im going to take a stab at this one...personally i dont drive.. they would not allow me to anyway because of the epilepsly and the fact that i am not controlled...so that lets me out of having a drivers license..
so on to the question as to why this would happen...i can see many reasons
if you have eye problems...vision problems
if you constantly get stabbing pins in your head,,,then perhaps behind the wheel of a car is not the right place for you..
if you have issues with trembling uncontorblely (sp) again maybe not the best choice of transportation...
again there is that small percent of ms people that get seziures...hmmm.. preferably not at a school cross walk...
if extreme fatigue is an issue..and you tend to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.. well you may want to consider public transportation..

I'm not saying that you personally have any of these present problems or some i may not have even thought of... but that is one of the ways that the motor vechile department keeps you,, and all others on the road safe...

I AGREE WITH HEATHER, I DROVE FOR MANY YEARS, AND AFTER THIS LAST EXACERBATION THE DOCTOR WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE. AND GIVEN THAT THEY MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON YOUR CURRENT PHYSICAL CONDITION AND HOW THEY FEEL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD IT IS BEST TO HEED THEIR DECISION. WHO KNOWS YOUR NEURO MAY SAY NO PROBLEM YOU ARE FINE TO DRIVE WITH NO RESTRICTIONS. JUST BE SAFE:))

At this point I am thinking you might consider contacting your local MS chapter to see if they have any advocacy advice for you. I tend to be a bit defensive but I am also a person who is going to keep fighting for what I consider to be my rights. Being passed over for department head because of health issues seems to be a bit illegal to me. Unless your cognitive abilities are being extremely affected, physical limitations should not be the basis for discrimination. And if the paraplegic man down the road is driving, then you should be able to asses your own capability to operate a motor vehicle. My neighbor is still driving with muscular dystrophy. It makes me want to consider lying on my next renewal. That being said, remember for every thing there is a season...Ecclesiastics. Check with the best adviser.

Thanks to all of you for your feedback. I wouldn't be upset if I felt that my driving presented any type of hazard to anyone. I don't have seizures, haven't passed out due to MS (well, came close during the LP), have very little problem with shakiness, and passed the vision test w/o my glasses--no problem. Fatigue--I don't drive when exhausted. Vision--if affected; don't drive. I pretty much don't drive if I feel I am not safe to myself or others. Guess I'll just wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow.

I for one am perfectly happy knowing that i did not chose to lie on a drivers application and put others at risk,, and i just hope and pray that others out there are responsible enough to realize that the loss of their license is not worth the loss of one life..
To say that we with cognitive issues or seziure issues.. or chronic fatigute are the same as others is to sum it up...bullshit... sorry.. but i like blunt..
I know for a fact that is some people on here that have seziures with their ms.. and they unfortunatly cannot hold a license if they have a single seziure.. it will automatically be revoked by thier neuro... but more often than not.. as i belong to both sites.. you will find that people with seziures are responsible enough to voluntarily hand in their license ..even if it means a inconvience..loss of job..etc..
Human life has no price tag... we would not hand someone who has been drinking the keys to a car... if we are not capable of reflexes...cognitive skills necessary to drive etc.. and still yet we insist on driving than we are no better than someone who gets behind the wheel after drinking...
and tech,,,, if you are actually considering lying on your application.. that is your choice... all i can say is im glad you do not live in my city where my children walk around...

If I thought that my driving ability would possibly do harm, I wouldn't want to drive. Public transportation isn't an option--we don't have any. In a rural state like ND, where one has to often drive long distances for medical specialists or higher education, a driver's license is quite important. Still, I refuse to drive if I am not comfortable doing so. It makes me far too anxious. If my symptoms continue to worsen, well, I guess then I'll need to re-evaluate my position. Until then, I do feel that I am safe on the road. My husband would not allow me to drive if he felt that I was not safe.

I have to renew my lisence this summer, and that "MS" tag makes me nervous. I know that they have to go through their policies and procedures to make sure that people are healthy enough to drive...don't worry, I'm sure it will be okay and you'll get your lisence. It's just frustrating seeing how new hoops have been placed in front of us. :)

Maybe it's just my state? My neuro. was really surprised when I told him about this, which makes me think it is something new.

This is very intresting. I too, have been worried ever since I was dx'd in Feb. I always wondered about when I apply for the handicapt plac. and if the DMV would give me problems. Keep me posted.

Eloise, I'm sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. :( I know how you feel. It's just one thing after another with this damn disease.:( I haven't had to go through that problem yet, but I wish you luck and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love/peace/blessings
~Krissi