When I just saw my surgeon at the six weeks post op visit this past week he said I could resume driving IF I was not taking narcotic pain medications, could steer well enough to execute a sudden swerve motion, and could grasp the wheel with hands positioned at 10:00 and 2:00.
I can do all that. But the 10:00 and 2:00 hand position on the steering wheel harkens back to driver's education circa 1965. Cars of that era did not have power steering and placing your hands at 10 and 2 gave you the extra force needed to rotate the steering wheel for tight turns.
Now we are advised to grasp the wheel at 9:00 and 3:00, or better, at 8:00 and 4:00.
The reasons? Because the steering wheel tilts toward the windshield, when hands are at 10 and 2 your arms are pretty straight. In a wreck you are more inclined to lock your elbows as you brace for impact. This transfers the force of the collision to your shoulders, likely causing more injury. If your hands are placed lower on the steering wheel your elbows are bent and won't lock.
Furthermore, if the airbag deploys and your hands are high on the wheel, your forearms will absorb the force of the airbag. It's a bit of dissembling to say an airbag deploys; it is really an explosion resulting in heat and gas, kind of a controlled chemical reaction. Better to have your hands and arms lower and out of the way. Hopefully your seatbelt will restrain your torso and head and keep them far enough back to avoid both the force and the heat of the "deployment."
But if you are intent on driving before you can comfortably use your broken arm, which, by the way, APPEARS to be perfectly legal as long as you can reach all of the controls, you might want to install a "necker knob" on the wheel. Popular before power steering and bucket seats, the knob allowed one–handed steering to free the driver to wrap his other arm around his sweetie. But be careful. When the car has completed its turn and the wheel spins back the knob can whack you on the wrist or elbow. Not so cool.
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