Question for this week: hand controls

[Guest guest]

I have a question about hand controls for

cars. Has anyone here used them? I am

flying to my in-laws for Christmas and will

be there for two weeks. They do not have a

car, and needless to say, I don't want to be

stuck with them 24-7. I would take my own

pedal extensions except they are a royal pain

to put on. I know some rental car agencies

rent cars with hand controls, but I've never

used them before.

Are they tough for LPs to use? (i.e. are our

arms long enough?)

How long does it take to learn how to use

them?

Are they more dangerous than extensions?

Any thoughts?

-Bill Bradford

[Guest guest]

List - this is a message from one brother to another, but there is

relevant information:

Bill,

Check with a local Hertz or Budget place and see if they will set one

up for you before you go and try it for a day. (I suggest you take a

ride to Portland or use a site somewhere other than SEA-TAC airport.

As you know, traffic is a bitch there.) Dave and I did this some

years ago to check car extensions and we were received well by the

car rental company at PDX airport.

I think you will find the most success with Ford Taurus - shifter is

on the column and easier to reach.

Also, check with Pete and Freida Valuckas. They do it all the time.

(They also use hand controls in their personal vehicles.) Let me know

what you find out because I am curious about the same thing.

A friend of mine in Fort Lauderdale, FL is a quadroplegic wheelchair

pilot. I drove his van around Executive Airport one night with hand

controls and I didn't have too much trouble.

Randy_____

> I have a question about hand controls for

> cars. Has anyone here used them? I am

> flying to my in-laws for Christmas and will

> be there for two weeks. They do not have a

> car, and needless to say, I don't want to be

> stuck with them 24-7. I would take my own

> pedal extensions except they are a royal pain

> to put on. I know some rental car agencies

> rent cars with hand controls, but I've never

> used them before.

>

> Are they tough for LPs to use? (i.e. are our

> arms long enough?)

>

> How long does it take to learn how to use

> them?

>

> Are they more dangerous than extensions?

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> -Bill Bradford

[Guest guest]

Hey BJ,

I had an interesting opportunity to use hand controls about a year

ago when my car was in the shop. I've always used pedal

extensions and never learned to use hand controls till then. I'm

sure everyone's experience with hand controls are different

depending how you learned to drive with what first.

Let me tell you - if you got a lot of coordination btwn your brain to

both of your hands, you will have no problem. I thought I was

totally cool using the hand controls.. brakes, accelerator, no

problem. Heh, wrong! I almost got into 2 accidents that weekend

(luckily I bought insurance) and it royally was a pain using only

one hand to turn and the other to accelerate when you're used to

using both hands.

(And I was often braking on my feet when, doh, nothing was

there)

Of course I know others are very well-adapted to the hand

controls so you may be totally fine. But as mentioned before, I've

always used pedal extensions like yourself. Definitely go test

them out before you drive with them.

Hope this helps.

Irene

> I have a question about hand controls for

> cars. Has anyone here used them? I am

> flying to my in-laws for Christmas and will

> be there for two weeks. They do not have a

> car, and needless to say, I don't want to be

> stuck with them 24-7. I would take my own

> pedal extensions except they are a royal pain

> to put on. I know some rental car agencies

> rent cars with hand controls, but I've never

> used them before.

>

> Are they tough for LPs to use? (i.e. are our

> arms long enough?)

>

> How long does it take to learn how to use

> them?

>

> Are they more dangerous than extensions?

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> -Bill Bradford