Do you drive?

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I do not drive. I will never drive. It is not safe for me to drive. It will not be safe for me to drive.

My boyfriend is learning to drive currently. He's 26. It wasn't safe for him to learn to drive at 16. He can learn to drive now though. He's however only learning how to drive standards (stick shift). He specifically is driving standards.

I don't drive because my sensory issues are too severe and I disassociate and can't see from bright lights like headlights and can't predict when sensory overload that completely shuts me down will set in. I describe it as less safe than someone with uncontrolled narcolepsy driving.

He couldn't drive because of hyperfocusing and jumping thoughts to what was randomly interesting in his head too much. At this point in time he has enough control over that to make it safe. He no longer walks into walls because he stopped paying attention to where he was like he did when he was 16. However making him pay the extra attention to shifting gears is an extra safety measure, and makes it more interesting to operate the car, for someone like him.

I'm 30 and people are often very surprised to find out I cannot drive - I often joke that yes, I can drive ...I understand the principle, just happen not to be qualified. In reality I have started and stopped lessons at various times since 17 and have alway hit an impass around the same problems: taking in what I'm being toll while also trying to concerntrate on driving, judging speed, position and distance and using that judgement to make quick and correct descions, taking instructions far too literally (eg. 'so, you mean the inside lane is the one on the outside of the dual carriageway? Yeah, I'm going to have trouble with that...').

The frustrating thing was that I totally understood the technical aspects - its just been putting it all together in real-time I found hard. I gave up for good after the last instructor totally destroyed my confidence with getting very angry with me while I'm driving and with comments about never having had to deal with a learner 'like me' in his career. Some of this makes a lot more sense in light of AS but I still can't imagine wanting to take car lessons again - just too stressfull.

These days I ride a bicycle to work as this is cheaper than public transport and also helps to get me fit. At school I was the only kid in the year to fail the Cycling Proficiency test but practice over the years has improved my abilities and the slower speed, smaller size and better manoeuvrability reduce the issues I have driving a car. I want to get a motorbike but cannot decide if that is a silly idea or not.

Not yet, because I'm 15 . I do think I'll try to learn when I'm old enough to get on the road though.

I think that if I lived somewhere that automatics were the norm, I might have been a driver. I struggle with the gears an awful lot. But, learning to drive an automatic is just not the done thing here and most cars are manual.

No i don't drive and i have no plans to drive at all.

gears are tricky but after you get 10+ hours you will master them. the tricky part is starting on a steep hill at light in heavy traffic with a bad clutch.

I love driving actually. Even if when I first started I was afraid of getting on the freeway because I nearly got hit by a cement truck on the freeway while I was first learning, I eventually got over that. I don't like having passengers though, I feel awkward driving with other people in the car. Also I don't see the point to continue making manual transmission cars. I can understand manuals in the racing industry, since from what I understand you can accelerate to top speed faster with proper timing of shifting gears as opposed to an automatic. But outside of that, I see no reason to make manual consumer vehicles.

Also, have any of you ever looked at the faces of other drivers while you are out, either driving or as a passenger? When there is multiple people in a car often I see people having conversations or doing something at least, but solo drivers, the overwhelming vast majority of people look either completely bored or pissed off all the time. No one I see ever looks happy while they are driving, and it makes me wonder what they think when they see me, I am usually singing along to whatever is on the radio and rocking out and having a damn good time. The only time I feel pissed and impatient while driving is if I am running late for something, and I typically leave early for things so that's rare.

Also I find being in a car as a passenger to be relaxing, and often fall asleep. If someone could somehow invent a bed that simulated the feeling of constantly being in motion like when you are in a moving car, I think I would get some fantastic sleep every night.

I'm kinda like eelektrik. I'm pretty confident driving alone. When I have passengers though, my anxiety goes up sharply as if I feel overly responsible for the other person (s) in the car. I start driving slower and a bit too careful and they start wondering why I'm driving like an old grandmother. It was worse when it was a work vehicle. I was always worried that I would embarrass myself in front of my peers by making a goofy or accidentally unsafe driving maneuver.

The only people qualified to say you shouldn't be permitted to drive are your instructor and the person who conducts your driving test at the registry office. If you can demonstrate to them you can drive safely, then you shall be given a license to do so. No other person`s opinion matters.

