Armless man stopped for speeding

Jennifer Doyle · Post by **Jennifer Doyle** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 4:32 pm

http://www.thenewstribune.com/24hour/we ... 0370c.html

The Associated Press
Saturday, May 27th, 2006 03:52 AM (PDT)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - An armless man stopped for speeding was driving with one foot on the steering wheel and another on the pedals, a policeman testified in court.
Colin Smith, who was born without arms and has never held a driver's license, appeared in court Thursday charged with driving in a manner likely to be dangerous to the public.

The police officer who stopped Smith said the driver's seat was reclined and the armless man appeared to be using one foot to steer the car and the other to work the accelerator and brake. Smith, 31, entered no plea but said he would defend himself against the charges.

He told the court he had been driving for years, using his feet to steer, and had never had an accident.

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Hey! People use only their knees to drive ALL THE TIME. What's the difference!

Rachael Blackgaard · Post by **Rachael Blackgaard** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 4:42 pm

I guess in this situation the best thing for everyone would be for the man to PROVE he's a safe driver by getting his driver's license. After all, it should be no problem for him, right?

Lord Sesshoumaru · Post by **Lord Sesshoumaru** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:13 pm

I remember hearing that on the radio a few days ago.

Erik

WINDSHEAR · Post by **WINDSHEAR** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:22 pm

Rachael wrote:I guess in this situation the best thing for everyone would be for the man to PROVE he's a safe driver by getting his driver's license. After all, it should be no problem for him, right?

yeah, I find that highly unlikely. There is just too much red tape. Regardless of whether he is capable of driving safely, they likely would not allow a person without arms to drive, which I call discrimination!

Poor guy

gimp80995 · Post by **gimp80995** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:25 pm

It was a while ago, but I heard of people being allowed to have a driver's license who have no arms as long as they prove the can safely drive a vehicle the same as everyone else.

Peace Out

-Gimp

darcie · Post by **darcie** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:52 pm

Plus, I would bet it's confusing to law enforcement. I remember a boy in high school that was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. His arms were quite short (imagine a T-Rex) so he had a handle adapter on the steering wheel. I believe it was debated as to the acceptance of this device... I think it had to be removed at one point, and he was unable to drive until it was restored.
As with other allowments for disabilities, I think physically handicapped people should get allowances if they are able to prove it is safe, as Rachael said!
darcy

WINDSHEAR · Post by **WINDSHEAR** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:36 pm

gimp80995 wrote:It was a while ago, but I heard of people being allowed to have a driver's license who have no arms as long as they prove the can safely drive a vehicle the same as everyone else.

Peace Out

-Gimp

remember, this is New Zealand, not the USA

Post by **Catspaw** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:52 pm

That must have been an interesting sight to see! If somebody can prove that they can drive as safely as anybody else, I don't care if somebody has arms or not, but the whole no drivers licence thing is a problem.

Mr.Whit · Post by **Mr.Whit** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:25 am

ha ha ha thasts funny

underdogfan710 · Post by **underdogfan710** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:42 pm

I guess this guy should be considered armless and dangerous...

*ducks to avoid being hit by the rotten food everyone is throwing at her*

WINDSHEAR · Post by **WINDSHEAR** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:21 pm

underdogfan710 wrote:I guess this guy should be considered armless and dangerous...

*ducks to avoid being hit by the rotten food everyone is throwing at her*

at least he can never be accused of being armed and dangerous

$\:D/$

Danadelfos · Post by **Danadelfos** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:37 pm

Wow that would be wierd to find a guy driving like that. Being the police officer that is.

Larry The Pickle · Post by **Larry The Pickle** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:28 pm

danadelfos wrote:Wow that would be wierd to find a guy driving like that. Being the police officer that is.

Or even someone driving next to him. That would freak me out if I saw a guy like that driving next to me!

Hope · Post by **Hope** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:15 pm

wow... thats interesting. i have never seen that before and i hope i dont. i would go nuts if i didnt have any arms. wouldnt you?

Jennifer Doyle · Post by **Jennifer Doyle** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:54 pm

Larry The Pickle wrote:
danadelfos wrote:Wow that would be wierd to find a guy driving like that. Being the police officer that is.
Or even someone driving next to him. That would freak me out if I saw a guy like that driving next to me!

He looks over, nods, "waves".

gimp80995 · Post by **gimp80995** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:54 am

It can be done. There are times (not often) that I've needed to use both of my hands for something......opening a can of pop, or something to eat or whatever.......I have learned how to steer the car for a short time using my left knee (of course this is a very small car

). Now I wouldn't be able to steer like that in stop-and-go traffic (mostly because it's a stick shift and I'd need my left foot for the clutch), but on the freeway for a couple of minutes at a time it's not that difficult........I'm sure it'd be more difficult if I tried to drive all day like that, or if I tried to do it in heavy wind areas.

Peace Out

-Gimp

AIOfan11 · Post by **AIOfan11** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:11 am

We need a picture!

That has to be one interesting sight...

WINDSHEAR · Post by **WINDSHEAR** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:35 am

my dad tends to drive without his hands on the steering wheel

sometimes, that is. He really enjoys teasing mom

gimp80995 · Post by **gimp80995** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:25 am

AIOFan11 wrote:We need a picture!

That has to be one interesting sight...

I shall see about getting you a pic........though I'm not sure how good I could take a pic of me driving like that......while driving. But maybe if I have someone in the car who could take the pic, that'd work.

Peace Out

-Gimp