AS and driving?

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I got my license when I was 37.

I didn't get it before because

1. I live in NYC, where driving isn't necessary; and

2. I lacked a certain amount of coordination.

I felt quite liberated that I finally got my license.

There are times when I take a little longer (I mean, a little longer, like maybe a second or two) than most to make driving decisions. This could irritate some people who are in a blazing rush, and who honk immediately after a light changes.

I don't honk at other drivers unless I really need them to not drive into me. Where I live a person could get shot for honking.

I quit driving 30 years ago. I hated every minute of it, the noise, the way things suddenly loom up on the freeway,
or dart in and out (kids, animals, debris) on city streets. Remember, we are all alike in some ways, but not in all
ways, so if you can drive, great! Me, I ride the bus, take Amtrak, do lots of walking and riding my bike. It has not
stopped me from going most anywhere I want. Have traveled all over and of course do all my errands on
public transit. Best to you, Alice

Best part about driving is when you are in Germany and can do 200kph (120-125mph) on the highway without getting a ticket.

I have to admit that most of the stress I have endured while driving was in larger cities. Highway driving isn't so bad except that it bores me. I have to try so hard to focus on the road that I miss the scenery.

I prefer the bus. I feel like nobody notices me on the bus, whereas I seem to get honked at a lot in the car. I can drive, but traffic is more trouble than its worth. I also find the bus' vibration strangely satiating. Short distances can be covered by speed walking.

I've been driving since I was 8 (and not on someone's lap, solo). It helped we lived in the middle of nowhere.
As strange as it is, I actually find driving relaxing as long as I don't have to hurry to get somewhere. Best trip I ever took was by myself, spent most of the week just driving.

My mom didn't get her license until she was 34, though. It's weird, it's like she lacked coordination, although she can weave on a loom, or spin on a spinning wheel just fine. My brother has been driving just as long as I have and it took him longer to get his license. I don't think my dad had any problems.

One really has to drive or be driven where I am. The nearest convenience store is 4-5 miles away, and the nearest full grocery, pharmacy, and hardware stores are a couple of miles further. Walmart and other stores that carry clothes and other needs are still further.

The closest library is about 3.5 miles. That isn't so bad for a bike ride because one can limit the number of books and use a small backpack. But groceries and other necessities would be hard to bring on a bike that distance. I would need a cart behind me, but the steepness and length of the hills here would be pretty difficult to overcome with that much weight to pull.

We only have public transportation from one local park-n-ride location, which is 6-7 miles away. The bus only comes once in the morning, and once in the evening, if one wants to get out of town to head to the city. It's designed for people who want to commute to work, not for people who want to use public transportation as an alternative for driving 100% of the time.

I've been driving for over 40 years----having learned on relatives' farms----I LOVE to drive!! I especially like driving alone, and road trips. When I go camping, I'm in HEAVEN just driving there, as I am taking-in all the sites----fields, full of corn, barns (my FAVE [especially those old RED barns]), silos----just, all farms / farm stuff, in general.

I started licensed driving at 16 but the earliest I ever drove a car totally un-licensed was when I was 14.
I don't like big city traffic if I can avoid it which is not always possible.
I don't like to talk on the phone while I'm driving, especially in city traffic.
I don't like being in traffic and having someone in the car talking to me.
I have depth perception issues, especially while moving and with moving objects, that make some aspects of driving more difficult.

This is pure hearsay. There's no evidence that people with AS can't drive. But there are plenty of NTs who can't drive, and a lot of those who do have a licence aren't fit to be behind the wheel.

I drive too, but I absolutely hate it in some cases. If I'm driving in a tiny town, in the country, or on the highway or interstate I'm fine. Driving in larger towns and cities and on freeways is a nightmare, though; worse if it's dark outside. It's just too chaotic: too many cars, buildings, signs, traffic lights, lanes, people, etc. I get overwhelmed and it causes me to lash out. If I'm forced into these situations, for whatever reason, I have to have someone in the front seat with me to act as another set of eyes and to guide me. It's worse if it's dark outside because of the lights and reflections. And I absolutely, positively, cannot find my way to somewhere new, and I'm awful with directions. GPS is a must for me.