Driving and Multiple Sclerosis: How to Stay Safe

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can make driving a challenge. It can affect the skills you need behind the wheel — your vision, memory, reflexes, and how well you move your arms and legs. Your symptoms can come and go, sometimes in the same day. It might not be safe to drive during a flare-up, but it’s usually OK to get back in the driver’s seat after symptoms go away.

For most people with the disease, though, some planning and the right tools can make driving easier and safer.

Sometimes you’ll notice when your MS symptoms affect your driving, like you can’t move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake quickly. But other symptoms aren’t so obvious. Your brain may become less able to process what you’re seeing so you can react to it. You might have minor accidents like bumping into things when you park, or you might feel lost driving down familiar streets. Some people with MS aren’t aware that their driving has changed until a loved one points it out to them.

If you’re not sure whether MS is affecting you in the car, get checked out by a driver rehabilitation specialist. The evaluation will have two parts, one in an office and one behind the wheel.

The office test will review your health and driving history. The specialist will go over:

If things go well on the office test, then you’ll have a road test. This will see how well you:

Afterward, the specialist can tell you how MS might be affecting your driving and tell you what you can do to make it easier and safer.

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