Enabling People with Spinal and Neck Problems Drive a Car
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Secondary School
Institution
Project Lead The Way - Kentucky
KY House District #
63
KY Senate District #
23
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Tom Rowe
Abstract
Every car has rear view and side mirrors. There are people who are unable to drive due to a lack of mobility in their upper body, therefore limiting them to use of the rear view mirror only. This is not a safe way to operate a moving vehicle. Since these divers cannot turn their necks, their blind spots are magnified. Every year around 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer from spinal injuries. Some spinal disabilities can come from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or more commonly known as EDS. People afflicted with spinal or neck injuries may be able to legally drive, but it is not safe. This would increase the likelihood of an accident thus putting other lives in jeopardy. The optimal solution would allow the immobile driver to see. “Seeing” can be physically seeing the surroundings by using mirrors, cameras, or using technology such as sensors warning them when a car is nearby. Mirrors and cameras are both now commonly used on cars to assist even the most capable of drivers. Placing the mirrors in different positions or adding mirrors in specific areas will enable the impaired person to drive. Cameras can be added for the person to be able to see by looking at a monitor. Mirrors, sensors, and cameras can all be integrated together to possibly make a more optimally safe driving environment. The ideal solution must be stable and able to withstand the elements. Optimally the solution will be affordable to the average person and will enable the driver to see around the car while only moving their eyes.
Enabling People with Spinal and Neck Problems Drive a Car
Every car has rear view and side mirrors. There are people who are unable to drive due to a lack of mobility in their upper body, therefore limiting them to use of the rear view mirror only. This is not a safe way to operate a moving vehicle. Since these divers cannot turn their necks, their blind spots are magnified. Every year around 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer from spinal injuries. Some spinal disabilities can come from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or more commonly known as EDS. People afflicted with spinal or neck injuries may be able to legally drive, but it is not safe. This would increase the likelihood of an accident thus putting other lives in jeopardy. The optimal solution would allow the immobile driver to see. “Seeing” can be physically seeing the surroundings by using mirrors, cameras, or using technology such as sensors warning them when a car is nearby. Mirrors and cameras are both now commonly used on cars to assist even the most capable of drivers. Placing the mirrors in different positions or adding mirrors in specific areas will enable the impaired person to drive. Cameras can be added for the person to be able to see by looking at a monitor. Mirrors, sensors, and cameras can all be integrated together to possibly make a more optimally safe driving environment. The ideal solution must be stable and able to withstand the elements. Optimally the solution will be affordable to the average person and will enable the driver to see around the car while only moving their eyes.