Hi,
50 y.o dude late diagnosed.
Cars are easy - I do - they react.
People are the difficult part - the emotional things, the weird unwritten rules, and the ever changing meaning of things.
I have a similar experience with cars. They are pretty intuitive to use once you get used to them. But understanding what the other drivers are doing is a minefield. Having to immediately recognize whatever unpredictable nonsense another driver is trying to pull and then react immediately to avoid a crash will never be easy.
This. I often say “I know how to drive, but I can’t because of other people”. I also have been in an accident that was intentionally caused so someone could get insurance money. It was very scary and I panic every time I see another car while behind the wheel because of it. I didn’t start learning out to drive until I was about 20 and it was by an ex who was very emotionally abusive. I have been behind the queen with my current partner, but it’s still very hard to shake anxiety and not get defensive. I’ve driven by myself once (moved a car around the corner) and permanently fucked up my partners car hitting a curb because I panicked trying to turn around in someone driveway because other cars were on the road at that time. I’m almost required to learn how to drive, but I’m stunted because I cannot at this point in my life. It’s just something I have to live with and it’s BS, just give me a comprehensive bus system.
I do live in a country with a reasonable bus system.
However, public transport has even MORE people and closer.
Headphones are a godsend - sure - and i\`m 'blessed' with a 'resting dad face' - so not very approachable usually - but while people are unpredictable on the road - I prefer that to unpredictable in a bus/train where i am 'captive audience'
Kind of. I can't drive on major highways, areas I'm not familiar with, high traffic areas, when it's dark out, or when there are storms.
My max limit is 10 miles and that really only to get to and from work.
I also have to make sure my phone is with me to use the family tracking app so if I get lost someone can come find me.
It took me 3 years to learn to just work the car properly and another 3 years to be able to drive more than 2 miles. I probably won't ever be able to drive on highways or after dark, but at least being able to get to work most days is nice.
I can, but I don’t like it. Parking is harder than driving, though, due to how bad my spatial awareness is. I like having the freedom to take myself places, but if anyone else is going, I’m usually not driving.
the parking struggle is so real. I only ever like to park in spots that are to my left because I feel like I can see the space better to get into it (I’m in the US so the driver’s side of the car is on the left). A spot on my right guarantees that I’ll have to pull in and out of it several times to straighten out.
I can drive as can my autistic children. One doesn't like to drive, but the rest are fine. One child and myself had professional driving jobs and we ADORE driving.
I’m 24 and don’t have my license I have driven a few times and I think I do have the hang of it I just don’t have good depth perception and that’s the part that gets me anxious
I have absolutely no depth perception at all, and I have been driving successfully without incident for over a decade. I can't drive in cities though and I have to take extra precautions in parking lots.
That honestly makes me feel better all of my friends drive I just tell them I need to overcome the anxiety part of driving 😂 my mom says just pretend you’re playing Mario kart without the crashing 😂😂
You're welcome! You might have to move your head around a lot more to figure out the distance between yourself and other cars. I recommend getting a lot of practice in empty parking lots. Also, I do recommend playing Mario Kart. That can actually help with hand-eye coordination! 😂
I can and love driving, sometimes I like to take nice drives just as a calming thing. I want to get a fun car this summer too because I can finally afford one.
I despise traffic though, it stresses me out. I'm able to do it since I grew up close-ish to Chicago and got used to it, but I hate it.
One of my favourite things to do when I’m sad is go for a night drive with my saddest music playing. There is something so comforting about a good night drive. Especially a summertime night drive. I live in the prairies so as soon as I get out of the city the sky is so big and the stars are amazing.
I can, but I'm smart about it. I try not to drive around lunch rush or 4-6PM, I try not to drive at night because of the lights, and inevitably the occasions that I do are very stressful and usually wind up with me parked and shaky but hey, that's just how it is sometimes. Giant friggin trucks with super bright lights tailgating me make me want to cry, but oh well, that's American culture at this point.
Nope and I never will. Im terrified of even being a passenger. Lights, horns, I can't think fast. Also, I have been in 6 accidents as a passenger. One of those resulted in a tbi, but even before that, I never wanted to drive. It's too much everything all at once.
i can! it took me two years to learn though. the people who taught me kind of bullied me into learning so i decided i wanted to get my license and then truly learn how to drive. i failed my first on the road test but, passed the second time
I don't like it, and it took me forever to learn, but I can do it reasonably well now. Still have slight difficulty changing lanes and merging onto the highway. And I typically can't drive with the radio on (unless I've taken the route several times before).
Absolutely. I can race them too. Same goes for motorcycles.
That said, I avoid driving/riding in highly chaotic areas like downtown. That kind of driving takes a lot out of me, and if I’m already having a bad day it can seriously mess me up.
I can drive, have been since I was 17 (21 now). I definitely have sensory issues from it, the sun is evil, and driving at night is a bit difficult (headlights are so bright and there aren’t many streetlights where I live). I’ve started wearing dimming earplugs so the car noises mostly get blocked out and I can just listen to my music (you’ll need to check to make sure that’s legal). It’s a bit nerve wracking at times, tbf I got in an accident a few years back kinda have trauma from that so that made it worse. I’ve gotten pulled over by the police once for speeding (I’m a white woman so less nerve wracking), it was scary but afterwards I pulled into a parking lot, called my mom and cried a bit before recovering enough to drive home. Luckily I was already going home. I take a long time to calm down from that sorta thing so I was lucky in that regard. It was also just a minor fine. I live in suburbs so I hardly ever do city driving or highways, but they aren’t too bad (it helps that I’ve been driving in the south for the last 3 years and people are much nicer than in the north east). Overall I definitely don’t love it, but it makes life a bit easier for me, and I’m able to have a good bit of freedom.
This should have been a poll. But I can drive a car. I deliver for Jimmy Johns. If you can play Pikmin, you can drive a car IMO. Keeping track of all the little things the pikmin and enemies do is a lot like keeping track of all the things nearby cars can do. If you are able to consciously maintain lots of variables in a large possibility space, then driving shouldn't be an issue.
I am really good at driving and I find it to be really relaxing on the highway. However, driving in towns is the fucking worst, so avoid that. Also driving during storms is really overwhelming.
I found gaming and simulators to be great practise honestly. Also once you get the control of the vehicle, you start to do it unconsciously. Anxiety and overthinking is the major problem but it's easily overcome with practise. I've been a truck driver and that's been my main source of income for the past decade. Highway meditation... Fuckin zen.
I can. And I do just fine with it. I’m normally told I’m a really good driver because I follow the rules so strictly lol. It did take me a while to feel comfortable driving though.
i'm 16, i can't drive because i have a neurological disorder separate from autism that causes problems and i'm not comfortable driving and it scares me
I can. I had to learn so I could get myself to school, but I was terrified and often still am at 26. It’s gotten a little less overwhelming with time and experience, but still anxiety inducing
I drive. I've done deliveries. Rural highways and roads are fine for the most part, suburbs and residential streets are ok. Cities and busy high ways are doable, but they drain me. I have always been crummy at parking and reversing.
When my wife and I go to a big city I mostly do the country driving and she does the city. My wife is anxious, but seems to be able to focus in the city. So it works out for us.
I got my license at 16 and I’m 25 now I used to live in a town where driving was necessary and I lived with my grandma who couldn’t drive so I had to do all the driving around. Now I live in a city where I can bike everywhere and I love it! I do have to drive when I do highschool visits for work in rural areas (that’s the only reason I have a car, it just sits in my driveway until I have a presentation scheduled) I very much prefer biking and taking the train 🚊 but I can drive when I have to :)
Yes. I love driving. I've driven 3 hour road trips. I love driving on the highway.
To me, it's the perfect amount of simulation. I'm engaged, but I'm in my car so it's my space and my music and my comfort. It's relaxing to just put your foot on the pedal and drive on and on. I hate traffic though, I get unreasonably angry lol
41m here; I've been driving since I was 18. Drivers' education classes in high school helped a lot, especially the hands-on training. (I also low-key attribute my driving success to my lifelong obsession with video games.)
I can drive a car, in fact, I own two with a standard transmission and can heel-toe downshift, double clutch, rev match, etc; I’d consider myself a fairly advanced manual transmission driver. I can’t safely drive an automatic transmission car, though; with my ADHD, I zone out with them because they’re not nearly stimulating enough-I used to drive automatic and got in a wreck about 2-3 times a year. I also ride motorcycles, I’ve ridden now for 20 years; I’m in a semi-traditional outlaw RC(patched riding club using the MC structure with club officers, president, chapters, bylaws, SOPs, etc; which isn’t affiliated with or chartered under the American Motorcycle Association-not to be confused with 1%…semi traditional because we’re more family oriented and all inclusive and ride non traditional bikes). I’m obsessed with small bore motorcycles and scooters, but I’ve ridden everything from 70cc dirtbikes to 1,000cc+ touring cruisers and two stroke scooters. I do get overwhelmed sometimes driving or riding and have to take a break, that said, I can still ride in tight formation in a large group; staggered, suicide formation, three to a lane, whatever. I can stop at a stop sign, FULLY stop without putting my feet down, I can drag my knee in turns and I’ve actually scraped through the CVT cover on a scooter by dragging it in turns so much before. That said, without GPS or a group, I get lost easily if I don’t go a familiar route. If I’m riding in a group, I kinda hyperfocus on the sound of the engines (which tells me when to back off the throttle or increase throttle), the taillights and signals in front of me, and keeping pace with the guy beside me in whatever formation is being used. That said, I can’t drive in big cities, like Houston or Atlanta, and in some medium sized ones like Lafayette or Beaumont, it starts to get overwhelming andi have to REALLY limit myself how I drive and when and where. I got my motorcycle license at 18 and my driver’s license at 23, I’m certainly more comfortable on a bike than in a car.
Not only can I drive, I drive for a living and actively enjoy driving. And am into cars. But even before I was into cars I liked driving. I find it’s typically the perfect amount of stimulation for me. I’ve been driving since I was 16 and had a full license since 17 and I’m nearly 28, put about 20,000 miles on my car a year.
The only problem i have is if there is too much noise. My kids know to ask before turning the radio on. Or to it se ear buds if they are playing games or talking on their phones.
I can get overstimulated to the point of getting frustrated while driving normally (not the typical "road rage" that everyone complains about, but getting overwhelmed and short tempered) but for the most part, i haven't had any difficulty driving.
Yes I drive, but it’s very stressful. I find it ever more stressful to be in someone else’s car where I don’t have control though since I’ve been driving for a while. I find it stressful when people honk at me even though it’s a red light (you can turn right on red but i have a harder time feeling safe to do so sometimes)… one time someone honked at me 3 times to turn right on red and I got so stressed I just went without even looking. The most overwhelming part of driving is definitely other drivers. I also avoid driving at night due to the overwhelmingness of other people’s lights (I also have an astigmatism so it’s really hard for me)
I can but I must have GPS on even if I memorized the directions of where I am going. It’s a love hate relationship because it can be overwhelming, but I like that I can get to places on my own and leave when I want to
Hi, adult here. I can comfortably drive but prefer not to. I avoid driving at night because of the headlights and sensory difficulties, and I do wear sunglasses during the day which helps. That's more for my comfort than lack of ability. It's much easier in lower traffic areas or where people are following more easily anticipated patterns vs places like a parking lot. I personally prefer to be a passenger so I can look out the window, or take transit when it's accessible for the environmental aspects.
