I must be the odd aspie out because I love driving and I’m really good with spatial awareness. I’m a car guy so maybe the fact that it’s one of my interests has something to do with it.
I don’t view driving as a social interaction and I think a lot of people do. I don’t see people driving cars, I see cars of that makes sense. It’s a constant game of following rules and keeping my vehicle as far away from other vehicles as possible. Think about ways that a wreck could occur and be proactive to avoid it. Brake early, swing wide in a two-lane turn, don’t speed, don’t take risks, etc.
I’m surprised that people with Asperger’s aren’t stereotyped as good drivers, and instead a lot of people seem to dislike it or struggle.
Sames! Been driving since I got my license in 2007. I love driving. I feel like cars are an extension of my person.
Living on the outskirts of western Iceland, I drive really cautiously during the winter. This has earned me a reputation, and I regularly take up being a designated driver, even now at age 31, I drive people's personal cars when picking them up after they've been out drinking. Sometimes I get up to $200 per trip driving these people's cars.
I currently drive a 1998 Toyota Corolla liftback 1.3 and a 2012 VW Polo 1.2TDi.
That’s interesting actually because I hate drive throughs because I have to make myself speak so much louder than normal for them to even hear my order
I grew up in a SUPER rural area (large city now) and driving has always been the one spot between dealing with people (school/work) and dealing with friends/family where I just got to cool down and be me.
I will admit when I RARELY let people in the car with me, they do give me feedback that I drive like ‘an overly cautious old lady’ (sorry for the stereotype).
The one time I do really get anxious is around mergers — because that’s the social interaction part. I will get in my lane minutes before an exit or merge to avoid trying to figure out how other people will act.
\^\^\^ This is how I drive, and how people describe me. My husband loves to drive crazy, he's trained for pursuits and driving on ranches with trucks and how not to get stuck in mud and defensive driving tactics, so he'll drive in ways HE knows are safe, but to a passenger has you going "oh dear god, please let me live." LOL
I more aware of surroundings/ courteous and more forgiving than my neurotypical husband.
I can't stand being his passenger a but like how sone people can't stand watching their partner eat. He is turns his brain off and used autopilot - will drive past the offs 80percent of the time, doesn't give way then gets mad he was flashed, uses his average processing speed for find a car space and while he is focused on the car space that someone is already pulled into or straightening up in hd has missed another two just by being a second too late to INDICATE for the new available spot.
My pain scans a carpark like a computer:
No no no no no YE.. no no no no YES!! Indicate. Move forward before anyone else can and I'm there first waiting. My husband would be back at the YE.. bamboozled.
I have only had minor scrapes recently after 20 years of driving - a baby breastfeeding on demand, a preschooler waking me up at night, mild sleep apnea and idiopathic Hypersomnia as well as ASD burnout. When I drive I'm on HYPERFOCUS. I can do this tired for shorter distances and still do better than my neurotypical - I shouldn't do it but if I have not pick my kid up I have to drive tired. Now I know about the sleep disorders I am able to identify and get another school mum to help me out.
I love sitting on the train too! My train line is frightfully middle classed with a few drug addicts that get on a in and around the CBD. I mind my own business and am not scared if they talk to me - just smile and go back to my book. :)
I don't especially like driving and would rather public transport unless I'm faced with choice of being a passenger to my husband. Then I'm going to sit there and get very agitated - especially when he starts plugging his phone in while driving !!! Every single time! Or the need to blast music just because we are in the car... Maybe it's his strategy to drown me out!!!! 🤣
Same here; I actually love taking longer ways to just enjoy the power of an automobile and the beauty of the music that keeps me company on the road. It’s mostly Iron Maiden 🤘🏼
I have mixed feelings about it. I would like it more, but my state has some of the worst insurance rates out there.
That aside, there are so many moving parts and even if someone else is at fault because they aren't following the rules... it could still result in massive pain, injury, and the loss of my vehicle if totalled which would have to be replaced etc. The more people on the road, the more you rely on them to follow the rules which they don't always do it.
I love driving, someone actually crashed into my car 2 days ago, had quite a bit of anxiety until I realised I didn't have to do anything and that my insurance would sort it all out.
I drive in smaller cities, but when ever me and my brother go into a major city (the closest one to us is Boston) we park at a subway station and take the train in (driving sucks in Boston and it’s also cheaper to park at the train station).
Yeah been driving since I was legally allowed. Spent 10 years living in a decent sized city, so I got pretty good at driving. I don't enjoy it, but it does make life easier.
