Re: Driving

[Guest guest]

:

I think each state is different relative to handicapped drivers. Some

of us are better drivers than " normal " people. There are a couple of

ladies here in my building over 80 with cars, and should not be driving.

They hate to give up there independence. As far as knowing when not to

drive, I think that we know. In fact there are days when I know I am

tired, and I won't drive. Today I drove 100 miles to see a sick friend

in the hospital, and I felt just fine. To me it's using common sense.

Rita

[Guest guest]

: I would think your DOT when you go get your

license renewed would say if you need to have a behind

the wheel test to prove you can drive. Or else, your doctor,

when you see him/her should be responsible for saying,

I don't think you should drive anymore. But, as you say,

you know your body, and don't think your response time would

be adequate if needed. I am sure it is very unhandy to have

to depend on someone else to take you everywhere. I am

thankful to get along as good as I do. My mom and I just drove

to Fargo, ND last weekend, through the traffic in Minneapolis/St. .

It's a 6 1/2 hr. drive from Northern Iowa

where I live, and mom said I did a very good drive. When

we got home, she thanked me, and told me I was a very good

driver. Made me feel good.

Take care.

laurel

Driving

> I gave up driving after going to my Acupuncturist one day and they

> made me call my husband to pick me up afterwards. They said if I

> was

> too weak to walk unassisted, I shouldn't be driving. I haven't

> driven

> since. I think I could drive but I tire so easily and I'm afraid if

> I

> had to repond quickly my reaction time wouldn't be fast enough. We

> live in a mountainous area with lots of curves in the road. I am

> tired of being dependent on my husband to drive me but just don't

> have

> the confidence to try driving again. Anyone have the same concerns?

> What would liability be if I were in an accident and they tried to

> say

> my illness caused the accident? Do I need to notify my insurance of

> my disease? Motor Vehicle department? In Calif. I think the Docs are

> required to report patients to DMV that have diseases that might

> impair driving, but Ariz. doesn't seem to have such requirements. I

> hope I haven't opened a can of worms here, I'm sure Rita is fine to

> drive, but when do we decide we aren't? What are our responsibilities?

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

I gave up driving but retained my license because I can still drive with the

use of hand controls. I can't believe, never mind I can believe, that jerks

would make that comment. With hand controls and power steering there is no

reason you can't drive. It is worth a try. I was never turned down with hand

controls. I gave up my car because it did not have power steering and it was

getting harder and I knew I needed power steering but couldn't afford a

different car. Please consider trying with hand controls. There are places like

Independent Living that have cars could try on.

Kathy

Thomson wrote:

> I gave up driving after going to my Acupuncturist one day and they

> made me call my husband to pick me up afterwards. They said if I

> was

> too weak to walk unassisted, I shouldn't be driving. I haven't

> driven

> since. I think I could drive but I tire so easily and I'm afraid if

> I

> had to repond quickly my reaction time wouldn't be fast enough. We

> live in a mountainous area with lots of curves in the road. I am

> tired of being dependent on my husband to drive me but just don't

> have

> the confidence to try driving again. Anyone have the same concerns?

> What would liability be if I were in an accident and they tried to

> say

> my illness caused the accident? Do I need to notify my insurance of

> my disease? Motor Vehicle department? In Calif. I think the Docs are

> required to report patients to DMV that have diseases that might

> impair driving, but Ariz. doesn't seem to have such requirements. I

> hope I haven't opened a can of worms here, I'm sure Rita is fine to

> drive, but when do we decide we aren't? What are our responsibilities?

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Would you like to save big on your phone bill -- and keep on saving

> more each month? Join beMANY! Our huge buying group gives you Long Distance

> rates which fall monthly, plus an extra $60 in FREE calls!

> http://click./1/2567/7/_/532384/_/957469594/

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[Guest guest]

I just want to add that I lived in California and drove with hand controls

with no trouble at all. No tickets either. kathy

Laurel Aasland wrote:

> : I would think your DOT when you go get your

> license renewed would say if you need to have a behind

> the wheel test to prove you can drive. Or else, your doctor,

> when you see him/her should be responsible for saying,

> I don't think you should drive anymore. But, as you say,

> you know your body, and don't think your response time would

> be adequate if needed. I am sure it is very unhandy to have

> to depend on someone else to take you everywhere. I am

> thankful to get along as good as I do. My mom and I just drove

> to Fargo, ND last weekend, through the traffic in Minneapolis/St. .

