can people in a wheel chair drive?

Yes, it is safe. Most people in wheel chairs can drive and use the pedals exactly the same way as everyone else. Many of them either

a) have full use of their feet (when sitting) and are in wheel chairs only because they cannot stand due to problems with parts of their body that you don't use to drive, or

b) are in wheel chairs only because of problems with the left side of their body, but have automatically and perfectly functioning right sides, which is all that matters, because you are supposed to use only the right foot for the pedals in a car with automatic transmission. (When driving, the left foot is supposed to be used only for the clutch pedal, and cars with automatic transmission don't have one.)

In the very, very rare cases where the person's handicap does affect their ability to use the pedals, they get special hand controls installed that do the same thing as the pedals, except that you don't need your feet to operate them.

Yes if they can use hand controls. If their disability prevents them from using hand controls then no. Also not all wheelchair users are unable to walk, some just need the wheelchairs to go distances (like walking around a mall or larger store). I'm a wheelchair user (not wheelchair bound) and I will be able to drive with the use of hand controls. Since I can't move my feet at all and wear leg braces it would be too difficult to press the pedals on the floor.

Jonathon Lovell - olympic cyclist - quadraplegic after a dump truck hit him.

Mr. Lovell used to drive a very special Ford Econoline van using his wrists and blow tubes for most of the controls.

I used to do business with the company that serviced this van.

Not sure if Mr. lovell still drives though.

Yes, it is quite possible. There are specialized controls for gas and brake and even a special handle for one handed steering, if required. The wheelchair locks into place too.

hand controls,, for gas & brake....we had a pastor, locally that was confined to a wheel chair

and drove fine with out the use of his legs

Yes, the modify their cars with a lever system.

The lever you push forward to brake, twist throttle on end like motorcylce to move and speed up

Yup! They use one hand for steering and they have hand controls that reach down and act like legs. It's actually really cool :)

They are granted drivers licences with restrictions to 'modified vehicles'. They must successfully drive test in that modified vehicle to get that "modified vehicle" restriction.

I know a lady that does it. She has hand controls. She seems to be a very good driver.

There are people who have motorcycle/sidecars that have ramps for their wheelchairs. They have controls in the sidecar to control the motorcycle.