Aspergers and Driving

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Im a poor driver.. i struggle with my concentration I think.

I didnt really pass my driving test but it was given to me as i got so upset... (i ended up in a bawling mess after i did everything wrong, including driving up the wrong side of the road when i turned a corner and also couldnt do the parking without ending up on footpath so i ended up being told to leave it).

I had 60-80 lessons with a driving instructor, they had never had anyone need so many lessons and in the end they just didnt want to give me any more.. so told me just to try for it as it was now or never. (They said they didnt think I'd pass)

Before the driving instructor lessons, I had two others try to teach me. I had issues with driving in a straight line.. so couldnt stay in my line. It took me over a year before i could drive straight (i was still wonky on the road after i got my licence.. so did an interstate trip, trying to learn to drive straight).

Is this just me?? Im wondering how many other Aspies found they just couldnt drive in a straight line even when concentrating on doing so.

(im currently not driving thou im better nowdays).
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i also had trouble on the road with when to give way (i still do)... I can do it on paper but cant do it practically when driving!!. Hence I used to carry about with me a notebook and pen and when I had to stop the car at a give way place, I'd start drawing myself a map (like in the written driving tests).. to work out if I was meant to be giving way or the other person.

Last edited by violetchild on 17 Jul 2010, 7:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

Not fair! I also cried in front of the instructor and ran away to my dad's car. The instructor just chatted to my dad about what I'd done wrong, but wouldn't give me the license.

oh lol.. sorry to hear that.

Maybe the guy passed me as he was too scared I'd come back for another test if he didnt, and he would then have to be in the car with me again!!

I forgot to tell the part where I realised I'd turned onto the wrong side of the road and started to drive down it. At that point i paniced and suddenly SLAMMED my breaks on, screeching wheels and almostt throwing the driving test person throu the window.. i wonder if i gave him whip lash. (then reversed backwards to the spot where i'd gone wrong).

I'm not the greatest of drivers but, atleast when I was driving for currently, I'm not driving at the moment I kept my focus on what was going on around me and paying attention to everything..Well, hopefully in the future I'll drive oncemore and be able to enjoy the open road.Just hope that I don't have to deal with a bunch of druken college students though..

I learnt and passed just before I left for university. I haven't driven much since, but it's very useful to have the licence.

I've been having on and off practice since August when I finished my driving school.

I'm fine when I drive on one lane roads but anywhere with multiple lanes I freak out a little bit. On highways I'm nearly overloaded, I can barely think about where I'm trying to go or which exit to take, I have to constantly be aware of everyone around me, including all these little idiots hiding in the blindspots and which lane to stay in to get where I'm going.

Now I have to get used to driving the Crown Vic I just bought, which probably sounds like a bad idea to buy what with being big, rear wheel drive and with a V8, but I really wanted this car, it's a great car for upgrading stuff, which is my favorite thing to do and I think I could get used to it, I was doing great the 2nd time I drove it yesterday. And besides that everyone thinks you're a cop so they won't even think about touching their horn.

I have trouble driving straight on highways with lots of turning, the other cars and the nerves and the turning at the same time is probably what causes it.

Feels like it's gonna take forever for me to be able to take my test though and it's pissing me off because my friends already have theirs and I'm the only one that doesn't.

I drive much better than I walk--- I'm clumsy normally, but if you put me in a car it is as if we become one. Driving gets me out, but I still have my walls around me and it is nice.

I am a good driver however I avoid highways. Parking is tough but not impossible.

Flying is a great hobby for Aspies. It requires attention to details. And that is a matter of life and death.

ruveyn

I (used to) have a go-kart/dune buggy-type thing, and I can drive that really well, but I've only driven it in a secluded area, not public roads. I started driving that when I was like 11 or 12; it's almost the size of a small car, probably the same as a Smart Car. Driving a car, where I can't see nearly as much around me, as well as all the rules and other cars, kind of scares me, which is partly why I have never attempted to get even my learner's permit yet.

Last edited by dunbots on 19 Jan 2011, 2:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

I think that it may come down more to situation than ability. As an example, I used to have a learner's permit. I was an excellent driver. I never got pulled over.

This was a good thing, as I rarely actually drove with someone with a driver's license in the car... and I continued driving for about six months after my permit expired.

Now, though, I don't have access to a car, so I don't drive. I think I still could drive well, but what about the autistics out there that never had a chance to drive... or tried once and gave up (out of fear or perhaps other reasons)?

I don't think that it's that autistics can't drive (or are more likely to be poor drivers). I think that it's either situational or a lack of interest in it.

I voted no on account of the fact that no one has been willing to get into a car with me twice in a row, and I've never actually learned how to drive. Also, nearly causing an accident because I nearly drove into a dumpster that I didn't actually see until the last moment - my reflexes are good, so we did not crash, but the fact that I could nearly cause an accident due to not seeing a truck-sized object on an otherwise empty road didn't give me a lot of confidence.

Weirdly: I learned how to drive a stick shift on my grandfather's tractor, but I didn't think of translating that to learning stick in a car, and didn't manage to figure it out until years later.

Last edited by Verdandi on 19 Jan 2011, 5:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

I didn't vote. I'm told I am a very good driver but I hate driving so I don't do it unless I have absolutely no choice. I lost concentration once and almost ran someone over so I am totally paranoid about getting distracted and something awful happening. I think ADD is my cause for concern rather than Aspergers.

I don't really like driving all that much but I think I'm pretty good at it. I went through the learners permit and etc but I still haven't gotten my license. I'd much rather fly then drive. Its not really my skill on the road that causes me anxiety and loathing of driving but rather, the total lunacy of others on the road. I really hate the drivers in Quebec. I think they're legendary, at least in Canada, for their bad habits

I used to love driving, but not as much anymore. But, I'm a very good driver. However, in the past 40 or so days, I've been hit by a firetruck in the back of my car when it wasn't in an emergency situation, and I was side swiped by a negligent woman. Close calls...

But I still consider myself a good driver because neither accident was my fault.

I love driving. It's just good fun!
Having to focus on one activity like that stops me over-thinking everything else, and I generally feel better after a short drive.
Just after I passed my test (first time!) having the car radio on was completely distracting, passengers got ignored if they talked, and motorways were really intimidating - but I'm sure that in discovering I could maintain a focus on the essentials (ie. not crashing!) it became easier to not be so distracted by other things.
I also love driving very fast - but I only do that on isolated/empty roads.