One-armed Man Not to Drive Coach
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A ONE-ARMED man who had been t. trying for eight years to get permission to drive a coach lost an appeal before Bristol rnagistrates last week against a refusal of the Licensing Authority to grant him a licence ro drive a 33-seat coach for private hire. He was Mr. L. C. Munden, of Hampstead Road, Brislington, Bristol, a 40year-old ex-cruiserweight boxer.
It was stated for the Licensing Authority that there was no complaint against his driving. The point was whether it was right to entrust the lives of possibly 33 peop1P' to a man who had only one arm.
According to his solicitor, Mr. J. A. Briggs, Mr. Munden had great strength in his right arm, and he applied the hand brake in an emergency with a " hammer bow" with his elbow while retaining hold of the steering wheel.
"To change gear, he puts his arm through the spokes of the steering wheel, keeping control of the steering with his forearm," said Mr. Briggs. "While giving traffic signals, he grips the wheel with the upward pressure of one or both knees."
Mr. Briggs said that his client drove a car, which was not modified in any way, and that his licence was marked: "Disability overcome."
An insurance company was willing to insure him to drive the coach at the -ordinary rate of premium.