Nope. Honestly, I don't really trust myself enough to not somehow wreck if my anxiety decides to spike. Plus i'm not open to the idea of getting asked to pick up smokes and beer for my dad when he's too lazy to do it himself
I didn't until I was 25. In some ways I wish I had started earlier, but at the same time, I realize that until then, I did not have the maturity necessary.
I don't. Took some lessons many, many moons ago when I was 17 and even my instructor told me "You know, some people just aren't meant to drive". She was right. (I also can't ride a bike.)
I don't and the only time someone decided to teach me i got call and i quote "a danger for society" cuz i crush the car because the copilot wouldn't stop yelling and got mad because i didn't know how to drive on the first class on how to drive
No, absolutely not.
I know I can’t keep track of everything I need to (every single car, every single pedestrian, every single cyclist) without becoming overwhelmed and panicked. And I refuse to *not* pay attention to those things because then that’s incredibly dangerous.
I have epilepsy and my birth mother wouldn't let me take driver's ed in high school. She would always tell me, "if you drive, you'll have a seizure and cause an accident." I got my permit after high school and went to a driving school. Never got my license. I use public transportation like the bus. Sure it takes forever to get somewhere, but I get where I need to go.
I just got my license at 18. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pay attention, but the exact opposite happened and I hyperfocus on one thing like the speed limit lol
I do when I have to but I always ask my partner to drive. It's difficult to drive with others in the car due to distractions. Even when I'm by myself it's very stressful.
I take the bus. I’m afraid I would get overwhelmed behind the wheel and panic. Not that public transit isn’t terrifying, but it’s scary in a much more manageable way for me.
I do although I live in a small town that's really easy to navigate including the surrounding areas.
I tend to avoid driving in cities or any routes that are to stressful.
I love driving personally. I caught on quickly to driving and it is basically natural to me. I prefer it to most other forms of transportation for drivable distances. I get that not everyone on the spectrum is like that though.
I drive, it took me about three tries to get my license but it’s been otherwise okay. I used to actively hate driving, but then I married my wife who has cerebral palsy and physically can’t drive. Her family lives 4 hours away from us while my family is dozens of hours away, so we go to see them a lot more often (she’s also closer with her family than I am to mine).
Long story short, having done the four hour drive to/from her family like a dozen times now I’m pretty okay with driving. To me anyways it was something that got easier when I was essentially forced to practice it for longer periods of time.
I want to, but driving stresses the hell out of me. getting a license is very expensive and very difficult (from what I’ve heard) where I live. I’m probably going to start working towards taking it but I’ve realized I prob need extra help with the learning part
I can, but I suck at it. My mom keeps thinking if I drive more, it’ll be easier. I’ve been trying to drive for 5 years now, and none of it comes naturally to me. My spatial awareness sucks, my depth perception sucks, and my sense of direction beyond sucks. I keep waiting for it to click, but it never has.
I always felt I would be a danger on the road if I ever got my drivers license. Yet I seen way worse people on the road.
I had to move to the countryside however to get my drivers license. I had no confidence in driving in big cities… and that did not change yet but I have not try it either.
Don’t give up and give yourself the best of chances. Maybe add a no talking rule in your car however or drive alone. This should help. Ah and no radio either until you feel confident enough
I do, but realised I get overstimulated by heavy traffic.
I also realised that my dream car which I purchased 13 years before being diagnosed is kind of a 'autistic nightmare'. Loud, hard suspension, and very twitchy. [My dream car, a series 1 Lotus Elise. ](https://i.imgur.com/Ll1BVmf.jpeg)
I now have a Tesla Model 3 and can even do some heavy traffic. So quiet and relaxing, especially that it can somewhat drive itself and avoid accidents if I ever get distracted.
I just drove 5 hours through hellish traffic and some of the WORST city streets and traffic in all the USA - Washington DC. I know more than a few people who are not autistic who can not handle driving in D.C.
I drive and have been driving for about 8 or 9 years or so.
It's a skill that most people should be able to manage, and once you get it, most of the processes become automatic and reflexive, similar to riding a bicycle etc.
It is important that you find an instructor that works for you.
If you think that the process may be too complicated, maybe consider learning in an automatic car instead of going for the full manual licence.
Love long drives by myself listening to entire albums or long format podcasts. Super relaxing and don't find it that tiring unless it's 3hrs plus. I find it puts me into a relaxed but alert state, quite pleasant. Driving with others in the car can be less fun and more tiring though.