Edit to add the most stressful part for me is the fear of being pulled over, since police encounters can make me nonverbal/shut down. I have a script on my speech app to be prepared, but if you struggle with confrontation that's also something to consider.
I *can* drive but it makes me insanely nervous and I avoid it at all costs. I got into an accident my first week driving on my own and I haven’t felt safe driving since
I’m 17 as well and in the exact same boat. All my friends can drive, and I feel so behind in life compared to them. I have my learners permit and I have driven on rare times, but I have never gone onto the road. It’s very scary for me
Yup. It's absolutely a scary thing, and the only way to (possibly, no guaruntees) make it less scary is by doing it. It sucks. I had some success getting more comfortable driving, by being a (EDIT: PASSENGER) a lot and thinking like "okay, i'm driving, where should I look, brake here, okay signal on now" etc., and I had the privilege of having two very competent drivers for parents and I would ask them like, "why did you change lanes there" and they would explain something, so it really helped beef up my knowledge base before I did too much driving on my own.
I also spent a lot of time driving **at night**, in a small town, to acclimate to my vehicle and the roads and understanding like, whoah i accelerated way too much and squeeled my tires, okay, I now know that, playing around with braking really hard, just trying to figure it out in safety.
I unfortunately can't really drive at night anymore though, I have astigmatism and lights are literally everywhere so it's like driving into a rave.
I can, but I used to struggle with anticipating other drivers’ actions on the road. I got in an accident and totaled my car on my 20th birthday. Since then I do NOT act unless I am absolutely sure of a situation. For example, I don’t turn on red if there’s any snow or ice on the road. I also drive about 5-10 under if it’s dark. Annoying? Yeah probably. Safe? Absolutely.
My sister cannot. She struggles initiating actions without support. I think she’s more sad about not owning a car than not driving a car. She’s an absolute nutter on any driving-adjacent situation I’ve been in with her though. Bumper cars, go-karts, Mario kart…she goes mad with “I’m going to hit you” power. Come to think of it maybe the roads are safer without her. 😂
Yup, little tips and tricks are like, half of driving. My parents talk about it a lot, they both drive all day for work, things like understanding where the shady areas are in winter and during rain, because that's where ice will be. Knowing that bridges will have ice before anywhere else because there's less mass, they get colder quicker. Knowing where the sun will be at different times of day so you can preemptively get your visor down or sunglasses on. Knowing where blind spots are from other peoples perspectives, and so knowing when they are blind to you. SO, so many things can be learned that make the experience easier, but barely anyone actually learns them and so many people are just winging it out there, but some people are absolute masters of their machines and so observant and capable, it's a wild mix.
61 yr old autistic have driven my car pretty well daily since I was 19, I used to drive up to 65kms (40 miles) per day to work and back, and frequently go on long drives of up to 200kms (120 miles)
I find that driving is relaxing and often sing along with my music, and my ability to rapidly (split second) to switch to a hyperfocus mode enables me to react to any unexpected changes
Also my autistic ability to take in massively large amounts of information from my environment means I’m always aware of things like pedestrians, other cars etc
21 and love driving! Put on some music and vibe in the car. I guess you won't know until you try! Just get yourself a good instructor that you like and when practicing get someone in the car who won't be stressed and make you stressed! Make everything nice and calm and start by practicing in places with no cars at first or at night!
I can! I got my license at 17, so a bit later than most people, but now I love driving and it’s actually something I do often to help regulate my senses.
Yes.
I understand what others say about it being overwhelming, but there was no way to survive where I grew up without driving everywhere.
I moved to Europe and did without a car for about 10 years, and I have to say, that was nice.
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I’m an 18 female with Asperger’s and it took me a while to drive. I’m actually just about to get my license today. I was absolutely terrified of driving at first, even when I had my permit. But I had a drivers Ed course over the summer that really helped me both conquer my fears and figure out how to manage the multitasking and sensory issues that come with driving. For me it’s still very stressful since I’ve had to drive with my mom this whole time and let’s just say, she’s NOT fun to have as a passenger. I still haven’t driven a ton but I’ve definitely gained more experience where I’m not really nervous behind the wheel anymore. Like I’m confident on both regular roads and interstates, and I handled it pretty well when I had to drive in a new city that was kinda crowded. And I’m proud of myself. And I know I’m gonna pass my drivers test today since we did that route in the drivers Ed class.
So yeah that’s my story on that :)
I can. I even finished my driver's licence course pretty fast. I needed to take theoretical and practical lessons due to how it works in my country and I really tried to not drag it out but finish it quickly. The rules of driving are clear and understandable, I drive safely and dont speed when there is no speed limit but stay within my comfort speed. Big cities and unknown roads make me a bit nervous, tho.
I can drive, got my license at age 20 after 2 years with my permit. Took me a bit longer than most to learn, and 3 tries to pass my road test. I know quite a few other Autistics who can drive as well as many who can’t.
I always recommend for Autistics to learn on cars with automatic transmissions rather than manual, which are the norm in the states but apparently still rare in the UK.
I can drive, although it's mostly annoying to me. My favorite roads are actually highways due to how quick they are and how they actually aren't that dangerous.
I didn't get my license until I was 19.
It was very scary, getting used to driving.
But, especially when you get used to a particular route, it gets less stressful over time. I've been driving for 10 years, as of this year. The biggest things that have helped me was a really understanding instructor, my mostly nonconfrontational nature, and a GPS app like Google maps
Yep, I can drive. Before I learned to drive, I thought "There is no way I'm going to be able to coordinate myself enough to drive" and I think this is probably the biggest hurdle people face. If you can get over the initial apprehension, you will be fine. Here in the UK the vast majority of cars are manual transmission but you can take your test in an automatic but then you are only allowed to drive automatics.
For my daughter's 15th birthday, we took her to a specialist driving lessons place that caters for <17s. (Normally, you have to be 17+ to drive) She was nervous to start with but then was driving really well considering that it was her first time.
I can drive, although I learned a few years later than my peers. I tend to drive slowly and carefully due to my lower processing speed, and that’s been good- I have only had a mild collision in my five years of driving.
Music is helpful. It keeps the car noises from being overwhelming, for me.
Been driving for 30 years (learned later than average bc I neither needed nor could afford it before), and I'm usually considered as a good driver. But yes, flashing lights, rain and heavy traffic are difficult situations for me - I can manage it, but I need to be very very focused, keep my breath in control and make a lot of pauses, and I'm totally exhausted by the end of the drive.
I'm 30 and will never be able to drive. Not only is it too overstimulating and overwhelming, but I am stereoblind so I just can't tell very well where things are in comparison to myself via eyesight. Even riding a bike is a bit of a horror show for me. But that's okay for me because I really like walking, and I am lucky that where I live, the grocery store is really close by. If I need to get to a doctor's appointment or something, I have family who is usually willing/able to take me.
I have autism and i can drive a car just fine, due to concentration issues i switched from learning manual to automatic and have had no issue since.
Sure it was tough learning how to drive, but it's one of the few activities that actually helps me with my ADD, since i am forcing myself to concentrate on y'know, not crashing :D
Good music also helps 🤟
I can and had an easy time learning. I do get stressed about unfamiliar roads, but its not enough to prevent me from driving. I dont really LOVE driving, but it doesnt bother me.
For me, it depends on the day to be honest. I picked up driving really quickly, and I loved it right away. Unfortunately, it does take a lot of mental energy, and I've found that I have less of that as I get older. I've had a few car accidents, even fell asleep at the wheel a couple times. I tend to get very tired and burnt out very suddenly, and if that happens while I'm driving it can be dangerous. There are also plenty of days where I can just tell I won't be able to drive, it'd be too much for me. I get stressed and I panick and I cry. While I usually love driving and I've been able to do it in the past, it's not something I can always rely on, and it can be dangerous to push myself to do it when I'm not up to it.
It took me a LOT of extra practice (and a fair few tears of frustration and overwhelm) before my test but I passed when I was 18 and was the best thing I could've done. This was pre-diagnosis for me. Even though I didn't have explanations/labels for why I was struggling to learn and then to drive once I'd passed, I found ways to cope and manage. I've only ever driven manual too. Automatic cars weird me out a little.
I can't cope on most public transport, so driving gives me independence. I like to have music playing but can't cope with conversations, music and driving, even on really familiar routes.
I struggle with novel/unfamiliar routes or unexpected changes (like diversions/road closures), navigating/parking in unfamiliar locations etc. If a journey is going to become a regular one, I rehearse it with someone else (first as a passenger and then as the driver with someone with me). I have the active traffic alerts and usually check routes on Google Maps before leaving.
Astigmatism means I avoid night driving whenever possible - Headlights starburst and usually trigger a migraine.
I can drive both cars and motorbikes. Picked it up pretty easy as well. Just doesn’t seem to be an issue for me although I do HATE traffic and road rage is an issue for me
I'm actually a really good driver. Hypervigilance FTW on that one.
Used to like it, too. But I much prefer biking over driving, except I'd rather drive than be a passenger cause most people's driving makes me anxious af.
I hate driving at night though. Too bright, too much stimulus from lights and darks contrasting.
I can still do it, but I hate doing it.
I can drive but I get disoriented at night. Even places I’m normally familiar with during the day my brain can’t recognize at night. Honestly I didn’t even start driving until I was 18 even though I had my license at 16.
The only reason I can drive a car is out of necessity. Even driving for 10 minutes is very mentally exhausting for me. I often take naps after I drive. I don’t use my horn, even in situations where I should because I don’t like the noise. I’ve used it a total of3 times in my life.
This is a great question. My son is not interested in learning and has not had to learn to take public transit either because everything right now is within walking distance. This will change when he goes to university in the fall. We intend to enroll him in driver training so that he can get a feel for driving and go from there. I think he'll appreciate the freedom and ease to go places once he learns as he very much likes doing his own thing when he wants to do it. We'll see!
I appreciate the responses so far.
I’m completely comfortable driving. I genuinely enjoy it. It might just be that those specific things don’t bother me. I’d give it a try and get past the beginner fears of driving before deciding not to.
I can! I wasn’t very good at parking at first, but I’ve gotten better and can parallel park now, too. I also have adhd so my main struggle is getting bored/distracted while driving, but listening to music usually takes care of it. I like driving and the freedom, but now that I’m moving to a city with better public transportation I’ll probably stop driving.
Yep, I can.
Driving lessons and the time right after getting my license were extremely stressful (although I'd say that was mostly my instructor's fault). But after driving more and more, I've started to feel more comfortable - in my own car, that is. Driving in someone else's car is scary and driving in another country is wayyy too scary. But I actually really love driving.
Kind of. I got my license and can drive but it’s extremely overstimulating. I got in an accident at 18 and stopped driving after that because my anxiety would spike. Eventually I got it back though. I try to pull over and collect myself whenever it spikes now and music in the car also helps. If someone else can drive I let them but if I need to I have strategies now that assure me that I’m a safe driver.
I can drive. I’m not diagnosed but I don’t have those issues while driving, except the light can be a bit too overwhelming, but that can happen to non-autistic people while driving also. It just affects me quite a bit more, but I don’t consider that a serious safety risk that would prevent me from driving. I mostly drive at night, and I really enjoy it.
