DRIVING CONTROL AND EQUIPMENT FOR A QUADRUPLE AMPUTEE PATIENT

A 21-year-old quadruple amputee requested and received a driver evaluation with adaptive equipment. A standard model hand control was used in conjunction with a prosthetic left arm for operation of brake and acceleration. An aluminum angle iron, to which the prosthesis was bolted, was welded onto the end of the hand control, permitting the driver to operate the right angle push control. A steering cup for the right stump was attached to the tilt steering wheel. For accessory operation, a special device consisting of two wooden rod-type extensions connected to the turn signal switch was attached over the front-seat back. A slight sideways tilt of the head operates the turn signal, with a tilt to the opposite side to cancel. A slight backwards movement of the head activates a microswitch which sounds the horn. A specially made push-button switch panel located close to the driver's right operates all other accessories (e.g. ignition, headlights, wipers). Shifting was accomplished by bending and contouring a gear shift extension. A motorized seat in a modified van allows easy transfer to an electric wheelchair from the right front side to the driver's seat. The driver fastens the seat belt by positioning her right stump about the seat belt and pulling it down to the locking mechanism. While driving a 1979 two-door car, the patient received her class A driver's license without missing a single point on her test drive.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00039993
• Corporate Authors:

  American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

  30 North Michigan Avenue
  Chicago, IL  United States  60602
• Authors:
  • Risk, H F
• Publication Date: 1980-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 48-49
• Serial:
  • Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
  • ISSN: 0003-9993
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00039993

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Amputees; Automobiles; Equipment; Persons with disabilities
• Old TRIS Terms: Adaptive equipment (Disabled persons); Disabled drivers; Special purpose
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00379658
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-030 241
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 30 1983 12:00AM