Indian man without arms overcomes all obstacles to become successful driver
An Indian man who had lost both arms didn't let that stop him from becoming an experienced driver using only his feet.
Vikram Agnihotri, 47, of Indore, Madhya Pradesh state in central India, has no hands but he drives an automatic car with his feet. The Indore regional transport office (RTO) awarded him a permanent driving license on September 30, 2016.
Agnihotri has since driven over 22,000 km without an incident and is the chauffeur for his proud parents. His achievement earned him an entry in the Limca Book of Records. He got his car in 2015, but could find no driving schools or trainers for hand amputees. He instead watched foreign videos of handless driving and, within three months, he learned to drive using his feet.
Although the RTO authorities admired his driving skill, his licence application was initially rejected on the ground that the Motor Vehicles Act has no provision to grant one to a bilateral amputee. Vikram and his family took up the issue with the government, and pleaded that the Motor Vehicles Act should be modified for the changing times.
After a year of follow-ups, the Act was amended and Agnihotri was the first handless person to be given a driving licence. With pride, he points out that the amendment in the law will benefit millions of disabled people aspiring to get a driving licence.