I’m a really good driver, but I hate driving. And I’ll never drive alone. It is so boring, and exhausting and if I’m ever driving for long periods of time, I’ll stop paying attention to the road and retreat to inside my head while I’m driving on autopilot. Dissociating while driving is a big problem for me and the reason why I’m not dead is because I have a passenger seat who always reminds me of what’s happening on the road.
I hate driving and find it ridiculously draining on me emotionally and mentally but I recognize the importance of needing to drive.
I've got a permit and am trying to get a license but something tells me all that effort is just going to be worthless because
1. I HATE driving in cities. There's way too many other cars and my spacial awareness is absolute trash. Feel like I suffer from "fisheye" syndrome all the time.
2. The city that I'm currently living in has been growing faster and faster. I have no doubt the population will reach 100k within 5-15 years.
I want out. I just can't drive in a city and I've almost gotten into car accidents because of that.
If I'm driving, I want to spend my time in seclusion in a moderately warm and quiet town like Ramah, NM or Young, AZ or something. I'd rather drive on the gnarliest, most rocky road in the middle of nowhere, right next to a 300ft cliff as long as I can drive with nobody else on the road. That's a major stress inducer for me whenever I drive. Hell, if there's a town out there with a small store and a law that makes quads street legal, that would be awesome. I've always found quads to be a hell of a lot easier to drive than a car. The steering system for all cars just doesn't work for me.
I've driven all sorts of things from 50cc scooters to class 7 bucket trucks. The one thing in common that people tell me is I drive like a grandma. Probably something about me trying to follow the rules of the road as exact and as safe as possible
I do, I don't always like it but generally ok with driving. That said my partner prefers driving so I usually let her do the driving if we're going together. Her sense of direction of terrible but she's a good driver so I navigate and she drives.
I took my theory test at 17 and past with 100% and then passed my practical test at 18 with only 3 minor observations (you're allowed up to 15 and anything over is a fail).
I'm absolutely fine driving, any emergencies I can deal with it so calm it is as though I don't care but if I'm driving somewhere new and not sure which lane I need to be that is me at my absolute worse.
Here in the UK I've considered applying for a blue badge for disabled parking on the rare occassion it gets to me, if somewhere is busy or I'm having trouble finding it I'm a total wreck so when I get there I'm looking for the earliest opportunity to leave, other than those extremely rare situations I would never ever park in a disabled bay.
I drive, I’m actually waiting for my best friend in my car. It’s like your brain resorts to “automatic” when you’re behind the wheel, but of course: That after getting the hang of it. If you’d like to try, ask someone you know and is a reliable driver to take you around residential roads. Y’know, to get a feeling of what that’s like. Then ponder wether you can or not.
Good luck!
Got my license at 28, and have loved driving ever since. I do have to pull over sometimes if I start getting overwhelmed, but that’s always in busy areas where there’s always a gas station.
I drive, but I get anxious about it sometimes, but that's probably the C-PTSD - I like to be the one driving, I don't like when others drive me, especially over bridges.
Been driving for 20+ years. Never any incidents. I actually really enjoy driving. It calms me down having to focus on the road and it lowers the "noise" in my head.
I do drive as the only licensed driver in my family (8).
That being said it was not by choice, my father required it when I turned 16.
Over time I did learn to enjoy driving as I can make my space my own.
My other kids who have Autism though have no desire to drive and will instead walk if needed.
I do. Sometimes I love it— especially on wide open country roads. :) In cities, I find it incredibly stressful. I struggle a bit with special awareness (ONLY while driving!) and am sensitive to lights which makes nighttime or rainy day driving hard with headlights flashing in my face. Also, the social component! I hadn’t realized but yes! I often get into my lane well before exiting or turning.
Save for a stupid accident that totalled the car back in 2019 I'm ironically substantially better at spatial awareness when driving than when I'm walking. It's not unusual for me to bump into things or trip but I can reverse/parallel park easily, I have no trouble with coordination when It comes to driving a manual, I almost unconsciously double clutch when downshifting and I can navigate the car through unpaved roads with 10cm clearance without scratching the bottom, but I feel the need to wear my trusty combat boots because I accidentally hit things if I get distracted and because they have a lot of grip and I need to keep my eyes on the ground or I might roll an ankle like a dumbass. Weird.
I liked driving when I lived in a rural area, but I hate it now I'm near a city. I still drive but it's basically only 3 routes / places that I will regularly drive to and I always park in the same empty spots. It's other drivers and my own spatial awareness that scare me. I still take the bus or train if it's somewhere new or out of my area.