> It's a 6 1/2 hr. drive from Northern Iowa

> where I live, and mom said I did a very good drive. When

> we got home, she thanked me, and told me I was a very good

> driver. Made me feel good.

> Take care.

> laurel

> Driving

>

> > I gave up driving after going to my Acupuncturist one day and they

> > made me call my husband to pick me up afterwards. They said if I

> > was

> > too weak to walk unassisted, I shouldn't be driving. I haven't

> > driven

> > since. I think I could drive but I tire so easily and I'm afraid if

> > I

> > had to repond quickly my reaction time wouldn't be fast enough. We

> > live in a mountainous area with lots of curves in the road. I am

> > tired of being dependent on my husband to drive me but just don't

> > have

> > the confidence to try driving again. Anyone have the same concerns?

> > What would liability be if I were in an accident and they tried to

> > say

> > my illness caused the accident? Do I need to notify my insurance of

> > my disease? Motor Vehicle department? In Calif. I think the Docs are

> > required to report patients to DMV that have diseases that might

> > impair driving, but Ariz. doesn't seem to have such requirements. I

> > hope I haven't opened a can of worms here, I'm sure Rita is fine to

> > drive, but when do we decide we aren't? What are our responsibilities?

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Would you like to save big on your phone bill -- and keep on saving

> > more each month? Join beMANY! Our huge buying group gives you Long

> Distance

> > rates which fall monthly, plus an extra $60 in FREE calls!

> > http://click./1/2567/7/_/532384/_/957469594/

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> >

>

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/4/00 7:51:55 PM Atlantic Daylight Time,

ritadfromhollis@... writes:

<< To me it's using common sense.

>>

Me too, Rita. A little common sense goes a long way. Jeanne Ann

[Guest guest]

When I last renewed my license with the MVA, I went in on my scooter

-- you should have seen the looks! Anyway, the state of MD makes you

answer questions about debilitating diseases and as a result of that,

I was referred to a Driving Evaluation Facility, in this case, an

orthopedic hospital.

To make a long story short, I passed everything but the reaction

time with my right foot(MVA required) and I was required to have a

hand brake installed which I had had for a year and a half anyway--

that and a " spinner " knob on the steering wheel so you can turn the

wheel easily while you use the hand brake.I can meet the MVA standard

using my left foot on the brake,so you don't have to get off the road

when I drive!

I normally use my right foot for the gas and left for brake with no

problem and the hand brake if my left leg goes funky.I have no

problems on long trips as long as you take routine breaks to stretch.

If you can get in your car you can drive--there are many devices to

help and the state MVA recognizes this and just requires you to have

some training and prove you can handle it. I hope everyone stays as

mobile and as independent as they can--It's up to you.

Good luck to all--Ed

[Guest guest]

Common sense tells me when I wake up in the morning that I will be

able to walk to the bathroom by myself. Sometimes I can. Sometimes

I can't. I'm not a very good judge of what my body is going to do or

not do anymore. Sometimes when I am laying on my stomach in bed I

can't raise up with out getting my arms in the right position. Other

times I can. What I am trying to say is this....My mind tell my body

to move in a certain way. The connection does not alway get through.

I have no control over that. Thinking it is merely " common sense " as

to when to drive and when not to tells me not to. I can't guarantee

my reation at all times. My niece, , was killed in a car

accident 5 years ago. She was 19 yrs old. Also killed was her 2 yr

old niece. Her 16 yr old sister has permanent brain damage and lost

the sight in one eye, barely sees out of the other. Her 12 yr old

brother has to have surgery to lengthen his legs every few years as

they won't grow on their own. over reacted when an oncoming car

came to close to her on a curve in the road. My sister ('s

mother) watched die and lives with the shattered lives of her

other two children daily. Maybe because of this tragedy I am overly

sensitive about driving and auto safety. But hey, if I don't put

other people in jeopardy by being overly cautious, then I guess it is

worth the inconvienence of being dependent on others to get places.

I didn't realize why I was so upset about driving until this whole

discussion got me heated. Thank you for helping me get this out. I

needed that. I am sure I could drive just fine. But it is the

emergency situation that scares me. I now feel much better about

passing on driving because I now understand why it scares me so

much .....

