Now that our AMN is home safe and sound, after a wonderful Jaunt, I have a question of all you MS drivers..... Is your driving as up to snuff as it used to be?

Driving was always a joy for me. I loved jumping into my car and taking off for known or unknown places and I was, indeed, an excellent driver. Never had an accident and only two speeding tickets, in 45 years of operation..

I was OK for a long time, while having MS, but there were times (bad MS days) I wouldn't drive. This was the whole time during my 18 year remission, but at 53, when I had a bad exacerbation, I noticed a difference in my driving, even after I healed from the attack.

Since my right side was my strong side, I had no trouble driving, except I started to slowly notice a weakness in pushing the brake and a slight lack of co-ordination and response time. Not enough, yet to make me quit, but, worrysome.

I had had a few minor close calls...one with not being able to keep pressure on the brake and another one, when hitting the gas instead of the brake, while parking.. ..I pretty much stopped driving, after my husband died in 2004 and in 2006, when my DL was due to renew, I didn't renew.

I've always had, in the back of my mind, that, in an emergency, I could still drive, but I never did. There are million of peeps out there, thanking me..

You don't have to be honest with me, but in being honest with yourselves, are you still a good and safe driver? Are there days you should not/will not drive?

Since I had not driven in 22 years, I had to go to a driving school here in order to get a driver's license. I was taught how to use hand controls and refreshed on driving in busy traffic and approved to drive by the certified instructor.

The class was 16 hours long and the instructor said she could not believe that I had not driven in so many years because I really drove "by the book" as far as lane changes, speed and driving defensively.

I do not like being out in busy traffic, especially on the interstates here, because there are so many wrecks. Some of the time cars are stranded behind the wrecks for hours waiting for the accident to be cleared.

Since summers in the Phoenix area usually means weeks of heat over 110 and 100 for months, it is dangerous to be caught in one of these traffic jams. I try to stay off the busy roads and use side roads to get where I am going.

The independence being able to drive has given me is wonderful. I encourage anyone that wants to drive to take the responsibility in your hands and go for it. There are a lot of devices which make driving while physically impaired practical.

Night driving is something I do not like to do and usually avoid it when possible. I think it is not safe for a decrepit old woman to be out at night by herself. I am not a lady of the night now.

Neither of my grown sons will ride with me, so when they take me places I sit in the passenger seat. Kids!

gmi

. . .or not. LOL

I notice a difference not only from a physical standpoint but cognitive as well. There are days when I just can't handle too much visual stimulation. The stimuli is not being processed quick enough. It is on those days that I do not drive. Some days, I don't know if it is "that kind of day" until I start driving. Many, many times I have turned around and gone back home. The same holds true for the physical parts of driving, like too many spasms or weak legs that won't push the break hard enough. I just had one of those days last week.

In short, I don't drive nearly as much as I used to.

God bless you, Sally, for making that hard, but right, decision!

The only issue I have with driving is the fatigue and cognitive slowness that comes with it. If I'm tired, I don't drive. Period. And I avoid congested areas that involve traffic coming at me from all directions, or multi-lane highways, just in case.

I've not had any close calls, but if ever think for a minute that I'm not safe to be on the road, I will quit. I might weep and wail and bang my head against the wall, but I will quit. And just in case I take leave of my senses, I've made my daughter promise to do whatever she has to do to stop me if I shouldn't be on the road.

I am terrified when I hear people who KNOW they shouldn't be driving say that they "only drive near home" or "go really slow". I can't imagine how awful it would be to have to give up my license and the independence that goes with it, but it wouldn't be as awful as killing someone.

Living close to Sun City, AZ retirement communities, I see drivers who need to be in taxis and not on the road driving. Totally agree with your assessment.

gmi

I parked my car in the driveway when I started noticing visual issues were making my judgement less than it should be. I am a professionally trained emergency medical services driver. I used to drive those big fire engines! I also used to drive the ambulance, and would think nothing of jumping in the car and driving 1200 miles in a day. ziiip! ROAD TRIP! tons of fun.

I count on the DH to get me where I need to go now.

You're so right, Sal! The first time I feel any absence of cognitive equilibrium or any physical difficulty in properly operating and controlling my vehicle, it's finished. I have already notified my family that if/when it comes, I will voluntarily stop driving (among the reasons I opted out on the $$$$ ramp van).

If I'm having a bad day, I stay in, period (you'll note that I've done just that several times on trips). If at any time I am concerned about getting home, I have local friends on call and one sister at the ready to fly to fetch me.

I'm a relatively calm, mellow driver and truly do enjoy it. It's the only time when I almost feel like my old self. I'm not one to rush or dart lanes to get one car length ahead. Oh, and I've had zero tickets, neener neener.

All over the country, I have seen elderly, and just plain stooooopid people who should not be driving at all, find their ways onto expressways where they endanger 100s of people along with themselves. I don't intend to join them.

And, I have now come to my official conclusion on the nation's worst all-around drivers. While most cities are filled with impatient and distracted a-holes blazing their ways, they're actually quite skilled at it. One state's drivers are, hands-down, just plain LOUSY drivers in terms of all skills. They are not smart, talented, or good at operating their vehicles, or using their roads, period. Taaaaaah daaaaaaaah!

Massachusettsites, you all take the prize for the absolute worst drivers in the entire USA! In all of the New England states, whenever I saw a complete idiot anywhere near me, the plates confirmed it. MA drivers, you are the worst drivers in all the nation! Congrats.

i have taken the attitude that driving is a privilege not a right. i'm much calmer now that i'm retired. i just don't rush anymore which makes me more careful.

i tend to look around more than i ever did for people around my car.
my van has that noise when you are in backup mode. and you'd be astounded at how many times i've seen some person right behind my car as i'm about to back up. and, my brake lights were on.

my worst fear is that i would hit someone. but so far i feel very competent behind the wheel. my left leg is my bad side so thankfully i am strong with my right leg.

Thanks Friends for your answers. It's one of the hardest things, in the world, to do...huh...admit that we are not Mario Andrettis anymore..

I talk to my Minivan, everyday....sooooo sad..

Sally my dear, I remember the hard times you had going in the van and just sitting there. Trying to decide what to do. If you don't feel comfortable or safe driving, then you know it's time.

I still drive, but think when I feel that way I will hang it up too. I mostly drive local. I only drive after a nap when I am alert and well rested. Or early in the morning after a good night's sleep.

I am aware of the awful times I had to drive to work and back after a long and stressful day. I would blast the music, open the windows wide, even in Winter, to stay awake and alert to get home after work. I used Provigil then too.

If I need something in the store now I will get it. One store at a time. No Mall days for me. The Mall seems like running a Marathon. Too much walking. I can't do it even if someone else drives. I miss it. The good old days of window shopping.

Now it's in and out, only buy what's on my list of must-haves. Or I send someone to shop for me. When in relapse, I went nowhere in the car by myself.

I was lucky to be moving around the house at those times. Mostly trying to sleep and rest-up.

Nowadays you can order so much online, even groceries. If it came to that I would go that way. It is better to be safe than sorry.