[SunAngel]

Ever since I was diagnosed with BP, I have had one automobile accident after another.

Some of it has been due to meds. and lack of concentration, but most have been due to the fact that I was driving while manic so I followed too closely, drove at a high rate of speed and hit people from behind.

They just settled a lawsuit against me and the guy got $11,000 for an accident I was in.

Now whenever I drive, I keep right in the moment and if I feel myself speeding or driving to closely, I take the necessary steps to stop doing it.

How about you guys?

[ivylove]

I haven't been in many accidents but,I do tend to drive to fast and scare the people in the car with me or make faces at the people next to me...hahaha I think its funny they don't.I don't know if this helps you at all but riding in a car with me is allways an experience wether good or bad I guess just depends on how you take it. Hopefully no more accidents in your future.

[dillpickle1983]

Well I have a CDL and drive a 80,000 lb rolling wall everyday. I have found that I am more cautious driving now than before. However I do get angry and fill with rage very often throughout the day, I usually curse and scream, but I don't do anything dangerous in my opinion.

[RapidFlyer]

I haven't noticed a particular increase in accidents or tickets since I was diagnosed. I have noticed an increase in direct proportion to how manic I am verses to how depressed I am. The more Manic or depressed the higher my rates of tickets and accidents. When my meds are stable and I am on the middle road of life I am usually accident and ticket free.

Right now I am manic and my doc is trying to keep me out of the hospital. I have to drive as I live alone and in a very rural area. So, Medicated to the gills I am out there. As little as possible, but I do have to get my meds as they are changing them regularly and I have to get groceries, and go to government offices to take care of business.

So, right now I am just hoping the universe is watching over this fool until I go back to "stable".

Thanks for the Thread.

I've been a really good driver for.e.ver. My driving (and BP) preceded my dx by decades. I'm on the constant scan expecting stupidity and very alert to a multitude of things simultaneuously. People have always commented. Even people who didn't like me, lol.

That said, when I am hypo, I am quite aggressive. In driving and in commentary (lol, Chandler, hear ya!). And drive too fast (this one I've learned to temper since dx, but the urge is strong ) One of the most memorable was ripping down major mountain passes with gorgeous curves (northern ID), at well, I'm not sure how fast exactly, but it was pretty wild. Before you all yell at me, it was pretty wide open. I'd had 2 hours of sleep, was 3 hours into the drive, singing at the top of my lungs and yelling, "I should've been a race car driver!!!" (unmedicated if you hadn't already guessed ) Thing is, like I said before, I'm a really good driver. Very skillful. So it wasn't like being totally out of control. I was on.

There are times when I avoid driving if at all possible. For example, when I'm seriously depressed. My mind simply doesn't operate quickly enough. It's such a startling contrast to the way my mind normally is when driving. Living in the city now, I'm far more aware of and reticent at such times. (TG for public transportation!) Small responsive cars are the only thing I like driving, btw.

33 years driving. 2 parking tickets (one was small-town retaliation), pulled over twice (speeding. warnings) and one fender bump (just this year, and it was a scammer...). Not saying that I haven't gotten away with a helluva lot mind you...

[Sophia57]

I've had road rage since I started driving. I think it is inherited. I cried myself out of a huge $250 fine for speeding in a work zone when my father was dying. It wasn't manipulation, just the truth.

I am actually a very good driver, not many accidents, but we have photo radar here, and they keep hitting me no matter how hard I try. I guess it is going to be my New Year's resolution, to go back to abiding by speed limits.

My consolation is I can ride my bike as fast as I want, and I am never speeding. Except I can't ride outside now because it is winter.

And I have missed you SunAngel? How have you been? Big hugs from me. I'm done school, just coming down off a huge dose of prednisone for my RA infusion. Tomorrow, hopefully back to being me.