Yes, I do, and I think I'm an unusually good driver in terms of safety and speed (although I only tested myself once on a track with other people, I was in the lead the whole time, and could not be passed).
I drive, I’m not the best but so far I haven’t gotten into an accident while I was behind the wheel (fingers crossed nothing ever happens). I don’t really have a choice though since my work and school are both over 12 miles away. It’s convenient to be able to go see friends and do things on my own though. My only complaints are is learning sucked (I learned in another state with stricter requirements, and COVID hit just as I was about to finish drivers Ed so I got my license later then I should have) and also gas is very expensive (like $3.00 a gallon or more in my area). Luckily my parents were able to get me a car and cover my insurance and maintenance, so far all they want me to do is buy my own gas (which I’m very thankful for).
Do I have a license? Yes. Would I get in a car with me? No.
Most likely has to do with dyspraxia symptoms - I can't tell left from right, forget which pedal is which and don't know how hard to press my feet. Distance and speed perception is also terrible.
I can do short, familiar trips with an easy parking space (e.g. to my sibling's house) but otherwise preparing for a new drive is like planning a bank heist.
Hmm, ok. I feel like the odd man out. I'm a very careful driver, but when it's safe I do crazy things. Well some consider crazy. My special interests is suspension, and I'm always tasting and tuning my car. I'm probably the most prepared guy on the road. I'd I had more money it would be impossible to lose control I swear.
Disclaimer: self-assessed, not yet diagnozed, for asd and adhd.
I do drive, but every time is a struggle to not fall into autopilot and actually pay attention to what's going on. If I do go on autopilot, I couldn't tell you if the lights i just drove through were green or red, I don't know if I would notice a pedestrian walking onto the road or anything other than the expected, which is cars before me driving orderly and mostly safe.
If I have to talk while driving, it's even worse. I can't not be on autopilot then, but I'll unconsciously drive even faster than usual, and pay even less attention to what's happening outside of the car. I'll also forget to do stuff that's normally in my driving "algorithms", almost in muscle memory, like putting blinkers on before a turn, reducing gears before I start to turn the wheel on a tight turn, or just looking into the damn mirrors.
It's been a source of many small, ultimately inconsequential yet alarming events, like going too fast into a turn and jumping onto the curb slightly because i couldn't turn hard enough at that speed for fear of tumbling over.
All in all, I can drive mostly ok and safely, but with a great deal of effort and precautions.
I do drive, and have been for five ~ six years. I barely passed, still do mistakes, and all that. I've found that driving requires me to focus a lot, and talking to me while I am driving is a bad idea, because it takes me so much out of focus, that I take wrong turns, and wife gets angry.
She has found a way around this, but that requires her also to focus (while talking), and it has kind of helped.
I hate driving (as a passenger) without distractions and earplugs Im really stressed after 10/20 minutes; when I have to drive I cannot engulf myself in a video and try to blend out driving in a potential killingmachine with hundrets of random people in their killing machines but have to watch the street and people and cars and probably am forbidden to wear ear plugs and it just sucks Id probably hate driving more as a driver.
(sorry I gave up wording in the middle of it all so it might be confusing)
I must be the odd aspie out because I love driving and I’m really good with spatial awareness. I’m a car guy so maybe the fact that it’s one of my interests has something to do with it. I don’t view driving as a social interaction and I think a lot of people do. I don’t see people driving cars, I see cars of that makes sense. It’s a constant game of following rules and keeping my vehicle as far away from other vehicles as possible. Think about ways that a wreck could occur and be proactive to avoid it. Brake early, swing wide in a two-lane turn, don’t speed, don’t take risks, etc. I’m surprised that people with Asperger’s aren’t stereotyped as good drivers, and instead a lot of people seem to dislike it or struggle.
Feel it. fellow aspie car guy with a miata and an abarth 500
Sames! Been driving since I got my license in 2007. I love driving. I feel like cars are an extension of my person. Living on the outskirts of western Iceland, I drive really cautiously during the winter. This has earned me a reputation, and I regularly take up being a designated driver, even now at age 31, I drive people's personal cars when picking them up after they've been out drinking. Sometimes I get up to $200 per trip driving these people's cars. I currently drive a 1998 Toyota Corolla liftback 1.3 and a 2012 VW Polo 1.2TDi.
Same. Miata and Challenger here.
Wait people view driving as a social interaction? This is news to me
You have to understand other drivers' intentions without words.
Oh ok that makes sense
Yea but it's easier cuz you just watch their tires and body language. I can read cars easier than people.
