Adapting a car for just hand control

[mumfifty]

Hi folks~ I'm new here. Have a friend who won't be driving for quite awhile until she learns to walk on her own again (multiple mylenoma complications). I'm interested in finding a site where I can find out how much (ballpark) it costs to adapt a car to be able to drive using hands/arms only. I've bumped into this website now several times. Anyone in particular (phone no.?, email address) I could contact to discuss this specific situation? Many thanks in advance.

[Burgerman]

I think it depends on what country you are in, her capabilities, and the rules and regulations. In the UK where I am you can just fit cheap (200 pounds?) hand controls to any automatic car and tell swansea (drivers licence) about it and thats it!

[ex-Gooserider]

Ditto - biggest factor is her actual abilities and thus the level of adaptation she needs... In theory the minimum would be a car with an automatic transmission, and a throttle / brake control (approx $1-300) and a "spinner knob" on the steering wheel ($20-100).

It may also be desirable to get some way to access the "secondary controls" (turn signals, hi/lo beams, wipers, cruise control, and so forth - anything you need to reach while driving) They make a variety of units that mount a transmitter to the spinner knob and a receiver in the dash that puts the controls at your fingertips (although often somewhat less flexibly) These are fairly expensive and take a good bit of skill to install as they have to be spliced into the car's wiring harness.

On the high end there are systems for "reduced effort" steering, and other very sophisticated "drive by wire" systems that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another concern is how does she plan on getting into and out of the car, and what does she do with any mobility devices that she might be using.

My basic recommendation is that she should contact her nearest rehabilitation hospital, and ask them about places that do "adaptive driving" training and evaluations. Then make arrangements to have a professional evaluation done of exactly what her needs are to enable her to drive safely and comfortably.

ex-Gooserider

[mumfifty]

Many thanks to both of you for your prompt responses. Special thanks to 'ex-Gooserider' for your very thorough reply! It gives me some good points to think about as I pursue the next step.

[Martin O Refurbisher]

We would be better able to assist if you will go into your profile and update it to give your location, as your answer really needs to be at least country specific, and we have members from all over the world here. For example, in UK I would recommend contacting the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation in Carshalton:
www.qef.org.uk
this might also serve as a useful reference point for others overseas.

Just go to your user control panel and update your profile from there.

Best,

Martin