Motability

- Motability Scheme customers rate Ability Matters Group the best dealership in the UK

Ability Matters Group dealership is celebrating being named the UK’s leading scooter and powered wheelchair dealership in the annual Motability Scheme awards. The award for large fleet Dealer of the Year recognises outstanding service to customers of the Motability Scheme, and is based on direct customer feedback. The Group was rated over 9.8 out of 10, demonstrating exceptional commitment to going above and beyond for their customers.

Lyndon Reeks, Commercial Manager at Ability Matters Group, commented:

Mobility Scooter Use Questionnaire

The department of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University are conducting a research project to understand mobility scooter use and the experiences encountered whilst using one. Specifically, we are interested in the hazards that mobility scooter users face whilst using a mobility scooter, particularly at road crossings. The project is funded by the Road Safety Trust. 

Our ultimate aim is to increase the safety for mobility scooter users on the road. We also hope that mobility scooter users will be more likely to reap the benefits of using a mobility scooter.

If you’re in the market for a Motability car, it can be hard to know what to look for. There’s so many options out there that it can be hard to know where to even start your search. 

So, to help you choose the perfect Motability vehicle to suit your needs, we’ve brought together these top tips. Ask yourself these questions and you’re sure to end up with an adapted car that will serve you well for years to come.

Are you eligible for the Motability scheme?

Shell has joined forces with not for profit organisation fuelService to help drivers with disabilities receive assistance at the majority of its service stations. That’s because filling-up the car is one of the biggest challenges for the UK’s disabled drivers. 

“Disabled drivers have always struggled to get their cars refuelled,” said Niall El-Assaad, fuelService’sfounder. “In the past the options were to use an infrared transmitter, but few service stations supported it, and at those that did, it hardly ever worked. The other option is to beep your horn, flash your lights and wave your blue badge about – which is potentially embarrassing and offers no guarantee of service.”

The most blue badge residents in England can be found in the South East of the country, according to data acquired via a freedom of information request by Volkswagen Motability scheme provider, Inchcape Volkswagen.

According to the request sent out to various councils on August 15th 2016, an estimated 364,116 blue badges were found to be in operation throughout South-East England.

Of the councils which provided data, the next highest number of active blue badges can be found in the North West (362,294), with the South West having the third most blue badge residents (279,251). 

A long-serving customer of Derbyshire vehicle adaptation firm Autochair has paid tribute to its founder for helping his wife retain her independence for nearly 20 years.

John Edwards said the expertise of David Walker, who set up the firm more than 30 years ago, had greatly benefitted his wife Hetty’s life after a scooter hoist was first fitted into their car in 1997.

Mrs Edwards has arthritis, which makes it difficult for her to get about and which is why the couple had bought a scooter in the first place, but it was too heavy for them to lift into their then car, a Mitsubishi Shogun, if they wanted to go further afield.