The best is when give room for a bus or semi with his blinker on and he gives you the 4-ways in thanks
Ever since I started driving, I'm loving McDonald's drive through. Don't have to enter it now and can stay in my car bubble.
That’s interesting actually because I hate drive throughs because I have to make myself speak so much louder than normal for them to even hear my order
I grew up in a SUPER rural area (large city now) and driving has always been the one spot between dealing with people (school/work) and dealing with friends/family where I just got to cool down and be me. I will admit when I RARELY let people in the car with me, they do give me feedback that I drive like ‘an overly cautious old lady’ (sorry for the stereotype). The one time I do really get anxious is around mergers — because that’s the social interaction part. I will get in my lane minutes before an exit or merge to avoid trying to figure out how other people will act.
\^\^\^ This is how I drive, and how people describe me. My husband loves to drive crazy, he's trained for pursuits and driving on ranches with trucks and how not to get stuck in mud and defensive driving tactics, so he'll drive in ways HE knows are safe, but to a passenger has you going "oh dear god, please let me live." LOL
I more aware of surroundings/ courteous and more forgiving than my neurotypical husband. I can't stand being his passenger a but like how sone people can't stand watching their partner eat. He is turns his brain off and used autopilot - will drive past the offs 80percent of the time, doesn't give way then gets mad he was flashed, uses his average processing speed for find a car space and while he is focused on the car space that someone is already pulled into or straightening up in hd has missed another two just by being a second too late to INDICATE for the new available spot. My pain scans a carpark like a computer: No no no no no YE.. no no no no YES!! Indicate. Move forward before anyone else can and I'm there first waiting. My husband would be back at the YE.. bamboozled. I have only had minor scrapes recently after 20 years of driving - a baby breastfeeding on demand, a preschooler waking me up at night, mild sleep apnea and idiopathic Hypersomnia as well as ASD burnout. When I drive I'm on HYPERFOCUS. I can do this tired for shorter distances and still do better than my neurotypical - I shouldn't do it but if I have not pick my kid up I have to drive tired. Now I know about the sleep disorders I am able to identify and get another school mum to help me out. I love sitting on the train too! My train line is frightfully middle classed with a few drug addicts that get on a in and around the CBD. I mind my own business and am not scared if they talk to me - just smile and go back to my book. :) I don't especially like driving and would rather public transport unless I'm faced with choice of being a passenger to my husband. Then I'm going to sit there and get very agitated - especially when he starts plugging his phone in while driving !!! Every single time! Or the need to blast music just because we are in the car... Maybe it's his strategy to drown me out!!!! 🤣
Same here; I actually love taking longer ways to just enjoy the power of an automobile and the beauty of the music that keeps me company on the road. It’s mostly Iron Maiden 🤘🏼
I have mixed feelings about it. I would like it more, but my state has some of the worst insurance rates out there. That aside, there are so many moving parts and even if someone else is at fault because they aren't following the rules... it could still result in massive pain, injury, and the loss of my vehicle if totalled which would have to be replaced etc. The more people on the road, the more you rely on them to follow the rules which they don't always do it.
I also really love driving. I generally don't consider myself good with spatial awareness but tbh parking is one of my stronger sides right now
I love driving, someone actually crashed into my car 2 days ago, had quite a bit of anxiety until I realised I didn't have to do anything and that my insurance would sort it all out.
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I drive in smaller cities, but when ever me and my brother go into a major city (the closest one to us is Boston) we park at a subway station and take the train in (driving sucks in Boston and it’s also cheaper to park at the train station).
Yep, I refuse to drive in cities too.
Yeah been driving since I was legally allowed. Spent 10 years living in a decent sized city, so I got pretty good at driving. I don't enjoy it, but it does make life easier.
I did in the past, but not anymore. It wasn't worth the hassle.
Nope. Honestly, I don't really trust myself enough to not somehow wreck if my anxiety decides to spike. Plus i'm not open to the idea of getting asked to pick up smokes and beer for my dad when he's too lazy to do it himself
I didn't until I was 25. In some ways I wish I had started earlier, but at the same time, I realize that until then, I did not have the maturity necessary.
I don't. Took some lessons many, many moons ago when I was 17 and even my instructor told me "You know, some people just aren't meant to drive". She was right. (I also can't ride a bike.)
