A vehicle operating apparatus which accelerates, decelerates and steers a vehicle in accordance with the operation of the operating lever is provided with a reaction force generating means which generates a reaction force opposing the operating lever, a current sensor which senses failure of the reaction force, and an electric control apparatus which decreases the responsiveness of driving control to the operating lever when a failure is sensed. A steering control apparatus provides driving control equal to that of the state prior to the sensing of a failure when the operating speed of the operating lever at the time of the failure exceeds a prescribed value. Additionally, at the time of detection of a failure, an electric control apparatus reduces vehicle speed by an engine control apparatus.