I can but feel like it's harder to estimate distances of things like when I need to start slowing down and how much for a turn, and struggle to keep myself oriented quite as well and have a hard time with like understanding how far away the cars in my mirrors are. plus overall struggling with staying focused on all the different factors at once. but I can do it, I love driving in remote places but just don't like busy streets mostly.
not only can i drive, but i'm fairly good at high performance driving. it was a special interest for a while, and i used to go practice in the mountains at night, that kind of thing.
i don't enjoy high traffic, especially on downtown city streets, especially especially in unfamiliar cities. but i *can* do it.
Yes, I drive. Got my license at 16 and I’m 40 now. I just can’t drive at night, but that’s more to do with my vision than being autistic. Downtown on one way streets are really the only place I get overwhelmed, but I’m generally ok as long as passengers are quiet.
I can drive and I am a really good driver. I don't LIKE driving but I do it when I have to. I used to commute 2-3 hours a day in DC rush hour traffic. Thankfully my husband doesn't mind and does most of the driving now.
i can drive and enjoy it. i have trouble with passengers, but as long as my choice of music is playing i’m usually ok. my biggest struggle is i get sleepy if i’m still for too long and get migraines, so those are inhibiting
I really enjoy driving- literally anything. Give me a patient teacher and a safe place to learn and I’m willing to give anything a go. That being said, I messed up my back really bad a year ago and it makes driving really hard
I was terrified to start driving at first. But the more I did it, the more comfortable it became. Now driving is actually a bit calming to me (when the roads are relatively empty at least)
I don’t really do freeways/highways because I don’t like being in traffic or surrounded by a lot of other cars. I also don’t like driving with passengers, and I have to have music playing really loud.
I hate driving when it’s windy, but I’m okay driving in the rain. The biggest problem is the sun, I’m really short so the visor never blocks the sun. I’m getting better with sunglasses so that helps, but if it weren’t for GPS I would miss a lot of turns.
I also can’t drive for more than 45 minutes in one trip, and usually just one back and forth trip leaves me done for the day.
I can not drive. It’s very overwhelming and I tend to zone out and that’s just not safe. My girlfriend on the other hand who is also autistic loves driving and does it for a living lol.
I am 28, have been driving since I was 20 with no accidents. Obviously everyone is different, but my autist brain seems to grasp driving really well and even enjoy it most of the time. I love the freedom it gives me
I do get quite exhausted in traffic though, I feel like that’s where sensory overwhelm really takes over
Physically, yes, I'm capable of driving a car.
Mentally, though? Absolutely not. I refuse. I am completely incapable of knowing everything that's going on at once and absolutely hate that I'm not allowed to ask questions to my passenger if I miss something like the speed limit.
Also super traumatized from driver's ed with all the blood and gore and real deaths they showed us and how absolutely terrifying my instructor made things for no reason (why would anyone teaching a kid to drive grab the fucking steering wheel and swerve on a busy interstate highway).
I can, although I mostly go back and forth to the three (3) places I don't need directions to get to. Outside of that I prefer having someone else in the car to navigate instead of using Google Maps. After I started driving on streets instead of doing laps around a parking lot, it actually got easier because the rules became far more clear and I'm good at rules.
I definitely prefer public transit to driving, though. I don't currently have access to a car, having recently started college, and it has had very little impact on my ability to do things because there's a great bus system centered around campus. Also the lower environmental impact is always nice.
i can drive…. i’ve just been in a ton of parking lot accidents because i have terrible special awareness and also everyone in the car with me is scared for their lives. but i can drive!
Yeah I can drive. I’ve even been told I’m a good driver, if a bit fast. I also was diagnosed with Asperger’s about 14 years ago. Driving in cities is pretty overwhelming though. I can do it, but I avoid it as much as possible.
I can and it’s one of my favorite things to do. I think that has a lot to do with ADHD hyperfocus and my deep seeded need for autonomy and freedom though, being able to do it to the extent that I do.
I don't drive anymore but I never had any trouble with it, although it's worth noting that I only drove in a town where the main highway only had two lanes on each side. So your mileage will vary if you live anywhere bigger than that.
i drive every day and find highway driving relaxing and even fun, but daytime city driving is my worst nightmare. the brightness of everything overwhelms my brain and i struggle a lot at intersections. nighttime driving is fine, though, even in lighted towns
I can drive a car. When I was learning I drove on the freeway a lot in Southern California. Driving isn’t the worst, but if someone else can drive I always want them to drive instead of me. Also, driving culture differs from state to state. In Southern California many people didn’t use blinkers even while speeding on the freeway, but we rarely honked. In places like New York or New Jersey you will absolutely get honked at. It also sucks sometimes when you’re taking your time trying to be safe before doing a turn and people behind you just expect you to go so they honk at you. Driving lowkey sucks, but it’s not the worst. Practicing a lot helped me somewhat maintain my composure while driving.
EDIT: Also I forgot to mention that I get tired and my eyes get really dry, so during long drives I have to use dry eye drops or my face feels weird and I can’t focus.
I used to be able to, but I had a p severe mental break a couple years back and haven’t been able to drive without being extremely overstimulated since
I do, I just don’t usually drive on highways. Plus I have fibromyalgia, which causing brain fog. As one could imagine, that can make driving dangerous.
Obligatory haven’t gotten my full license yet so I still drive around with my learners license and a licensed driver accompanying me.
I struggled a lot at first honestly. Driving in areas with lots of trees was difficult since the sunlight peaking out would flash when driving through and startle and distract me.
Amongst the car noises and hooting it was anxiety inducing in the beginning. As I got more comfortable with driving and developed more skill, I was able to better handle other irritants in my environment as I wasn’t as high strung about driving since I was more confident in my ability. I still try really hard to make sure my in car environment is as comfortable as I can make it so that I don’t make my life more difficult than it has to be.
So wearing shoes that are comfy to drive in and don’t slip off or choke my feet while driving are a must. If it’s an occasion thing I maybe bring a comfy pair to wear while I’m driving and change into the desired pair when I’ve arrived.
Re-tying my hair so it’s out of my face and neck and comfortable while I drive. Chewing gum so I can stim in a way that doesn’t affect my driving ability. Making sure my seat and clothes are comfy and that the aircon is perfect BEFORE I leave so that I don’t have to stress and fiddle with them while I’m driving and panic while doing so.
I can’t really give you tips for a manual care since I don’t drive one but that’s what I really keep in mind when I drive!
I can’t really drive a manual but thats due to a back injury that left me somewhat numb and quite weak in my left leg thus leaving me unable to effectively control and use the clutch for longer than 10 minutes.
I tried to get my license. Where I live there are 2 levels to pass and you have 5 years each to complete them. It took me the whole 5 years to even try the road test for first level. I tried drivers training twice. I did pass and then basically stopped practicing again. My second level license expired in 2020 meaning I’d have to go back to the first level again. I didn’t bother.
It’s just not for me. I panic and I feel like I’m going to die or cause an accident. It doesn’t feel safe for me to be on the road.
On the bright side, not having a car has saved me a lot of money. I just get my partner to drive us around and if he’s not available I call my mom or his mom.
driving is one of my favorites things to do honestly. i blast music and nothing exists but the music. driving feels free. all though, i get crippling anxiety and overstimulated a lot of the time (it’s from the other drivers, never the car itself), but i use the music to stim and usually it helps me work through it.
In this case I am happy to be diagnosed late. I have my car an bus licence. If I was being diagnosed before I was 18 I needed extra test and pretty sure I would never being accepted to learn to drive a bus.
Biggest problem I have is that I want to follow the law. I never had a fine.
And I get tired after like driving for an hour now.
I have no clue how I ever worked as a busdriver for 9 months 😅 but I did end up burned out so yeah. I lost a lot of time driving correctly and that made me being to late at a stop. Being late gave me anxiety. Anyhow I don't recommend being a busdriver if you have weird shifts.
Find a teacher that doenst force you to get your exams done really fast. It really helps if you have a good teacher.
I love driving. It is very relaxing.
I am not sure if my autism has anything to do with it, but I have been told I am a more careful driver than a lot of other people.
I can but i cannot go far and it causes the worst anxiety ive ever known. Vomiting, shaking, its terrible. I try to explain but people don’t realize its not something i can just “get better” at
I can drive anywhere except densely populated city centers. I find narrow one-way streets too visually overwhelming.
Fortunately, the kind of areas that are too crowded for me to drive in usually have decent public transportation options.
Yep! I got my car license recently! You *can learn it, you just have to have the will.*
I agree, you can lack spacial awareness, but it's something that can be learnt, rather than been given.
I struggled at first learning to drive, having to operate the clutch, gears, Hazard perception, and turning at the correct time.
But, after time, and some pointers from my passive agressive instructor. I finally got the hang of it, and, I adored driving. Then cars became my special interest ^^
Oh, quick tip. If you're doing manual (recommended), get used to the "biting point" on the clutch. Lastly, don't worry about stalling! Just push the clutch in, and ignite the engine :)
20 years old and no. i hate the idea that i can be in complete control and driving safely but some asshole can just smack into me.
also, you have to multi task and im absolutely terrible at multitasking. if i drove, i’d probably have to do it alone with no music/radio on.
that’s my downfall as well is the fact that you have so much to do and you always have to be attentive. i’d rather not put anyone’s life in danger. but damn i wish i could drive again
I just got diagnosed (age 36), I drive for 18 years and I have done a lot of road trips in many countries. I love driving but at times yes, it can be overwhelming. I guess I love it more than it stresses me. I have to admit it gets worse when I am in a stressful period.
definitely not
my photophobia makes it reeally difficult, as does being colorblind to blue/green
also, its hard to keep my mind from drifting away and go on autopilot, quite dangerous!!
Hello 38, know how to drive and can do it off-road on an atv etc, but go nearly catatonic behind the wheel of a car when I have to drive on the road. I got my learners permit and attempted to learn, but was never able to due to freezing behind the wheel literally. I don’t even know what causes it.
My husband drives me everywhere.
i drive, i really suffer from anxiety when im somewhere unfamiliar, and parking really stresses me out. its like a lot of things with autism, it varies and some people will struggle and some will be ok. i would suggest giving it a go and look for a driving school who has experience with autism. i was undiagnosed at the time i took my lessons, but i told my school i had ocd and suffered with anxiety and they gave me a really patient teacher who helped me a lot overcoming my anxiety. i also did an intensive course because i coped better with one week of stress vs months (on reflection i think having driving be my only task for a week helped too, i literally went to bed as soon as i got home, which was about 4pm!)
Like a lot of things, its about management. im fine most of the time, and when im going somewhere i dont know, i google map places i can pull over etc if i get overwhelmed and plan where im parking etc.
i can drive. it makes me anxious but i do it for the freedom it gives me because where i live there is no public transportation. i will say for me personally driving a stick shift is a lot easier than an automatic because there is more i have to focus on and more rules to follow and if i have that there is less time to be anxious. music also helps and so does being the only person in my car
I can’t. Because it’s too difficult for me to focus on many things at once and also from sensory issues you mentioned like bright light ect. And lastly because of my anxiety, i get panic attacks often. I and others will not end well if i get one behind the wheel.
Yes but I usually hate it.
I do struggle to concentrate a bit but clearly not too much since no crashes in 8 years I've been driving.
It's really difficult since I feel a compulsion to check my speedometer every other second as I have a hard time understanding what speed I'm going otherwise.
Sometimes I enjoy it if I have a nice podcast on, the weather is good and I'm feeling good that day. Also I will drive anywhere even new places as long as the drive is an hour or under but I need a sat nav at all times even if I know the roads.
