A recent study by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that roughly around 60.4% of US residents with a disability drive a car. The same category for people with no disabilities climbs up to 91.7%. This is, by no means, a minor topic since there are over 25 million people with disabilities in the USA only. So, the question arises; what is technology doing to close the gap? Are there new, revolutionary inventions ready to change millions of lives? Here’s what you need to know about the latest tech to make cars more accessible for people with disabilities. 

The Self-driving Car Revolution

The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about disability-friendly cars are self-driving cars. Indeed, giants like Google, Uber, and Apple have embarked on ambitious projects to make a safe, reliable, self-driven car. Although no real progress has made it to the streets yet, the biggest companies in the world are working hard to win the race.

For example, Toyota has created an R&D department solely for AV accessibility. Also, Volkswagen has had meetings with the American Association of People with Disabilities and is working full-steam to solve how autonomous vehicles can communicate on multiple levels with users with some kind of disability. Needless to say, the official release of autonomous vehicles would be the greatest news for disabled people, and especially for those with very unique requirements. People with different cerebral palsy types fall into this category for instance. 

The Rise of Adapted Cars 

Mazda and Honda are famous for making state-of-the-art cars with the latest technology available. Likewise, they are pioneers in the release of disability-friendly vehicles. Mazda, for example, was the first Japanese brand to release a wheelchair-accessible vehicle in 1995. A lot has gone by from that time until now and the company is taking the matter to the next level by presenting to the world a version of their popular SUV, the MX-30 that can be driven using only one’s hands. In the same vein, it features a board that folds to help people in wheelchairs maneuver to the seat.

Just like Mazda, but targeting a different disability demographic, Honda just released a car that can be driven using only the feet. Indeed, this vehicle uses pedals on the floor to steer the wheel and change gears. Furthermore, turning signs can be operated by a button located at the bottom of the cabin as well. As you might imagine, the brake and accelerator pedals work as usual. For people with upper-body disabilities or lower-body disabilities, these vehicles could make a difference in their lives. 

The Kenguru

What if you could have an EV that could be driven by people with disabilities? That’s the idea behind the Kenguru. The original inventor of the Kenguru, Istvan Kissaroslaki, couldn’t fund the project until he was found by Stacy Zoern, a disabled lawyer. Zoern convinced Istvan to move production and design to Austin, Texas, and finally turn his revolutionary ideas into solid reality on wheels.

Now, the Kenguru, which measures 7 feet long and 5 feet high, is the perfect solution for drivers who use a wheelchair. The seatless EV can go as fast as 25 miles an hour, has 60 miles of autonomy, and has a wide backdoor through which the driver can simply roll the wheelchair in, strap on, and start moving independently.

Freedom of choice and movement is extra valuable for people with disabilities. Being able to drive a car to run errands might be trivial for most people, but might mean the world for individuals with a disability. It is safe to say that car manufacturers are investing in making the world a better and more inclusive place for all drivers.