I’ve had MS since 2005, secondary progressive MS, and have always driven my car in the UK and in Europe. It’s automatic, I’ve put in a hoist for my scooter, and have adapted the accelerator so I only use my left foot. But… I’ve had three accidents in the last 6 years, all my fault. In the last accident my car was a write-off, largely because all the airbags went off, so doubled the price of the repair. I think I should stop driving, and I will. That creates problems for me. What do other people think ?Should I struggle on, get more adaptions installed, you can adapt anything these days, or definitely stop for my sakes, my passengers’ sakes, and for the sakes of other road users ?
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I think you know the answer to your question. If you’ve had 6 accidents that were all your fault, surely you should give up for the sake of other road users.
If your having that many accidents and it’s always your fault I definitely think you should stop driving. If you hurt or kill someone else the guilt will seriously affect your mental health. My sister got in a car accident last year which triggered FND, Functional neurologic disorder, and that has completely screwed her life up. I can’t imagine how that’d affect me if I inflicted that on someone…
Thanks for the reply, you are right, but it was only 3 accidents, not 6, and one of those was into a fence.
The last time I got behind the wheel was in 1999, I temporarily lost sight in right eye due to optic neuritis the following year, I just didn’t have the confidence to return to driving after that.
I can understand in parts of the country, your car is literally your legs for getting anywhere at all, so driving is essential.
However, naturally there will come a time when the body has to retire from operating a vehicle and unfortunately, it must come sooner rather than later.
Yes, you’re right, I had the same, lost the eyesight in my right eye driving down to Dorset. Drove back to Moorfields Eye Hospital and they said your eyes are fine, it’s your nerves, see a neurologist. So I did, and that started me on my MS journey. Interesting that the Alzheimer’s Society gives advice on how to drive with dementia, ie only drive at daytime, use familiar routes etc. My Mum drove with dementia, but she always forgot where she parked her car. I took it off her in the end. Lots of discussion on the internet about people over 90 who still drive. More accidents involving elderly people are occurring, but the age group with the most accidents are still the 17-25 year olds, which is what us old people always tell ourselves.
- MS is a notifiable illness, so it would be an offence to not disclose it to the DVLA.
- DVLA usually revoke your 10-year licence and you have to reapply for a 3-year one. DVLA will seek opinion / report from your GP / MS Consultant.
- MS should be disclosed to your insurer too. Generally, insurers look to the DVLA. If you’re fit to drive with the adaptations applied, your insurer will provide cover.
- You’ve not disclosed if you believe your accidents were as a consequence of your illness or just random/ unfortunate. If it’s the former, you are being incredibly selfish and risking not only your own health / life, but potentially that of others as well.
- If medically unfit to drive, you could be laying yourself open to all sorts of prosecution.
- On a per-journey basis, not being able to drive a car yourself will be really inconvenient, but overall, there will come a time when you’ll have to accept that it’s not a reasonable thing to do.
I do sympathise. My abilities are also in decline but currently, I’m still OK to drive. Vision and fine motor control are fine (in an auto). In reality, getting in & out of the car and extracting my wheelchair will become limiting factors long before my ability to control the car in motion.
Only you will know what is the right thing to do.
Graeme
I suppose it depends a little on what the accidents were and what caused them? Driving down a motorway at 70mph , lost concentration, episode of fatigue or leg went into sudden spasm and crashed into the central reservation , or steered too tightly driving into a car park. If MS was the underlying cause then yes - stop driving. Your next accident could be the end of you and other car drivers.
What do you use your car for and could you find alternatives? When my Dad gave up his car in his late 80s I could never get him to use the money saved on petrol, servicing etc to take taxis . I can’t remember the exact figures but I remember reading that unless you drive something like 5,000 miles a year then it’s not worth having a car - taxis, trains etc are cheaper.
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That cost comparison you give is compelling 
However, driving a car = independence, freedom, convenience, personal space and a sense of self-worth. I know it will hit me hard if/when the time comes.
I know what you mean and there is always the slightly unsettling period of waiting to see if the taxi will actually turn up and similarly waiting in a queue to get a taxi back home. It is possible though and for non MS reasons/ just out of choice I once spent several years without a car
For me the interesting thing here is the limitation on adaptions. I adapted my car and it kept me driving for about 9 years, great, but I’ve now come to the end of that adaption, I think. I’ve adapted my home, but I no longer go upstairs, adapted my kitchen ? yes, but cook much less, adapted my bathroom yes but I cannot not use my bathroom, so still have falls in the bathroom. Thing is I can adapt many things, arms, legs, hands can be adapted but brain ? No, I can’t adapt my brain
I didn’t get round to notifying DVLA tbf. Although I don’t drive anymore and haven’t done since dx, just keeping the licence has been quite useful; I still get asked for ID, even if I’m just buying CBD from a shop.