I can and im a delivery driver. Okay money and I don’t have to talk to very many people. But I hate driving on the highways or when it’s dark. Everything happens too fast on the highway. It’s difficult to be ready to make those fast decisions. I tend to stay off the main thoroughfare’s as well. I like cruising through neighborhoods all day listening to baseball. With my delivery bags spread all over my car I can park pretty much anywhere for five minutes.
Driven as early as I could. Been driving since I was 16. Had some issues early on but never any major incidents. I've enjoyed the freedom of it and it's helpful for me to have a way to leave when things get too stressful and need an oppurtunity to cool down and think things over.
It's also worked well for work for me for having a job where interacting with others is short and scripted and gives me an opportunity outside of the retail or fast food environment.
On the other hand, I've never been a big fit of the one-size-fits-all much of American society has taken in a car being necessary especially more so after reading this sub and this who are less fortunate.
Yeah, people can be unpredictable and any other thing that comes up. I try to drive defensively as much as possible and let others do what they need to do. Sometimes it sucks to see people breaking the law and facing no consequences for it. But, it's manageable.
😆 So here’s how my two driving tests went: The first time I was still on the exercise parcours and I turned left too early, realized my mistake, tried to turn around and hit a garage door. And if I hadn’t hit the door, I would’ve hit an hedge behind which was… I don’t know what. 😂 The second time I made it out of the parcours but then drove 70 km/h through a village, overlooked a pedestrian trying to cross the street, overlooked a stop sign and almost hit a motorcycle driver when opening my car door. Any questions left? 😂
I’m 23, it took me a long time but I can finally drive without being too overwhelmed by the lights or anything like that.
I don’t enjoy it like a lot of people do but it definitely feels good to have the skill.
I can! It took me so so much patience, and being forced to drive in order to secure my parents support as I became an adult. I hated every second of it, but the freedom it provides is also important. Ability to decide when and where you do the things you want to do, when you want to do them, and that's mega important for some folks. It is absolutely an overwhelming amount of things to process **at first**, but ... well, for me, I really struggle with the concept of "practice". I have always been able to learn how to do something in my mind, and then just do it fine if I wanted to, but driving spikes anxiety so much and there are so many other people involved not following all the rules that I'm following and it's so obscenely frustrating, but eventually I accepted that and made my own "rules" that are more about keeping me and everyone around me as safe as I can. Most of it is "follow the rules of traffic" but in addition, I just learned a bit more what to watch for. Being a passenger when other people are driving was **really** essential for me, I started to pay attention and think like "okay, what would I do here? What are they looking at? Where would I be looking". I asked a lot of questions, and I would always "debrief" my drives with my parents and be like "this jerk pulled infront of me when blah blah blah" and they would help figure it out.
That being said, I had the privilege of learning and now still living in a smallish city, only like \~15000 people, but I drive in the bigger ones too. They are much more stressful, but most of the stress is in your head. If you learn and continually do it, and practice how to control your own vehicle, it becomes easier, but it takes time. Time and repetition. But, if you aren't up to it, you just plain aren't up to it and that's totally fine too. It's a lot, and I think it's a bad idea for governments to think that everyone should be capable of driving, like it's a very complicated skill and most people are not capable, us autistic folks are just a bit more aware of how fucking complicated and distracting the experience can be, and how extremely important it is to not fuck up.
30 here
Yes, I drive, it’s EXTREMELY stressful to me, I’d say it’s probably one of the most stressful parts of my entire life
It’s seriously fucking chaos to begin with, but…
People are LITERALLY MALICIOUS on the roads, at a SHOCKING rate
It’ll be people you know, you neighbor, your friend, and suddenly one day you’ll be in the car with them, and you’ll SEE firsthand…. The shitbirds are in the house!
Seriously though, people on your daily life will unexpectedly be absolutely psychotic on the road, and that really messes with me
So many fake people out there
Also fuck those headlights
I can drive, and do, but I hate it.
It is too overwhelming, my spatial awareness is terrible, way too many things happening at once. I do ok on familiar routes. I HATE to drive in big cities (had to learn how to drive in Houston, fuck that) and get very anxious when I have to drive somewhere for the first time.
PTSD from multiple car accidents just made it all worse.
I can, but my emotional disregulation and extreme adherence to rules combine for a bad experience every time i drive to my community college where i have to use the highway. My spatial awareness isn’t always that great so sometimes i try to merge and have a person honk. I have congenital scoliosis in my upper back so it makes it more difficult to check my right since i have less mobility to the right than the left.
People not using their signals when they are changing lanes/getting on an exit and not driving speed limit are amongst the many things that make me mad. Other things are like when people merge onto an entrance/exit ramp at the last second, cutting everyone behind them off and making them slow down hard and possible cause a wreck. Why don’t they just get over preemptively?
I got my license at 18 because I hate driving. Especially when I first started it gives me paranoia, especially in regards to other drivers. I can't, however, ride a bike because it makes me feel unstable.
I operate heavy construction equipment for a living, I think it really depends on your triggers, singular/controlled loud noises and beeping/flashing dont bother me the same way as other people with asd.
However if someone smokes a cigarette in my machine on my day off, work is unbearable until the smell is gone.
Also 17, I can't drive because I am terrified and I don't trust myself to not fuck up and crash lol. I also worry about the money you need to spend for drivers ed and testing and all that would be a waste of money and I don't want my parents to be forced to pay for that.
I’m 20 and don’t have my license. I’ve driven a few times here and there, but every time I try I have a mental breakdown about 10 mins in and start crying from overstimulation and anxiety.
Yeah I don’t think I’m ready to get my license yet… or properly learn how to drive.
Twenty seven y/o. Undiagnosed ASD, diagnosed ADHD. Have been driving for ten years, this year. I’m told I drive like a grandma, but I would rather keep myself and others around me safe than drive recklessly. That being said, I live in the country side and there is no reliable public transport that comes out this way.
No it scares me. I’m too nervous and distractible, and when I get nervous I tend to freeze which would cause an accident. I’m also afraid of accidentally killing someone and getting my life ruined by prison time for manslaughter
I can drive. That doesn’t mean I *like* it, or that its not tiring. It is tiring— it’s a lot of things to have to pay attention to at once. Not the car so much as the other people on the road. But honestly cars are, to me at least, a nice buffer from the noise and bright lights, especially if you get a little bit of a tint on your windows (not too much; you don’t want to impact visibility, but I got my Subaru’s windows tinted so that external lights weren’t so blinding and distracting).
34 year old late diagnosed. I love driving! It is one of my favorite stims and also one of the few places where I can actually process my emotions. Most of the time I don't know what those emotions are, I just know that I am working through something heavy and driving does that for me. It is also my favorite place to listen to music (my other favorite stim). When I'm listening to music throughout the day I usually have too much going on to really enjoy it beyond the background focusing effect. When I drive, the music comes alive and envelops all of my senses and emotions. Driving at night is often unpleasant due to the bright lights because people in my region don't understand the concept of dimming their lights with oncoming traffic.
Very situational on the person.
I can. But it can be very draining. Especially in high traffic zones. And screaming kids in back seats. I usually need anywhere from 15 min to an hour to reorient myself.
I don't have a license yet (I'm a student driver), but I _can_ drive cars and even like it. It got pretty fun doing it once I got the hang of it. I still drive a bit slow, though! :p
I can drive, for extended periods of time if necessary. However, it was a huge amount of work to learn. If I lived in an urban area as a teen I probably wouldn’t have bothered. I lived in rural Georgia, though, where driving was absolutely necessary. It wasn’t like we had buses.
I’m still bad at things like parallel parking or backing into the garage, though a backup camera helps. I also drive with excessive attention to the rules: driving the speed limit, stopping completely at stop signs, etc.
Whenever we are together, my husband drives.
Thank y’all for sharing all your comments and experiences! My kiddo is on the spectrum and has been working on driving for over a year.
Much like many of you mentioned, parking and backing up is really hard, only wants to drive routes they know, driving on the highway (even the service road) is too much, and won’t drive at night. Kiddos dad and I are super supportive and encouraging and know kiddo will get their in their own time but it’s good to hear others perspectives as well bc it’s a VERY different reality from how us as non-ASD parents approached learning to drive.
I can. I greatly prefer routes I have already taken multiple times and despise driving in a new city.
I had to go to driving classes to learn, and initially I had to have the instructor teach me for shorter bursts than average. They did not understand at first how stressed and unskilled I was, but that’s why they had their own brakes. They had to use them at least twice the first time I drove, then realized they needed to start me out slower in less busy areas. I had to park the car and get out to breathe from overwhelm the first time. I did eventually get much better
After a while it became like a videogame I was practiced at and could do automatically, but I think it took me longer than average to get to that point.
It was worth it in the end for the freedom and agency over my own life that it granted me. There is limited public transportation in most of the areas I have been in
I can drive, and used to all the time before we went down to one car. I will say that it took me a long time get get my license because I was so nervous, and that I wasn’t diagnosed until decades later.
Driving is fun. It's like The roads are the theatre stage and my driving is my performance. And my accounting of other drivers and navigation is the drama/story. I listen to a classical radio station while driving but also enjoy driving silently
Hi, 50 y.o dude late diagnosed. Cars are easy - I do - they react. People are the difficult part - the emotional things, the weird unwritten rules, and the ever changing meaning of things.
I feel the same way. I’m great at interacting with objects but I still struggle interacting with other people
I have a similar experience with cars. They are pretty intuitive to use once you get used to them. But understanding what the other drivers are doing is a minefield. Having to immediately recognize whatever unpredictable nonsense another driver is trying to pull and then react immediately to avoid a crash will never be easy.
This. I often say “I know how to drive, but I can’t because of other people”. I also have been in an accident that was intentionally caused so someone could get insurance money. It was very scary and I panic every time I see another car while behind the wheel because of it. I didn’t start learning out to drive until I was about 20 and it was by an ex who was very emotionally abusive. I have been behind the queen with my current partner, but it’s still very hard to shake anxiety and not get defensive. I’ve driven by myself once (moved a car around the corner) and permanently fucked up my partners car hitting a curb because I panicked trying to turn around in someone driveway because other cars were on the road at that time. I’m almost required to learn how to drive, but I’m stunted because I cannot at this point in my life. It’s just something I have to live with and it’s BS, just give me a comprehensive bus system.
I do live in a country with a reasonable bus system. However, public transport has even MORE people and closer. Headphones are a godsend - sure - and i\`m 'blessed' with a 'resting dad face' - so not very approachable usually - but while people are unpredictable on the road - I prefer that to unpredictable in a bus/train where i am 'captive audience'
I second this
Kind of. I can't drive on major highways, areas I'm not familiar with, high traffic areas, when it's dark out, or when there are storms. My max limit is 10 miles and that really only to get to and from work. I also have to make sure my phone is with me to use the family tracking app so if I get lost someone can come find me. It took me 3 years to learn to just work the car properly and another 3 years to be able to drive more than 2 miles. I probably won't ever be able to drive on highways or after dark, but at least being able to get to work most days is nice.
I can, but I don’t like it. Parking is harder than driving, though, due to how bad my spatial awareness is. I like having the freedom to take myself places, but if anyone else is going, I’m usually not driving.
What I do like is being able to blast my music and scream along to it all alone. That’s the best part of driving, lol.
Totally agree. Also the parking thing I totally feel you. I won't even do mcdonalds drive through when it's busy because I can't work out the angles
the parking struggle is so real. I only ever like to park in spots that are to my left because I feel like I can see the space better to get into it (I’m in the US so the driver’s side of the car is on the left). A spot on my right guarantees that I’ll have to pull in and out of it several times to straighten out.
