Current Affairs Man born without arms obtains driving licence
Obtaining a driving licence may seem like an ordinary thing for many people but for 18-year old Jakub Tomeš from the town of Česká Třebová it was a lifelong dream not very likely to ever come true. That’s because Jakub was born without arms and uses his feet to perform everyday tasks. Despite his disability, Jakub has now earned a driving licence along with much praise from his instructor.
Photo: www.ct24.cz
Eighteen-year old student Jakub Tomeš has become the first Czech
officially allowed to drive a car using only his feet. His new driving
licence will bring him much-needed mobility and independence as he has
enrolled in college in another town and will need to commute as of
September.
“I intend to drive slowly. All I want is to get safely where I want to go and not be a threat to other drivers. I had always wanted to drive a car and have a driving licence. So this is a dream come true for me.”
Jakub took his lessons and passed his driving test in the town of Přelouč, quite a way away from his hometown of Česká Třebová. The Přelouč driving school specialises in teaching people with disabilities. Its owner Pavel Peml says it took a while to work out all the necessary adjustments that had to be made to Jakub’s car:
Jakub Tomeš, photo: www.ct24.cz
“He uses his left foot to control the steering wheel which is fitted
with a special knob. With his right foot he presses a handle underneath the
steering wheel that controls the gas pedal and the brake. And of course,
the car has automatic transmission.”
Would-be drivers in the Přelouč driving school first learn on drive
simulators that can be adjusted to the specific needs of the learner. The
school can also order tailor-made cars for wheelchair users as well as
people with limited use of hands or arms. According to its instructors,
people with disabilities make responsible drivers – which they say holds
true for Jakub Tomeš as well. With a brand new driving licence firmly in
his pocket, he is now hoping to buy a car and have it adjusted so he could
start commuting to school as early as this autumn.
