Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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KENNEWICK, Wash. -- No one was injured after a blind man got behind the wheel of a truck, and crashed into the front of a grocery store Tuesday morning (keprtv.com)
submitted by Winnmark
ThisBlindChickReads 4 points 2y ago
This is why I stopped driving even before my license was expired. I hope I am not the only one who thinks this is just a little bit funny (I understand it could have been a much worse outcome and still feel awful for the guy and everyone else who is involved in the situation). ... But I know for myself, that I probably took greater risks than I should have when I was nearing the end of my ability to drive. My last time behind the wheel was when I slammed on my brakes thinking I was about to hit a car coming out of an intersection ... It was a shadow of a tree... I got myself home hung my keys up and haven't driven since.
I am curious to hear of anyone else's "aw shit that was a close one I shouldn't be driving anymore" stories?
I am curious to hear of anyone else's "aw shit that was a close one I shouldn't be driving anymore" stories?
xmachinaxxx 5 points 2y ago
Yep my vision loss was pretty quick. I had always worn glasses but right around the time I was trying to find out was was going on, why my vision was suddenly a lot worse, I was still trying to drive just like I always had. I knew when I was crying behind the wheel while driving it was time to stop.
ThisBlindChickReads 3 points 2y ago
Yeah the frustration of that reality hits hard ... I think its the thing that is most difficult to come to terms with at the beginning. I definitely got into great shape though walking 2 miles everywhere (public transportation is not really any option where I am)
tymme 3 points 2y ago
> This is why I stopped driving even before my license was expired
Sadly a lot more people, many of then not blind, need to take this approach and don't....
Sadly a lot more people, many of then not blind, need to take this approach and don't....
snimminycricket 3 points 2y ago
I've watched too many older people (especially my spouse's grandpa) refuse to stop driving even after they were an extreme hazard. Or a friend of a friend who started having grand mal seizures, and even after the first one (when she didn't know she had epilepsy) caused a horrible wreck she kept driving and had another horrible wreck! So I always said I want to be the first one to recognize when I'm not safe to drive anymore. That came last week. Nothing catastrophic happened (and that's a good time to stop, BEFORE disaster strikes) but every time I drove I noticed something that I should have seen way earlier. And by the time I would get to my destination (I take the same route to and from work every day and it's less than 15 minutes) I would be nearly quaking with anxiety. So yep. Bike life for me as of today!
ThisBlindChickReads 1 points 2y ago
Whew yeah I agree with this. I have been offered rides to places by some people and during the drive I am thinking "well, I could have done that!" ... I definitely have a small list of people I don't accept rides from anymore.
snimminycricket 2 points 2y ago
I am grappling with this right now, this very week. I've had a couple of scares before but because I wasn't as focused as I should be. Since then I'm really focused behind the wheel at all times and lately I find myself being surprised by things that I should have known were there. For the record, when I got diagnosed with RP I went to a low vision specialist who referred me to a driving school to evaluate my driving abilities and the instructor there said I was doing great. That was almost three years ago though and I evaluate my driving ability every time I drive. Yesterday I really decided it's time to transition to a bicycle lifestyle. Public transportation in my city exists but is spotty - I live close to downtown and work close to the other side of downtown less than five miles from my house and it would take me two buses and three walks over about two hours in order to get to work by bus. So it's time to commit to the bike. I'm just glad to have this sub to come and discuss these things with other people who are going through (or have gone through) the same thing.
ThisBlindChickReads 2 points 2y ago
I hear ya! It does come down to what you are comfortable with ... I know I was definitely a more aware driver toward the end than I had ever been ... It was just too nerve-racking for me. I shuffled my gas money to hat, shoes, and sunscreen money! ... Good luck to you, it is definitely a difficult decision.
snimminycricket 2 points 2y ago
Thank you! I am thankful to have an older brother who also has RP and stopped driving several years ago, so it's like a built-in support group with lots of advice. And another (slightly younger) older brother who has RP but isn't as far into vision loss as I am, who will also be facing this choice sooner or later. So we're lucky to have each other to help navigate all of this.
RunsOnBoltCoffee 2 points 2y ago
I had a couple but the main ones were pretty frightening. Missed a stop sign and drove across a small highway luckily missing any passing cars and stopping short of the fence that was right in front of me.
The other one was pulling out of a gas station and not seeing an oncoming car in my greatly expanding Blindspot in one of my eyes. Just missed the car and pulled over on the side of the road for a few minutes to collect myself and hung my keys up.
Went from 20/20 vision to legally blind in two months FYi.
The other one was pulling out of a gas station and not seeing an oncoming car in my greatly expanding Blindspot in one of my eyes. Just missed the car and pulled over on the side of the road for a few minutes to collect myself and hung my keys up.
Went from 20/20 vision to legally blind in two months FYi.
ThisBlindChickReads 2 points 2y ago
Oh yeah those are good ones ... I find myself now as a passenger telling whoever is driving me ... "Whew, its good I'm not driving! I would have totally hit that ::car, wall, person...::!"
PrincessDie123 3 points 2y ago
This made me laugh because I regularly get asked “how do you drive?” After saying that I’m blind.
Real_Space_Captain 2 points 2y ago
Crazy, I voluntarily stopped pursuing my license after finding our I was loosing my vision. I just couldn’t imagine taking the risk, for myself or anyone else!
My doctors all seemed to sigh in relief when they ask about driving and I tel them I don’t. Guess a lot of people put up a fight (which I understand that public transportation in certain area is literally non-existent) but gotta know your limitations. Not worth anyone’s life.
My doctors all seemed to sigh in relief when they ask about driving and I tel them I don’t. Guess a lot of people put up a fight (which I understand that public transportation in certain area is literally non-existent) but gotta know your limitations. Not worth anyone’s life.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 2y ago
About that….. maybe this guy shouldn’t even have a license, recognized his limits. There’ is a lot of idiots out there.
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