Hi all,

I've recently been asked to help with a risk assessment for workshop technicians driving customer vehicles that have motability adaptations. Backstory is that a few times now technicians have got it wrong and drove through workshop walls. Technicians generally drive the vehicle from the customer car park into the workshop, and back again. I'm trying to come up with some control measures but I'm stumped. Can anyone help?

Motability cars can be adapted in unique ways to suit the disability of the driver. This might be left pedal acceleration, rotating knobs on the steering wheel, press button braking etc.

As far as I can tell there is no standardisation of modification, hence I can think of no specific training that would be a useful control measure.

How can we make reduce the risk of accidents when the techs drive these cars? Does anyone have any experience in this area? Any advice appreciated!

Hi Eddie

Interesting question and not one I have had to deal with before.

What you don't want is a big notice permanently in the car which would be liable to cause the user embarrassment.

So, may be big instructions is block letters on whatever paperwork is given to the technicians and may be a big notice put on the passenger seat.

But, perhaps above all, more time to do the job. So that the technician feels comfortable in taking two or three times as long to move the vehicle in and out of the workshop.

Which means possibly looking at what incentives there are to do the job super quickly and adjust the parameters so that quality comes before speed of work. Ultimately NOT driving through walls is going to be a financial winner!

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel

Ok

Lets ask the question why the technicians are getting it wrong and driving the modified cars through walls?

Is it because they are unaware that the car has been modified and are assuming that the controls still work as normal. In that case you need to make sure that they are aware of this: some sort of notice that clearly informs them that the car has been modified. It needs to be obvious and clear. Could they just be forgetting (a skill based  error) then again, they need a not so gentle reminders that  the vehicles are not standard? In particular they need to stop and think before they drive off.  

Thanks! The technicians are aware that the vehicles have been adapted.

The issue we believe is a lack of familiarity with the controls. A good example is where the brake and accelerator pedals are switched as the normal driver has a weak leg. Think back to the trick bicycle at the funfair where the front wheel does the opposite of what you do to the handlebars - practically impossible to ride even though you know what you should do!

If it's a skill based error then what is the skill they are lacking? And how do we give them the skill to drive every possible adaptation of motability controls?

It appears to be more of a lapse in concentration or when under pressure to make a snap decision i.e. I'm accelerating towards the wall, what do I do? Naturally you slam on the brake, however if the pedals are switched this doesn't work. Or if both the brake and accelerator are controlled by handles on the dash you have the same issue of having to consciously think about what to do, then it's normally too late.

Still not sure what to do about this...

I would suggest a crib sheet on the dashboard upon receipt of the vehicle - though maybe not a schematic that could be miss-interpreted (Independence Day as Will Smith attempts to fly the UFO from the area 51 hanger).

Also a hand brake on (vehicle in neutral or Park) press of the pedals when getting in:

- pedal travel resistance = Brake

- engine revs increasing = Accelarator

- no apparent response = Clutch pedal

The technician could then have an aide memoir on the dash to counter the C B A orientation learned in manual vehicles

I'd suggest the most obvious solution would be to ask the driver when dropping off about the adaptions and if there is anything outside of the norm/with potential to cause driving errors you could ask if you can take a video (or take notes) to show safe operation - technicians could then watch the video before starting up as a way of familiarity training? You could leave a dashboard display sign to advise techicians of the risk and to seek advice/access to notes before getting into the vehicle.

Originally Posted by: grim72

ask the driver when dropping off about the adaptions and if there is anything outside of the norm/with potential to cause driving errors

For it to be "out of the norm" you need to establish what is "in the norm"

After several years of driving an automatic (manual licenced) I spent many weeks before I finally got back in to not stalling a manual at stops & lights.

Would the driver have access to the "vehicle handbook" that would have been provided to the owner when they purchased the vehicle, that could be shared with your technicians? This would provide them with a reference to the vehicle and driving adaptations that have to be considered when they move the vehicles.

Originally Posted by: FHS

to the "vehicle handbook" ..... when they purchased the vehicle

Manufacturers are increasingly moving to on-line handbooks and where provided they are for the "as-built" vehicle coming from the plant and do not cover any post-production motability alterations.

The Spam has gone but my email remains!

Edited by user 13 June 2023 08:04:36(UTC)  | Reason: How do I delete this

Just to add, our motability vehicles are both collected by the dealer for services and MOT, they drive them to their respective service centre and hand the keys to reception.  I think they then have the responsibility to ensure they pass on any adaptation information.

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You could employ Formula 1mechanics to use the skids, they will reduce the time taken moving vehicles.

Didn't there used to be Friday funday or something similar ;-)