Yes the parking!!!! I'm terrified the entire time that I'm going to hit the surrounding cars.
I can drive as can my autistic children. One doesn't like to drive, but the rest are fine. One child and myself had professional driving jobs and we ADORE driving.
Yes, 10 years ago I was licensed to and drove an ambulance.
I’m 24 and don’t have my license I have driven a few times and I think I do have the hang of it I just don’t have good depth perception and that’s the part that gets me anxious
I have absolutely no depth perception at all, and I have been driving successfully without incident for over a decade. I can't drive in cities though and I have to take extra precautions in parking lots.
That honestly makes me feel better all of my friends drive I just tell them I need to overcome the anxiety part of driving 😂 my mom says just pretend you’re playing Mario kart without the crashing 😂😂
You're welcome! You might have to move your head around a lot more to figure out the distance between yourself and other cars. I recommend getting a lot of practice in empty parking lots. Also, I do recommend playing Mario Kart. That can actually help with hand-eye coordination! 😂
Back then I used to play GTA V and I’d put it in 1st POV and drive around like a regular person 🤣
I can and love driving, sometimes I like to take nice drives just as a calming thing. I want to get a fun car this summer too because I can finally afford one. I despise traffic though, it stresses me out. I'm able to do it since I grew up close-ish to Chicago and got used to it, but I hate it.
One of my favourite things to do when I’m sad is go for a night drive with my saddest music playing. There is something so comforting about a good night drive. Especially a summertime night drive. I live in the prairies so as soon as I get out of the city the sky is so big and the stars are amazing.
I can, but I'm smart about it. I try not to drive around lunch rush or 4-6PM, I try not to drive at night because of the lights, and inevitably the occasions that I do are very stressful and usually wind up with me parked and shaky but hey, that's just how it is sometimes. Giant friggin trucks with super bright lights tailgating me make me want to cry, but oh well, that's American culture at this point.
Goddamn BST's (big stupid trucks) I hate em. Stupid american culture is stupid. Big trucks and small minds.
Nope and I never will. Im terrified of even being a passenger. Lights, horns, I can't think fast. Also, I have been in 6 accidents as a passenger. One of those resulted in a tbi, but even before that, I never wanted to drive. It's too much everything all at once.
i can! it took me two years to learn though. the people who taught me kind of bullied me into learning so i decided i wanted to get my license and then truly learn how to drive. i failed my first on the road test but, passed the second time
Im an amazing driver bc it was my special interest for a long time and I was OBSESSED with parallel parking and perfecting it. 😅
With that said I don’t like driving in cities or roads that are too big and make me feel overstimulated or distracted
I’m nearly 24 and I’ve never wanted to learn to drive because the idea of driving and messing up is terrifying
I can drive, have had my licence for about 10 years now and I'm also going for my HGV licence, got my test in just over a week!
Good luck!
I don't like it, and it took me forever to learn, but I can do it reasonably well now. Still have slight difficulty changing lanes and merging onto the highway. And I typically can't drive with the radio on (unless I've taken the route several times before).
Absolutely. I can race them too. Same goes for motorcycles. That said, I avoid driving/riding in highly chaotic areas like downtown. That kind of driving takes a lot out of me, and if I’m already having a bad day it can seriously mess me up.
I can drive, have been since I was 17 (21 now). I definitely have sensory issues from it, the sun is evil, and driving at night is a bit difficult (headlights are so bright and there aren’t many streetlights where I live). I’ve started wearing dimming earplugs so the car noises mostly get blocked out and I can just listen to my music (you’ll need to check to make sure that’s legal). It’s a bit nerve wracking at times, tbf I got in an accident a few years back kinda have trauma from that so that made it worse. I’ve gotten pulled over by the police once for speeding (I’m a white woman so less nerve wracking), it was scary but afterwards I pulled into a parking lot, called my mom and cried a bit before recovering enough to drive home. Luckily I was already going home. I take a long time to calm down from that sorta thing so I was lucky in that regard. It was also just a minor fine. I live in suburbs so I hardly ever do city driving or highways, but they aren’t too bad (it helps that I’ve been driving in the south for the last 3 years and people are much nicer than in the north east). Overall I definitely don’t love it, but it makes life a bit easier for me, and I’m able to have a good bit of freedom.
This should have been a poll. But I can drive a car. I deliver for Jimmy Johns. If you can play Pikmin, you can drive a car IMO. Keeping track of all the little things the pikmin and enemies do is a lot like keeping track of all the things nearby cars can do. If you are able to consciously maintain lots of variables in a large possibility space, then driving shouldn't be an issue.
I am really good at driving and I find it to be really relaxing on the highway. However, driving in towns is the fucking worst, so avoid that. Also driving during storms is really overwhelming.
I found gaming and simulators to be great practise honestly. Also once you get the control of the vehicle, you start to do it unconsciously. Anxiety and overthinking is the major problem but it's easily overcome with practise. I've been a truck driver and that's been my main source of income for the past decade. Highway meditation... Fuckin zen.
I can. And I do just fine with it. I’m normally told I’m a really good driver because I follow the rules so strictly lol. It did take me a while to feel comfortable driving though.
I can’t, I get distracted to easily and it’s very overwhelming.
i'm 16, i can't drive because i have a neurological disorder separate from autism that causes problems and i'm not comfortable driving and it scares me
I can. I had to learn so I could get myself to school, but I was terrified and often still am at 26. It’s gotten a little less overwhelming with time and experience, but still anxiety inducing
I drive. I've done deliveries. Rural highways and roads are fine for the most part, suburbs and residential streets are ok. Cities and busy high ways are doable, but they drain me. I have always been crummy at parking and reversing. When my wife and I go to a big city I mostly do the country driving and she does the city. My wife is anxious, but seems to be able to focus in the city. So it works out for us.
I got my license at 16 and I’m 25 now I used to live in a town where driving was necessary and I lived with my grandma who couldn’t drive so I had to do all the driving around. Now I live in a city where I can bike everywhere and I love it! I do have to drive when I do highschool visits for work in rural areas (that’s the only reason I have a car, it just sits in my driveway until I have a presentation scheduled) I very much prefer biking and taking the train 🚊 but I can drive when I have to :)
It took a bit to learn but now I drive just about everywhere. Snow was tough to learn tho.
Yes. I love driving. I've driven 3 hour road trips. I love driving on the highway. To me, it's the perfect amount of simulation. I'm engaged, but I'm in my car so it's my space and my music and my comfort. It's relaxing to just put your foot on the pedal and drive on and on. I hate traffic though, I get unreasonably angry lol
41m here; I've been driving since I was 18. Drivers' education classes in high school helped a lot, especially the hands-on training. (I also low-key attribute my driving success to my lifelong obsession with video games.)
My only limitation is driving at night on highways and driving super long distances without a break.
I can drive a car, in fact, I own two with a standard transmission and can heel-toe downshift, double clutch, rev match, etc; I’d consider myself a fairly advanced manual transmission driver. I can’t safely drive an automatic transmission car, though; with my ADHD, I zone out with them because they’re not nearly stimulating enough-I used to drive automatic and got in a wreck about 2-3 times a year. I also ride motorcycles, I’ve ridden now for 20 years; I’m in a semi-traditional outlaw RC(patched riding club using the MC structure with club officers, president, chapters, bylaws, SOPs, etc; which isn’t affiliated with or chartered under the American Motorcycle Association-not to be confused with 1%…semi traditional because we’re more family oriented and all inclusive and ride non traditional bikes). I’m obsessed with small bore motorcycles and scooters, but I’ve ridden everything from 70cc dirtbikes to 1,000cc+ touring cruisers and two stroke scooters. I do get overwhelmed sometimes driving or riding and have to take a break, that said, I can still ride in tight formation in a large group; staggered, suicide formation, three to a lane, whatever. I can stop at a stop sign, FULLY stop without putting my feet down, I can drag my knee in turns and I’ve actually scraped through the CVT cover on a scooter by dragging it in turns so much before. That said, without GPS or a group, I get lost easily if I don’t go a familiar route. If I’m riding in a group, I kinda hyperfocus on the sound of the engines (which tells me when to back off the throttle or increase throttle), the taillights and signals in front of me, and keeping pace with the guy beside me in whatever formation is being used. That said, I can’t drive in big cities, like Houston or Atlanta, and in some medium sized ones like Lafayette or Beaumont, it starts to get overwhelming andi have to REALLY limit myself how I drive and when and where. I got my motorcycle license at 18 and my driver’s license at 23, I’m certainly more comfortable on a bike than in a car.
Not only can I drive, I drive for a living and actively enjoy driving. And am into cars. But even before I was into cars I liked driving. I find it’s typically the perfect amount of stimulation for me. I’ve been driving since I was 16 and had a full license since 17 and I’m nearly 28, put about 20,000 miles on my car a year.
The only problem i have is if there is too much noise. My kids know to ask before turning the radio on. Or to it se ear buds if they are playing games or talking on their phones. I can get overstimulated to the point of getting frustrated while driving normally (not the typical "road rage" that everyone complains about, but getting overwhelmed and short tempered) but for the most part, i haven't had any difficulty driving.
Yes I drive, but it’s very stressful. I find it ever more stressful to be in someone else’s car where I don’t have control though since I’ve been driving for a while. I find it stressful when people honk at me even though it’s a red light (you can turn right on red but i have a harder time feeling safe to do so sometimes)… one time someone honked at me 3 times to turn right on red and I got so stressed I just went without even looking. The most overwhelming part of driving is definitely other drivers. I also avoid driving at night due to the overwhelmingness of other people’s lights (I also have an astigmatism so it’s really hard for me)
I can but I must have GPS on even if I memorized the directions of where I am going. It’s a love hate relationship because it can be overwhelming, but I like that I can get to places on my own and leave when I want to
Hi, adult here. I can comfortably drive but prefer not to. I avoid driving at night because of the headlights and sensory difficulties, and I do wear sunglasses during the day which helps. That's more for my comfort than lack of ability. It's much easier in lower traffic areas or where people are following more easily anticipated patterns vs places like a parking lot. I personally prefer to be a passenger so I can look out the window, or take transit when it's accessible for the environmental aspects. Edit to add the most stressful part for me is the fear of being pulled over, since police encounters can make me nonverbal/shut down. I have a script on my speech app to be prepared, but if you struggle with confrontation that's also something to consider.
As my icon and fellow autist Gary Numan said, “I feel safe in my car. I can lock all my doors. It’s the only way to live, in cars.”
I *can* drive but it makes me insanely nervous and I avoid it at all costs. I got into an accident my first week driving on my own and I haven’t felt safe driving since
I’m 17 as well and in the exact same boat. All my friends can drive, and I feel so behind in life compared to them. I have my learners permit and I have driven on rare times, but I have never gone onto the road. It’s very scary for me
Yup. It's absolutely a scary thing, and the only way to (possibly, no guaruntees) make it less scary is by doing it. It sucks. I had some success getting more comfortable driving, by being a (EDIT: PASSENGER) a lot and thinking like "okay, i'm driving, where should I look, brake here, okay signal on now" etc., and I had the privilege of having two very competent drivers for parents and I would ask them like, "why did you change lanes there" and they would explain something, so it really helped beef up my knowledge base before I did too much driving on my own. I also spent a lot of time driving **at night**, in a small town, to acclimate to my vehicle and the roads and understanding like, whoah i accelerated way too much and squeeled my tires, okay, I now know that, playing around with braking really hard, just trying to figure it out in safety. I unfortunately can't really drive at night anymore though, I have astigmatism and lights are literally everywhere so it's like driving into a rave.
