Got my little finger in a cast. Can I still drive?

TylerDurden36

Hi all. Last weekend I broke the bone just below the knuckle on my little finger. I have it in a cast which has cast my little finger and the finger next to it together. My middle finger, index finger and thumb are totally fine. I can grip the wheel with no issues. The actual plaster of the cast is only on the side where the broken bone is with the rest being bandage. I have attached a photo so you can see. Just wondering if legally I can drive my car? Seen conflicting views online. Most discussions I can find are about all fingers being covered but I’ve got 3 totally unimpaired. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Alter_ego

How is gear changing/handbrake pulling?

BOWFER

AFAIK, the guidance is that you should wait until the cast is off.
But it's only guidance, not law.
I barely use my left hand to steer and my car is auto, so it wouldn't hamper me much.

TylerDurden36

Just to update it’s on my right hand. 

TylerDurden36

Alter_ego said:

How is gear changing/handbrake pulling?

Hi. It’s on my right hand so got no issue with the gear stick or handbrake. 

BOWFER

Right hand is way different, as the cast could easily slip off the steering wheel.
I'd go no.

TylerDurden36

BOWFER said:

Right hand is way different, as the cast could easily slip off the steering wheel.
I'd go no.

I can fully grip the wheel with my middle finger, index finger and thumb. I suppose if I was in an accident then I’d have to grip with my whole hand which would be possible and that’s where the liability would come in. 

TylerDurden36

Wouldn’t be possible not possible.

TylerDurden36

Easy enough to drive but in the case of an emergency I wouldn’t be able to grip the wheel sufficiently therefore invalidating my insurance no doubt. 5 weeks of walking and trains will be fun!

Grumpy_chap

TylerDurden36 said:

Hi all. Last weekend I broke the bone just below the knuckle on my little finger. I have it in a cast which has cast my little finger and the finger next to it together.
Just wondering if legally I can drive my car? 

What did the Dr say who fixed you up?  They are normally quite helpful with such advice and more reliable than strangers on a forum looking at a photo.

JGB1955

Speak to your insurance company.  My husband broke his wrist snowboarding in the French Alps.  Our car was 'stuck' in a carpark at Ashford International station. Having got the snow train back, he was good to go according to the insurance company - his plastered left hand fitted neatly above the gear stick.  Good job, as I wouldn't have wanted to drive it out of the 'safe but small' spot he'd chosen to park i in!  He carried on driving (with insurance company approval) for the next 8 weeks.