Are aspies generally bad drivers?

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I have my licence and drive but I think I shouldn't. I enjoy driving on country roads but I find sharing the road difficult and I have many near misses. My husband thinks I shouldn't drive, certainly not if I'm at all stressed (which driving makes me). I find intersections extremely difficult so I've developed routes that never require me to cross a priority road or turn right onto one (in Australia, so left side of the road).

I do as little driving as I can get away with, as I would rather not find out the limits of my driving ability.

“I’m an excellent driver.” Raymond Barrett.

Seriously, I got my license very late—but I drive pretty okay in most contexts.

I had a little trouble in Paris, though.

I'm ok at driving but I tend miss junctions, get lost and I nearly run out of fuel in the mountains last month.

I once ran out of gas right at the US/Canadian border.

I was talking to this guy about the belief in a Supreme Being who is not conscious of his/her/its Supremacy. The discussion got sort of heated. I forgot about the gas!

Luckily, we were given a half gallon of gas or so by the Border Patrol people, went back to the last US exit, and got the gas.

I can't drive large vehicles so that is why I don't drive RVs, not a bus driver or a truck driver due to poor depth perception. At least with a car, it takes less room so I don't have to do much timing and there aren't so many blind spots. I have a harder time driving at night, have a harder time with heavy traffic so I try to avoid rush hour and night time driving. I avoid downtown because of so many one way streets and bus only lanes and no right turns or left turns, etc. Just too much traffic and pedestrians and it's hard to switch lanes and easy to miss your turns. But even lot of normal people have issues driving in downtown too because they end up in bus only lanes and taking the wrong turns. So I only go down there as a pedestrian.

I take the rules very seriously and I am defensive and cautious I describe myself as for a driver. I share the road and let people in, if everyone drove like me, traffic would go smoother and there wouldn't be so many back ups during rush hour. I also don't stop when I have the right of way. I hate the courteous drivers who stop when they have the right of way just to let a car turn because they are creating a hazard on the road. All they are doing is creating a blind spot for you to see incoming traffic int he furthest lane. I also don't tail gate or engage in road rage. I don't get that angry. I am more of an avoider. I am not a perfect driver because I still make mistakes on the road. I have seen myself trying to turn only to notice a no turn sigh so I turn the blinker off or noticing I had parked in a handicapped spot because there was no sign and the paint was faded, or driving the wrong way on a parking lot because I didn't know the town well and I was trying to find my way around and watching for traffic and pedestrians I didn't see the arrows on the ground before it was to late, I have caught myself speeding so I ease off the pedal, when I catch myself tailgating, I ease off the gas pedal and I have misread other cars like I would think they were letting me into their lane because they would start honking at me once I get in after they had been leaving a large gap and I had my blinker on. But yet my driving record is clean.

I have a little trouble driving a large van.

I probably would have more trouble driving a truck.

I used to want to be a truck driver.

I am not a great driver and also I am often forced to multi-task whilst driving with kids. My youngest never stops asking questions and is interested in everything including the gear stick. "So, are you in 3rd gear now, mum? When are you going to change to 4th, have you changed yet...." You get the picture.

As my husband doesn't drive at all and we live in the countryside I am the designated driver by default. I avoid motorways. Country lanes are ok. I do end up scratching the corners of the car on hedges or stone walls when I have to reverse down very narrow lanes only wide enough for one car... However, the car-repair man I go to to fix the scratches works out of a metal shed in this remote location and has naked pin-ups all over the walls... he's nice and all... but we still have an uneasy relationship.... and I feel it is a real walk of shame for me to come there with my scratched up car....so with that in mind... I have managed to not scratch my car for a while to prevent too many repeat visits.

^^^ It seems like you've adapted really well to your driving situation.

Me?

The first time I tried to go on the motorway, I stayed on the "hard shoulder" between two junctions!

But you've adapted well, despite your perceived limitations.

Actually, once you learn how to get on the motorway, it should be easy for you.

Motorway driving, to me, is actually easier than driving on a city street.

I am better on American motorways, done Philly to Maine in one drive a few times. I get up at 4 am and go before the roads get too busy.

I just can't do "joining" motorways very well without someone who can totally assure me I am "clear" to go. I just can't trust myself to turn out into a busy road and make that split decision that I am clear to go. I find it terrifying. We take the train if we go to airports etc. as it is just more relaxing that way.

My husband passed his driving test first time however refuses to drive saying he likes to stay "on the ground" whatever that is meant to mean. We argued about it for years, then I gave up and thought he clearly doesn't want to drive.... so not worth pushing.

Last edited by elsapelsa on 22 May 2018, 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

You have to do what you feel comfortable doing.

But you've been through a lot, and have learned from what you've been through.

Well more exposure to driving on motorways might work.

I temporarily cured my fear of flying by doing a week long course flying glider planes.

So on that basis, maybe I should just spend a whole day joining motorways by myself with no distractions.

Just be careful. Don't rely on your mirrors. Look back before you change lanes.

I actually don't like flying in small planes. I refuse to go in a plane just for a tour of something.

That's the bit I hate, looking back whilst still ensuring that the person in front isn't slowing down. I just don't trust my depth perception or my notion of speed. I feel very discombobulated when trying to join.

Oh.... don't get me started on planes. I hate all of them and have a flight coming up in the next few days... But the only thing that makes it marginally better is being in the cockpit.