is this illegal?

[Wideboy]

today i drove my car, big deal i hear you say...... well i cant walk and am on crutches........ dont act like you knew, it was news to me!

i did dome hardcore modding that would make the barryboys drool, i cant get my shoe on my left foot so i put pipe insulator on the clutch pedal and wrapped some duck tape round it for comfort and i can operate the clutch comfortably with the side of my left foot

im no more dangerous than usual :cool: and can drive fine and as normal if not with a weird pedal operation, but is it illegal?

[lily]

I don't know if it is illegal but I think its down right stupid!

[Wideboy]

I don't know if it is illegal but I think its down right stupid!

:(

[Rai86]

I don't know if it is illegal but I think its down right stupid!

+1 :smt027

[Spiderman]

I'd guess if you got pulled or had an accident they would say it was mate.

[Wideboy]

+1 :smt027
:(:(

[Rai86]

Just worried and dont want you to have another accident girly pants

[Luckypants]

I'm guessing they would do you for without due care and attention, as they would argue you cannot control the car properly. They use the same tack for knee-downs...


I don't know if it is illegal but I think its down right stupid!

got to agree with that.

[Dicky Ticker]

very irresponsible and your insurance will be null and void

[Wideboy]

ok wont do it nay more then

Just worried and dont want you to have another accident girly pants

sorry :(

[FG1]

I can't believe you need to ask the question in the first place.
What would your view be if a relative or friend was knocked over by somebody driving in a similar fashion ????

[Grinch]

If your doctor has advised you not to drive then yes your insurance is invalid, there may also be clauses in your insurance that in such situations your insurance is invalid. In both cases it would be illegal to drive.
So I'd check if I was you.

[Wideboy]

how you work that out? (not to grinch)

if i slam the brakes on the ABS will kick in like it would normally and if i don't push the clutch in the car will stall,.......... and if i remember back to training you don't dip the clutch in emergency braking anyway untill last minute

[Wideboy]

aahh plz lock i cant be ar5ed with an argument

[keithd]

pants, just use your common sense. you're injured, you cant drive properly.

if you're driving your car and some pillock with the same contraption as you hits you what would your reaction be? you'd be less than impressed, you wouldnt congratulate him on his creative thinking.

[Spiderman]

Locked at Frillyknickers request :)

[Red Herring]

Gosh there's some rubbish in that thread. It is not specifically illegal to drive a manual car with your left foot in plaster. Provided you can operate the clutch accurately and demonstrate if required that you have proper control of the vehicle then it's not illegal. There are plenty who might frown upon it, but there are also plenty of drivers out there who are barely in control of their clutch with two perfectly healthy feet.

For those that doubt me I broke my left foot whist on CID and continued to drive into work every day. The bosses were a little concerned about me getting around the nick but I told them I was getting the prisoners to open the door for me and that was the last I heard of it. I did get a tug from one of our local traffic cops after somebody who did "frown" upon it grassed me up but once I'd demonstrated my use of the controls he was pretty much snookered. Ironic that I became his boss a few years later.....

By the way ladies, it's not illegal to drive in high heels or flip flops, but you could argue that's not particularly clever either.... :D

[appollo1]

I'm sure as long as you can perform the emergency stop you are ok.

Thats what the hospital told me when i asked about driving after foot surgery.

[Red Herring]

On a practical note it also matters what type of route/journey you have. If it's stop/start traffic all the way it gets a bit tiresome eventually, if like me it's two minutes to the motorway, 30 mins on the loud pedal, then two minutes into the yard it's easy.....

[Wideboy]

my point exactly thank you.

thankfully my foot is not in plaster but it does work, the reason im not is i don't want to put pressure on the stitches.

yes i am a complete prat and take stupid risks alot of the time but i drive as part of my living.... if i didn't think i could drive safely do you really think i would have? :rolleyes:

how about riding with one hand off the bars?....... in full control are we? probably not but some of us (me included) still do it

[Red Herring]

how about riding with one hand off the bars?....... in full control are we? probably not but some of us (me included) still do it

As does some bloke I bumped into (quite literally) on a trackday recently. I though he was taking the pi55 as he went past but when I spoke to him later i found he only had one arm......

[Wideboy]

As does some bloke I bumped into (quite literally) on a trackday recently. I though he was taking the pi55 as he went past but when I spoke to him later i found he only had one arm......

you say that, i was at Southport with girth a few weeks back and a bloke got on a bike with only one leg :shock:, he had a little clip thing for his crutches on one side, i couldn't believe it



EDIT: by the way i know a few in the other thread were only having ago at me because they care about my well-being im not knocking then, its nice to know you care :smt010

[dizzyblonde]

you say that, i was at Southport with girth a few weeks back and a bloke got on a bike with only one leg :shock:, he had a little clip thing for his crutches on one side, i couldn't believe it


No shock to me there. I have an old friend who for years was in and out of hospital having a bit of his leg taken away, due to a nasty bone eating disease getting in there.....after a hit and run motorcycle accident.
Yes he had half a leg, yes he had his bike adjusted so the gearing was up on the bars instead of foot, occasionally needed help getting on and off the bike......but fudging hell could that bloke ride:cool:

[Dicky Ticker]

Yes but would you ride a bike with the clutch taped on with gaffer tape.My point was the mod you had made wasn't exactly engineering excellence and by your own words your driving may leave something to be desired. Not knocking you for trying but I was making the point that should you be involved in an incident your insurance have the perfect out.OK you brake with your right foot but what happens if your foot slips off the adapted clutch and you knock someone over at a crossing or jump into the back of a vehicle in front of you
I take Red Herring's point about driving in plaster but was the car "modified"or still with the controls as they should be and being a serving police officer he could argue the point where as a lesser mortal would be well and truly nicked.
I know several people who drive cars and bikes with false limbs or limited use of a limb but the vehicles they drive are adapted and the Licensing Authority and their insurance are aware of the full facts.

