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Regarding driving, I had a scary experience last week. I was making a left turn out of my development and almost hit a family of pedestrians who we out for a stroll. They were scared but unhurt. After by DBS surgery I went to a driver evaluation program at a local hospital with a driving test given after I was cleared. Yet I had not driven for 2 years and was rusty. In the intervening time I have driven a maximum of 20 miles away from home and stopped driving at night because my night vision is awful. I tend to judge things closer than they actually are which causes me to top break too soon and makes a hazard out me for other cars. My problem is assessing the risk I am to myself and others. If I honestly could say that I thought it was the PD or something related to it (meds) I would stop driving in a minute.without needing an official to tell me But if it was something else, I actually wind up losing my self confidence. At this point I am convinced that the PD did not play a significant role in the near accident Pedestrians are almost hit by drivers without PD every day. Yet there is a nagging part of me that still wonders. My vision of them was blocked by the post of the car and and there were oncoming cars that I was watching for and snow banks that were blocking visibility as well. It was my quick reflexes. that prevented a serious accident but my failure to look closely that put me and that family in danger. I recognize and accept that it is the MD's duty coupled with that of the DMV to say whether I should drive . I by state law must renew my drivers licence for 1 year periods because I have PD The next review in about November. I am convinced that there are many drivers out there that are much worse than am I but that isn't my problem. I must be careful to avoid all accidents and not have close calls the one last week. My problem is how do you tell whether I pose an unacceptable risk on the road? And as I write this how does one define "acceptable risk"? JR I think your question is quite valid "what constitutes acceptable risk"? At 09:52 AM 2/19/01 -0800, you wrote: >PD Impairment And Driving > >Remarkable, how people so readily accept general restrictions >on driving privilege, so long as none of said restrictions >happen to be ones that might inconvenience them personally. > >As for a criterion of "impairment", relative to what?? What's >so wrong about drivers with impairment that can be compensated >by mechanical aids, experience, caution, common sense? Must >every driver have the strength, speed, reflexes, and insight >of Superman? > >If you think so, then join me and we'll stick it to anyone who: >-needs glasses to see >-is colorblind >-is deaf >-is under 25 >-is over 25 >-has a prosthesis >-is missing a limb but lacks a prosthesis >-drives from wheelchair seat using hand controls >-can't read local language of traffic signs >-can't read anything >-has ADHD >-didn't get past 3d grade in school >-gets anaphylaxis from bee sting >-smokes >-can't stand smoke >-wears baseball cap, backward >-wears any hat >-drinks hot coffee, carried on lap tray >-is clinically ugly >-voted for Clinton >-is a chronic grouch >-looks just like his vehicle >-...well, perhaps you get the idea. Cheers, >Joe > > > > > > >-- >J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 >3527 Cody Road >Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013 Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton, WI PD DX 12 years (at age 44) Age 56