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

justworriedabit

TylerDurden36 said:

JGB1955 said:

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.

I’ll give them a call but I’m pretty certain that as if I was involved in an accident that I’d be liable because they would say I wasn’t in full control of the vehicle. Even a extra observant by the book copper would probably pull me and book for not being in full control of the car. Just not worth the risk for the sake of 5 weeks off the road. 

100% agree, not worth the risk to you or others on the road/pavements, etc.

sevenhills

Definitely not lawful to drive, in my opinion.

cymruchris

I wouldn't drive with my hand like that - I wouldn't risk it. You might end up looking like this:

neilmcl

The bottom line is if you can't fully control the vehicle in ALL circumstances then you're not safe to drive with your injury.

justworriedabit

neilmcl said:

The bottom line is if you can't fully control the vehicle in ALL circumstances then you're not safe to drive with your injury.

and it is incredible that people are still allowed to smoke and drive.

TylerDurden36

Just spoke to my insurance company and they have said as long as I can grip the wheel and feel comfortable doing so then my insurance is still valid. I can fully grip the wheel. The way the plaster is over my little finger and finger next to it is exactly the same width as the steering wheel aswell. I can fully grip it. There is plaster on one half of my arm. Most of the covering is just bandage. Think I may call round to local police station and ask them. 

neilmcl

TylerDurden36 said:

Just spoke to my insurance company and they have said as long as I can grip the wheel and feel comfortable doing so then my insurance is still valid. I can fully grip the wheel. The way the plaster is over my little finger and finger next to it is exactly the same width as the steering wheel aswell. I can fully grip it. There is plaster on one half of my arm. Most of the covering is just bandage. Think I may call round to local police station and ask them. 

But you can't though. You can hold onto the wheel with the few remaining fingers not in the dressing but that doesn't mean you can fully "grip" have full control with your right hand of the wheel in all circumstances. If you had to suddenly change direction in full control to avoid an accident, could you do it, your previous posts suggests you couldn't.

chrisw

Many people manage to drive just fine with weak grip or hand disabilities. You must know yourself whether you feel in full control of the vehicle or not.

Would one of those steering wheel knob aids help? They just clip on to the steering wheel and are only about a fiver.

TylerDurden36

Everyone seems to have a different opinion as with most things. All I want to know is if it’s legal. I’m going to call round to my local police station tomorrow and get the final word. Insurance company says fine, doctor says fine. Some members of the public think it’s fine whereas others don’t. So need to see the law makers for the definitive answer.

justworriedabit

TylerDurden36 said:

Everyone seems to have a different opinion as with most things. All I want to know is if it’s legal. I’m going to call round to my local police station tomorrow and get the final word. Insurance company says fine, doctor says fine. Some members of the public think it’s fine whereas others don’t. So need to see the law makers for the definitive answer.

Good luck with that as you'll get the same answers.

You need advice from the DVLA, trust me.  I recall someone having an accident whilst driving with splints and becuse it was more than a couple of months in plinths I think the police investigated the driver as not having the capacity to drive safely but the driver got done for not telling the dvla.  DVLA is the best place but let us know how you get on with the police but don't go on a Friday/Sat night or hot eveneing as they will be really busy.