United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello
I am an obpi. I cannot use my right arm. I don't have a driving licence and neither a car. I'd like to learn the rules of getting a drving licence in your countries. Do you have a driving licence, how do you drive a car?

And also I want to learn whether is it easy or difficult to buy a car? I'd be happy if you reply..

Hi
I am tbpi and cannot use my right arm in any way. In the 2 countries I have lived (UK and New Zealand) I am not allowed to drive a car unless it has been adapted for use with one arm, and my driving licence contains this information.
My adaptions are simple, I have an extension to the indicator stem so I can flick it on no matter where on the steering wheel my hand is, I use a revolving ball to steer and I drive an automatic car. The bottom line for testing the safety of my driving in both the UK and NZ was that at no time should my one remaining hand let go of the steering wheel.
Whatever the law said, there is no way I would ever drive if it meant sometimes taking my hand off the wheel-I have a paralysed right arm because of another drivers carelessness, there is no way I could take the risk of injuring someone else, and driving without adaptions for me with no use of my arm is taking an unecessary risk. So I would get adaptions even if the law didn't require it.
There is a page about the adaptions some of us have used on the tbpi website http://www.tbpi-group.org/ it's under the Resources link. Some people use complex electronic systems where all the controls can be operated from one revolvi8ng ball on the steering wheel. Very flash, but I manage without this-if I want to change radio stations I just pull over!
There is a page here on UBPN too, but last time I checked it was more aimed at people who had some use of their bpi arm, don't know if that is still the case.
Don't give up hope-I had never driven a car before the bpi and had to learn, take my test and drive in an area of the UK with incredibly busy roads-I was fine!
Take care
Jen NZ

Amy
I learned to drive as a teenager. I have my license since I was 18.
I never thought that they would consider my arm a handicap... and was insulted when the instructor mentioned it...
I argued with him and said he had some nerve referring to me as handicapped.... LOL...
then wondered why I failed my test the first time.
I had to take it a second time in another area but that tester never noticed...
I guess because I have partial use I assumed it was no big deal when I was young...
When your grip gets stronger it will be easier.

Kath adult/robpi

Ops! hopeless I thought you were hope16 and assumed it was Amy... sorry

Kath

lol Kath, I was like why is she replying to me, thats not me. lol

Dear Hopeless,
I also am ROBPI. I have very limited use in my right arm when it comes to driving. So I do every thing left handed. I got my liscense when I was 16 and a half. I was only late getting my liscence because drivers training was offered as a class at school and I chose to take I higher math class instead of drivers training.

I just bought a regular car. I did not get a car with any adaptations mostly because that would cost too much and it would be hard to find one here. So I have a regular car. I only dont like to drive on loose gravel roads and icy roads. They seem to be harded to control the car. Other than that I do not have any problems driving.
If you wants to do it, there is always a way!!!!
Good luck,
Amy 18 ROBPI from Minnesota

Thanks for your replies.

Dear Hopeless, I just helped my oldest get a car early this summer. She did not have a preference or an idea of what KIND of car she wanted. So we went to a used car dealer, and actually went and test drove several of the different types he had for sale. We just hopped in one, drove it, and went down the entire line of used cars he had in his FRONT row.

At the time, NEW CAR dealers, in our area, just did not have very many used cars for sale. We had better luck at places that ONLY sold used cars.
NOW, if you live in the United States, be careful of cars damaged by FLOOD, and re-sold.....you don't want that used car.

Since the USED CAR place had so many different types of cars, she got a good idea of the CAR she wanted. We then watched the printed USED CAR booklet print adds that come out each week. After 6 weeks of car shopping at least once or twice a week.......SUCCESS. She got her perfect used car, in the style and color she wanted. We did drive 60 miles away from home for it.....but she is happy. It was a 2001 but only had 9,800 miles on it. You can go to a bank and get financing, or use the dealer financing.
Check out your options and compare interest rates. Don't forget to see your Car Insurance Agent to find out how much you will also need for Insurance Premiums. HAPPY CAR SHOPPING.

Amy,

If you bought a General Motors car, they will re-imburse you up to $1000 for any after-market modifications that had to be made to allow you to drive. Check out the following website: http://www.gm.com/automotive/vehicle_sh ... gmmrp.html

Ford offers the same type of deal (near the bottom of this article) http://media.ford.com/article_display.c ... e_id=11501

Couldn't find anything from the other manufacturers.....

-Ginne