My name is Jono, and I am a 41-year-old autistic man with Asperger's Syndrome living in Barmulloch, Glasgow. I am also a self-employed magician. I am starting this petition because the frequent use of fireworks has become a serious problem in my life, and I believe something needs to change.

Fireworks are being set off in and around my local area almost every night. For me, this is not simply an occasional annoyance. I am extremely sensitive to sudden, loud noises, and the unexpected explosions can cause me severe anxiety, distress and uncontrollable frustration. I have spent hundreds of pounds on noise-cancelling headphones, but even these don't always help. Recently, I became so overwhelmed that I spontaneously got into my car and drove somewhere quieter. I ended up sitting there for hours and didn't get home until late. My partner was extremely worried about me, and understandably so.

This is also having a significant effect on our relationship. We enjoy simple things like sitting together on the sofa watching television, but we cannot reliably do that anymore because we never know when the next firework will go off. My partner has to watch me become extremely distressed when they start, and this is putting considerable strain on both of us. I have even started looking for therapy to help me deal with the effect this is having on my life.

I know I am not the only person affected. Autistic people, people with PTSD, people with sensory sensitivities, children, older people, pet owners and others can also be severely affected by sudden and unpredictable fireworks. The Scottish Government has already recognised that fireworks can cause distress to people with conditions such as autism and PTSD, and Scotland already has rules around when fireworks can be used, as well as the ability for councils to create Firework Control Zones.

I also want to acknowledge where this petition came from. I recently became aware of Laura Miller, a mother of an autistic child from Kirkintilloch, who has started her own petition calling for better control of fireworks. Her campaign made me realise that perhaps there is something I can actually do about a problem that I have felt completely helpless about for a long time. If I had realised earlier that starting a petition was an option, I probably would have tried to do something about this much sooner.

I understand that many people enjoy fireworks, and I am not asking for them simply to be banned. I am asking for a better balance between people's enjoyment and the wellbeing of those who are severely affected by them. I believe we should look at whether the current rules go far enough, including how often fireworks can be used, where they can be used and whether quieter alternatives and better controls could be encouraged.

I want to add my voice to Laura's and to everyone else who is affected by this issue. If you have experienced the disruption and distress caused by frequent or unpredictable fireworks yourself, or know someone who has, please consider signing this petition. I want to see whether, by teaming up and making our voices heard, we can help bring about some sensible changes.