[FG1]

"how about riding with one hand off the bars?....... in full control are we? probably not but some of us (me included) still do it "

OK you've got me there, I sometimes ride with one hand off the bars.

Oh, hang on a minute, within an instant I can put my hand back on the bars and make evrything supery doopery safe again. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Wideboy]

......

ok i understand that "my mod" would cause problems
"how about riding with one hand off the bars?....... in full control are we? probably not but some of us (me included) still do it "

OK you've got me there, I sometimes ride with one hand off the bars.

Oh, hang on a minute, within an instant I can put my hand back on the bars and make evrything supery doopery safe again. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

but if someone pulls / walks out infront of you, you don't have full control, by the time you've put your hand back up on the bar it could be to late and you could be off of knocked someone over.

like i said if i would have thought it was dangerous i wouldn't have done it

[FG1]

So why ask in the first case ???

[Wideboy]

to ask if it was illegal................?? :scratch:

[FG1]

Yep, that's true you did. My mistake.

Unfortunately though we will have to agree to disagree because wether it is legal or not, the issue should be "is it safe".
It's not legal to ride faster than 70mph on the public highway but I am sure there are plenty of people do it because they feel it is safe to do so without needing to check with other orgers to rubber stamp their opinions.

I will however "ask" you not to ride with the home made contraption (not going to bring construction and use regulations into the "debate") as I feel that you would be putting yourself and other road users in an unsafe position.

[Red Herring]

I will however "ask" you not to ride with the home made contraption (not going to bring construction and use regulations into the "debate") as I feel that you would be putting yourself and other road users in an unsafe position.

Is that without having examined it or witnessing it's operation?

[Wideboy]

my "home made contraption" is nothing more that a piece of 10mm pipe insulation slid over the clutch pedal and wraped with ducktape so it wont come off :lol:

[yorkie_chris]

but if someone pulls / walks out infront of you, you don't have full control, by the time you've put your hand back up on the bar it could be to late and you could be off of knocked someone over.

Huh? I can turn at maybe 90% of speed of both hands, and brake at damn near full power with one hand on the bars. You should be watching FAR further ahead than the time needed to move your hand that far.


I will however "ask" you not to ride with the home made contraption (not going to bring construction and use regulations into the "debate") as I feel that you would be putting yourself and other road users in an unsafe position.

Heh, I think he was asking for opinions, not your permission :-P

[Wideboy]

but you cant operate your clutch and "apparently" that's too dangerous

[yorkie_chris]

I will decide what is too dangerous for me.

[Wideboy]

i personally don't think it is, but i was flamed for saying so

[FG1]

gone fishing ....;)

[Stu]

Went to find the original thread to see what all the fuss was about. V. surprised everyone jumped down your throat at you :???: sounds fine to me.
If, as described you can operate the clutch fine, just a bit of padding for comfort as you can't wear a shoe.

[Mr Speirs]

Hey widey, in response to your original post no I don't think think there is a law against your contraption/comfort mod. However due to the way our legal system works if the unfortunate happens and you are involved in an accident I'm sure it will be a focal point in any investigation to determine whether or not the car was under complete control regardless of whether or not it would have made any difference.

Are you under instruction by your GP/doctor to not operate vehicles or heavy machinery or indeed any medication you are on? Again you may not be immediately under the influence of the drugs but if it's a course over a certain period of time it still invites questions and objections.

In short your device probably isn't illegal and in your mind is perfectly safe but if the worse was to happen it would be an easy target for prosecution should the worst happen.

I also noticed your thread was closed on your request and another thread started asking for it to be reopened, was it then re opened on your request also?

[-Ralph-]

just a bit of padding for comfort as you can't wear a shoe.

Is that all this is? When you say you are operating it with the side of our foot, is this 'cos your mod has widened the clutch pedal? I wouldn't be doing any kind of mod to widen the pedal and use it from one side. Or is this just to make it less painful to use your clutch square on? If you foot is so painful that you can only operate the clutch gently/slowly or with the side of your foot then I wouldn't drive myself and wouldn't want to be near you in traffic, but if your mod means you have secure confident control without too much pain it should be OK.

Check your duck tape every time you drive it to make sure it's holding fast and getting wrapped round anything.

I think you know if yourself if you should be driving or not and if you have doubts don't do it.

[Wideboy]

.......

i didn't realise it could be a problem

.....

....

yes, im still using the clutch as normal just pushing the pedal with the side of my foot instead of the ball and put foam on it because it was uncomfortable with just a sock on