- PARAVAN represented for the first time at the German Driving Instructors' Congress
- Driving instructors present handicap solutions for driving school training in the hall at booth 47 and in the outdoor area to "experience" for yourself with the Peugeot Traveller and Space Drive
- Head of PARAVAN driving school Ralf Buhmann: "Often driving schools with students with handicap come to their limits, here we would like to inform and show alternative training approaches and solutions."
PARAVAN GmbH will be presenting its driving school for the first time at the German Driving Instructors' Congress in Berlin from November 11 to 12. In addition to the special needs and requirements of handicap training, the focus will be specifically on technical solutions for training. Not all people can simply sit in a normal passenger car and take the test there. "Often driving schools with students with handicap come to their limits, here we would like to inform and show alternative training approaches and solutions," says the head of the PARAVAN driving school in Pfronstetten Aichelau Ralf Buhmann. In addition, handicap training can be an attractive second pillar for the established local driving school.
The PARAVAN driving instructors will present solutions from the field of mobility for the disabled and also offer driving tests, in the driving school vehicle equipped with the Space Drive digital driving and steering system, on the outdoor grounds. This enables people with major physical limitations, such as tetraplegia, or with very little residual strength in their limbs to drive a vehicle, for example with a joystick or accelerator-brake slider. In addition, PARAVAN GmbH will present a converted Peugeot Rifter as an entry-level vehicle for handicap training at booth 47.
Suddenly paraplegic, stroke or a neuromuscular disease with progressive symptoms - for many people this means a significant restriction of individual mobility. You can no longer simply get in your car and drive somewhere. But that doesn't have to be the case. There are many ways to adapt a car to the corresponding symptoms and to modify it individually. After a traffic medical report, in which the cognitive requirements for the future driving of a vehicle are checked, many people with handicap can continue to drive a car. With an appropriately adapted driving school vehicle, the relevant examinations or acceptance tests can be taken - the start of a new mobility that continues to enable participation in working life and social life.
PARAVAN GmbH and its driving schools in Pfronstetten-Aichelau and Heidelberg have been offering specialized training for people with disabilities for over 15 years. This does not always have to be the complete training, often a follow-up training after an illness or an accident is sufficient. "We then invite the customers to our site and discuss solutions, together with the technical sales department and TÜV," says Buhmann. In most cases, a colleague from technical sales is already involved at this stage, who can advise on the implementation of the driving solution and identify ways to obtain financing or approval for the conversion from the funding agencies. Customers usually complete the theoretical driving training at home and then only come to the PARAVAN driving school for the practical training. Training in accompanied driving from 16 or the trailer driving license can also be obtained here.
The PARAVAN driving school fleet is set up individually with different vehicles. The vehicles are selected according to the handicap and adapted accordingly. PARAVAN driving instructors can draw on an extensive portfolio of individual driving and steering aids - for every clinical picture: starting with the multifunctional rotary knob, accelerator ring, hand devices for accelerator and brake, left throttle, pedal covers and pedal raisers through to the Space Drive digital driving & steering system, which in turn can be placed in the car with completely different input devices in completely different places - as required.
The offer at the 8th Driving Instructor Congress in Berlin is aimed at driving schools that offer practical driving training for people with physical disabilities or are considering adding this service to their portfolio. Our driving instructors on site will inform about different driving solutions for driving students with handicap. There is also the possibility of cooperation as a PARAVAN partner driving school. This allows them to benefit from our extensive knowledge of driving licenses for people with disabilities. The partners receive support in the processing of applications to cost units, driving instructor further training in the VPA. PARAVAN GmbH also offers optimal vehicle conversion solutions and driving aids for driving schools and for learner drivers after they have passed their driving test.
Being a driving instructor in this field is something very special: "Sure, it is sometimes a challenge, especially when it comes to the technical solution, or later the unaccustomed effort during training," reports driving instructor Horst Hilsenbeck. "Once the perfect fit is found, it's just fun and motivates to go or drive this way together with the customers. It's sometimes a challenge, but people have an unconditional will to regain their mobile freedom." Passing a test is always a very special moment, he says, because it means the first hurdle has been cleared.
At the driving school congress, the handicap experts present a PARAVAN driving school car. The Peugeot Rifter L2, which is equipped to meet the needs of the handicapped, is the perfect introduction to handicap training: with a spacious entrance and good visibility. The PARAVAN driving school package includes, for example, an interchangeable handset, left throttle, multifunction rotary knob, driving school dual controls and mirror package. An individual combination of driving and steering aids suitable for the disabled, depending on the learner drivers, is possible at any time. As a future PARAVAN partner driving school, interested parties benefit from the extensive wealth of experience of our mobility experts.
Visit us at the 8th Driving Instructor Congress at booth 47 and on the outdoor area. Come and talk to the PARAVAN driving instructors and sit in the Space Drive cockpit yourself. Drive with a 2-way joystick and put yourself in the shoes of your future students.
