Of course I can drive. I’m a better driver than two
squirrels working the pedals while a beaver is steering, or if you want to keep
the comparisons human, I drive better than a ten year old (unless they grew up
on a farm because you learn to drive early).
I have my license…so I’m legal to drive.
I haven’t killed anybody (or even hit anybody) with my
vehicle (or otherwise…I’m a nice guy).
In all honesty…
I believe that I drive better than any stupid ass moron out
there. The people that should have their driver’s licenses cut up and flushed
down the toilet. The people that are reckless and actually do harm to people
and/or property.
But…
I still scare myself sometimes, and truly believe that I
should never drive again just to be safe.
It’s not a copout, or anything like that. The main reason is
that I’m slow to react, and that can be deadly.
Seriously…
I can’t even use the remote control on the DVR to fast
forward through commercials because I end up going way too far into the show,
which can be considered normal, except I can take it to the extreme and go past
the commercials, into the show, through the next set of commercials, into the
show, and then have to try and close my eyes to not ruin the show I’m watching
while rewinding it.
I’m slow to react…
I’ve had seizures while driving in the past, which I have
shared with you, but I have gotten lost also.
Again…
Anyone who knows me, knows that I get lost in a paper bag. That’s
normal because I have no sense of direction.
I’m talking about the other night when I was coming home. It was on
a Sunday evening, and even though I was on a main road, there wasn’t a lot of
traffic. I drove past the hospital and made a mental observation of an
ambulance trying to turn the wrong way or something.
Then I remember being lost and confused because the road I
was planning to turn on was miles behind me. I was down by the college.
I got my mind straight and drove home.
I could have been spacing off, but it felt pretty instantaneous
to me…one minute I was by the hospital and then by college, like they were next
door to each other.
That scares me.
I’m happy to report that my city doesn’t have red light
cameras. I don’t know if I ran a red light or not…just saying.
So what does the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have to
say about driving with MS?
A lot actually…here is a little piece of what they have to
say…
Ways in which MS symptoms may affect your driving ability and
safety
Research has
shown that a person’s driving performance may be negatively affected by
symptoms associated with MS. For example, recent studies show that both
cognitive changes and spasticity (muscle stiffness or spasms) affect driving
performance, putting the person at an increased risk for an automobile crash.
In addition, difficulties with information processing and visual-spatial skills
are associated with decreased driving performance. In other words, MS can
impact many functions necessary for safe driving. Changes in MS over time may
result in difficulty operating a car. Your ability to drive safely may be
affected if you experience any of the following:
- Difficulty getting into or out of a car
- Muscle weakness or stiffness/spasms/cramps or pain, particularly in the arms or right foot
- Loss of sensation in the feet or hands
- Impaired coordination
- Slowed reaction time
- Fatigue
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
- Blurred vision, blind spots, double vision, loss of color vision
- Cognitive problems such as short-term memory loss; disorientation while driving such as forgetting your destination, getting confused about where you are or missing exits; poor concentration; inability to multitask; and confusion about how to turn the car on or off
- Mood changes: depression and/or problems controlling anger
Even if your MS symptoms seem to be mild and manageable, other
indications that your driving safety may already be compromised include
automobile accidents or near misses, moving violations, and the unwillingness
of others to be a passenger while you are driving.
Tips on remaining
safe while driving
Since the symptoms of MS often are not only relapsing or
remitting, but also can fluctuate from day to day and during a single day, your
ability to drive may also fluctuate. The following tips may be helpful:
- Don’t drive when you are having a bad day
- Keep your trips short if fatigue is an issue; avoid driving when you know your fatigue is severe
- Avoid driving during periods of heavy traffic
- Avoid driving in bad weather
- Avoid distractions such as eating, arguing with passengers or using a cell phone. Talking on a cell phone or texting while driving have been shown to increase the risk of fatal accidents and are now illegal in many states.
- Avoid driving when you have another illness (e.g., flu), because MS symptoms are often worse when your body is under increased stress
Link to read more about driving with MS…