> In a message dated 5/4/00 7:51:55 PM Atlantic Daylight Time,

> ritadfromhollis@w... writes:

>

> << To me it's using common sense.

> >>

> Me too, Rita. A little common sense goes a long way. Jeanne Ann

[Guest guest]

The driving issue came home to me a few weeks ago when a person pulled out

from behind a truck to get ahead of me on I 35- she narrowly missed me and

I had a rough time getting out of the way- felt much of it was luck. I

agree my reflexes were part of the problem and I had no idea how much so

until it happened. I am reevaluating how I get around since I know my

condition is progressive. This summer I will be trying a bold new

experiment- driving to the park and ride then riding the bus. I know this

is not a permanent solution but it should decrease my driving time and I

think planning for the future in this aspect rather than being surprised by

it is best. The biggest challenges will be worrying about getting

everything I need with me (I love my trunk!), concern about my car's

security all day,(I may need to reevaluate where I start), and getting from

the bus stop to the office (I may get that walker the neurologist is

nagging me about yet) Lavon

[Guest guest]

Lavon......

Break down and get the walker. It was hard for me to accept at first

but without it I'd be homebound! yuck! BUT....investigate the colored

ones. You get great, positive reactions from people!

Sally

On Sat, 06 May 2000 11:27:50 -0500 Lockwood Family

writes:

>The driving issue came home to me a few weeks ago when a person pulled

>out

>from behind a truck to get ahead of me on I 35- she narrowly missed me

>and

>I had a rough time getting out of the way- felt much of it was luck.

>I

>agree my reflexes were part of the problem and I had no idea how much

>so

>until it happened. I am reevaluating how I get around since I know my

>

>condition is progressive. This summer I will be trying a bold new

>experiment- driving to the park and ride then riding the bus. I know

>this

>is not a permanent solution but it should decrease my driving time and

>I

>think planning for the future in this aspect rather than being

>surprised by

>it is best. The biggest challenges will be worrying about getting

>everything I need with me (I love my trunk!), concern about my car's

>security all day,(I may need to reevaluate where I start), and getting

>from

>the bus stop to the office (I may get that walker the neurologist is

>nagging me about yet) Lavon

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

I still drive, though not in the dark. I also don't carry any

passengers. However, if I can con someone into driving me around,

even if it's someone who has just driven all day to see me, I will.

My reaction time still seems pretty good, as long as I don't try to

push things.

Aircraft pilots talk about a thing called " Get-there-itis " which is

responsible for a lot of accidents. Most of the time when I give an

expected time of arrival (ETA) for me it is in the form of a window of

several days, rather than a particular hour. Those that can handle

that kind of stuff I visit; those who can't handle it, I don't visit.

That way I have never felt pressure to be somewhere.

In the case of something being a particular date, like Rita's NE

get-together, I tend to get within " striking distance (a few hour's

drive) " a few days before, and have never been bored. There's

*always* stuff to do.

Besides, if you do drive, they have these *really neat* parking

spaces...

Galen Hekhuis, NpD, JFR, GWA ghekhuis@...

A friend in need is the devil's playground

[Guest guest]

I miss driving. There are so many place I would like to go and can't because

I have no way to get there. My friends are usually out and about with others

or with spouses. Weekends are really long for me, weekdays are better as

friends are home and drop by. If I still had a car I could just take off and

go where ever.

kathy

ghekhuis@... wrote:

> I still drive, though not in the dark. I also don't carry any

> passengers. However, if I can con someone into driving me around,

> even if it's someone who has just driven all day to see me, I will.

> My reaction time still seems pretty good, as long as I don't try to

> push things.

>

> Aircraft pilots talk about a thing called " Get-there-itis " which is

> responsible for a lot of accidents. Most of the time when I give an

> expected time of arrival (ETA) for me it is in the form of a window of

> several days, rather than a particular hour. Those that can handle

> that kind of stuff I visit; those who can't handle it, I don't visit.

> That way I have never felt pressure to be somewhere.

>

> In the case of something being a particular date, like Rita's NE

> get-together, I tend to get within " striking distance (a few hour's

> drive) " a few days before, and have never been bored. There's

> *always* stuff to do.

>

> Besides, if you do drive, they have these *really neat* parking

> spaces...

>

> Galen Hekhuis, NpD, JFR, GWA ghekhuis@...

> A friend in need is the devil's playground

>

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