Woman with Tourettes syndrome explains why she still chooses to drive despite people branding it 'dangerous'

A woman with Tourette syndrome has explained how she's still able to drive despite her disability.

When it comes to driving out in public, motorists need to keep their eyes on the road at all times to ensure that they and pedestrians are kept safe, while also allowing them to react quickly to any hazards that might emerge.

So, it's easy to understand how someone with involuntary tics might struggle to achieve this, but one woman on TikTok has now explained exactly how she is able to stay safe while driving in spite of the neck tics and eye rolls that affect her.

Tourettes is something which is often frowned upon in public due to misinformation, especially when people wrongly assume that a child is acting out rather than suffering from a health condition.

While conversations have improved, especially with music star Lewis Capaldi opening up about his own diagnosis, as well as the recent film I Swear, which focused on the life of Tourettes syndrome campaigner John Davidson, there is still a lot that the general public has to learn about the neurological disorder.

And Olivia Woodrich, who works as policy coordinator for Tourette Association of America, is keen to share more information around Tourettes on her TikTok, including why she continues to drive, despite many warning her about the dangers of getting behind the wheel.

She said: "I've learnt how to safely drive with my tics. I think a lot of people don't realise that you can drive with TS.

"I know some individuals [who have TS] don't drive as their tics are too dangerous but most of us drive safely every day."

Olivia also takes extra measures to keep herself and other safe while on the road, including pulling over if she feels a particularly big tic coming on, while she also doesn't drive on the highway.

She added: "Stress, anxiety, being sick or being super excited can make my tics worse. It's all about listening to my body and brain.

"If I feel like I can't safely get to my destination, I won't drive that day. This honestly rarely happens though.

"I'm very aware of safety concerns which is why I'm mindful of my tics and trying to manage them.

"It's no different to someone driving looking over at a passenger or sneezing.

"There are a lot of people more dangerous than me on the road such as people that look away from the road to text and drive, or not give their full attention to the road.

"These are more dangerous than me having a small tic while I'm driving."

The DVLA also states that you could face a £1000 fine if you don't tell the agency about Tourettes syndrome that affects your ability to drive safely, but Olivia clearly feels safe with her current approach.

Despite her explanation, some commenters were still branding it as dangerous after she shared a video of her in her car.

One user said: "Is it not dangerous when your head and eyes turn up and away from the road?"

Another added: "Aren't you afraid to crash when you flinch and look away like that?"