital in Roehampton who wanted to organise activities for the veterans, including motor races. The club went on to receive official government approval in the 1930s.
Just after the Second World War, a Mr O. A. Denley (‘Denny’) who was paralysed from the waist down due to polio, crossed the Swiss Alps on a petrol-powered disability motor trike, which gave more exposure and inspiration to the group. Denny later founded the Invalid Tricycle Association, which later became known as the Disabled Drivers’ Association.
In 2005 the DDA merged with the Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club after years of working alongside each other. Initially, the new group was called Mobilise, but this was changed to Disabled Motoring UK to avoid confusion with any other groups.
What Do They Do
DMUK (and its various predecessors) have an excellent track record in campaigning for, and raising awareness of, disabled motorists’ rights. In the 1960s and 1970s it was instrumental in helping to get the various parking badges introduced. Starting first with Yellow and Orange Badges before the introduction of the Blue Badges we all know today.
It has also led to the creation of other groups, such as Motability, and spearheaded the campaigning for a number of causes including VAT and congestion charge exemptions for disabled motorists. They don’t concentrate solely on cars; they also support the many disabled drivers who use powered scooters.
The Challenges Ahead
DMUK faces a number of challenges in the years ahead. Probably the biggest of these future challenges will be the switch to electric vehicles by the year 2030. After this date, the sale of new all-petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned in the UK, as part of the drive towards net zero carbon emissions, and disabled vehicles will not be exempt.
The charity also needs to ensure that there are enough vehicles either being manufactured or are suitable for conversion, and that there are enough accessible charging points for disabled drivers.
This is all on top of a continuing fight to ensure that rights that have already been won are not lost. For example, the organisation is currently running a Baywatch campaign which highlights problems with and abuses of the Blue Badge scheme and disabled parking spaces.
Adapted Cars for Sale in Norfolk from Ransome Mobility
Ransome Mobility, like Disabled Motoring UK, recognise that every disabled person is different and will therefore have their own specific needs and preferences when it comes to getting around.
Some of you may like to carry on driving, whereas others of you will prefer to be passengers. At the same time, many of you will be using mobility scooters or wheelchairs as your primary means of getting around. This is why we supply hoists for mobility scooters and wheelchairs for many of our wheelchair access vehicles.
We also understand that different disabilities mean different requirements when it comes to finding the perfect WAV. That is why we can fit push pull hand controls, easy release handbrakes, steering wheel balls along with many other different types of adaptations to vehicles.
You can also check out our current range of WAVs for sale here. Don’t worry if your perfect vehicle is not in our current list, because not only can we make adaptions to vehicles, we can also use our connections in the industry to help source the right vehicle for you.