My driving is self-regulating:
Generally the MS (relapsing-remitting) is the least trouble because when my ability to focus goes usually lasts about 6 weeks) I’m totally unable to drive (duh!). Luckily this only happens roughly once every couple of years (at the moment). Fatigue (feeling exhausted for absolutely no reason) also means I don’t drive. That’s about two days a week.
Mastectomy and reconstructive surgery on both sides means I can’t raise my arms higher than 90 degrees from the body without pain, and reaching behind for the seat-belt is a bit ouchy, but obviously not incapacitating.
My back . . . Well. When the discs slip it’s a month in bed followed by a month recovering. Longer when the sciatic nerves decide to get involved. That’s pretty much an Annual Event. No driving or even being a passenger during these phases. When my back starts twinging more than ‘normal’ I also don’t drive – I can’t risk it going when I’m 60 miles from home. Getting in and out of vehicles is getting harder.
Other problem is crushed coccyx, which most affects choosing a car. I can’t have firm suspension (e.g. nothing less than 17″/18″ wheels now) but hate spongy suspension and soggy handling. I do believe my current car (Golf GT) will be my Last Hurrah car-wise, before entering the world of SUV’s.
As for the wheelchair – there’s no way I can lift my ‘chair in and out of the boot and as I can’t self-propel either, DH does the lifting, loading/unloading and pushing.