I've decided it's probably best if I never drive

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@ LtlPinkCoupe,
I totally get your issues - I had to learn how to drive for almost a decade for similar reasons - anxiety, anger and generalised crappiness at multitasking. That and I didn't really need to drive as I was living in a busy town with lots of public transport.

But then I had to move to a place without public transport and which was regularly below freezing, so it was imperative that I learn how to drive to get to work. And you know what? It happened. After years and years of learning I was finally able to turn driving into more of a subconscious thing and that took a lot of pressure off. Then I was able to work on improving my anger and came up with strategies that work really well for me (e.g. listening to audiobooks).

Did this all come easy? No way. And there were a lot of times when I gave up and decided it was never going to happen. But driving (as my brother kept reminding me) is a life skill. It's not necessary to live per se, but it sure gives you a lot of options regarding your career, hobbies, and area of residence. For example, I missed out on a job I really wanted just because I didn't have my licence.

Sure, I know a few people who live quite happily without driving, but like I say, it's all about options. You're only 20, so maybe leave it for a bit and come back to it later. I wouldn't completely close the door on it just yet.

Driving can be difficult. If you give it a great deal of practice with someone you are comfortable with, it is likely that you will get better. I would not recommend a Smart car. They are terrible and overpriced cars in my opinion, but a small underpowered car will certainly not help your situation and will likely make it worse. I find that blind spot mirrors and adjusting your side mirros so that they just overlap your rearview mirror helps significantly. I also find the advice at http://www.drivingfast.net/ and http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Race_driving_guide is very helpful. A great deal of what they teach you in Drivers Ed and in your 6 hour lesson is incorrect and could lead to your anxiety while driving. I personally don't think that someone with AS should be learning in an actual car. I believe it would be beneficial to start on a video game with a steering wheel, progress to lessons on a closed course and then into more and more advanced situations on the road as they become acclimated with the process of driving and confident in their abilities.

I never had any kind of drivers ed or lessons and I don't have anyone to teach me. My mother doesn't drive either.

When I think about it that smart car would probably be really bad on the snow and ice in winter. I live in NY.

In a way I think a smaller car would be easier. I'd have a better view and be less likely to hit things. I also don't want to drive on highways or anywhere where I'd have to drive fast.

I had a Mazda Protege. It was a good car. I put almost a quarter of a million miles on it before I let it go. The body was rusting out and it was beyond repair. It was a very dependable car.

I love to drive. It gives me great freedom. I have probably driven over a million miles in my lifetime. Cars and anger don't mix. Several years ago, I was on a bus driving down the freeway in Los Angles. The window on the bus was elevated so I could see inside cars. It was interesting to see people drive. Only around 10 percent had both hands on the steering wheel. Some were smoking and driving. Others were eating or putting on makeup. One person was driving down the crowded freeway at 70 mph with no hands on the steering wheel. Just relaxing. One couple was making out while driving. Anyways people drive very dangeously. Back then there were no cell phones. Nowadays over 30% of the people drive talking with a cell phone in their hands. It is a wonder that there are not more accidents.

Anyways if you decide to someday drive, let me give you some hints. Rule number 1 - ALWAYS allow one car length distance between you and the car in front of you for every 10 mph you are traveling. If you are going 60 mph that is 6 car lengths. This is a cardinal rule because you need that distance as reaction time to come to a complete stop or maneuver out of the way of an accident. Now I know that can be hard to do because many people will cut in front of you. But it is a good rule. You are only responsible for your driving; not the driving of everyone else on the road. Rule number 2 - no distractions. Do not hold a conversation with someone else in the car. Do not talk on a cell phone. Rule number 3 - drive defensively. Periodically scan 360 degrees around your car. Look for potential accidents in the making. And avoid them. Rule number 4 - Both hands on the steering wheel.

necrobump - OP was in 2012. Might not even be relevant to that poster any more.

For me, this is more likely to happen if I pick up a link from "Similar Topics" at the bottom of the page, when in a different thread that IS current.

It's rare, yes....

But I have seen instances where an OP has responded to an over 10-year-old thread.

I feel "necrobumping" is useless in most cases----but I've also seen nice discussions arise from necrobumping.

I don't decry the practice of necrobumping---but I find that it's usually useless.

I agree that some good discussions can arise, when the topic is general in nature.

In this case, jimmy m was addressing the OP directly, who had not visited WP since 2016. So a waste of his time, and a waste of time of others who may do the same.

Not meant as a criticism, jimmy m!

When I first started off, my instructor said I was so horrible at driving that I could never do it. I didn't actually get my license until after college. Now I am a good driver with an excellent driving record and not a single accident. Just took me longer than most people.

I did get my license at age 17 but was not really good at it due to what I now realize are autism related issues. After bieng away at college 4 years whatever skills I had regressed. Sometime shortly after that I decided at great inconvenience to myself ever since to give it up. The ability to drive well enough to pass a 40 minute test does not neccessarly mean you are not a danger to yourself or others if you get behind the wheel.

Off Topic: Necrobumping is allowed on WP. Sometimes a necrobumped thread is useful, a lot if not most of time it is a frustrating waste of time involving replying to a person who has not posted in years. I think sometimes, maybe more then sometimes a thread is necrobumped for trolling purposes.

If you want to avoid accidently necrobumping threads yourself look at the date on top of the most recent post in that thread.

If you want to mimimize wasting time answering long gone users look at the date at the top of the last several posts in that thread. I have seen over a page of replies to users who long ago moved on.