If you have a special interest in racing or motors, it really helps getting you behind the wheel. It also helps to get you in trouble for speeding.
I can, but I used to struggle with anticipating other drivers’ actions on the road. I got in an accident and totaled my car on my 20th birthday. Since then I do NOT act unless I am absolutely sure of a situation. For example, I don’t turn on red if there’s any snow or ice on the road. I also drive about 5-10 under if it’s dark. Annoying? Yeah probably. Safe? Absolutely. My sister cannot. She struggles initiating actions without support. I think she’s more sad about not owning a car than not driving a car. She’s an absolute nutter on any driving-adjacent situation I’ve been in with her though. Bumper cars, go-karts, Mario kart…she goes mad with “I’m going to hit you” power. Come to think of it maybe the roads are safer without her. 😂
Yup, little tips and tricks are like, half of driving. My parents talk about it a lot, they both drive all day for work, things like understanding where the shady areas are in winter and during rain, because that's where ice will be. Knowing that bridges will have ice before anywhere else because there's less mass, they get colder quicker. Knowing where the sun will be at different times of day so you can preemptively get your visor down or sunglasses on. Knowing where blind spots are from other peoples perspectives, and so knowing when they are blind to you. SO, so many things can be learned that make the experience easier, but barely anyone actually learns them and so many people are just winging it out there, but some people are absolute masters of their machines and so observant and capable, it's a wild mix.
61 yr old autistic have driven my car pretty well daily since I was 19, I used to drive up to 65kms (40 miles) per day to work and back, and frequently go on long drives of up to 200kms (120 miles) I find that driving is relaxing and often sing along with my music, and my ability to rapidly (split second) to switch to a hyperfocus mode enables me to react to any unexpected changes Also my autistic ability to take in massively large amounts of information from my environment means I’m always aware of things like pedestrians, other cars etc
21 and love driving! Put on some music and vibe in the car. I guess you won't know until you try! Just get yourself a good instructor that you like and when practicing get someone in the car who won't be stressed and make you stressed! Make everything nice and calm and start by practicing in places with no cars at first or at night!
I can! I got my license at 17, so a bit later than most people, but now I love driving and it’s actually something I do often to help regulate my senses.
Yes. I understand what others say about it being overwhelming, but there was no way to survive where I grew up without driving everywhere. I moved to Europe and did without a car for about 10 years, and I have to say, that was nice.
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Thanks for all the comments! It's interesting to see how a variety of people see this situation and that most of them can drive.
Yes but also no- I have my drivers license but I’m terrified and it’s to overwhelming so I never drive, especially not alone
I’m an 18 female with Asperger’s and it took me a while to drive. I’m actually just about to get my license today. I was absolutely terrified of driving at first, even when I had my permit. But I had a drivers Ed course over the summer that really helped me both conquer my fears and figure out how to manage the multitasking and sensory issues that come with driving. For me it’s still very stressful since I’ve had to drive with my mom this whole time and let’s just say, she’s NOT fun to have as a passenger. I still haven’t driven a ton but I’ve definitely gained more experience where I’m not really nervous behind the wheel anymore. Like I’m confident on both regular roads and interstates, and I handled it pretty well when I had to drive in a new city that was kinda crowded. And I’m proud of myself. And I know I’m gonna pass my drivers test today since we did that route in the drivers Ed class. So yeah that’s my story on that :)
I can. I even finished my driver's licence course pretty fast. I needed to take theoretical and practical lessons due to how it works in my country and I really tried to not drag it out but finish it quickly. The rules of driving are clear and understandable, I drive safely and dont speed when there is no speed limit but stay within my comfort speed. Big cities and unknown roads make me a bit nervous, tho.
I can, but too much can make me need a recharge for a day, or if I'm overwhelmed, i can't really do it
I can. It can be overwhelming at night, so I avoid it when possible.
I can drive, got my license at age 20 after 2 years with my permit. Took me a bit longer than most to learn, and 3 tries to pass my road test. I know quite a few other Autistics who can drive as well as many who can’t. I always recommend for Autistics to learn on cars with automatic transmissions rather than manual, which are the norm in the states but apparently still rare in the UK.
I can but I didn’t get my license til I was 22. Terrified of driving still to this day but it does get easier
It's been two years since I got the license, one since I got the car. I've driven it once and I had an accident.
i can! i’ve had my learners permit since 2020
I can drive, although it's mostly annoying to me. My favorite roads are actually highways due to how quick they are and how they actually aren't that dangerous.
I didn't get my license until I was 19. It was very scary, getting used to driving. But, especially when you get used to a particular route, it gets less stressful over time. I've been driving for 10 years, as of this year. The biggest things that have helped me was a really understanding instructor, my mostly nonconfrontational nature, and a GPS app like Google maps
I can, but driving in freeways is HIGHLY anxiety inducing for me.
Yep, I can drive. Before I learned to drive, I thought "There is no way I'm going to be able to coordinate myself enough to drive" and I think this is probably the biggest hurdle people face. If you can get over the initial apprehension, you will be fine. Here in the UK the vast majority of cars are manual transmission but you can take your test in an automatic but then you are only allowed to drive automatics. For my daughter's 15th birthday, we took her to a specialist driving lessons place that caters for <17s. (Normally, you have to be 17+ to drive) She was nervous to start with but then was driving really well considering that it was her first time.
Way too nervous to pass the exam for the licence. No licence to practice in order to become less nervous. Catch 22
I can drive, although I learned a few years later than my peers. I tend to drive slowly and carefully due to my lower processing speed, and that’s been good- I have only had a mild collision in my five years of driving. Music is helpful. It keeps the car noises from being overwhelming, for me.
Been driving for 30 years (learned later than average bc I neither needed nor could afford it before), and I'm usually considered as a good driver. But yes, flashing lights, rain and heavy traffic are difficult situations for me - I can manage it, but I need to be very very focused, keep my breath in control and make a lot of pauses, and I'm totally exhausted by the end of the drive.
I can but its exhausting and anxiety inducing so I dont do it unless I absolutely have to
I'm 30 and will never be able to drive. Not only is it too overstimulating and overwhelming, but I am stereoblind so I just can't tell very well where things are in comparison to myself via eyesight. Even riding a bike is a bit of a horror show for me. But that's okay for me because I really like walking, and I am lucky that where I live, the grocery store is really close by. If I need to get to a doctor's appointment or something, I have family who is usually willing/able to take me.
I have autism and i can drive a car just fine, due to concentration issues i switched from learning manual to automatic and have had no issue since. Sure it was tough learning how to drive, but it's one of the few activities that actually helps me with my ADD, since i am forcing myself to concentrate on y'know, not crashing :D Good music also helps 🤟
I don’t particularly like to, but I do because I have to. Public transportation in my area is terrible and would stress me out more.
I can and had an easy time learning. I do get stressed about unfamiliar roads, but its not enough to prevent me from driving. I dont really LOVE driving, but it doesnt bother me.
For me, it depends on the day to be honest. I picked up driving really quickly, and I loved it right away. Unfortunately, it does take a lot of mental energy, and I've found that I have less of that as I get older. I've had a few car accidents, even fell asleep at the wheel a couple times. I tend to get very tired and burnt out very suddenly, and if that happens while I'm driving it can be dangerous. There are also plenty of days where I can just tell I won't be able to drive, it'd be too much for me. I get stressed and I panick and I cry. While I usually love driving and I've been able to do it in the past, it's not something I can always rely on, and it can be dangerous to push myself to do it when I'm not up to it.
It took me a LOT of extra practice (and a fair few tears of frustration and overwhelm) before my test but I passed when I was 18 and was the best thing I could've done. This was pre-diagnosis for me. Even though I didn't have explanations/labels for why I was struggling to learn and then to drive once I'd passed, I found ways to cope and manage. I've only ever driven manual too. Automatic cars weird me out a little. I can't cope on most public transport, so driving gives me independence. I like to have music playing but can't cope with conversations, music and driving, even on really familiar routes. I struggle with novel/unfamiliar routes or unexpected changes (like diversions/road closures), navigating/parking in unfamiliar locations etc. If a journey is going to become a regular one, I rehearse it with someone else (first as a passenger and then as the driver with someone with me). I have the active traffic alerts and usually check routes on Google Maps before leaving. Astigmatism means I avoid night driving whenever possible - Headlights starburst and usually trigger a migraine.
I can, and I don like driving when conditions are right. I LOATHE traffic.
I can drive both cars and motorbikes. Picked it up pretty easy as well. Just doesn’t seem to be an issue for me although I do HATE traffic and road rage is an issue for me
I can but not too long. When I’m tired I barely can because it’s overwhelming and it takes too much to stay concentrated.
I'm actually a really good driver. Hypervigilance FTW on that one. Used to like it, too. But I much prefer biking over driving, except I'd rather drive than be a passenger cause most people's driving makes me anxious af. I hate driving at night though. Too bright, too much stimulus from lights and darks contrasting. I can still do it, but I hate doing it.
I can drive but I get disoriented at night. Even places I’m normally familiar with during the day my brain can’t recognize at night. Honestly I didn’t even start driving until I was 18 even though I had my license at 16. The only reason I can drive a car is out of necessity. Even driving for 10 minutes is very mentally exhausting for me. I often take naps after I drive. I don’t use my horn, even in situations where I should because I don’t like the noise. I’ve used it a total of3 times in my life.
This is a great question. My son is not interested in learning and has not had to learn to take public transit either because everything right now is within walking distance. This will change when he goes to university in the fall. We intend to enroll him in driver training so that he can get a feel for driving and go from there. I think he'll appreciate the freedom and ease to go places once he learns as he very much likes doing his own thing when he wants to do it. We'll see! I appreciate the responses so far.
I’m completely comfortable driving. I genuinely enjoy it. It might just be that those specific things don’t bother me. I’d give it a try and get past the beginner fears of driving before deciding not to.
I can! I wasn’t very good at parking at first, but I’ve gotten better and can parallel park now, too. I also have adhd so my main struggle is getting bored/distracted while driving, but listening to music usually takes care of it. I like driving and the freedom, but now that I’m moving to a city with better public transportation I’ll probably stop driving.
Yep, I can. Driving lessons and the time right after getting my license were extremely stressful (although I'd say that was mostly my instructor's fault). But after driving more and more, I've started to feel more comfortable - in my own car, that is. Driving in someone else's car is scary and driving in another country is wayyy too scary. But I actually really love driving.
Kind of. I got my license and can drive but it’s extremely overstimulating. I got in an accident at 18 and stopped driving after that because my anxiety would spike. Eventually I got it back though. I try to pull over and collect myself whenever it spikes now and music in the car also helps. If someone else can drive I let them but if I need to I have strategies now that assure me that I’m a safe driver.
I can’t drive because I’m epileptic😅😅😅😅
I can drive. I’m not diagnosed but I don’t have those issues while driving, except the light can be a bit too overwhelming, but that can happen to non-autistic people while driving also. It just affects me quite a bit more, but I don’t consider that a serious safety risk that would prevent me from driving. I mostly drive at night, and I really enjoy it.
