Help is available from a scheme at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). The Driving Assessment and Rehabilitation Programme (Darp) benefited 435 people last year, up from 281 in 2008.
Started in 2001 by a group of occupational therapists at the hospital, the scheme assists those with medical conditions to learn or return to driving.
Driving instructors depend on a variety of tools to help disabled people learn to drive.
These include a rotary knob, a left-foot accelerator, hand controls and indicator extensions.
Mr Lau Chai Cheng, 58, has been teaching people with various medical conditions how to drive since Tan Tock Seng Hospital started its Driving Assessment and Rehabilitation Programme in 2001. He works with the hospital's occupational therapists on the type of tools each patient needs.
The rotary knob - a door knob-like device - helps amputees to drive. It is attached to the steering wheel and allows for single-hand steering.
The left-foot accelerator, as its name suggests, allows the driver to use his left foot to accelerate the car. It can be folded away when not in use.
Hand controls are attached near the bottom of the steering wheel, and can be used by patients who are unable to use their feet to drive. They can use the hand controls to accelerate or brake.
An indicator extension allows the driver to use his indicator levers on the opposite side of the steering wheel.
Mr Lau, who has more than 30 years of experience teaching people to drive, said that 'as with able-bodied learners, there need to be lots of patience when teaching disabled persons'.
His car is fitted with a left-foot accelerator and a rotary knob. He declined to reveal how much he charges for lessons.
Another driving instructor, Mr Saleh Sawi, who has 20 years of experience, charges $48 for a 90-minute class for disabled students.
His first disabled student earlier this year was Mr Muhammad Afiq Abdul Manaf, 20, an ITE student who lost his left arm in a traffic accident two years ago.
The Traffic Police had informed Mr Saleh that Mr Afiq required a rotary knob to drive.
'Since it was my first time teaching a disabled student, I had to spend more time teaching Afiq. But he is a fast learner,' said Mr Saleh.
Earlier this month, Mr Afiq passed his driving test on the first attempt.
The Handicaps Welfare Association has its own instructional car fitted with hand controls, a left-foot accelerator and a rotary knob.
Disabled people who require modifications to their cars have to seek approval from the Land Transport Authority.
According to the LTA, 10 cars were modified for use by disabled people last year.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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