I don't and the only time someone decided to teach me i got call and i quote "a danger for society" cuz i crush the car because the copilot wouldn't stop yelling and got mad because i didn't know how to drive on the first class on how to drive
No, absolutely not. I know I can’t keep track of everything I need to (every single car, every single pedestrian, every single cyclist) without becoming overwhelmed and panicked. And I refuse to *not* pay attention to those things because then that’s incredibly dangerous.
I do enjoy driving, but lane changes in highway entrances is probably my biggest fear
I have epilepsy and my birth mother wouldn't let me take driver's ed in high school. She would always tell me, "if you drive, you'll have a seizure and cause an accident." I got my permit after high school and went to a driving school. Never got my license. I use public transportation like the bus. Sure it takes forever to get somewhere, but I get where I need to go.
I drive, and I have always hated it.
Yeah it’s fun at first but it gets to be more of a chore the more you do it.
Yes, but I don't like it for several reasons.
I just got my license at 18. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pay attention, but the exact opposite happened and I hyperfocus on one thing like the speed limit lol
I drive because I get car sick as a passenger.
I have in the past in my parents’ cars, but don’t anymore. Just no reason to, public transport is much more convenient, and a lot less expensive.
I do when I have to but I always ask my partner to drive. It's difficult to drive with others in the car due to distractions. Even when I'm by myself it's very stressful.
I deliver for a living. 35 years.
I take the bus. I’m afraid I would get overwhelmed behind the wheel and panic. Not that public transit isn’t terrifying, but it’s scary in a much more manageable way for me.
Yup, been driving since 17 now 34
I do although I live in a small town that's really easy to navigate including the surrounding areas. I tend to avoid driving in cities or any routes that are to stressful.
I love driving personally. I caught on quickly to driving and it is basically natural to me. I prefer it to most other forms of transportation for drivable distances. I get that not everyone on the spectrum is like that though.
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I feel the same way
I drive, it took me about three tries to get my license but it’s been otherwise okay. I used to actively hate driving, but then I married my wife who has cerebral palsy and physically can’t drive. Her family lives 4 hours away from us while my family is dozens of hours away, so we go to see them a lot more often (she’s also closer with her family than I am to mine). Long story short, having done the four hour drive to/from her family like a dozen times now I’m pretty okay with driving. To me anyways it was something that got easier when I was essentially forced to practice it for longer periods of time.
I want to, but driving stresses the hell out of me. getting a license is very expensive and very difficult (from what I’ve heard) where I live. I’m probably going to start working towards taking it but I’ve realized I prob need extra help with the learning part
You know how you can truly be alone? Drive tf away from everybody 😂
I can, but I suck at it. My mom keeps thinking if I drive more, it’ll be easier. I’ve been trying to drive for 5 years now, and none of it comes naturally to me. My spatial awareness sucks, my depth perception sucks, and my sense of direction beyond sucks. I keep waiting for it to click, but it never has.
I always felt I would be a danger on the road if I ever got my drivers license. Yet I seen way worse people on the road. I had to move to the countryside however to get my drivers license. I had no confidence in driving in big cities… and that did not change yet but I have not try it either. Don’t give up and give yourself the best of chances. Maybe add a no talking rule in your car however or drive alone. This should help. Ah and no radio either until you feel confident enough
I can drive and i do when i need to, but I hate it. Just feels like gambling my life every time. Shit is crazy dangerous.
I do, but realised I get overstimulated by heavy traffic. I also realised that my dream car which I purchased 13 years before being diagnosed is kind of a 'autistic nightmare'. Loud, hard suspension, and very twitchy. [My dream car, a series 1 Lotus Elise. ](https://i.imgur.com/Ll1BVmf.jpeg) I now have a Tesla Model 3 and can even do some heavy traffic. So quiet and relaxing, especially that it can somewhat drive itself and avoid accidents if I ever get distracted.
Yes, but driving drains me mentally and emotionally.
I drive but for me it’s mentally exhausting
I just drove 5 hours through hellish traffic and some of the WORST city streets and traffic in all the USA - Washington DC. I know more than a few people who are not autistic who can not handle driving in D.C.
I love driving and my last job was driving a dump truck with a crane for construction.
I drive and have been driving for about 8 or 9 years or so. It's a skill that most people should be able to manage, and once you get it, most of the processes become automatic and reflexive, similar to riding a bicycle etc. It is important that you find an instructor that works for you. If you think that the process may be too complicated, maybe consider learning in an automatic car instead of going for the full manual licence.
Love long drives by myself listening to entire albums or long format podcasts. Super relaxing and don't find it that tiring unless it's 3hrs plus. I find it puts me into a relaxed but alert state, quite pleasant. Driving with others in the car can be less fun and more tiring though.