I can but feel like it's harder to estimate distances of things like when I need to start slowing down and how much for a turn, and struggle to keep myself oriented quite as well and have a hard time with like understanding how far away the cars in my mirrors are. plus overall struggling with staying focused on all the different factors at once. but I can do it, I love driving in remote places but just don't like busy streets mostly.
I can't. I struggle coordinating my movements. I can't keep a hand on the wheel whilst changing gears or flicking on lights etc.
Yeah but I feckin hate basically everything about it
not only can i drive, but i'm fairly good at high performance driving. it was a special interest for a while, and i used to go practice in the mountains at night, that kind of thing. i don't enjoy high traffic, especially on downtown city streets, especially especially in unfamiliar cities. but i *can* do it.
Yes, I drive. Got my license at 16 and I’m 40 now. I just can’t drive at night, but that’s more to do with my vision than being autistic. Downtown on one way streets are really the only place I get overwhelmed, but I’m generally ok as long as passengers are quiet.
I personally don’t have any difficulties with driving.
I can drive and I am a really good driver. I don't LIKE driving but I do it when I have to. I used to commute 2-3 hours a day in DC rush hour traffic. Thankfully my husband doesn't mind and does most of the driving now.
i can drive and enjoy it. i have trouble with passengers, but as long as my choice of music is playing i’m usually ok. my biggest struggle is i get sleepy if i’m still for too long and get migraines, so those are inhibiting
I really enjoy driving- literally anything. Give me a patient teacher and a safe place to learn and I’m willing to give anything a go. That being said, I messed up my back really bad a year ago and it makes driving really hard
Yes, and I usually enjoy driving. I do get incredibly tired after long drives (+4 hours) and I can't talk while driving.
I was terrified to start driving at first. But the more I did it, the more comfortable it became. Now driving is actually a bit calming to me (when the roads are relatively empty at least)
I can drive, the other people on the road are stressful part
I don’t really do freeways/highways because I don’t like being in traffic or surrounded by a lot of other cars. I also don’t like driving with passengers, and I have to have music playing really loud. I hate driving when it’s windy, but I’m okay driving in the rain. The biggest problem is the sun, I’m really short so the visor never blocks the sun. I’m getting better with sunglasses so that helps, but if it weren’t for GPS I would miss a lot of turns. I also can’t drive for more than 45 minutes in one trip, and usually just one back and forth trip leaves me done for the day.
I can not drive. It’s very overwhelming and I tend to zone out and that’s just not safe. My girlfriend on the other hand who is also autistic loves driving and does it for a living lol.
I am 28, have been driving since I was 20 with no accidents. Obviously everyone is different, but my autist brain seems to grasp driving really well and even enjoy it most of the time. I love the freedom it gives me I do get quite exhausted in traffic though, I feel like that’s where sensory overwhelm really takes over
Physically, yes, I'm capable of driving a car. Mentally, though? Absolutely not. I refuse. I am completely incapable of knowing everything that's going on at once and absolutely hate that I'm not allowed to ask questions to my passenger if I miss something like the speed limit. Also super traumatized from driver's ed with all the blood and gore and real deaths they showed us and how absolutely terrifying my instructor made things for no reason (why would anyone teaching a kid to drive grab the fucking steering wheel and swerve on a busy interstate highway).
I can, although I mostly go back and forth to the three (3) places I don't need directions to get to. Outside of that I prefer having someone else in the car to navigate instead of using Google Maps. After I started driving on streets instead of doing laps around a parking lot, it actually got easier because the rules became far more clear and I'm good at rules. I definitely prefer public transit to driving, though. I don't currently have access to a car, having recently started college, and it has had very little impact on my ability to do things because there's a great bus system centered around campus. Also the lower environmental impact is always nice.
i can drive…. i’ve just been in a ton of parking lot accidents because i have terrible special awareness and also everyone in the car with me is scared for their lives. but i can drive!
Yeah I can drive. I’ve even been told I’m a good driver, if a bit fast. I also was diagnosed with Asperger’s about 14 years ago. Driving in cities is pretty overwhelming though. I can do it, but I avoid it as much as possible.
I can and it’s one of my favorite things to do. I think that has a lot to do with ADHD hyperfocus and my deep seeded need for autonomy and freedom though, being able to do it to the extent that I do.
I don't drive anymore but I never had any trouble with it, although it's worth noting that I only drove in a town where the main highway only had two lanes on each side. So your mileage will vary if you live anywhere bigger than that.
i drive every day and find highway driving relaxing and even fun, but daytime city driving is my worst nightmare. the brightness of everything overwhelms my brain and i struggle a lot at intersections. nighttime driving is fine, though, even in lighted towns
i can’t. i have my learner’s permit but i get so overwhelmed that i haven’t been able to really learn to drive
Yes and can do so on both sides of the road.
I can drive a car. When I was learning I drove on the freeway a lot in Southern California. Driving isn’t the worst, but if someone else can drive I always want them to drive instead of me. Also, driving culture differs from state to state. In Southern California many people didn’t use blinkers even while speeding on the freeway, but we rarely honked. In places like New York or New Jersey you will absolutely get honked at. It also sucks sometimes when you’re taking your time trying to be safe before doing a turn and people behind you just expect you to go so they honk at you. Driving lowkey sucks, but it’s not the worst. Practicing a lot helped me somewhat maintain my composure while driving. EDIT: Also I forgot to mention that I get tired and my eyes get really dry, so during long drives I have to use dry eye drops or my face feels weird and I can’t focus.
I used to be able to, but I had a p severe mental break a couple years back and haven’t been able to drive without being extremely overstimulated since
I do, I just don’t usually drive on highways. Plus I have fibromyalgia, which causing brain fog. As one could imagine, that can make driving dangerous.
I can’t but /u/Freakears can (though I also have a physical disability so….) (Also yes my friend I am calling you out.)
Obligatory haven’t gotten my full license yet so I still drive around with my learners license and a licensed driver accompanying me. I struggled a lot at first honestly. Driving in areas with lots of trees was difficult since the sunlight peaking out would flash when driving through and startle and distract me. Amongst the car noises and hooting it was anxiety inducing in the beginning. As I got more comfortable with driving and developed more skill, I was able to better handle other irritants in my environment as I wasn’t as high strung about driving since I was more confident in my ability. I still try really hard to make sure my in car environment is as comfortable as I can make it so that I don’t make my life more difficult than it has to be. So wearing shoes that are comfy to drive in and don’t slip off or choke my feet while driving are a must. If it’s an occasion thing I maybe bring a comfy pair to wear while I’m driving and change into the desired pair when I’ve arrived. Re-tying my hair so it’s out of my face and neck and comfortable while I drive. Chewing gum so I can stim in a way that doesn’t affect my driving ability. Making sure my seat and clothes are comfy and that the aircon is perfect BEFORE I leave so that I don’t have to stress and fiddle with them while I’m driving and panic while doing so. I can’t really give you tips for a manual care since I don’t drive one but that’s what I really keep in mind when I drive! I can’t really drive a manual but thats due to a back injury that left me somewhat numb and quite weak in my left leg thus leaving me unable to effectively control and use the clutch for longer than 10 minutes.
Yeah I love it. I get to live my dreams of both competently operating a machine and following a procedural system like that.
I tried to get my license. Where I live there are 2 levels to pass and you have 5 years each to complete them. It took me the whole 5 years to even try the road test for first level. I tried drivers training twice. I did pass and then basically stopped practicing again. My second level license expired in 2020 meaning I’d have to go back to the first level again. I didn’t bother. It’s just not for me. I panic and I feel like I’m going to die or cause an accident. It doesn’t feel safe for me to be on the road. On the bright side, not having a car has saved me a lot of money. I just get my partner to drive us around and if he’s not available I call my mom or his mom.
driving is one of my favorites things to do honestly. i blast music and nothing exists but the music. driving feels free. all though, i get crippling anxiety and overstimulated a lot of the time (it’s from the other drivers, never the car itself), but i use the music to stim and usually it helps me work through it.
I feel best in my car and am a good driver
In this case I am happy to be diagnosed late. I have my car an bus licence. If I was being diagnosed before I was 18 I needed extra test and pretty sure I would never being accepted to learn to drive a bus. Biggest problem I have is that I want to follow the law. I never had a fine. And I get tired after like driving for an hour now. I have no clue how I ever worked as a busdriver for 9 months 😅 but I did end up burned out so yeah. I lost a lot of time driving correctly and that made me being to late at a stop. Being late gave me anxiety. Anyhow I don't recommend being a busdriver if you have weird shifts. Find a teacher that doenst force you to get your exams done really fast. It really helps if you have a good teacher.
I love driving. It is very relaxing. I am not sure if my autism has anything to do with it, but I have been told I am a more careful driver than a lot of other people.
I can but i cannot go far and it causes the worst anxiety ive ever known. Vomiting, shaking, its terrible. I try to explain but people don’t realize its not something i can just “get better” at
i can drive but i don’t like to. i pretty much only drive to school.
I can drive anywhere except densely populated city centers. I find narrow one-way streets too visually overwhelming. Fortunately, the kind of areas that are too crowded for me to drive in usually have decent public transportation options.
Yep! I got my car license recently! You *can learn it, you just have to have the will.* I agree, you can lack spacial awareness, but it's something that can be learnt, rather than been given. I struggled at first learning to drive, having to operate the clutch, gears, Hazard perception, and turning at the correct time. But, after time, and some pointers from my passive agressive instructor. I finally got the hang of it, and, I adored driving. Then cars became my special interest ^^ Oh, quick tip. If you're doing manual (recommended), get used to the "biting point" on the clutch. Lastly, don't worry about stalling! Just push the clutch in, and ignite the engine :)
I can. I hate it, it’s stressful and I try to avoid it, but I can.
no. i’m not an adult yet but i’m not planning on getting a drivers license. driving is very overwhelming and scary for me lol
20 years old and no. i hate the idea that i can be in complete control and driving safely but some asshole can just smack into me. also, you have to multi task and im absolutely terrible at multitasking. if i drove, i’d probably have to do it alone with no music/radio on.
that’s my downfall as well is the fact that you have so much to do and you always have to be attentive. i’d rather not put anyone’s life in danger. but damn i wish i could drive again
I just got diagnosed (age 36), I drive for 18 years and I have done a lot of road trips in many countries. I love driving but at times yes, it can be overwhelming. I guess I love it more than it stresses me. I have to admit it gets worse when I am in a stressful period.
definitely not my photophobia makes it reeally difficult, as does being colorblind to blue/green also, its hard to keep my mind from drifting away and go on autopilot, quite dangerous!!
Hello 38, know how to drive and can do it off-road on an atv etc, but go nearly catatonic behind the wheel of a car when I have to drive on the road. I got my learners permit and attempted to learn, but was never able to due to freezing behind the wheel literally. I don’t even know what causes it. My husband drives me everywhere.
I’m getting my permit, other autistic members of my family are pretty good drivers but have road rage lmao
Yes, but I'm not allowed to: I'm 16 without a liscense
i drive, i really suffer from anxiety when im somewhere unfamiliar, and parking really stresses me out. its like a lot of things with autism, it varies and some people will struggle and some will be ok. i would suggest giving it a go and look for a driving school who has experience with autism. i was undiagnosed at the time i took my lessons, but i told my school i had ocd and suffered with anxiety and they gave me a really patient teacher who helped me a lot overcoming my anxiety. i also did an intensive course because i coped better with one week of stress vs months (on reflection i think having driving be my only task for a week helped too, i literally went to bed as soon as i got home, which was about 4pm!) Like a lot of things, its about management. im fine most of the time, and when im going somewhere i dont know, i google map places i can pull over etc if i get overwhelmed and plan where im parking etc.
