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Learning To Drive With One Hand

One of the key things drivers should know is to always be prepared by knowing the road and which route to take and reducing distractions while driving. One of those distractions is taking your eyes OR mind off the road and fumbling to change CDs or the stations on the car radio, adjusting the AC/heating controls, or talking on a cell phone (a big no-no for new drivers).

Some drivers, especially those with vision or other disabilities, may even opt to not play the radio while driving until they build up their driving skills, which is what I did for the first month or two until I felt more confident and learned where all the controls are on the dash and radio.

Make it a point to learn to reach for these controls while you drive. Learning to drive with one hand is key and a necessity and will come naturally after a little practice. First things first, do not try this by yourself. Do this with your driving instructor or a trusted friend in the passenger seat who can take the wheel if need be.

Getting to know your controls:

While the car is parked and not moving look at your dashboard and around the door handles and get acquainted with all the controls, what they do and where they are. The most important ones will be your horn, headlight / parking lights, windshield wipers, hazard or four-way flashers, temperature controls for the heating and air conditioning, the volume and tuning for the radio and finally the place where you keep change for tolls. While still parked pretend that you are driving and reach out and touch all the controls. Do it again without looking at them. Just get familiar where they are so that when you drive you shouldn't need to take you eyes off the road.

Now it's time to hit the road:

Begin by lowering your driver's side window with your left hand as you keep the car steady with your right. You shouldn't even have to look for the button or crank. Just reach out and feel for it as you look straight ahead and drive.

Now switch hands and feel for the temperature controls with you right hand while looking straight ahead. Do the same for all the other controls. Don't worry if you are nervous, just keep practicing and it will become second nature.