This TRL Report gathers existing data on disabled drivers and enhances the value of such datasets by surveying subsets of the recorded populations.Analysis and comparison of these data sources has created a number of statistics relating to disabled drivers and their vehicles. Having a disability does not automatically preclude a person from driving. For some of the 9.5 million disabled adults in Great Britain (Department for Work and Pensions, 2006), driving can be a successful route to improved mobility. For many disabled people, a car is often the most appropriate mode of transportand, sometimes, the only viable option. What is not known is how many disabled people currently drive and how many may wish to do so in the future.Disabled people wanting to drive have been helped by the range of optionsin the marketplace for vehicle adaptations and the number of organisations providing assistance and advice to disabled drivers. However, the numberof adapted vehicles currently in use is largely unknown and, again, thereis little indication of whether adapted vehicles will grow in numbers. Estimates of current and future numbers of disabled drivers and adapted vehicles are essential to help target future policy and resources. Understanding the demographics and the different disabilities and vehicle adaptationswithin this population is also valuable. Furthermore, to develop safety improvements, an understanding of accidents involving disabled drivers and/or adapted vehicles is required. (Author/publisher)
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