We had a question yesterday on the blog asking about how we cater for disabled drivers in the UK, so I thought I’d write to provide some clarity on this policy. Under the Disability Discrimination Act it is our duty to ensure that we make the appropriate modifications to our vehicles that would allow a disabled person to drive them. In the UK we do this by fitting our cars with Lynx Hand Controls. They adapt the brake and accelerator pedals of an automatic car to enable these functions to be operated by hand, allowing drivers with lower limb disability but normal upper body function to drive the car.
These controls will be fitted for free so to ensure that disabled drivers are fairly catered for. We simply require a couple of days’ notice to ensure we have supply of the controls and so that we have adequate time to fit them. To request a vehicle with Lynx Hand Controls fitted I would recommend calling the reservation centre on 08445 81 81 81. Alternatively, you can call the rental office directly to make this request after making your booking.
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Rob,
thanks for your clarity on the hand controls. I have booked a car accordingly. I must admit that it is a great service that you offer. However a couple of comments.
1. I have called the number to request hand controls. However, I have no confirmation of that. Recently I had the experience with Avis (but here in South Africa) where the car was booked, but the and control requirement had been overlooked. It would be comforting if the hand control booking was reflected on my online booking receipt.
2. We are arriving at Heathrow, and I understand that there is a short bus ride to the collection point from the Terminal. However, is that bus accessible? I understand that the cars cannot be kept at the terminal for security reasons, but I am concerned that this may be an added complication.
Hi Guy, thanks for the feedback. I appreciate that a lack of confirmation is of concern and I will take a look into the possibility of scheduling future development work to resolve this. In the meantime if you could email your reservation number to comments@avis.co.uk I’ll take a look at your booking and double check that this requirement is noted in there.
With regards to your 2nd question, we do have 3 buses at Heathrow that are fitted with wheel chair ramps and wheel chair restraints. If you speak to a rental agent at the Avis rental desk at Arrivals (or use the phone if you are flying in to Terminal 5) then they will make sure that one of these buses is on it’s way to pick you up. They will also provide an extra member of staff if any assistance is required.
I think this answers your questions/concerns but let me know if you need any further info!
Rob
Rob,
You DO try harder! Thank you for your helpful observations, and thank you for taking my comments on board. I shall certainly be recommending Avis to colleagues in wheelchairs travelling to the UK.
Guy
I appreciate you taking the time to feedback Guy. Happy to help!
Rob, I have to congratulate you and AVIS for providing this service, as traveling home to the UK has always been a major pain when it came to car hire and the flexibility that offered my travel plans. I will be booking my reservation by the means you’ve outlined above. I have to say that dealing with your competition ( i admit I went with Htz at the first attempt) has been very frustrating and ultimately useless.
I look forward to driving with Avis in February. I’ll follow the advice re. the bus trip to collect the vehicle as I too come into T5.
Many thanks in advance.
Hi Lochlann,
Thanks for the feedback. Hoep you have an enjoyable trip in February.
Stephen
Lochlann,
I can assure you that the service that Avis offers at Heathrow does work very effectively. I was able to inform the desk via the phone provided that I needed to use an accessible bus, and they were able to tell me exactly when it would be outside to collect me. When I travelled back, I was travelling alone (with some awkward luggage), and the bus driver was very helpful (without being condescending). I would not hesitate to recommend Avis to wheelchair users travelling to the UK.
The vehicle that I hired had a temporary set of hand controls fitted, which did take a little bit of getting used to, but that did not take long, and I was able to safely drive all over the UK, including a short visit to Edinburgh.
Guy
Nice to that Avis is doing hand controls in the UK, although it would be even nicer to see the option added to the online booking system like Hertz does. Nevertheless, I’ll be giving the service ago next time I fly into the Manchester.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your feedback. I will send your comments onto our web development team to see what we can do.
Regards,
Stephen
Just wanted to say thanks to the AVIS team as my hire went extremely smoothly. The Lynx control is easy to use but a bit hard on the hand (I’m used to left=side control so maybe that was a difference). Otherwise brilliant. Will be using it again in August. <Does the facility exist at either of the Belfast airports?
