Driving After Amputation

Here is a selection of organisations who will be able to advise you on where to start or to help you to get driving again following an amputation. Of course there may be some you’ve come across that we’ve omitted. Please do contact us with details of any you think should be included here or with any other information, experiences or useful hints and tips concerning driving following an amputation.

Contact: Wendy McCleave: wendy.llic@gmail.com

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• BLUE BADGE NETWORK

Description: The primary object of the Blue Badge Network is to assist all disabled people, and their families, of all ages. To help them integrate more effectively with society through the European Union, by co-operation, to overcome access and mobility problems. The Network also seeks to maintain the integrity and validity of the concessionary parking permit by the prevention of fraud and misuse of this valuable asset.

Administrator: Mrs Jacquie Russell

Address: (General Enquiries): Head Office, 11 Parson’s Street, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1JJ

Tel.: 01384 257001

Fax.: 01384 257317

Email: headoffice@bluebadgenetwork.org.uk

Website: http://www.bluebadgenetwork.org/

(Please see below for contact information for Blue Badge Schemes in Northern Ireland and Scotland)

• DISABLED MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION (DMA)

Description: The DMA aims to support all disabled riders both past and present. Although based in the North West we will not refuse assistance to those who may live outside the area. The DMA provides practical help and support to all those who ride a motorbike, scooter, moped, trike or are considering riding for the first time. We can help with advice on what adaption needs to be done to your chosen bike and act as a signpost to where you can obtain the adaption and what you need to consider before riding. This is linked into our information database. The DMA is also in favour of promoting safe riding and the positive image of motorcycling.

Tel.: 0161 214 8314

Website: http://londonbikers.com/directory/1138/disabled-motorcyclists-association-dma

• DISABLED MOTORING UK (Previously Mobilise)

Disabled Motoring UK is the charity for disabled drivers, passengers & Blue Badge holders. In April 2011 we changed our name from Mobilise to Disabled Motoring UK to better reflect the people we campaign for.

Address: National Headquarters, Ashwellthrope, Norwich, NR16 1EX

Tel.: 01508 489449

Email: info@disabledmotoring.org/contact-us

Website: http://www.disabledmotoring.org/

• THE DISABLED PERSONS’ TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DPTAC)

Description: The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) is an independent body established by the Transport Act 1985 to advise Government on the transport needs of disabled people. This website provides information on who DPTAC are and what DPTAC does in its role in advising the Government.

Address: Committee Secretariat, 2/17 Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR

Tel.: 020 7944 8011

Email: dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Website: http://dptac.independent.gov.uk/index.htm

• DRIVER VEHICLE & LICENSING AGENCY (DVLA)

Address: (Drivers Customer Services (DCS) Correspondence Team), DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL

Tel.: 0300 790 6801 – (Drivers Abroad: +44 (0)1792 786 369

Fax: 0300 123 0784

Textphone: For the deaf and hard of hearing: 0300 123 1278

If you have had a limb amputated you will need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about it. Find out which questionnaire you need to complete for the driving licence you hold. Click HERE for the link.

• FORUM OF MOBILITY CENTRES

A network of 17 independent organisations covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who offer professional, high quality information, advice and assessment to individuals who have a medical condition or are recovering from an accident or injury which may affect their ability to drive, access or egress a motor vehicle.

You can attend whichever Centre is the most convenient for you. All Centres offer advice and assessment to people who wish to begin, or return to driving following an illness, injury or accident. They also offer advice with regard to getting in and out of a vehicle and with regard to loading and transporting a wheelchair or a scooter into a motor vehicle. Some Centres also offer assessment and advice with regard to wheelchair or scooter selection. Generally, advice is confined to cars rather than motorcycles or heavy goods vehicles.

Please click HERE for a list of all the Centres to find the one closest to you

Address: The Forum of Mobility Centres, c/o Providence Chapel, Warehorne, Ashford, Kent, TN26 2JX

Tel.: (Free ‘phone number): 0800 559 3636

Email: mobility@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk

Website: http://www.mobility-centres.org.uk/

• MOBILITY AND INCLUSION UNIT – THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT (“JUSTMOBILITY”)

The DfT MIU`s aim is to make policies and provision for public transport users, pedestrians and motorists that are acceptable, accessible, available, affordable and safe, and to promote diversity in transport policy development.

Address: Department for Transport Mobility & Inclusion Unit, Zone 1/18 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR

Tel.: (Day): 020 7944 4461

Fax: 020 7944 6012

Email: brian.ellison@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Website: http://www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk

• MOTABILITY

The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to exchange either their Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or their War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement to obtain a new car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

Address: Motability Operations, City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HB

Tel.: 0845 456 4566 (8.30am – 5.30pm Monday – Friday)

Textphone: 0845 675 0009

Email: Through contact form on Website

Website: http://www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm?TypepIDX

• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BIKERS WITH A DISABILITY (NABD)

The NABD was set up in April 1991 by six bikers from Stockport and Manchester who would not accept the idea that disabled people could not ride motorcycles, scooters, or trikes.
The initial project was to find a way to adapt a motorcycle for a rider who had suffered the amputation of his lower left leg in an accident. A fund raising party was organised and publicised locally and this prompted several other disabled people to contact the group asking whether it was possible for them also to ride motorcycles. Within 12 months the NABD had just over 100 members and had helped three disabled people to adapt motorcycles and ride independently. Each adaption had to be designed from scratch, the money raised and the engineering problems solved, but from this small beginning the NABD was later to become the world leader in the field of motorcycling for people with disabilities.
The membership of the NABD has now grown to a staggering 5,000+ individual members with the support of over 200 affiliated clubs and businesses. Over the past 15 years the NABD has directly helped over seven thousand disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling.

Address: N.A.B.D., Unit 20, The Bridgewater Centre, Robson Avenue, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TE

Tel./Fax: 0844 415 4849

Email: (General Enquiries): office@thenabd.org.uk

Website: http://www.nabd.org.uk/

• NATIONAL PARKING ADJUDICATION SERVICE

Service Charter: The National Parking Adjudication Service aims to offer all users of the tribunal an efficient, professional and friendly service.

Address: National Parking Adjudication Service, 6th Floor, Barlow House, Minshull Street, Manchester, M1 3DZ

Tel.: 0161 242 5252

Fax: 0161 242 5265

Email: npas@parking-adjudication.gov.uk

Website: http://www.parking-appeals.gov.uk

• NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Blue Badge Scheme is an important service for people with severe mobility problems that enables badge holders to park close to where they need to go. The scheme operates throughout the UK, and is administered in Northern Ireland by Roads Service.

Address: Blue Badge Unit, Castle Barracks, Wellington Place, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 7HN