Lean your crutch up against the side of the car, right behind the driver’s side door. Unlock the door while maintaining your balance, and carefully slide into the driver’s seat. To avoid further injury, it is advised to slide in with your backside first. If you are using a second crutch, place it on the passenger seat or behind the driver’s seat. Do not shut the driver’s side door.
Insert the key into the ignition, and turn it forward slightly so that the car turns on, but the engine does not start. Wind down the driver’s side window and reach back for the crutch that you left outside earlier. As you bring the crutch into the car, make sure that the top (the padded under-arm part) is near the upper part of your body. When you close the driver’s side door, make sure the top of the crutch goes through the open window; it should stick out the window a little bit.
Buckle your seat belt and using your left hand, place the end of the crutch on the clutch pedal (the one on the far left). Push the clutch all the way in and apply the brake with your right foot while making sure the car is in neutral with your right hand. If it is, then turn the ignition all the way and wait for the engine to start. Once the car turns over, take the crutch off the clutch pedal and remove the emergency brake.
With your left hand, use the crutch to push in the clutch again, and with your right hand, shift the car into first gear. Grab the steering wheel with your right hand at the 2 o’clock position. Take your right foot off of the brake and use it to push in the accelerator, revving the engine to around 2,000 RPMs. Slowly release the clutch (using the crutch) until you feel the car start to pull forward. Push the gas in further and release the clutch completely (it’s a push/pull relationship between the two pedals).
Shifting from first to second is similar to the step above. Keeping your eyes on the road, start out with your left hand on the crutch handle and your right hand on the steering wheel. When it is safe to shift, move your right hand to the shifter and bring your left thigh up to stabilize the steering wheel. With the crutch, push the clutch in and pull the shifter down (into the second gear position) with your right hand. Remember to not give the car gas until after you have released the clutch (push/pull). Now you are in second gear. Repeat step 5 to shift into higher gears.
Place the crutch on the clutch, take your right foot off of the gas, and move your right hand to the shifter. In a quick, smooth motion push in the clutch with the crutch and then move the shifter into the desired lower gear. Remember, it is always best to downshift into the next smallest gear (e. g. if you are in 5th gear, downshift to 4th). Once you are in the desired gear, release the clutch and slowly push on the accelerator with your right foot. Lastly, bring your right hand up onto the steering wheel.
Once you arrive at your destination, park the car, push the clutch in with the crutch, shift the transmission into neutral, and apply the emergency brake. Open the driver’s side door and lean your crutch(es) outside of the car against the top of the door frame. Roll up your window and turn off the car. Shift the transmission into first gear (or reverse) to keep it from rolling. Carefully bring yourself out of the car with the help of your crutch(es) and close the door behind you.
