Originally Posted by Conductor71

Yes, it is rather odd, isn't it? There is absolutely no segue. It was if the person didn't know how to end the article, so topped it off with a trite study on prevention, and it's not like he could get away with encouraging the masses to take up smoking, so it was tea, by default.

Still, I get so worked up over this issue, I probably would have socked that investigator in the mouth claiming out of control dyskinesia was at fault. I mean why didn't he just come out and say "we shouldn't be allowed to leave the house" period. Really, Digger, you are brave. After his leer, tone, and contemptuous manner, I would not have trusted this person to inject me with anything! I can see them arguing that meds can cause you to fall asleep at the wheel or that dyskinesias can impact safety, but working memory problems? How is not remembering the speed limit any different from driving with 80% of people on the road who choose to ignore it? Even the researchers conclude that in all other areas beyond recalling the speed limit the PD person did as well as non-PD drivers! So I fail to see a big concern unless you start to jumble up traffic signals or what not....

Isn't it bad enough we already have enough taken from us with the disease alone without others stepping into the mix and stirring up the pot with pseudo-science? If we, are so rare in number, especially us YO folks, how can we be statistically more dangerous than the people I see on the way into work who are putting on eye shadow, reading, texting or otherwise multi-tasking behind the steering wheel? Is this going to somehow turn into something else that pharma can eventually "fix" with a pill?

I know that there will come a time when I should no longer be driving, but I want that to be of my own volition and with feedback from family and friends who ride with me on a regular basis and input from my doctor. It is almost as we are pariahs. Where are the studies on people who have bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, migraines... really any number of health conditions could be called out on this, so why us? What are they driving at?

So, it will come down to a doctor using clinical observation to "rate" us on driving ability. Yet, again a medical authority in control of my life. I just wonder if the doctors who rat us out will get kickbacks from the auto insurers? What happens when they won't cover us? Really this needs to stop; They can't even tell us with absolute certainty I have PD, so until they tell me that statistically, PWP have caused x time more accidents than a control group, then they need to lay off with the specious "research".

Laura