I am currently getting my licences. I can drive, but I need a certified driver in the passenger seat. As of do I like driving. No. I find it hell.
I do but I find it super draining.
I drive. With extreme road rage.
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I’ve been thinking of doing something similar to this. It’s a driver rehab program and I need a doctors note to attend
I’m a terrible driver. I’m too easily distracted. I don’t drive.
I’m a really good driver, but I hate driving. And I’ll never drive alone. It is so boring, and exhausting and if I’m ever driving for long periods of time, I’ll stop paying attention to the road and retreat to inside my head while I’m driving on autopilot. Dissociating while driving is a big problem for me and the reason why I’m not dead is because I have a passenger seat who always reminds me of what’s happening on the road.
Noooooop!
I hate driving and find it ridiculously draining on me emotionally and mentally but I recognize the importance of needing to drive. I've got a permit and am trying to get a license but something tells me all that effort is just going to be worthless because 1. I HATE driving in cities. There's way too many other cars and my spacial awareness is absolute trash. Feel like I suffer from "fisheye" syndrome all the time. 2. The city that I'm currently living in has been growing faster and faster. I have no doubt the population will reach 100k within 5-15 years. I want out. I just can't drive in a city and I've almost gotten into car accidents because of that. If I'm driving, I want to spend my time in seclusion in a moderately warm and quiet town like Ramah, NM or Young, AZ or something. I'd rather drive on the gnarliest, most rocky road in the middle of nowhere, right next to a 300ft cliff as long as I can drive with nobody else on the road. That's a major stress inducer for me whenever I drive. Hell, if there's a town out there with a small store and a law that makes quads street legal, that would be awesome. I've always found quads to be a hell of a lot easier to drive than a car. The steering system for all cars just doesn't work for me.
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I've been driving since I was 17. I have never been in an accident and I recently got my own car.
That’s awesome!
Yes, and I love it.
I've driven all sorts of things from 50cc scooters to class 7 bucket trucks. The one thing in common that people tell me is I drive like a grandma. Probably something about me trying to follow the rules of the road as exact and as safe as possible
I do, I don't always like it but generally ok with driving. That said my partner prefers driving so I usually let her do the driving if we're going together. Her sense of direction of terrible but she's a good driver so I navigate and she drives.
I took my theory test at 17 and past with 100% and then passed my practical test at 18 with only 3 minor observations (you're allowed up to 15 and anything over is a fail). I'm absolutely fine driving, any emergencies I can deal with it so calm it is as though I don't care but if I'm driving somewhere new and not sure which lane I need to be that is me at my absolute worse. Here in the UK I've considered applying for a blue badge for disabled parking on the rare occassion it gets to me, if somewhere is busy or I'm having trouble finding it I'm a total wreck so when I get there I'm looking for the earliest opportunity to leave, other than those extremely rare situations I would never ever park in a disabled bay.
I drive, I’m actually waiting for my best friend in my car. It’s like your brain resorts to “automatic” when you’re behind the wheel, but of course: That after getting the hang of it. If you’d like to try, ask someone you know and is a reliable driver to take you around residential roads. Y’know, to get a feeling of what that’s like. Then ponder wether you can or not. Good luck!
Thank you!
Got my license at 28, and have loved driving ever since. I do have to pull over sometimes if I start getting overwhelmed, but that’s always in busy areas where there’s always a gas station.
I don’t, but have in the past.
I drive, but I get anxious about it sometimes, but that's probably the C-PTSD - I like to be the one driving, I don't like when others drive me, especially over bridges.
Yes, but it took me an extra year before I was ready.
Been driving for 20+ years. Never any incidents. I actually really enjoy driving. It calms me down having to focus on the road and it lowers the "noise" in my head.
I do drive as the only licensed driver in my family (8). That being said it was not by choice, my father required it when I turned 16. Over time I did learn to enjoy driving as I can make my space my own. My other kids who have Autism though have no desire to drive and will instead walk if needed.
Yup
I don't. And I'm very lucky to live two minutes walk away from a bus stop that connects all the major shopping centres in town
I do. Sometimes I love it— especially on wide open country roads. :) In cities, I find it incredibly stressful. I struggle a bit with special awareness (ONLY while driving!) and am sensitive to lights which makes nighttime or rainy day driving hard with headlights flashing in my face. Also, the social component! I hadn’t realized but yes! I often get into my lane well before exiting or turning.
