Monday, June 20, 2016

Backup camera for post stroke driving

I'm on the road again, this time in Harrisburg, PA. Renting cars once again, this week I got a Ford Focus which even has a backup camera. That is going to be required in my next car. There is no way I can safely backup with only one usable hand without it. When I mentioned this problem to my doctor 8 years ago his solution was to pivot in the car seat so my bad left side was against the seat back. That is actually impossible to do and get back to normal sitting with one usable hand. Also impossible to keep the right foot on the accelerator.  Obviously my doctor knew squat about stroke car driving.  Last year I had a camera on a Chevy Tahoe so I assumed they were only installed on beasts of cars.

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4 comments:

  1. Barb PolanJune 21, 2016 at 10:49 AM

    I really don't trust relying on those backup video camera even when OTHER people use them; there's no way I would rely on it when I drive. I don't understand what all the intersecting lines mean. I hate even the ones that beep when you back close to something (like a curb).

    I prefer pivoting to look over my shoulder; I do it without shifting the position of my butt so that returning to front is easy. I can't imagine turning so far as to get my left arm against the seat back.

    When will you buy a new car?

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    Replies
    1. oc1deanJune 21, 2016 at 5:37 PM

      I plan on buying a new car just before I retire, which could be in 2 years, 6 years 8 months or 10 years. I haven't calculated my financial position yet for retirement to know.

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  2. AnonymousJune 22, 2016 at 9:36 AM

    I highly recommend the subaru legacy. It has the highest safety record of all sedans, with lots of airbags, feels very secure while driving and comes with the back camera option at the first upgrade from the very basic model. and with all this it is in the low 20's. they probably also have this option in their forester model if you like an suv type car.

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  3. Geoff.WenkerJune 26, 2016 at 10:38 PM

    After stroke 3 years ago, I had to sell my Mustang which was too low and I could't reach the door to close. I got an Equinox with good seat height and much easier to get in & out that has backup camera & it really helps because left shoulder and neck are really tight from spasticity, making turning head painful.
    I steer with weak left arm for last year on straight roads and a few weeks ago able to operate turn signal so I try to remember that to overcome learned nonuse.

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