Driving One-Handed

February 25, 2012 — 23 Comments

One time my brother Joey took me to show-and-tell.

His classmates asked me all kinds of questions about what I was able to do.

“Can you tie your shoes?”  “Can you ride a bike?”  And someone asked, “Can you drive a car?”

I remember thinking that was a dumb question.  I don’t think I said it (I hope I didn’t!), but I thought, “How do you think I got here?”

I learned to drive just like everybody else I knew.  I took driver’s ed, where I was called Roger most of the time because it turned-out my instructor was my uncle’s (and dad’s) gym teacher when they were my age.  “No, Mr. Nording, it’s Ryan.  Roger is my uncle,” I’d remind him.  It also turned-out that my dad was living in Mr. Nording’s old house.  Anyway…I digress.

My driving test was a piece of cake, other than the one point I got off for parallel parking too far away from the curb.  It was the drive home I screwed-up.  My mom was adamant she drive home, but somehow I convinced her to let me instead.  We pulled into our driveway and saw smoke.  I guess I was nervous because I was riding the brakes the whole time.  Sorry, mom.

I’m happy to report that after nearly 20 years of driving experience, I’ve only caused one accident.  And that was just a bump.  Literally.  I took a corner in the snow and just kept slowly sliding toward this person stopped at a red light.  I could see them staring at me as I muttered, “Aw, crap.”  There wasn’t any damage, but they called the police anyway.  After that my memory gets hazy.

As I say in the video, I’ve never had to modify my vehicles in any way.  Sometimes it’s a pain to pull the door shut because I have to reach across myself to do it, but it’s not a big deal.  Also, going through the drive-thru is a challenge.  If you want to try it yourself, the next time you go through one, only use your right hand.  I dare you not to drop the change they hand you.

Ok…I’m going to go sit in my Buick Time Machine now and listen to some Spin Doctors.

Enjoy the video!

Ryan

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I'm a husband, a father, an author, a speaker, a friend...all kinds of things, actually.

23 responses to Driving One-Handed

  1. Amazing one 🙂 This is something that was bothering me for a long time, since i´m 17 on thursday and probably i´ll get my license soon.. another great video 🙂 Loved that funny ” accident” part :).. It´s great to see that it´s possible without some big problems.. shame on you state that they forbid you from driving cars with manual.. did you ever tried to drive a manual? How did it go?.. Thanks again, great vid and keep them coming :)…

    • Thanks, Lukas! And Happy Birthday (early)! 🙂

      I’ve never tried a manual transmission, though I know I could do it easily. Maybe someday. 🙂

    • I think the reason why they won’t let him is because you have to move your hand from the wheel a lot while driving down the road.

  2. When you were switching on the radio, how much dontrol has your stump in steering etc? Looked rather dangerous from here .. oh and directionals? Probably, INDICATORS in English? You have some weird ways of expressing yourselves it seems

  3. Hi Ryan,
    Thanks fr the video.
    My issue is mirror image to you but I am in Australia so our cars and roads are mirror image too.
    I learned on a manual as my family only had manuals on the farm etc. However I am happier since I have used an auto.
    I used a light metal bridging indicator modification after a while when I had a vehicle with the indicator on the other side; quite a simple thing to do.
    I find it easier to insert and remove the key while I am outside he vehicle.
    I park my vehicle with the steering wheel at a slight angle which allows me to put my hand through.
    I also have difficulty opening and closing the door and usually open it with my foot on a cloth which I leave hanging over the door pocket.
    I always install a leather steering wheel cover which I find invaluable; far better control and far better safety.
    Best wishes.
    Sue

  4. Ladena Standlee April 26, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Hi, Ryan my name is ladena im paralized from an accident 10 years ago. I was ran over by my boyfriend.I knew from day 1 i would overcome. It has been a long road 13 surgries later (and just found out metal plate in hip is broke know wonder i have been in pain)but the thing is in 6 weeks im going to try for driving lience. i drive fine just scare to take test any tips???
    take care walk in love, Ladena

  5. Ladena Standlee April 26, 2012 at 1:27 pm

    By the way i was a DJ at one time on radio and i love spin doctors. dosen’t pucuation and grammer suck when your typing. lol Walk in Love,Ladena

  6. Ladena Standlee June 4, 2012 at 8:45 am

    Rayan, get to go for driving test 6/22/2012, it has been 10 years, but im not scare thanks to God and your video. They are also going to train me for two days and pay fo motel, so mini vacation here i come. Thanks Ryan may God Bless! Walk in His Love…Ladena

  7. When you take your hand off the wheel to hit the turn sigs dis the take off any points? My daughter has use of only one hand and she wants me to teach her to drive.

  8. Ladena Standlee June 30, 2012 at 6:04 pm

    Have license can travel now after 10 long years…..Praise God and your video for the strength to get it done. Walk in His Love..Ladena

  9. This is awesome. I had a brain hemmorage about 2 years ago, so I only have use of one arm…so it’s a little different for me than you, but I’m almost 16 and I’ve been trying to to talk to my parents to start driving school! So thanks:), I’ll definitely be showing this to my parents! But your blog is awesome! It’s so cool to see someone who’s already been through a lot of life with one hand! I can’t do a lot of things you have on here because my left arm is pretty much immobile, but I just like knowing that I’m not the only one! And I also read that you said I was wonderfully made, and I was made perfect by God. Anyway, sorry for rambling haha…but thank you!

    • Thanks so much for commenting, Rachel! It means so much to hear from you. Stay determined and you’ll figure out how to do things the way YOU do them best! 🙂

  10. Am I noticing that you don’t put on your seatbelt?? If you can close the door with the right hand, you can twist to reach the belt! Don’t jinx all your helpful suggestions and efficiency with a ticket!

    • Arg! Good catch, Chris! I DO wear my seat belt, but apparently forgot to when I made this video over two years ago. hehe Be safe everyone! 🙂

  11. Hi I’m one handed and have a Audi TT dsg box only real problem reaching for door and seatbelt have also driven manuals but you sometimes need your knees lol a ball on the wheel helps when parking/tight turns

  12. Pamela Merrill March 15, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    61 years old left above elbow amputation from birth. I’ve been driving since 16! My parents bought a smaller family car when I started driving. Dad added a steering knob that he thought would be helpful. That adaption was in place when I tested and it became a restriction on my license. Also restricted was manual transmission and blinkers had to work. My biggest issue is the light dim/bright switch. Last year about this time frame I had a company make an adaptation for that purpose (dimmer switch) which also put my blinker on the right side. The blinker works but the dimmer switch not so well… They also put a steering knob on. I hadn’t used one in years but I like it!

  13. happy to report that my daughter abby took her drivers test today and said it was a piece of cake. she is missing her left forearm (above elbow) due to an ATV accident. she is stoked! now I will never see her lol

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