My car insurance is due to expire and my provider for the last two years wrote to say they were stopping this service, but that they would look for a new insurer for me. In a second letter I was informed they had been unable to get a quote from their panel of insurers and given a number to contact, because if “any of your details have changed, or if your needs have changed since last year, we may be able to get you a quote based on these new details.” Puzzled, I rang them to find out what was going on. When I confirmed my car had hand controls, I was informed that was the reason why nobody in their panel would insure me.

To say I was shocked is putting it mildly; I am still incensed. I have been driving for 50 years using hand controls and had three accidents in all that time, none serious. I drive to Italy nearly every year, covering a minimum of 3000 miles each time. I am appalled to find that there still exists this attitude towards disabled motorists, when there is ample proof that we are safe, if not safer behind the wheel, than many able-bodied drivers. What do you think? What can be done to change this retrograde and blinkered attitude by insurers?