WheelchairDriver

It finally happened this morning - I got to take my "competency test" in my adapted van, and I passed, so I have now FINALLY rejoined the ranks of the driving world!

Only headache was my motorcycle endorsement - I didn't want to give it up, as I may try to do an adapted bike after I get the chair done (and get rid of the 'ex-') and would prefer not to try going through getting a bike license from scratch again... The examiner was understanding, and said that he would be willing to let me keep the motorcycle endorsement with a "J" restriction, which limits me to 3 wheels only (sidecars or trikes IOW) especially since he says the DMV didn't actually HAVE a "competency test" for handicapped motorcycles...

However the DMV people said the computer was being very stubborn, and because they had originally suspended my entire license after I first got hurt, and was then issued a "learners permit" with both the car and motorcycle endorsements on it, that it wanted a road test on the motorcycle endorsement as well...

Everyone agreed that this was kind of dumb, but it took the better part of an hour with calls to "Medical Affairs" and the main licensing office to get permission to do what they wanted and find out just how to get the computer to let them actually issue the license...

But all has worked out, I now have a temporary license w/ all sorts of letter codes on it, with the permanent plastic one expected in the mail shortly...

It is a "Class DM (Private cars under 26,001 lbs, except school buses plus motorcycles)" with restrictions B (glasses) C (mechanical aids) J (three wheeled motorcycles only)

I'm happy! Everyone else should possibly be afraid...

ex-Gooserider

Not me. Unless its good on water. Theres the atlantic in the way.

I find it odd that they took anything away. It never even occured to me that they would. The day I escaped the spinal injuries unit I had hand controls fitted to my automatic transmission ford granada car, and drove back to the hospital myself to steal some supplies... And I still have motorcycle entitlement, etc.

Ex-G,
Well done!
Its been a long time coming!

Best,

Martin

It certainly does feel great to be back behind the wheel again...

Today we went on a trip to CT (about 2 hrs each way, mostly highway) to have dinner with Mary-Anne's parents, and then went over to Hartford University where I did some guinea pigging on a "dynamic" manual chair seating system that some of the professors there were developing. Lots of pushing back and forth, both in my chair and a test chair with the seating unit on it... This was essentially a spring mounted setup that was supposed to help with pressure relief by shifting around under you as you push. Not sure how well it worked overall (the test chair wasn't a very good fit, so it was kind of uncomfortable, but...

Some of the tests were using an 'e-motion' sensor wheel, that uses the same sorts of sensors as the 'power assist' wheels but without the motors to track push efforts. Another part of the test was done with me wearing a "sensor suit" sort of like the ones you see actors wearing when doing some of the blue-screen special effects stuff in the movies - kind of cool. They took some photos of me while "wired up" and have promised to send them to me - I will post then...

Tomorrow I'll get my first real "solo" experience - Mary-Anne has just purchased a new Nissan "Cube" and I will be driving her to the dealer to pick it up and then coming home by myself... Should be no problem...

(As a side note, they probably wouldn't have suspended my license if I'd started driving again as soon as I got out of rehab - but I didn't have an adapted vehicle at that time for doing the required "competency test"... If I had, then I'd just have had the test and been given a new license with the added restrictions....)

ex-Gooserider

Good news indeed! Congratulations Ex-G.
I've got a driving assessment in May.