[BlackPup]

I'm a pretty bad driver... I try but just seem to make mistakes (particularly in parking garages!!!) It's gotten no worse since I was diagnosed, maybe better because I'm older and wiser

[Trippin2.0]

Uhm... This might be OT, but since being dxd i've realised I'll never drive :'(
my depth perception is WAAAY off, I suck at estimating time,space and even speed. I CANN0T fathom how drivers guesstimate the distance between their car and the next (same goes for parking) b.coz of this I am TERRIFIED of learning to drive, and don't know anybody who would get in the passenger seat next to me :-( ... Maybe I should get a motorcycle...

[SunAngel]

Originally Posted by Sophia57

I've had road rage since I started driving. I think it is inherited. I cried myself out of a huge $250 fine for speeding in a work zone when my father was dying. It wasn't manipulation, just the truth.

I am actually a very good driver, not many accidents, but we have photo radar here, and they keep hitting me no matter how hard I try. I guess it is going to be my New Year's resolution, to go back to abiding by speed limits.

My consolation is I can ride my bike as fast as I want, and I am never speeding. Except I can't ride outside now because it is winter.

And I have missed you SunAngel? How have you been? Big hugs from me. I'm done school, just coming down off a huge dose of prednisone for my RA infusion. Tomorrow, hopefully back to being me.

Hey Sophia, I have missed you. You were supposed to give me a call because I am 100% worried about you. I am going to send you a message on FB right now. If you read this 1st, please give me a call or send me a message on here or on FB. ((((HUGS))))

Thought of another driving thing. Other times I avoid driving for being very scattered and afraid. I've got plenty of other issues, so it's not a BP thing, but... While it's probably not agoraphobia per se, I have substantial spells of having serious trouble getting out (and being out) of the apartment. Terrified and overwhelmed by everything. Obviously avoid driving then too. (So you can imagine how "fun" it would be when I had to go to work. Yes, had to. Jumpy, panicked, hysterical, terrified of getting lost even on known routes... I'd shake for a good half hour even after arriving. Friggin' blast, that...) And then there were the pre-leaving breakdowns...

Not my best driving I'm sure. Fortunately though, no incidents. Which the fear of of course worried the **** out of me -- that my precarious tiny foothold would be lost and convinced I'd be hauled off involuntarily...

I didn't learn to drive until I was 30. I did live in the city where I could get away with it and finally learned when I moved to a rural area. I am Terrified of driving on the highway and avoid it at all costs. Ironic for someone who's husband drives an 18 wheeler. Like Trippin2.0 I have terrible depth perception and usually have to get back in the car to adjust my parking. I have never had an accident with another car, but I have hit the side of the garage,a basketball pole and a deer! When I went to get a rent a car the guy asked me if the other party had insurance & when I said the other party was a deer, he said "oh, they never have insurance!lol

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by chandlerT660

Well I have a CDL and drive a 80,000 lb rolling wall everyday. I have found that I am more cautious driving now than before. However I do get angry and fill with rage very often throughout the day, I usually curse and scream, but I don't do anything dangerous in my opinion.

I also get into rage and scream while driving.... happening more and more...

As for my driving, I am becoming a worse driver. I've only been in one accident which was due to slippery roads. But I have problems where I can't tell if a car is moving fast or slow. I get lost. I start to panic and think I'm going to hit other cars. I can't see well at all at night. I just make a lot of mistakes I didn't used to.

I don't have any tickets or anything.

I read somewhere once from another country (I'm in the US,) that people diagnosed with bipolar there get their licenses removed.

[SunAngel]

You know what's funny? Two of you said you have terrible depth perception.

I remember when I smoked a joint with some friends and I was driving. I came to a red light and they all bursted out laughing. I asked them why they were laughing and they told me that the red light was like a mile away.

I get so careful driving while high on pot that I stop at red lights and stop signs about a half to a whole mile away because my perception is off.

I am not advocating smoking pot. I am just telling you guys of my situation while high on weed.