So do your best and see how it goes. If you can do it, you should do it. Speaking for myself, driving is very important to me. I need that utility and autonomy that having a motor vehicle provides.

I'd disagree and say that doctors should also be allowed to have a say. Medical conditions can interfere with safely driving. Doctors are those who can truly know how medical conditions can interfere.

Most adults in my life say I should drive. I know I'd not be safe. I refuse to drive. I will not do something that unsafe.

Yes I drive. In fact I had an incident yesterday trying to leave the house. We live in apartments so there is a parking lot and this guy was sitting in his car behind me parked parallel with some girls standing there talking. Me being me I didn't say anything and just sat there and waited for like five minutes before calling the house phone with the cell phone to have my bf come out there and tell them to move. Apparently they thought there was enough distance for me to back out without chance of collision but I'm cautious and I'd rather the guy just move then to risk the drama of hitting someones car. Plus I have a horrible time turning my head to look backwards.

Also is a bad judgement of distance, especially from a backward angle common of ASD? If it is someone let me know because this was also the issue.

One of the girls then went on to scream "He can't drive?!" Now being that I hold so much inside of me rather than outwardly expressing it due to my anxieties I backed out once the guy moved his car and once I was straightened out I burned rubber on the car and the two girls screamed at me the whole way till I couldn't hear them anymore. Is this also a common ASD reaction to such a situation? If someone could respond, not to take over the OP's thread but please an answer would be nice if one could give it. Thanks.

I think I read that difficulty judging distances, positions and speeds were common on the spectrum. I believe these spacial awareness issues link into the dyspraxia/clumsyness that is often seen. As I said earlier, I have some real trouble judging these things, expecially driving.

Thanks for the response. This further helps in my search for answers as to whether or not I have an ASD. I already fit a lot of the traits and characteristics, very many of them and have even went down the list of the qualifying criteria. I go to see my pdoc soon in an attempt to get a diagnosis. I've been seeing her for nearly two years and I know my case is complex with at least a mood disorder and mixed personality disorders as well unless the personality disorder traits I've identified with could also be found within ASD which would only make my file look better since I'd hate it to be loaded down with diagnoses but after two years, half of which was bi weekly sessions the rest of which were monthly I think it's time at least one diagnosis was made.

I just want to bring a strong case to the table for her to look at and I've been compiling a list of traits, characteristics and symptoms and I figured we would do a Q and A on it for her to get a more clearer picture of me along with everything that she already knows. She had mentioned AS at one session earlier last year but we never really pursued it. My sudden interest now is because I met an autistic girl in person this past month and conversed for an hour and normally I don't relate or get along with anyone in real life in person but with her I did and we were exactly the same in every way as we tossed symptoms back and forth. I would question her about mine and she would have the same thing. So ever since I've been kind of pursuing this and it makes so much sense to me.

I drive I have been driving for 20 years I enjoy it.

Yes, I've been driving since I was 16.

I wanted to check both "yes" and "I don't want to". I do drive and I have a good driving record but I hate it. I have to though because there really isn't any public transportation in my area.

I hate driving because I have trouble gauging distance. When trying to make a left I usually either cut it too close or wait so long people behind me start honking for me to go. Then there is the issue of sunlight because I'm sensitive to light. So I usually drive with my sunglasses on, even in cloudy weather, and sometimes I need to wear my wide-brimmed hat. The noise level is also bothersome so I either wear earplugs or turn the music up loud to drown out the road noise. Processing stuff visually is stressful too because of how much there is to pay attention to. And I can't control other drivers so if someone does something unexpected I find it very unsettling. I'm actually OK driving if I'm not overloaded or stressed out as long as traffic is not crazy.

After rereading the above paragraph I'm not sure how I manage. But I will say that if I'm going somewhere with someone else I usually let them drive. Most people who know me don't like me driving and I don't like to anyway so it works out for the best.

Strangely enough though I rather enjoy driving on the freeway when traffic is not backed up. It's rather relaxing and the vibrations from driving fast are relaxing too. If all driving were like that where I didn't have all this "speed up-slow down-stop-start" stuff and trying to dodge traffic when I have to turn I would enjoy it more.