Disabled driver:
Steering and secondary controls

Man driving a car using hand controls

You can drive a car in many ways. Make the steering wheel easier to turn, use a foot-operated steering wheel or any other adaptation that makes use of your abilities.

 
Steering Aids

The purpose of steering aids is to make it easier to use the steering wheel with one hand. For example, in combination with hand controls where one hand must remain on the accelerator and brake lever. It can also be helpful if you have limited mobility or grip. Steering devices come in a wide variety of shapes and functionality. There are simple knobs as well as more advanced variants that include remote control of the car's electrical functions.

Terminology: Other common terms for steering aids are steering wheel spinner, steering devices or steering ball. 

Hand driving car with hand control
 
Hands on a steering wheel
Lightened Power Steering

As the name suggests, this makes the car's steering wheel easier to turn. Useful when pain or fatigue make use of the steering wheel difficult. To improve the grip and make turning the wheel even easier a steering aid is a good companion to lightened power steering.

Terminology: Lightened power steering is sometimes called extra light power steering or reduced effort power steering.

 
Foot-operated Steering Wheel

This adaptation lets you use your feet to steer the car. In short, the steering wheel function moves down to a turntable at the same level as the pedals.

Terminology: A foot-operated steering wheel is also known as a foot steerer.

Foot operating foot operating wheel
 
Steering system with joystick and steering wheel
Customized Steering System

It's possible to convert any type of motion into steering, acceleration and braking. The general idea is that you should be able to steer your car according to your abilities. Common input modes include a mini steering wheel and joystick.

 
Secondary Controls

In addition to acceleration, braking and steering, there are many functions in the car that for safety reasons must work. Turn indicators, windshield wipers and the airflow interior are some examples where a small adaptation can make a big difference. For example, moving the function of a lever from one side of the steering wheel to the other. It's also possible to make a knob control into a slider control. Exactly how to adapt the controls in your car depends on your needs.

Terminology: Another name for Secondary Controls are Auxiliary Controls.

Close up of a car's control panel

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