Driving School Dual Controls Suppliers
When you are searching for dual control fitting you should be aware there are two main types of dual controls for driving school cars – cable operated and rod operated.
Which are best dual controls – cables or rods?
An advantage of rod operated dual controls is that you can have them set up either to work independently of the main pedals or in tandem with them. Some driving instructors like rod operated dual controls where the instructor’s pedal moves at the same time as the pupil’s, particularly if they cannot see the pupils pedals because of the layout of the interior of the car. The danger is that if you are not careful you can get your foot trapped under the pedal when the pupil operates the pedals! Cable operated driving school dual controls such as Universal dual controls are becoming more and more prevalent as the suppliers are simply unable to find enough space within the layout of the car to fit the rods. Cable dual controls do not work in tandem – when the pupil’s pedal goes down the instructor’s dual control pedal remains stationary. Make sure when you are arranging dual controls fitting that you are clear with the dual control fitters which type of dual controls you want.
The main suppliers of dual control pedals in the UK are Universal and He-Man. Only He-Man supply rod controls although not all cars are suitable for rod-operated dual controls. He Man cable controls tend to be more expensive than the Universal dual controls. Although He Man dual controls are the most popular, with Universal dual controls running in second place, there are some other suppliers of dual controls such as Viegel – a worldwide company based in the UK who make dual controls for cars, buses and trucks. They have dual controls suitable for 800 different makes and models of vehicles. Another supplier is Peheja whose system is deliberately designed to enable you to transfer your dual controls to a different car when you upgrade your vehicle making dual control fitting quite straightforward. The Peheja system consists of a universal base unit with steel supplements for your individual vehicle onto which the pedal pulleys of the driver’s side and the dual control system on the passenger side are mounted.
The main supplier of dual controls in the UK is He-Man dual controls. Here are some alternatives to He Man dual controls.
HeMan are based in Southampton but have a network of recommended dual control fitters throughout the country.
List of He Man Dual Control Fitters
Swift 020 8650 8711 (London and SE)
Car Controls Ltd 07968 073955 (Scotland)
City Motor Services 029 2036 4800 (South Wales)
Dave Bates Controls 07771 523009 (Bristol)
Dual Control Services (Bedfordshire) 07721 517513
Dual Control Services (North East) 07759 833932
He-Fit 01204 700625
Howes Controls 07718 731934 (Essex)
L D S Ltd 07989 182057 (Midlands)
Mobility Conversions 0161 745 9737 (Manchester)
T V M Ltd 07899 834559 (Surrey)
Stephen Cooper 07974 377801 (SW Wales)
DC Adaptions 07795 320771 (Lincs / East Yorkshire)
Chadwick Auto Services 07917 061438 (North Wales)
George Cowan (Scotland) 07900 216496
FAQ
Which are better rod-operated or cable operated dual controls?
Both have their place – some instructors prefer cables while some instructors prefer rods
Why can’t I get a dual pedal for the accelerator?
In the UK a dual pedal for the accelerator is illegal
Which are the cheapest dual controls?
In our experience Universal dual controls are cheaper than He Man dual controls
How much do dual controls cost?
The cost of dual controls varies depending on the model
Is it safe to use second hand dual controls?
Dual control suppliers will probably tell you no. However many instructors use second hand dual controls with no problem. Universal dual controls are in particular are often transferred from one vehicle to another.
If you need a dual controlled car to tide you over while you are waiting for your dual controls fitting you might need to look at dual control car hire. Please also check out our driving instructor lesson plans pdf.