[Trippin2.0]

Lmfao! Now imagine if I were to take up THAT habit again? Bwaahaaha! Utter mayhem I tell ya. And kudos to you for making it out of the car unscathed! I definitly think I'll stick to being a passenger (even tho it's bad for my independant ego) coz I can just imagine how crap I'll be at it, not to mention scaring the shiat outta everyone involved...

[SunAngel]

Trippin, you never fail to crack me up. You get me every time.

[Trippin2.0]

Well then I guess that's 1 good deed I've accomplished! Btw, do you mind telling santa just how many times? I'm sure that scores me points in the 'good-girl' department! LOL... Fair Lady, It's my pleasure

[SunAngel]

If I had your phone number, I could have Santa give you a call.

It's on Google. My husband had him call me last night and it was hilarious. He also did it to our niece last night.

I would have to wait until my husband comes home to see how to do it.

[Trippin2.0]

Lol, that's hillarious!

[SunAngel]

Yeah, Santa gives you a call saying, "Ho Ho Ho, this is Santa. Your husband, Tony, told me you have been a good girl so I am bringing you a toy car."

You get to chose what gift you want Santa to give to the person, and my husband made him bring me a toy car, for what reason, I do not know.

My niece got something a whole lot better but I don't remember what it was.

Originally Posted by roxiesmom333

...I have terrible depth perception and usually have to get back in the car to adjust my parking. ...When I went to get a rent a car the guy asked me if the other party had insurance & when I said the other party was a deer, he said "oh, they never have insurance!lol

Lol, "they never have insurance"! True! You know, to see the front of my car, you'd think I was a really bad driver. It's pretty bunged up, but one side was the ex hitting a deer. The front and other side are from the scammer (I barely thumped. He only got a scratch on his spare tire, but my hood torqued up and a bunch of the grill snapped off and bits are still falling off...).

On depth perception, I avoid parallel parking if at all possible. Having lived where it's not common for soooo many years didn't help. No practice. I check parking pretty often too. Funny thing is, it's only the slow close-up stuff that gives trouble. On the road it's no problem at all -- I'm freakishly good at perceiving the slightest slow down ahead of me and am a fanatic about being centered in the lane. You'll never see me wandering, short-cutting a curve or swinging out to make a turn!

"Available space" brought to mind a funny. On my driver's test (long ago), there was a box truck parked and a car coming from other direction. For a split second, I thought I should just stay put because that would be what the tester would expect. But I knew there actually was sufficient space and went for it. And there was. But the tester didn't like that(!) Lol.

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

... I get lost. I start to panic and think I'm going to hit other cars. I can't see well at all at night. ...
I read somewhere once from another country (I'm in the US,) that people diagnosed with bipolar there get their licenses removed.

I get lost a lot too and panic (magnitude based on where I'm supposed to be going). But if overtaken by it, I pull over if possible. I'm not big on driving at night anymore (and with rain? nothankyou!) and avoid it. Nothing's ever happened, it just makes me uncomfortable.

I don't know about the dx resulting in revocation, but pretty sure I recall a question about if one had a mental illness (though it might have said "condition") that could potentially effect driving. I answered "no", because I don't think it's any of their damn business and my record speaks for itself. I don't think it's an unusual question of apps. Unusual, no, but wrong, yes. Imo. Strongly. There are plenty of terrible drivers out there w/o dxs, you know?! The vast majority! I think it's sheer predjudice and ignorance. How about some common sense, people?! Let's assess one's license on one's actual record!

[Trippin2.0]

SunAngel, Uhm... I think your husband was a tad bit confused...
I'm sure the toy car was meant for me, seeing as tho that's the closest I'll get to driving. Bwaahaaha!

