Driving is an activity that all wish they could do after having an serious injury such as a spinal cord injury or amputation. I personally took a long time to get back behind the wheel. Through an occupational therapist and specialized driving instructor I learned to use hand controls. It was a significant amount of money in the area of $2000.00. I may have been a slow learner but better safe than sorry. Buying a van and installing hand controls and moving seat were additional costs. I fortunately found a used van with very little mileage and with the configuration I needed. I just had to add hand controls. Still at the time it was about $55,000. The most I had ever spent on a car was half that.
There are many things to consider and processes to undertake to get your independence back again.
A Canadian law firm Valent has documented some of the issues you will face. The article on their website is titled Driving with a Long-Term Disability in Canada: Legal Requirements, Adaptive Solutions, and Safety Driving Pathways..
Lawrence & Associates (USA) has written an article on Hidden disabilities, which are health conditions not readily obvious to others, can affect a person’s daily life just like any other condition. This includes driving, which can be impacted by reaction time, coordination, and judgement. This guide explains the different types of disabilities and how they can affect a person’s driving ability and perhaps insurance coverage.
The videos below illustrate the options available To Drive with a Physical Disability and some general issues for all individuals.
