Part 3 - Migraines and Driving: What Every Driver Needs to Know

I think of migraines as headaches, but they’re actually so much more. They’re a complicated neurological condition that can repeat in ways that affect your entire body. I know, I had them in my thirties.
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​Migraine symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances, confusion, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and constant yawning. About 25% of migraines sufferers have auras an hour before the migraine strikes. Auras show up as blurred vision, flashes of light, wavy lines, and blind spots. 

My first migraine, and all the others, must have been auras. I remember the blurred vision, how I couldn’t read, and my hand going numb. It was scary. I was teaching. I can’t imagine having one if I’d been driving. It’s why I decided to write this post and share the link below from Stephanie Butler. She’s the Outreach Coordinator from Adam Swallow Injury Lawyers.
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                           Link: https://www.mdaccidentlaw.com/driving-with-a-migraine-safety-guide/


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Part 3: Safety Checklists for Before/During/After Migraine

If you suffer from frequent migraines, these three checklists could minimize risk and maximize safety for you, your passengers, and your fellow drivers. 

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                                     Before Driving:

1. Assess risk: Ask yourself if you have any migraine symptoms like auras, nausea, or light sensitivity. If you do, don’t drive.

2. Take preventative medications: Take doctor-prescribed medicine before driving.

3. Pack a migraine survival kit: This includes medication, water, snacks, sunglasses, earplugs, and an icepack.

4. Tell passengers: Pick a designated driver, just in case. Teach your kids how to stay calm and call for help.

5. Plan your route: Use GPS to pick a low-stress route that gives you safe places to stop when needed.

6.  Have someone on-call: Have family or a friend ready to pick you up in case a migraine strikes while you’re driving. 

7. Know your triggers: Plan ahead to avoid things like bright sunlight. If possible, pick the best time for you to travel.

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                                  When Driving:
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1. Be self-aware: Track your symptoms, especially if triggers pop up.

​2. Stay hydrated and fed: Sip water and snack when you feel hungry.

3. Minimize bright sunlight: Use your visor and sunglasses to minimize bright light, even on a cloudy day.

4. Minimize driving stress: Allow yourself extra time to get there and avoid peak traffic.

5. Minimize stimulation: Keep the radio on low, food smells too. The temperature should be comfortable, and conversations kept to a minimum.

6. Pull over: If you feel any warning signs, pull over as soon as you can.

7. Take medication: Once you stop, take your medicine and rest until you feel better.

8. Call for help: If your migraine doesn’t get better, let your designated driver take over, or ask your on-call person to pick you up. 


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                                     After Driving:

1. Take care of yourself: Rest and rehydrate. Eat if you can, and don’t drive until you’re better.

2. Write down details: Keep a migraine journal with your symptoms, triggers, and responses to medication. It can help you learn to manage them. ​

3. Evaluate your actions: Did your plan work? How could you improve it for the next time? 

4. See your doctor: If your migraines don’t get better, talk to him/her about what you’re doing.

5. Check out alternative transportation: If migraines still affect your driving, look for safe alternatives, like public transportation, carpooling, or uber.  

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​Legal Implications for Migraines: Across the country, there are no laws against driving with migraines. But it’s illegal to drive impaired, and there are penalties for that.

During a migraine, if you’re dizzy, have light sensitivity or visual disturbances, are nauseas, or have intense pain, you could be considered impaired. If there’s a problem, you can be stopped under general traffic laws. The easy button: don’t drive if you’re in doubt.

If you have an accident while driving with a migraine, you could face civil liability and criminal charges if someone’s hurt. Put safety first, yours and the drivers around you. Talk to your doctor before you step in the car. If you’re in doubt, call family or friends.
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I did…I forgot about a migraine that struck at the end of the school day. My husband came to my rescue.
 
                                                               Tomorrow: where to find help for your migraines

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