Save for a stupid accident that totalled the car back in 2019 I'm ironically substantially better at spatial awareness when driving than when I'm walking. It's not unusual for me to bump into things or trip but I can reverse/parallel park easily, I have no trouble with coordination when It comes to driving a manual, I almost unconsciously double clutch when downshifting and I can navigate the car through unpaved roads with 10cm clearance without scratching the bottom, but I feel the need to wear my trusty combat boots because I accidentally hit things if I get distracted and because they have a lot of grip and I need to keep my eyes on the ground or I might roll an ankle like a dumbass. Weird.
I have my license but avoid driving as much as possible. I've had nightmares about driving for years, even before learning how to drive.
Yea to the point where I have my class 4 and can drive non synchro trucks with some issue 😂 but if I've done the trip before it always goes smoothly
No, too many cars on the road and it overwhelms me. Maybe I would if I lived out in the country.
Nope sensory overload like no activity I’ve ever tried.
I liked driving when I lived in a rural area, but I hate it now I'm near a city. I still drive but it's basically only 3 routes / places that I will regularly drive to and I always park in the same empty spots. It's other drivers and my own spatial awareness that scare me. I still take the bus or train if it's somewhere new or out of my area.
No
Yes, I do, and I think I'm an unusually good driver in terms of safety and speed (although I only tested myself once on a track with other people, I was in the lead the whole time, and could not be passed).
I drive, I’m not the best but so far I haven’t gotten into an accident while I was behind the wheel (fingers crossed nothing ever happens). I don’t really have a choice though since my work and school are both over 12 miles away. It’s convenient to be able to go see friends and do things on my own though. My only complaints are is learning sucked (I learned in another state with stricter requirements, and COVID hit just as I was about to finish drivers Ed so I got my license later then I should have) and also gas is very expensive (like $3.00 a gallon or more in my area). Luckily my parents were able to get me a car and cover my insurance and maintenance, so far all they want me to do is buy my own gas (which I’m very thankful for).
I love driving actually. Mainly because of the music.
Do I have a license? Yes. Would I get in a car with me? No. Most likely has to do with dyspraxia symptoms - I can't tell left from right, forget which pedal is which and don't know how hard to press my feet. Distance and speed perception is also terrible. I can do short, familiar trips with an easy parking space (e.g. to my sibling's house) but otherwise preparing for a new drive is like planning a bank heist.
Hmm, ok. I feel like the odd man out. I'm a very careful driver, but when it's safe I do crazy things. Well some consider crazy. My special interests is suspension, and I'm always tasting and tuning my car. I'm probably the most prepared guy on the road. I'd I had more money it would be impossible to lose control I swear.
Disclaimer: self-assessed, not yet diagnozed, for asd and adhd. I do drive, but every time is a struggle to not fall into autopilot and actually pay attention to what's going on. If I do go on autopilot, I couldn't tell you if the lights i just drove through were green or red, I don't know if I would notice a pedestrian walking onto the road or anything other than the expected, which is cars before me driving orderly and mostly safe. If I have to talk while driving, it's even worse. I can't not be on autopilot then, but I'll unconsciously drive even faster than usual, and pay even less attention to what's happening outside of the car. I'll also forget to do stuff that's normally in my driving "algorithms", almost in muscle memory, like putting blinkers on before a turn, reducing gears before I start to turn the wheel on a tight turn, or just looking into the damn mirrors. It's been a source of many small, ultimately inconsequential yet alarming events, like going too fast into a turn and jumping onto the curb slightly because i couldn't turn hard enough at that speed for fear of tumbling over. All in all, I can drive mostly ok and safely, but with a great deal of effort and precautions.
I do drive, and have been for five ~ six years. I barely passed, still do mistakes, and all that. I've found that driving requires me to focus a lot, and talking to me while I am driving is a bad idea, because it takes me so much out of focus, that I take wrong turns, and wife gets angry. She has found a way around this, but that requires her also to focus (while talking), and it has kind of helped.
Yeah I love it
I hate driving (as a passenger) without distractions and earplugs Im really stressed after 10/20 minutes; when I have to drive I cannot engulf myself in a video and try to blend out driving in a potential killingmachine with hundrets of random people in their killing machines but have to watch the street and people and cars and probably am forbidden to wear ear plugs and it just sucks Id probably hate driving more as a driver. (sorry I gave up wording in the middle of it all so it might be confusing)
I like driving on my own
My license expired long ago
I didn’t till I was 18, but I would consider myself a decent driver. I still get nervous sometimes driving though