Autism and driving

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Not sure whether or not there's a topic for this already. But over the past month and a half I have finally taking steps to learn how to drive. It seems I am capable but even though my instructor feels I'm on point my parents feel that I still don't pay attention enough. My mom did make a comparison saying that I don't pay attention to stuff around the house and said from that that I wasn't capable of driving and she didn't think I'd be able to do it. That and the fact that my parents don't really have coverage for me(since I only have a permit) is probably the reason I'm not getting much practice though sometime this month I should be able to get my license.

Anyone here able to drive or not able to? Are you capable or your parents feel you're not?

I took lessons for six months or so on a manual car (everyone drives manuals in this country, more or less), and just could not get it.

When I get a little money, I plan to resume my driving lessons, but on an automatic.

I would say that there is a big difference in paying attention to stuff around the house and driving. Good luck!

Yes, this topic has been done to death just about once a month.

First post here. Hi everyone.

I have been driving for years now & I find it calms me down, but there are a lot of crazy drivers out there. I love to drive and have no issues concentrating on it. I just try to be courteous so there aren’t any road rage incidnts! Phone is buried in a pocket, and I usually ignore it if calls on me.

I first tried standard, but could not get the hang of it either, so it has been automatic ever since.

Your instructor is the best judge of your driving abilities not your folks.

I drive but only at great cost. I'm lucky that I only have to drive mostly at night because I'm a night shift worker because there are far fewer people on the roads and a lot less to be distracted by. I can get monumentally frustrated and extremely angry at other drivers due to them not following the law or paying attention to other drivers like me.

Driving isn't something I would recommend for all Autistics even other Aspies for that matter because there are just far too many ways one can be distracted and dust get into an accident and be hurt.

The only other saving grace for you might be living in a small town and thus driving wouldn't carry so many distractions.

_________________
*** High Functioning Autism - Asperger's Syndrome ***

ADHD, OCD, and PTSD.

Keep calm and stim away.

I had my permit when I was a teenager. Seeing accidents(in person and on the news) and being involved in a couple, made me squeamish about driving. I'm also worried that I'll fixate on something along the road while I'm driving and lose concentration on the road and crash. I just did the substance abuse course and have to somehow prod my self to get down to the DMV to get my permit. One motivator for me is my parents are getting older and I'd to be able to drive them around, and so would they.

Manual transmissions are rarely available in the used market in the U.S. and new, unless a person buys a high performance sports car or certain models of pick up trucks, they're non existent. I loved driving cars with manual transmissions. I found it actually helped me to focus more on driving since I was working the machine with both arms and both legs.

Anytime I'm driving a steady speed on a highway/freeway, I always either set the cruise control at EXACTLY the speed limit, or if they're a group of speeders travelling in a pack around me, I'll reduce my speed to five MPH below the speed limit to let them all continue on in their pack. I don't "run with the pack" in my life and I don't while driving either.

Mmm well I have a bit of a complicated relationship with driving. I like driving because I like the feeling of a moving car and music, to me that’s really calming. So I can drive and have my license. I got it at 16 like normal. However I am not actually a very good driver, even worse at parking, and I get really anxious because I always feel like something terrible is about to happen because there’s just so many things that can go wrong. I don’t often drive-only when I need to-and I’m not allowed to drive very far especially on the highway. I get lost in my head a lot which is very bad behind the wheel and I’m also extremely directionally challenged.
So I hate it and love it at the same time.