Driving
 

How many here can still drive?

I took myself off the road voluntarily but could probably still drive in an emergency. But only within a few miles of my house.

My vision has been compromised so much from MS that I just don't feel safe or comfortable driving. Plus, my left leg gives me so much trouble. I know it wouldn't be the leg I used to operate the pedals but I still feel much less capable than I was before.

Some days I feel so isolated and alone. My boys give me rides whenever and wherever I need to go. But the ability to just get in the car and "go" whenever I want to is something I never fully appreciated until I couldn't.

On the brighter side I have been able to save alot of money by not having a car.

Hi Kitty
 

This is an interesting Poll. I have wondered the same thing. You might want to add another question such as night driving. That is mostly what I have given up, along with long distances. Fusion in the Neck, no matter how good your results, it can be hard to look over your shoulder. I actually turn my whole body around if I have to. It did effect the driving. There is good transport that is free down here, so I do take advantage of that at times. ginnie

I checked I can drive whenever and wherever I like, but I do limit my night driving. I don't mind driving in town at night, but it is harder for me to see on rural roads or the interstate. I still drive home to Ohio a few times a year (473 miles each way) but it is getting harder to do so. I usually will drive for 5 hours and then stop and continue the trip the next day.

I was driving just locally for the last couple years because my leg gets too weak to push the brake enough to stop after about 20 min (a big town one way is 25 min, the other direction is 45 min). But within the last two weeks I have gotten to where when I turn my head my vision gets to where I can't focus it. Then it started doing it when I was on straight stretches.

I chose that I drive close to home, though I guess that depends what you mean by "close". I've known some people who shouldn't have been driving at ALL (eyesight, mostly, but some dementia) that only drove close to home. Guess they figured it was okay if they killed somebody in the neighborhood.

My eyesight is fine, I don't especially have weakness as far as moving my legs around and operating the pedals. But a long drive makes a long day, so I usually stick to within about 20 miles from home, except when I'm feeling relatively chipper and we go for a ride to NH. That's maybe 70 miles round trip, maybe a little farther.

My major issues are fatigue and muscle pain from sitting in one position. I also don't do "heavy" traffic (that's in quotation marks because I live in Vermont), because it increases my anxiety. An anxious driver isn't the safest driver.

I shudder to contemplate the day I have to hang up the keys. My husband doesn't drive, and we live in a tiny village--right now there isn't even a store here. So we'd be totally dependent on...whoever.

These days it's "Driving Miss Daisy/Sally".:rolleyes::D

Sighhhhh, I wish I was 35 again. With everyone else grown up of course.:D:p:D

I checked that I drive anywhere and anytime but that is difficult when your husband is retired and wants to go everywhere with you.

I could have written this myself Kitty. I'm sure I could drive in an emergency but I lack the confidence now after being off the road for 4 years, to try. My eyes aren't what they used to be and it's my left leg as well that lets me down (even though my car doesn't have a left pedal either). I think if my confidence wasn't so low I'd have a try close to home, but once you stop driving, it's hard to get behind the wheel again.

Went legally blind. I think driving would be hysterical. I keep bugging the husband to let me. :cool: