Driving with a finger splint

[Clunkclick]

Crashed over at home at the weekend and put a lengthways spiral break into my RH ring finger at the section between the knuckle and mid finger joint). After a lot of tooing and froing between hospitals, damaged finger is now supported by one of those lightweight thermoplastic splints with 3 x fingers in splint (Middle to little finger) leaving thumb and fore finger free.

As I have been manipulating light objects round the house and am typing this post two fingered without discomfort, just wondered whether any one had experience of driving in this situation, tips and tricks and the rights and wrongs. Any advantage in using a steering wheel spinner ?

 

I have read that as long as the condition doesn't persist for longer than three months you don't have to tell DVLA - under the treatment regime I understand that the splint will be removed at weekly OPD sessions for hand exercises and will be dispensed with within 6 weeks.

 

Nick

[KenONeill]

I have an "intermittently stiff" RH middle finger, so my opinion/experience. This should not be treated as legal or medical advice.

 

This will probably be manageable for day to day driving, but may cause issues if you have to attempt emergency evasion.

[Robjon]

Sorry to hear, Clunkclick.  Hope the rest of you is OK.

 

BIL sustained a broadly similar injury a few months ago. 

At the time of treatment, he asked the specialist's advice with respect to driving.

The specialist considered BIL fit to drive an auto (but not a manual) with his specific injury.

 

Maybe ask your specialist's/doctor's advice, Clunkclick?

 

Wish you speedy recovery.

[Ootohere]

Since there is no need to inform the DVLA according to the notifiable conditions on the Official Government Websites you decide if you are safe driving and in control.

If by chance you are wrong and had an traffic accident then others might have to look if you got that wrong.

If you think you would benefit from a wheel spinner they are cheap enough, just try one.

[T00mm]

I am a disabled driver,

I use my hands to drive.

One hand is used for steering and steering wheel button / stork control use.

The other hand is for throttle and brake, plus support with my other hand.

I do not need a steering wheel ball to help drive.

I'm sure you'll be fine with a minor finger injury.

 

[LGM]

2 hours ago, T00mm said:

 

The other hand is for throttle and brake, plus support with my other hand.

 

Would you mind taking a picture and uploading it? I'm really curious and generally nosey as to how this setup is

[T00mm]

2 hours ago, LGM said:

Would you mind taking a picture and uploading it? I'm really curious and generally nosey as to how this setup is

Does this picture help?

Its a picture of a set of my handcontrols in my Cupra I have for sale

Edited 11 May, 2017 by T00mm

[Ootohere]

If it is a help & you have a VW Group car you can change the 'steering assist' to increase the assistance.

[Clunkclick]

I'll keep it simple, with so many things on the go at the moment and the way my lucks running, I don't want to stuff up the motor whilst experimenting with steering assist - presumably increasing steering assist will increase "Feed-back" from the road

 

I've got a steering wheel knob. I'll try a bit of low speed maneouvering first in the residents car park, with and without, to see what's most comfortable.

 

The main problem is that, with the plastic molding underneath fingers 2-4, I'll only be able to grip the wheel with the thumb and forefinger on the RHS. Sans knob, I should be able to get a good grip on the wheel at the junction with the spokes sufficient to keep it on the straight and narrow. But its turning, especially at low speed where there's going to be an issue and perhaps the knob will come into its own there. And a keener eye will need to be kept out for potholes. And, obviously, doing a manual gear change isn't advised during a corner when the feed back load on the wheel will be greater and only the RH will be available to steer.n

 

I reckon fitting the knob at the 4 O'clock position would suit me. A bit of experimentaion in the car park will assistI

 

I got an old pair of winter motorcycle mits, I got a feeling they may help with grip.

 

And its probably wise to give it a week or so, to allow the fracture to settle down, before resuming driving because of the feed-back forces from the wheel. The support comes off again next week for finger exercising, so if the medicos consider it safe enough to do that at that point, should be OK for light driving - I only use the car once a week to get to my phys exercise destination of choice - back on the treadmill pro temp.

 

Nick

 

Edited 11 May, 2017 by Clunkclick

[Ootohere]

An amazing amount of vehicles that were on Motability Lease go to Auction and to new owners and Steering Assist, brake assist is at 'Disability setting'

and new owners have no idea.

Cars returned are not put to 'Factory Setting'.

 

Plenty one arm or one hand drivers are on the road driving safely.

[Aspman]

I frequently has issues with a stiff middle finger on my left hand. I find it aids my driving not hinders it

 

[Clunkclick]

Warp(ed ?) drive.

 

Returning to Cryogenic hibernation.

 

N

[KenONeill]

@Clunkclick - I paid a bit more attention to "how I hold the wheel" the last couple of trips and unless maneuvering I normally hold the wheel using the gully that separates the "mound of Venus" (palmistry term) and thumb from the rest of the surface.