Cars for PCDs: necessary care and adaptations

NGK technical consultant recommends key actions to maintain driver safety during vehicle use

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São Paulo, November 2022 - Intended for people with a certain degree of physical limitation, visual or mental, PCD cars stimulate social inclusion in the automotive sector in Brazil. This type of vehicle, which can be acquired by the bearer himself or a legal guardian, has tax reduction at the time of purchase, such as IPI and ICMS, release of IPVA payment in many states of the country and exemption from municipal vehicle rotation - in the case of the city of São Paulo.

"The adaptations of these vehicles vary according to the medical report presented at the time of the expertise in the DMV", explains Hiromori Mori, Technical Assistance Consultant of the NGK do Brazil, Japanese multinational ignition systems specialist. "The physician indicates what changes are necessary according to the degree and type of limitations pointed out. The most common adjustments include the use of assisted driving (electric or hydraulic) and automatic or automated transmission", complete.

Main adaptations in pcd vehicles:

• Steering wheel: Inclusion of a handle to prevent the driver's hand from departing from the steering wheel or a rotating apple for easy driving;
• Brake and accelerator: installation of a lever for the driver to accelerate and brake the vehicle with only one hand;
• Ramps and platforms: in addition to the traditional ramps, hydraulic or suspension platforms are used to facilitate wheelchair access;
• Banks: implementation of rotary and ergonomic seats designed specifically for each driver.

The importance of preventive maintenance

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The maintenance of a car for PCDs follows the same pattern as other surveys. Vehicles should primarily perform preventive maintenance with quality parts to avoid unwanted moments during use. In addition to the care of the vehicle itself, it is paramount that there is personal training on the part of the driver, so that the mechanic understands clearly the customer's need and the physical adaptations made in the infrastructure aiming at accessibility, as well as changes in common areas.

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"NGK and NTK products can be applied to all PCD vehicles because they are produced with the highest technology and reliability. We are suppliers of automakers both domesticly and internationally and bring state-of-the-art technology embedded in all our products", highlights the technical consultant.

Specialized workshops are lacking

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"In general, in Brazil we do not have workshops aimed at this specific audience. Therefore, is a sector in which they can specialize and offer differentiated services, expanding its scope of operation", comments Hiromori. "The workshop should prioritize services by appointment, because some of the vehicles have their own characteristics, which can make maneuvering and testing difficult, for example. In this context, it is more prudent to always check the needs of each customer."