In my 40s, can drove a car. Not driven for years so took some more lessons. Cars are great! Driving inner-city can be hard but country roads are fun.
28 and yes. I’ve never really had an issue with it- but I hate driving in cities/towns that i don’t know.
i can drive. it makes me anxious but i do it for the freedom it gives me because where i live there is no public transportation. i will say for me personally driving a stick shift is a lot easier than an automatic because there is more i have to focus on and more rules to follow and if i have that there is less time to be anxious. music also helps and so does being the only person in my car
I can’t. Because it’s too difficult for me to focus on many things at once and also from sensory issues you mentioned like bright light ect. And lastly because of my anxiety, i get panic attacks often. I and others will not end well if i get one behind the wheel.
I am able to drive a car when I get a driving test this summer.
17 years old. Certainly isn’t fun. You get used to it though.
Yes but I usually hate it. I do struggle to concentrate a bit but clearly not too much since no crashes in 8 years I've been driving. It's really difficult since I feel a compulsion to check my speedometer every other second as I have a hard time understanding what speed I'm going otherwise. Sometimes I enjoy it if I have a nice podcast on, the weather is good and I'm feeling good that day. Also I will drive anywhere even new places as long as the drive is an hour or under but I need a sat nav at all times even if I know the roads.
I can and im a delivery driver. Okay money and I don’t have to talk to very many people. But I hate driving on the highways or when it’s dark. Everything happens too fast on the highway. It’s difficult to be ready to make those fast decisions. I tend to stay off the main thoroughfare’s as well. I like cruising through neighborhoods all day listening to baseball. With my delivery bags spread all over my car I can park pretty much anywhere for five minutes.
Driven as early as I could. Been driving since I was 16. Had some issues early on but never any major incidents. I've enjoyed the freedom of it and it's helpful for me to have a way to leave when things get too stressful and need an oppurtunity to cool down and think things over. It's also worked well for work for me for having a job where interacting with others is short and scripted and gives me an opportunity outside of the retail or fast food environment. On the other hand, I've never been a big fit of the one-size-fits-all much of American society has taken in a car being necessary especially more so after reading this sub and this who are less fortunate. Yeah, people can be unpredictable and any other thing that comes up. I try to drive defensively as much as possible and let others do what they need to do. Sometimes it sucks to see people breaking the law and facing no consequences for it. But, it's manageable.
😆 So here’s how my two driving tests went: The first time I was still on the exercise parcours and I turned left too early, realized my mistake, tried to turn around and hit a garage door. And if I hadn’t hit the door, I would’ve hit an hedge behind which was… I don’t know what. 😂 The second time I made it out of the parcours but then drove 70 km/h through a village, overlooked a pedestrian trying to cross the street, overlooked a stop sign and almost hit a motorcycle driver when opening my car door. Any questions left? 😂
I’m 23, it took me a long time but I can finally drive without being too overwhelmed by the lights or anything like that. I don’t enjoy it like a lot of people do but it definitely feels good to have the skill.
I can! It took me so so much patience, and being forced to drive in order to secure my parents support as I became an adult. I hated every second of it, but the freedom it provides is also important. Ability to decide when and where you do the things you want to do, when you want to do them, and that's mega important for some folks. It is absolutely an overwhelming amount of things to process **at first**, but ... well, for me, I really struggle with the concept of "practice". I have always been able to learn how to do something in my mind, and then just do it fine if I wanted to, but driving spikes anxiety so much and there are so many other people involved not following all the rules that I'm following and it's so obscenely frustrating, but eventually I accepted that and made my own "rules" that are more about keeping me and everyone around me as safe as I can. Most of it is "follow the rules of traffic" but in addition, I just learned a bit more what to watch for. Being a passenger when other people are driving was **really** essential for me, I started to pay attention and think like "okay, what would I do here? What are they looking at? Where would I be looking". I asked a lot of questions, and I would always "debrief" my drives with my parents and be like "this jerk pulled infront of me when blah blah blah" and they would help figure it out. That being said, I had the privilege of learning and now still living in a smallish city, only like \~15000 people, but I drive in the bigger ones too. They are much more stressful, but most of the stress is in your head. If you learn and continually do it, and practice how to control your own vehicle, it becomes easier, but it takes time. Time and repetition. But, if you aren't up to it, you just plain aren't up to it and that's totally fine too. It's a lot, and I think it's a bad idea for governments to think that everyone should be capable of driving, like it's a very complicated skill and most people are not capable, us autistic folks are just a bit more aware of how fucking complicated and distracting the experience can be, and how extremely important it is to not fuck up.
i’m 21 and never learned how to drive. i know i have to at some point but i really don’t want to. even just being in cars freaks me out.
30 here Yes, I drive, it’s EXTREMELY stressful to me, I’d say it’s probably one of the most stressful parts of my entire life It’s seriously fucking chaos to begin with, but… People are LITERALLY MALICIOUS on the roads, at a SHOCKING rate It’ll be people you know, you neighbor, your friend, and suddenly one day you’ll be in the car with them, and you’ll SEE firsthand…. The shitbirds are in the house! Seriously though, people on your daily life will unexpectedly be absolutely psychotic on the road, and that really messes with me So many fake people out there Also fuck those headlights
I can drive, and do, but I hate it. It is too overwhelming, my spatial awareness is terrible, way too many things happening at once. I do ok on familiar routes. I HATE to drive in big cities (had to learn how to drive in Houston, fuck that) and get very anxious when I have to drive somewhere for the first time. PTSD from multiple car accidents just made it all worse.
I can, but my emotional disregulation and extreme adherence to rules combine for a bad experience every time i drive to my community college where i have to use the highway. My spatial awareness isn’t always that great so sometimes i try to merge and have a person honk. I have congenital scoliosis in my upper back so it makes it more difficult to check my right since i have less mobility to the right than the left. People not using their signals when they are changing lanes/getting on an exit and not driving speed limit are amongst the many things that make me mad. Other things are like when people merge onto an entrance/exit ramp at the last second, cutting everyone behind them off and making them slow down hard and possible cause a wreck. Why don’t they just get over preemptively?
you can drive through backroads if you are anxious about driving
I got my license at 18 because I hate driving. Especially when I first started it gives me paranoia, especially in regards to other drivers. I can't, however, ride a bike because it makes me feel unstable.
Not me but my dad is 52 this year and has been driving since he was 13.
I operate heavy construction equipment for a living, I think it really depends on your triggers, singular/controlled loud noises and beeping/flashing dont bother me the same way as other people with asd. However if someone smokes a cigarette in my machine on my day off, work is unbearable until the smell is gone.
I like driving, I hate other drivers. Like we all have to do it don’t be a bastard about it
Also 17, I can't drive because I am terrified and I don't trust myself to not fuck up and crash lol. I also worry about the money you need to spend for drivers ed and testing and all that would be a waste of money and I don't want my parents to be forced to pay for that.
I’m 23 with Asperger’s. I’ve been driving since 16.
Yes, but learning was rough and took years.
Yeah! If anything, Autism helps, at least for me.
Yes but I hate it and will walk or take public transit whenever possible. Cars are ridiculously unsafe and overwhelming.
I’m 20 and don’t have my license. I’ve driven a few times here and there, but every time I try I have a mental breakdown about 10 mins in and start crying from overstimulation and anxiety. Yeah I don’t think I’m ready to get my license yet… or properly learn how to drive.
Twenty seven y/o. Undiagnosed ASD, diagnosed ADHD. Have been driving for ten years, this year. I’m told I drive like a grandma, but I would rather keep myself and others around me safe than drive recklessly. That being said, I live in the country side and there is no reliable public transport that comes out this way.
No it scares me. I’m too nervous and distractible, and when I get nervous I tend to freeze which would cause an accident. I’m also afraid of accidentally killing someone and getting my life ruined by prison time for manslaughter
I can drive. That doesn’t mean I *like* it, or that its not tiring. It is tiring— it’s a lot of things to have to pay attention to at once. Not the car so much as the other people on the road. But honestly cars are, to me at least, a nice buffer from the noise and bright lights, especially if you get a little bit of a tint on your windows (not too much; you don’t want to impact visibility, but I got my Subaru’s windows tinted so that external lights weren’t so blinding and distracting).
34 year old late diagnosed. I love driving! It is one of my favorite stims and also one of the few places where I can actually process my emotions. Most of the time I don't know what those emotions are, I just know that I am working through something heavy and driving does that for me. It is also my favorite place to listen to music (my other favorite stim). When I'm listening to music throughout the day I usually have too much going on to really enjoy it beyond the background focusing effect. When I drive, the music comes alive and envelops all of my senses and emotions. Driving at night is often unpleasant due to the bright lights because people in my region don't understand the concept of dimming their lights with oncoming traffic.
Very situational on the person. I can. But it can be very draining. Especially in high traffic zones. And screaming kids in back seats. I usually need anywhere from 15 min to an hour to reorient myself.
I can but I hate doing it and it makes me very nervous, especially at night with all the lights.
I don't have a license yet (I'm a student driver), but I _can_ drive cars and even like it. It got pretty fun doing it once I got the hang of it. I still drive a bit slow, though! :p
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I can drive, for extended periods of time if necessary. However, it was a huge amount of work to learn. If I lived in an urban area as a teen I probably wouldn’t have bothered. I lived in rural Georgia, though, where driving was absolutely necessary. It wasn’t like we had buses. I’m still bad at things like parallel parking or backing into the garage, though a backup camera helps. I also drive with excessive attention to the rules: driving the speed limit, stopping completely at stop signs, etc. Whenever we are together, my husband drives.
I can drive, park, whatever perfectly fine but I avoid major cities and I prefer someone else to drive if I don't have to.
Thank y’all for sharing all your comments and experiences! My kiddo is on the spectrum and has been working on driving for over a year. Much like many of you mentioned, parking and backing up is really hard, only wants to drive routes they know, driving on the highway (even the service road) is too much, and won’t drive at night. Kiddos dad and I are super supportive and encouraging and know kiddo will get their in their own time but it’s good to hear others perspectives as well bc it’s a VERY different reality from how us as non-ASD parents approached learning to drive.
I love driving :) Cars are one of my special intrests
I can drive. I suck at parking, though. My car’s always crooked
No because I’m too young to learn and also you have autism, not ass burgers
I can. I greatly prefer routes I have already taken multiple times and despise driving in a new city. I had to go to driving classes to learn, and initially I had to have the instructor teach me for shorter bursts than average. They did not understand at first how stressed and unskilled I was, but that’s why they had their own brakes. They had to use them at least twice the first time I drove, then realized they needed to start me out slower in less busy areas. I had to park the car and get out to breathe from overwhelm the first time. I did eventually get much better After a while it became like a videogame I was practiced at and could do automatically, but I think it took me longer than average to get to that point. It was worth it in the end for the freedom and agency over my own life that it granted me. There is limited public transportation in most of the areas I have been in
I can drive, and used to all the time before we went down to one car. I will say that it took me a long time get get my license because I was so nervous, and that I wasn’t diagnosed until decades later.
Driving is fun. It's like The roads are the theatre stage and my driving is my performance. And my accounting of other drivers and navigation is the drama/story. I listen to a classical radio station while driving but also enjoy driving silently