[beauflow]

driving -- ugh-- around 22 I almost lost my license, I took two years or no it was more like 2 1/2 years, of just taking buses, cuz I rather punish myself than the courts doing it-- then I started driving again this last March (so about a year) and I got in my first official accident---- (the one before was in a ditch to which I did not call the cops, this one I freaked out--- little dissociation with my day that night) but any ways---

I have been trying to keep calm these days, but I do note at times I can get a little lead foot again and pissy with the other drivers (I can tend to think people are following too closely) but yet I am so cautious and courteous as well too!

IDK where i fit-who knows.. maybe my 120 mph was a teenager/young adult-- never got caught for those but the perfect 85 I did.... lol

[manicminer]

HAHAH well now. driving has always been a passion of mine. I also have my CDL. when driving commercially, I am one of the safest drivers on the road. In my personal vehicle, however, its a different story.

Failure to Obey a Traffic Device: 2
Running a Red Light: 1
Speeding: 2
Careless Driving: 1
Special License Test: 1 (required to keep license after getting too many points)
License Suspensions: 2 (totalling: 1 year 3 months- due to underage drinking)
Accidents: 1 (not paying attention and going too fast- rear-ended two cars)
DUI: 0 (not sure how thats happened)

Violations stem from such actions as racing a State Trooper at speeds up to 110 mph, trying to beat yellow lights, driving while exhausted, driving while manic, and drinking while underage (even though it had nothing to do with driving). As you could expect my vehicle insurance is rediculous and will become even more so after my current 6 month term is up and they can hit my premium with that accident. Not looking forward to it

[33yankee33]

My driving was excellent before I went on meds the past year I hit a tree, backed into my neighbor's cars twice and rear-ended a car. I was just unaware of my surroundings. So I talked to my pdoc about it and she reduced my loxapine from 75mg to 50mg, and my Trazodone from 600mg to 300mg. Haven't had any problem since and I'm definitely more aware of my surroundings. Just as importantly the meds change did not have a negative effect.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

On depth perception, I avoid parallel parking if at all possible. Having lived where it's not common for soooo many years didn't help. No practice. I check parking pretty often too. Funny thing is, it's only the slow close-up stuff that gives trouble. On the road it's no problem at all -- I'm freakishly good at perceiving the slightest slow down ahead of me and am a fanatic about being centered in the lane. You'll never see me wandering, short-cutting a curve or swinging out to make a turn!

"Available space" brought to mind a funny. On my driver's test (long ago), there was a box truck parked and a car coming from other direction. For a split second, I thought I should just stay put because that would be what the tester would expect. But I knew there actually was sufficient space and went for it. And there was. But the tester didn't like that(!) Lol.

I get lost a lot too and panic (magnitude based on where I'm supposed to be going). But if overtaken by it, I pull over if possible. I'm not big on driving at night anymore (and with rain? nothankyou!) and avoid it. Nothing's ever happened, it just makes me uncomfortable.

I don't know about the dx resulting in revocation, but pretty sure I recall a question about if one had a mental illness (though it might have said "condition") that could potentially effect driving. I answered "no", because I don't think it's any of their damn business and my record speaks for itself. I don't think it's an unusual question of apps. Unusual, no, but wrong, yes. Imo. Strongly. There are plenty of terrible drivers out there w/o dxs, you know?! The vast majority! I think it's sheer predjudice and ignorance. How about some common sense, people?! Let's assess one's license on one's actual record!

I just panic randomly, not because I'm lost. I panic that I am going to run into a barrier wall, a car, or I can't tell where the lines on the road are. I can't tell if cars are coming right at me or in another lane. My depth perception is terrible, always has been, but gets worse as I get older it seems. Also in the dark I can't see the road properly which is terrifying at times. I can't tell if it is curving or turning or going straight.

Also blinking and flashing or glaring lights set off over stimulation, which adds to my night driving problems at night.

Where I live we have to parallel park and I do okay except our neighbor always parks right up too close so when I come home to pull in it gets scary. I keep wanting to put a note on their car saying "The person who lives next door has terrible depth perception. It would be in your best interest not to park too close." LOL