When we think of taxis for the disabled these days it's usually about passenger space, swivel seats, ramps and the like. But what about disabled taxi drivers? Not many of them around - having to sit all day and cope with the needs of passengers getting in and out. But not Allan Wells from Swindon: he is one such brave disabled driver. "It was an accident on a farm way back in 1976" explains Allan, "when I shattered my leg, I effectively had no more use of my right leg, and I was forced to find a new career. It was tough but having worked on a farm all my life I thought that being a cab driver would get me sat down and handling the passengers would be easier. Little did I know what was ahead of me!
Managing the types of people you get nowadays can be a bit tough but nothing as difficult as driving a black cab when you can't bend your leg! You certainly don't have the legroom up front. And as for using the accelerator or the brake pedals, that was impossible. If it hadn't been for me getting hand controls fitted the job would have been impossible. Over time my other leg has suffered as well because all the pressure has gone on to that leg. All my mates around Swindon have been brilliant - as I fell out of my taxi they would be there to let me fall into their arms, pity there's not more women drivers in Swindon!" In fact, I've teamed up with another driver on my cab, I work nights and he does the days, and we're running our cab at around 70-80,000 miles every year. It's a great job if you keep your sense of humour about you."
"Then about a year ago I heard of this new Mercedes taxi was coming out in London. It seemed to be well liked by quite a few of the drivers I knew worked in London, so I thought I'd head down to KPM in Bethnal Green to have a look.
It was great! Hallelujah! It had so much more legroom, it was so comfortable for me as a driver that I just had to have one. I ordered my Mercedes Vito Taxi earlier this year and took delivery in August. And frankly it has been one of my best decisions. In the 4 months I've had the Mercedes Vito Taxi, we've done 20,000 miles and my improved comfort in the driving seat has been so remarkable that the pain in my left leg has started to reduce. That is worth a fortune to me, I'm happier to work longer hours. It's the same for any driver over 6ft tall or anyone who has back problems. Try out the new Mercedes Vito Taxi and it could change your life - it has changed mine!
Then, there are the running costs of the Mercedes. I thought it was going to be quite expensive, but it hasn't proved to be. I am saving a heck of a lot of money on the running costs of my previous cab, and it's not just the fantastically improved quality and reduced down time you get with a Mercedes, I haven't had a set of tyres yet and my first service is only due at 20,000 miles. And as for the fuel consumption, the Mercedes is such a big improvement on my last cab: my partner and I must be saving thousands of pounds a year. I've also been delighted with the service I get from Rygor, the local Mercedes Garage. There were a lot of other drivers in Swindon who said the Mercedes garage was going to be expensive on both labour and parts, but my early experience of Rygor has been really good. I decided to get cruise control fitted because we sometimes do long journeys - nobody could believe that, fully-fitted, using Mercedes parts was considerably less than £400!
"So, if you ask my advice" says Allan Wells, "trading up to a Mercedes Vito Taxi has to be one of the best new year resolutions a taxi driver can make - it has certainly been my best move in years!"