Advice Required

[Pullman]

My husband has had two heart attacks but a good few years between each. He has been passed fit to drive but I always am on edge if anything should happen when he is behind the wheel luckily we do not do a lot of travelling and he is not a fast driver. If anything should happen when he is driving what would my best course of action be. We have an automatic should I just pull the handbrake on and put flashers on and hope for the best I know it depends on the type of road we are on but any advice would be helpful.

[Canary42]

Would it be possible to fit dual control (driving instructor style) at a reasonable cost ?

Anyone have any idea how much this would cost ?

[woofgang]

Pullman have you got a driving licence? If you haven’t then you can’t use dula controls (and they don’t steer) and if you have got a licence, then why don’t you drive?

[bhg481]

Push the gear selector into "N" first; the engine may scream and wreck itself but, unless you do that, it will keep driving the car. You then should be able to stop the car, albeit slowly, with the handbrake. Hazard flashers as well, if you can reach the switch.

[ummmm]

Depends what speed you're travelling at. If you're travelling at 30mph and just pull the handbrake, you're gonna the spin the car.

[-Talbot-]

Dual control?

Are you kidding?

[Pullman]

I have a driving license,but am now disabled so unable to drive. Thank you for all replys. It is a situation pray never happens but always better to be a little prepared. X

[grasscarp]

I was once in a very bad accident in which the car was written off and I was hospitalized. Driving in France and my boyfriend at the time thought I should be closer to the kerb and grabbed the wheel. Car flipped over. Would not advise trying to take control of a car where you are in the passenger seat.

[SherryBea]

Pullman, I really would not worry. A heart attack rarely comes on immediately and I'm sure if your OH was feeling unwell at the wheel he would have time to pull over on his own.

[hereIam]

^ That makes sense.

[woofgang]

Pullman, are you unable to drive your car or any car, ie could you drive an adapted car?

[Sqad]

I agree with the post of SherryBea that in all likelihood, there would be plenty of time for him to pull over.

[Cloverjo]

I agree with SherryBea. Of course, terrible things can happen, but it's unlikely that he will have a heart attack while driving. My dad had his at 43 and is still going strong at 78.

[Pullman]

Thanks for all the words of reassurance.

[murraymints]

put gear selecter doodah to N or R ....kick his foot off any pedals ...and pull on hand brake when car is doing less than 20 mph...just hold wheel in place don't yank at it or turn it..if you know where hazard lights are put them on..ask now so you know..unlikely scenario but .....

[bhg481]

NOT "R" murray - Lord knows what will happen. Pullman is a driver - she can pull the handbrake on carefully at ANY speed because she understands she'll have to release and re-apply it if a skid starts. The quicker she slows down the better.

[murraymints]

if there is no foot on the accelerator surely R will help stall the engine ??

[bhg481]

I think it would make the handling completely unpredictable murray; better to use "N" and the handbrake carefully.

[murraymints]

stand corrected....x

[bhg481]

Incidentally, our Volvo has one of those electric handbrakes, which we love. It's very clever (they say) in that if you apply it at speed it will brake all 4 wheels until it has slowed you down to a few mph and then switch to just the rear wheels. Unfortunately they have placed it by the driver's door, so the passenger can't reach it at all. Being electrically operated they could have put it anywhere in the car they wanted, so why not place it where a passenger could reach it in emergency?

[ChipaChups]

Your best course of action would be.
Turn the ignition key to stop the engine.
Put your foot on the brake pedal.
With foot on brake pedal, select N.
Do not pump the brake pedal,if you do the pedal will go hard,and will reduce the brake power, through lack of vacuum.