Whether you’re a homeowner with disabled relatives or a business looking to better accommodate handicapped customers, making your driveway more accessible is a simple step that has a big impact.
There are several things you can do to make your driveway more accessible, such as changing the layout, adding accessibility features and choosing a more suitable driveway material. In this guide, we cover the most important considerations to ensure your premises are welcoming to everyone.
Before you make plans to improve accessibility with an inclusive driveway, it’s important to consider the types of disabilities, handicaps and issues that affect your visitors.
For example, mobility is a common issue for people of all ages. However, the accessibility needs of an elderly person with a walking stick may be different to those of someone using a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair.
The former may be able to climb steps if there are handrails to use. But the latter may need a sloped surface to access your building.
Similarly, a person might be physically capable but have poor vision. So you might need to use lights or tactile paving to warn them of the presence of a driveway and help them navigate safely.
There are also accessibility issues that affect those without handicaps. After all, icy surfaces during winter months increase the chances of slips and falls for everyone.
Similarly, night lighting is vital for all visitors. Even if you manage a business that doesn’t open late, the sun sets as early as 15:00 on the shortest night of the year. So you’re almost certain to be open after sunset at some point.
With all these factors to consider, it can be tough to figure out how to make your driveway more accessible in a way that most benefits your visitors.
That’s why it’s so important to work with a local driveway surfacing contractor who is knowledgeable and experienced in designing for accessibility.
With over 50 years of driveway surfacing experience behind us, Hazell & Jefferies Ltd has delivered hundreds of durable, attractive and accessible driveways for homes and businesses of all sizes.
We’re happy to advise you on the best options for your accessible driveway, and ensure it’s laid quickly and professionally to minimise disruption.
To find out more about how we can help, contact us today to discuss your inclusive driveway needs.
When designing an inclusive driveway, you need to ensure it’s wide enough to allow wheelchairs and other mobility aids to pass without being blocked by cars.
You of course need to provide enough space for vehicles to manoeuvre and park easily. But be sure to add plenty of extra space for those who have limited ability or need assistance to get in or out of their car.
Steep inclines or declines are a big challenge for those with limited mobility. And they can make it harder to stay comfortable and balanced when using walking aids.
As such, an accessible driveway should be level, with a slope of no more than 1:48 to make it safe for wheelchair users.
This can be a bit of a problem if your property is on an incline. But in that case, you can design your accessible driveway with gentle slopes or ramps that keep the gradient from becoming too steep.
Just as your gradient should be as smooth as possible, so too should your driveway surfacing.
Uneven surfacing (especially with cracks, potholes or sudden changes in height) can create trip hazards. But a smooth, level driveway surface ensures easier mobility for all – even those not using aids.
This kind of surface also makes your driveway more accessible for visitors with pushchairs, bicycles and mobility scooters. So a smooth driveway surface helps everyone move around easily!
Hazell & Jefferies Ltd takes great care to ensure all driveways are expertly laid, providing a flawless, even finish that ensures safety and comfort for all your visitors.
Certain driveway materials such as concrete or resin can be finished with a non-slip texture to further improve safety and accessibility.
Broom finishes, sandblasted finishes, exposed aggregate fines and other options add traction for those using mobility aids, or even just walking.
This helps prevent slips and falls, making non-slip textures particularly beneficial for elderly or very young people.
Ideally, a handicap-accessible driveway will use ramps rather than stairs.
But sometimes, stairs are a must. So be sure to use accessible stair nosing with an anti-slip surface like fine grit, as well as contrasting risers for the first and last step of each flight.
And if possible, provide easy-grip continuous handrails on both sides.
Not everybody has trouble moving their body.
But handicapped visitors can also struggle with issues such as poor vision.
So you need to take these challenges into account when planning your driveway.
Adding clear markings and visual indicators alerting people of a driveway or guiding them safely through it help make your driveway more accessible to the visually impaired.
Contrasting colours, navigation lines and tactile paving to follow with a cane or walking stick also help people with visual difficulties navigate more easily.
Remember to lay down clearly visible parking lines and create designated parking spaces for disabled visitors close to the entrance of your property too.
These will improve access for those who need the most support.
Adequate lighting helps all visitors make their way around your premises safely.
So any accessible driveway must be well lit, especially at night.
Consider installing ground lights or low-level lighting along your paths and driveway to ensure everyone can see well without excessive glare.
Motion-sensor lights can be particularly convenient, as they come on whenever your driveway is in use and turn off automatically.
Proper lighting is particularly useful for elderly people, children and those with visual impairments. It helps them see and avoid potential obstacles, reducing the risk of accidents on your property.
Wet floors after rain or cleaning increase the chance of slips and falls even for those with no accessibility challenges.
This is doubly true during colder months, as the water on your driveway can freeze into ice.
As such, you might want to choose a porous driveway surfacing material that allows water to drain.
Or you could make sure to add proper water drainage systems at the time of driveway installation.
As driveway surfacing veterans, Hazell & Jefferies Ltd can install an efficient water drainage system when laying a new driveway no matter what material you choose.
With our help, you can reduce the risk of accidents from standing water and ice on your accessible driveway.
After laying a disability-friendly driveway, there’s plenty you can still do to further improve accessibility.
Other useful features you might want to install include:
You have plenty of options for installing an inclusive, handicap-friendly and accessible driveway, especially when you work with the expert team at Hazell & Jefferies Ltd.
However, no amount of accessibility features will make a difference if the driveway surfacing material you choose isn’t suitable.
Your driveway material can have a big impact on accessibility. So let’s take a look at the worst and best driveway surfacing materials for driveway accessibility.
Any surfaces that are uneven or shift underfoot can make accessibility more difficult.
Cobblestones of varying heights and unstable gravel can make it hard for visitors to maintain their balance, especially if they have mobility issues.
As such, these materials can increase the risk of slips and falls, and shouldn’t be used to lay an accessible driveway.
This can be a serious problem if you’re a business, as injuries that result from your failure to accommodate accessibility needs could result in fines and legal action!
An accessible driveway should be level, textured and durable to ensure your visitors can move around easily.
Tarmac, asphalt, block paving, concrete and resin-based surfaces are excellent options for an accessible driveway.
These smooth surfaces can easily be textured to improve their non-slip properties. And their high weather performance helps prevent accidents in wet or icy weather.
In addition, such materials offer both high durability and low maintenance needs. So you can expect your accessible driveway to last many years without cracks or potholes, even with minimal time spent cleaning and repairing.
This helps you save money while ensuring your driveway is accessible for individuals of all ages and abilities.
When designing a handicap-accessible driveway, the first step is to consult an experienced professional to ensure your new surface complies with best practices for safety.
Our expert team can provide guidance and advice on driveway width, slope, surface finish and other factors to help you best meet the needs of your visitors.
And since we work quickly to the highest standards, you can enjoy a premium surface with minimal disruptions.
Contact us today to get a free quote for your accessible, inclusive driveway.
