how long can I drive with parkinsons - Cure Parkinson's
how long can I drive with parkinsons
I believe it's different for everyone! But if your physical reactions (freezing), or eye sight, dizziness, not rembering, etc....are in anyway imparing your judgements concerning driving and you could hurt or take someone else's life, you should quit driving! I could not live with myself if I did that! Our only child was killed in a car accident and I couldn't bare knowing I had caused such a thing! I have not drove a car for a year almost now! By my own choosing and for many reasons! You must judge for yourself! Hope this helps! And talk to your Doctor!
Blessings,
Carol<><
Thanks for that Carol
about two hours. LOL 
very good answer. I have stopped driving for alm0st 8 months an with the help of friends and family I almost don't miss it.
I have had times that my foot had a tremor when I was driving, this really scared me. I will only drive my car since I am familiar with it. Most everything is within a five minute drive of my house so I still feel ok with that.
Driving is hard to give up, especially for those of us who live several miles from a town, but when I scared myself I realized I had to stop. I was an airline pilot for 27 years, a Capt for about half of that time. I've dealt with many emergency situation but one day a few months ago I knew I had to limit my driving to as little as possible.
I was drving home from about an hour away, maybe 40 minutes from home and in the oncoming lane I saw a car that was about to turn and cross my lane was about to be rear ended very hard. The car coming was oblivious to their being stopped and waiting to turn. I saw it coming, I had the cruise control on, and I froze, I didn't do anything to avoid it. All of a sudden it was happening in slow motion and I was watching from somewhere else, then right next to me BANG. Just as I got there they hit, I still had the cruise control on. Finally I hit the brakes, I spun out across the lane and intto the ditch. Had someone been coming I would have hit them. When I hit the brakes I just stopped moving, I couldn't respond. I just shook when I stopped in the ditch. Like I said I spent my life trained to handle much larger emergencies and I froze.
I could say it's a fluke, maybe the meds, whatever but I know that something in my brain just shut down. The person I was, was no longer at the wheel. We live 6 miles out of town, my limit is anout 7 and only if I really have to. It takes every bit of my concentration to do that, and I still find myself drifting away from the task at hand. I know we are all different with this, but after I had to quit flying before we knew what was really going on I drove truck over the road ( worst job I ever had) I made myself a promise that I would never cause anyone to put one of those little white crosses by the side of the road. When I spun across that lane of traffic I realized that I could do that because of PD. I hate being tied to the house so much, but whether it's meds, or PD, or both the risk is getting to high. The other thing is now when it sit down for a few minutes I can't hardly stay awake, that includes behind the wheel. My wife now also tries to make sure I don't drive, she does every errand she can and I know how much it increases her work load.
I'm 61 and went from flying a 4 engine passenger jet to very uncomfortable driving since 2006. I was dx 2 years ago. It's hard but the consequences could be harder. When the time comes that you or a loved on realizes you can't drive it's time to quit. My wife did see it coming well before I did, she completely wore out the imaginary brake peddle on here side of the car..
I limit my driving to places no more than 15 minutes away and I only drive when I feel 100%. I drive only on roads I know well and if it is time to leave an event and I do not feel 100% I get a ride home or take a cab. I live in a small where all in city trips only cost $5.00 but I almost always get a ride. So, basically I drive to the grocery store, several nearby friends homes, 2 senior centers, my hairdresser, close doctor and dentist appts. and that is about it.
It has to be an individual decision made by you and your physician. Since I had DBS I drive all the time but before that, I limited myself to only going places that I knew the route and had driven it many times before my dx so I would not be surprised. I would hate to give up driving but if I have to then I will. But that day is not today.
It is up to the individual. Only you will know, but better stop than put yours and anyone elses life at risk. My brother-in-law has not driven for some time now, and will not get another licence. He falls asleep at the drop of a hat, so my sister drives him. Good luck
I think this is a question where there is no answer. Everyone is different and their Parkinsons is different in the way it progresses. Some people progress slowly, while others progress faster. It depends on the individual. At the moment I get a licence for 3 years and then it is up to my Consultant whether it is renewed or not. I only drive when I know my meds are working and usually only locally. My main symptom is a tremor so I could drive with this, but I never do.
You will know when it is time to stop if you feel unsafe behind the wheel. Good luck.
Hi Sue,
Spot on as usual. All the information is correct as far as it goes but as with all PD related issues it is unique to each individual. I am on my 3rd UK 3yr driving licence (dx 9yrs) but as my left side only is affected & I am right handed my automatic car makes this relatively easy. As I live over a mile from the nearest village, 2 miles GP etc I desperately need my car for independence BUT like others I am very careful about when, where & how far I drive under the supervision of my PD support team. The moment I (or any of those people) feel I am not safe I shall give up.
it depends on whether you use an iron ora wood, and is very much innfluenced by when your next meds ae due
my husband's PCP used an ethical basis with him. Are you at risk of mistaking an hallucination or not seeing something that was there? My husband said he would never want to hit someone by either missing seeing them or swerving to 'miss' an hallucination.
Being a guy it was hard for him at first but now it's one less thing he has to stress about.
So my suggestion is to consider the wellbeing of those in the car with you and those around you in other cars/on the sidewalk, etc. You also have a responsibility to your family members to keep yourself safe, as well.
As a friend once said "when he goes by he wants to go quietly in his sleep like his grandpa, not crying and screaming like everyone else in the car"
Driving in a way is therapy for me. I have noticed that my tremors are almost non existent. But from time to time still have my left knee lock up. But other than that driving is my only vice.
Even before DBS I felt ok to drive and posed this question to my Neurologist, who said at the time he thought it was ok. As most of the other comments have stated it is a very individual thing as none of us are the same. Now after the DBS I am more confident in my ability but choose to drive only when I have no lift available & then only relatively short journeys.
Good luck working it out but ultimately you have to work it out for yourself. One of the things I hate most about this disease is the loss of independance!!
I am only 51 and had PD diagnosis at 44. My daughter was then only 10 and my son 13 so I had to drive them to school and back. Now my son is driving and my daughter wants to get her driver's licence the day she turns 18 in three months time. My husband bought her a car so that she will also be independent and the burden lifts off my shoulders. I definitely am affected by Levodopa intake and am better in the 2 hours between 3 hourly doses. But at the same time the meds are more effective if taken at a regular time. I have thus far avoided Dyskenisias due to regularity. I made it my business to research all factors of PD and all the meds being used. I have been taken off the road before for about 3 months due to severe delusions. However, I was devastated and lost without driving. So now I carefully plan to be out and about only when I know the meds are working. I will stop if I am no longer in control of my PD as I also do not want to be responsible for someone else's dying due to my driving!
i have been diagnosed 3 yrs now notified DVLA and my licence is for review in 2014 i attend movement clinic every 3 months and they are happy at the moment to say that they will not hesitate to inform DVLA i am fit to drive, above all i have to be honest with them when i attend the clinic. i am still working and take modopar, azilect and rasagiline
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