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We have been discussing this subject for a while.  My husband is quite
concerned about it.

I have learned to watch that I don't get too tired.  I have pulled off the
road into a parking lot and dozed for a while, It only takes about 15-20
minutes and I am ready to go again.  However, I don't take the long trips by
myself like I used to.  I used to go to visit my parents in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, by myself.  That is 250 miles from here.  I also have gone to
Wisconsin to visit our youngest daughter (500 miles each way).

I also do very little driving at night.  But I still feel like I am a good
driver and am not afraid to drive.  I am undoubtedly a more careful driver
than I used to,  I allow more distance between me and the car in front of
me.  My granddaughter thinks I stop too far back from the car ahead of me at
a stoplight.

I don't intend to give up driving any time soon, but hope that when the time
comes that it is necessary, I hope I will do so without giving my family too
much trouble!

Mary Watkins
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-----Original Message-----
From: Will A. Kuipers <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, August 07, 1998 9:29 PM
Subject: Driving


This is directed especially to all those that participated, or at least
followed with interest, the thread on
driving that ran in the last two months.

Many listmembers made thoughtful contributions on what criteria to use and
when to know, at what point
it is still prudent and safe to drive and at what point to quit. As I have
seen around me, many
are capable of making a good assessment for themselves.
Some made the decision to quit on the simple realization that they don't
feel safe.
I don't believe that there are many people who need to go through the
misery of a collision or
other accident to bring themselves up short and realize the necessity of
not exposing
loved ones, or strangers to the results of a wrong judgment

I love to drive and I have a good record. We like to pull a travel trailer
and visit the wonderful places that this country offers. As a test this
spring we made a trip to Arizona. As usual I drove because
of the extra requirements associated with pulling a trailer.
I found that as long as I drove in the morning, while still being rested
and fresh, there was no problem.
Later in the morning and after lunch break, I had increasingly trouble with
drowsiness.
It was pretty apparent that I could not drive under those circumstances, so
my wife and CG who the last
few years has been accumulating time in driving this rig, had a gradually
increasing share of the
driving, to the point that, on the way back, she did most of it.
At home though I still drove on small errands, like going to physical
therapy classes, without any problem.

Recently my wife attended a CG meeting where someone told of a case where a
driver with PD was
involved in an accident. He got sued for all he had due to the simple fact
that he had PD.
Specific details of the accident were not important. He just should not
have been driving.
This puts a decidedly different spin on the question and we decided that I
not drive anymore.

I wonder now if this is putting the question in too severe a light. Would
strongly increased liability
coverage not accomplish the same thing? I see drivers with considerably
more severe cases
of handicap still driving and there are thousands with unsafe vehicles
because they cannot
afford better ones.

I would like to invite some comments from readers.

Will A. Kuipers       ( 77 / 7 )
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