Driving with an amputated leg?

[WildGoose]

A good friend of mine lost the use of his right leg whilst he was very young, an accident, left him with the leg, but no feeling beneath the knee. He could walk and run on it, and drive a manual car normally.

After many years, the leg got a bit complicated with blisters and such that wouldn't heal and as he couldn't put pressure on it too much (to try and promote the healing), he had to switch to driving an automatic car, using his left leg only. He would tuck the right leg out of the way and reach across to both the gas and the brake with the left leg.

Driving like this for fifteen years or so, it became perfectly normal, and to be a passenger in the car you would never know any different.

Eventually the right leg had to be amputated at the knee due to problems with issues healing in the lower right leg.

Now it appears that when you amputate a leg, the DVLA become hardline, and you fill in forms etc to declare it, and need all sorts of shit such as having a car with adjusted pedals, and subsequently adjusted and more expensive insurance premiums etc.

I was enquiring if anybody had any experience with such things.

Basically what i'm hoping for is that said friend can do an assesment, some kind of driving test, to show that he can drive a standard automatic car perfectly well with his left leg. And that given that he is so well conditioned to it, it would potentially be more dangerous and unsafe for him to have to learn to drive a car with adjusted pedals all over again.

I know its a world away, but Douglas Bader lost both his legs in an aeroplane accident and went on to regain the ability to drive (and indeed, fly) based on his ability to pass a simple test in a moderately adjusted car. I'm hoping such things still exist, and its not so black and white as "you are an amputee, thus you need to do the following:".

The DVLA website is hopeless, if anybody could point me in a useful direction before I start the search in earnest, I would be most grateful.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[growler]

although it sounds like your mate doen't ride these people may be able to give you some info

https://www.nabd.org.uk/
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DILLIGAF

[Kwaks]

My advice would be to visit the local DVLA office, forget phoning or you get the cardiff idiots.

BTW, I have to agree he should not be driving with an amputated leg, the attached one would be better
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[benc]

I know a few people who drive wth their left leg in non adapted cars. I think they had to a test to show they can do it but it wasnt easy getting the dvla to agree.
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zxr400 - zx7r

[Rogerborg]

Have a read of the Equality Act 2010.

If he kept his amputated leg, he can use it to beat the DVLA around the head and demand that they make "reasonable adjustments" to accommodate him.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[andy_uk]

Okay! Something I know quite a bit about actually...
My father had an 'above the knee' amputation a few years ago on his right leg.
The two options open to him were :
a) A seriously modified (automatic) car with brake & accelerator swapped over.
or
b) Hand controls fitted to a standard automatic.

The latter option was recommended by just about everyone as it was :
a) a lot cheaper
b) can easily be removed for resale of the car
c) easier for others to drive the car, as the pedals are still working
d) most cars can be modified in about half a day

The hand control system is surprisingly simple to get used to. I have driven the car quite a lot and after the first half an hour or so it becomes quite natural. Pull the lever to go, push it to stop.

This website gives quite a few options https://www.alfredbekker.co.uk/hand-controls/
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

[Skudd]

Those blue three wheeled single seater things should be ok to drive.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[G]

When I had broken my right leg and it wasn't healing etc, I asked the surgeon if I'd be ok to drive an automatic just with my left leg and he said that was fine.

For your friend, hand controls on an automatic seems to make the most sense - then presumably he can just ignore them and continue driving as he does normally.

He may be able to get some decent deals through motability, though they are cutting it down slightly I believe.

[swampy]

There are several regional 'driving assessment centres', often based on hospitals. They have occupational therapists (what I does) who are also DSA trained instructors.

Their job/role is to advise people with disabilities on adaptations that are possible to cars (and maybe even source funding - but I'm a bit sketchy on that), and what adaptations would be necessary to enable someone to drive.

They will also take people (generally old gimmers) out on assessment drives, in order to give their opinion on whether someone is safe to continue driving or not.

Go here https://www.mobility-centres.org.uk/faqs.htm for more info
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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death..." Hunter S Thompson

[mistergixer]

Slightly OT, but this mobility shop name always makes me chuckle:

https://www.caneandable.co.uk/new-shop.gif

Sad, I know.


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Space Monkey #7
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[Rogerborg]

Eh, that's in the past. In the Now, tell him to invite the DVLA to revoke his license, then shriek "I am the only Disabled in the Village, is you discriminate against me?"
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[scorps]

My friend had her right leg amputated due to cancer but she is now driving an automatic and has a disability badge.
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Do not presume that I am male.

[MORTON]

https://limblossinformationcentre.com/frequently-asked-questions/driving-after-amputation

try theese ones, should not need to adjust car conntruls (on safety grounds- that your mate would have to change a habit of a lifetime)..is friend accident free also during that time? Something to shout about if so.

[MORTON]

[hellkat]

Can he not just drive a left hand drive car?
Then the DVLA would never know.


(I'm sorry: I have no helpful suggestions)
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[benc]

Is it amputated below the knee or above? If its below he will prob beable to drive a normal manual if he wanted to. But you havent got enough control as an above knee to do it.
Its fine for driving a go kart but all over the place in a car.
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zxr400 - zx7r