Hi Lochlann,
It’s great to hear that your trip went smoothly and I’m glad we were able to provide the necessary equipment.
This service is available at all Avis UK rental locations (including Northern Ireland), as long as it is booked in advance at least 2 days before the hire takes place.
Stephen
do you have any provisions for carrying an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter
Hi Sandy, I apologise for the late response. Would you be able to clarify what kind of provisions you would find helpful in carrying a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair (beyond what we have written about in the blog post above)?
Our rental staff are always keen to accommodate where required. If you could let us know what you need and when and where you are planning to rent a car, then we will do what we can to help.
Rob
Can you clarify if the hand control scheme extends to rentals from Avis Prestige please? Initial enquiries I have made so far seem to say that it doesn’t, which seems strange?
Thanks
Hi Sarah, hand controls can be fitted to Avis Prestige vehicles. I should advise that they need to two weeks notice to order in the controls though.
Otherwise your own controls can be fitted, if you have them.
Let me know if you need any more help!
Rob
read ur blogs on disabled drivers i drive a car in australia auto that has aremovable peddle for left foot accelarator and brake do u have this function for disabled drivers thank u william docherty
Hi William, unfortunately we do not have cars with this adaptation as this would require a permanent adaptation of the vehicle. The adaptations we offer are for the hand controls which temporarily adapt the brake and the accelerator pedal of an automatic car to hand operation.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Rob
Rob,
As William above had posted I was in fact after a car that would offer a left peddle accelerator. It is a shame that Avis does not offer this.
Are these hand control difficult to operate? Where do your legs rest whilst driving? Are these lynx ones the same ones you use in the USA?
I ask this as I will be going to the states and have requested hand controls, but having never used them I’m just a little curious.
Many thanks,
Daniel
Hi Dan, the lynx hand controls website provides an overview of how they work (with pictures)…
http://www.lynxcontrols.com/photos/default.htm
I’ve just emailed the team in the US to find out exactly what they offer. I’ll post a response as soon as I hear back from them.
Rob
Hi Dan, I’ve heard back from the US. They use a similar hand control unit called Monarch Mark 1-A. There is more information on their website: http://www.accessams.com/Driving_Aids/Hand_Controls/Hand_controls__2_/Monarch_Mark_1A/monarch_mark_1a.html.
Does this give you everything you need?
Rob
Hi Rob
We will be travelling to the UK in July next year. Rob do you have a van that is capable of having a wheelchair passenger and also 4 other people. The disabled passenger would not be driving so normal controls would be needed.
many thanks
Hi Marc,
Which office are you looking to pick up from as “vans” as such we don’t really offer in the UK. Would you require a van that would permit the wheelchair to enter the vehicle and be placed “instead” of a seat? Or something with easier access e.g. a sliding door? The closet we could probably offer would be something like the medium people carriers e.g. Vauxhall Zafira, Renault Grand Scenic which are wider and more spacious however if you let me know more details I’ll see if there is anything else I can find out for you.
Chris
Hi,
I know you’re UK based, but is there any central point that I can check what services are available in other countries. I’m thinking of going to Poland with my polish girlfriend who doesn’t drive, would I be able to get hand controls there? Alternatively can I take my own lynx controls and fit them to the car myself?
Regards
Struan
Hello Steve,
Sorry for the delay in answering your question, we have been waiting for information back from Avis Poland about your question. Unfortunately they do not do hand controls nor would they permit you to put your own in the car due to insurance reasons,
Apologies again,
Michael
hi could anybody please confirm to me that avis still do hand control cars in jan to march 2011 as i am trying to book a 46 day rental pick up and drop off cape town international airport.
many thanks
Hello Mr.Spooner,
I talked directly to Cape Town and they still do the hand controls. You need to book the car through our call-centre(0844 581 81 81 81) and they will put it on request. The branch will confirm the booking and they will modify the car two or three days before you arrive and have it ready.
Hope this helps,
Michael
Hi Mr. Spooner,
Sorry,I was too hasty typing the call centre number. The correct one is 0844 581 81 81,
Michael