Wonderfully retro
I remember my Dad using one of these in our brand new Ford Consul in 1972 or so.
Can I interest the reviewers in this brand new device I'm marketting called "fire"
Amazon customers have gone absolutely mad for the AutoExec WM-01 Wheelmate Steering Wheel Desk Tray, which "attaches to your steering wheel for easy access to a writing and drink storage surface". The Laptop Steering Wheel Desk How, you may wonder, have we survived until now without a product which is "flat for writing and …
By Jamie O'Shaughnessy
...
There is one problem though. In several accidents that I have had whilst using this, the airbag causes the laptop screen to slam shut. I've suffered several broken fingers because of this. I have started to look around for airbag finger protection but have not yet found any...
http://www.amazon.com/review/RGPRDW6DCVCV4/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt/175-1581521-2489356#RGPRDW6DCVCV4
After looking at the picture of this thing at Amazon, I've determined that the picture has the steering wheel rotated 180 degrees in order to give the desk the necessary clearance to mount (airbag at the bottom of the steering wheel is the normal position of the steering wheel.) This means that anyone using the desk must be going around in big circles, so this is obviously only useful in roundabouts.
The poetry of these reviews cannot beat that of the Amazon-dwelling fans of the oeuvre of David Hasselhoff. I quote a paean of praise of the 'Very best of ..."
"I came across this record at a time in my life when things weren't going well. My wife had just left me for a contortionist, my kids were all at boarding school and the dog seemed to have a lingering contempt for me that grew more and more vitriolic as the days passed. Then, like Moses into the parted Red Sea, David Hasselhoff stepped into my life and convinced me that things weren't as bad as they seemed...."
And now I'll turn myself in to Lord Mandy-Rice Davis for breach of copyright
A mate of mine was bemoaning the lack of such a device several years ago. However after we thought about it more it was clear than in the event of an airbag deployment (collision caused by other vehicle) you would end up wearing your laptop in your face or have your fingers amputated. I would never site such an item in front of the airbag, nor for that reason do I cross my arms when steering, to avoid putting my arm between my face and the explosive device aimed at it.
In my '86 Bluebird, even with the chair as far back as it'll go, there's not enough space to fit a laptop in front of the steering wheel. Before rushing out to buy one of these (or making your own with a jig saw and an old chopping board) first check that
a) Your chair goes back far enough
b) Your laptop fits between you and the wheel
c) You are not pregnant.