Driving and Asperger's

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My Aspie guy is ready to learn to drive. He is studying for the written test now. Considering I will be teaching him to drive in my car and will allow him to use my car for the actual road test, can you share some insights as to how learning to drive then taking the test was for you? How's driving on a routine basis for you? Thanks.

I learned how to drive from a national driving school and the driving instructor took me for the test and instead of a driving examiner I had a real state trooper administer my test and it was a much better experience in real world driving-it just took me longer afterward to drive every day and get any practice until I got my own car.

My parents suggested that I take drivers education via an external agency, but I don't do well trying to concentrate on something and take outside direction. The fact that I learned to drive in the safety of my crescent/neighbourhood from someone that I already knew and trusted was immensely satisfying. One thing I did have an issue with was learning to drive using a clutch, because my dad was constantly stressing me out about it, so I had a different friend sit me down on the couch (who actually street races with his standard) and explain the concept of starting the car and shifting using fake pedals so that I could see his feet and copy with my own. I think the fact that you want to teach him is extremely commendable because a lot of people these days don't have the patience to teach someone to drive.

Also the fact that I learned and was able to learn in and take the test all in the same car was relaxing because by the time it came time to take the actual road exam I had established a haven where I felt safe and I knew throughly. The first time I took the test my parents insisted that I used the car that the registry lent out to people taking the exam and I failed disastourously because I didn't know the length of the car or where the hazard lights were and whatnot. The second time I took the test in my own car and I passed with flying colours, so if he eventually has the option to do that, I highly suggest doing so. I still don't feel comfortable driving other peoples cars until after I've driven them a couple of times.

I didn't have as much of a problem learning to drive as most Aspies! I do, however, get nervous when other cars are tailgating me (I tend to wonder if they're aware I'm going slower in front of them) and I tend to look at the speedometer too much (as they say, you'll know exactly how fast you're going when you run smack into a tree!) I also have a lead foot that I think I inherited from my father, and the speed limit (or even 9 mph over like I frequently go, any faster feels like the risk of getting stopped by the police takes off) often feels slow to me, opening me up to distracted or even drowsy driving! I think most speed limits need to be raised, some significantly.

With my new car with its gas mileage indicator, I've taken to coasting towards red lights (or even green lights that I'm almost certain won't stay green) while other drivers seem to want to rush up to red lights! I can get frustrated when other drivers are behind me and I feel forced to waste fuel just to keep traffic moving!

For my first driving lesson, my dad explained the clutch, brakes, shifter, and gas pedal, put me behind the wheel of the pickup, my younger brother in the passenger seat, and he climbed in the back and told me to go.

My younger brother was green with envy.