Driving Aspies/Others on Spectrum

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Lately, I noticed that when I hear about adult aspies/other ASDs, they often mention the person cannot drive. I know of other Aspies that cannot drive, despite being of legal age to do so. I'm an Aspie and I drive, although I don't enjoy it. I'm curious, are there any other Aspies/other ASDs around here that can drive and actually have their license? I'm a young adult female and I was driving since I was 15 (when driving class started) and I had my permit from 15 until almost 18 when I got my actual licence. I've had my actual licence since. I was always rather resistent to driving and my parents tried to deal with it by not pushing me to get my license right away. My driving is pretty good, I haven't gotten into any accidents (although I accidently bumped into stuff only three times and it didn't even do major damage). I am a bit spacy and I sometimes space out a bit in the car, but I try to keep my mind on the road. I've had some near disaster incidences, but somehow managed to prevent crashing. I've driven for a few years, but I still don't like it much and I do try to get out of driving when I can, but I can at least do it without getting as stressed as I used to. Does anyone else here on the spectrum drive and if so, how well do you drive? Did you get your license at legal age or was it later in adulthood?

I drive and I love it. I started a year later than I could have and didn't take drivers ed. So I was able to drive alone to work at 17, and without restrictions at 18. It took me a while to get the hang of driving but now I commute an hour a day to school so its pretty much second nature. I find it helpful to blast music really load, its not really safe because I can't hear a horn or siren, but I'm a lot more focused because all I can hear is the music and no other distractions. I never got into an accident or ever came close and I don't really worry about it.

I've got two Aspie sons. I don't think the eldest will be able to drive. His sensory issues are very visual and very extreme. He has a lot of phobias and mood things going on and might freak out and run off the road. He agrees. If those symptoms were to improve perhaps he'd want to drive, but lately he's just getting worse.

His next younger brother is also an Aspie, but his sensory issues are different. I won't say milder, just different. I can't see that they would ever keep him from driving. He probably won't be one to speed as he tends to be anxious and overly safety conscious. I think he will be an excellent driver.

Little guy is a madman (said with a grin, he's really funny). Heaven help us all when he gets behind the wheel. Hopefully that won't seem so bizarre by the time he's driving age.

Heheh. I kinda wish they'd hurry up and make self-driving cars so we won't have to!
I'm also curious about some of the aspies/Other ASDs who don't drive. Would it have more to do with sensory issues or stress issues or both? Do you think it would be possible to create special driving classes for aspies/other ASDs like, slower process to give time to get the hang of stuff or structured and controlled environments to practice driving in? Would time to simply get used to driving help at all? I think my main issue with driving was stress. A car is dangerous and one wrong move can forever alter your life and others' lives. I often got stressed when driving like when something unexpected happened. I know full well I have a delayed reaction time and slow reflexes and I know that I can be pretty spacy so I have to concentrate really hard on the road so I don't run into something. All that was reason enough for me to believe that I could be a danger on the road and shouldn't drive, but of course, being in USA, driving is more or less a necessity so not driving was kind of out of the question to my parents. They did let me take my time getting my license though.

I've been driving since I was 22. Although I had to take the road test 4 times, lol.

I got my license a few years after everyone else did, after taking the road test 3x. I never wanted to drive, but my parents wanted me to be independent. I couldn't explain to anyone properly that I didn't "see" the road correctly and didn't really understand it myself. I got into a head on collision and was pretty much done with it after that. Unfortunately, I've had to drive out of necessity at times. It's very stressful trying to understand what I'm seeing and control the car at the same time. And I get freaked out by the other cars.

I live in a city now and no longer drive at all. I really don't belong on the road.

I've been driving an suv for 3 years now and I love it too. Driving just came naturally as I spent my entire life memorizing how my parents drive.
Next up, motorcycle license.

Agreed. I've often questioned my place on the road myself. I sometimes wonder if I have depth perception issues or something. I noticed that when I see a car in the distance, I sometimes can't tell if it's moving or not until it suddenly gets bigger. And with delayed reaction time and slow reflexes, that makes it harder to avoid accidents.
I never actually took a driving test. I only took the written test to get my permit when I was 15 and then I completed the required driving hours requirements. I had my permit until I was 17 when it expired so I got it renewed and found out later it was actually a provisional driver's licence and my parents wanted me to get my licence since the insurance went up and they wanted me to actually be driving since that's how it was counted on the insurance. I got my actual licence when I was almost 18. I didn't have to take any test at all when I got it. I just posed for my picture and that's it. I am curious what my score would be if someone tested me though.

I'm a classic autie, and I also drive.

ADHD. Had a couple minor accidents, but I SWEAR I've learned something from each incident.

I agree with whoever said the loud music helps rather than harms. (Though the two at-fault accidents were caused by fiddling with the radio while stopping.)

I know a guy who is HFA...as in more on the classic autie side, and he drives...I really did try to learn to drive and it was not pretty...I have sensory and depth perception issues when in cars...I can;t even stand being a passenger...people who drive me around hate it because I scream all the time..

Most people I know tell me I drive like a maniac. I laugh and argue that my driving skills are superb.

Maniac here too! I did really well on the written test in high school. In 2007 I drove an ammonia fueled truck from Michigan to California.

I'd venture to say this would make some passengers scream!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsugVB9R9l4[/youtube]

Got the license at the legal age of 16, and there were no restrictions for the first year or two, like states are doing to kids now. I feel bad for them. I'm 44 now (I have one car and two motorcycles, all manual transmission).

I will sometimes visualize the parts moving under the hood (yes, I'm a guy and a "gear head").

Sure, sometimes I have much stress in heavy traffic. And sometimes I fail to turn where I need to turn, because of poor concentration, so I drive up to the next street and turn around. But I just try to only concentrate on driving and being safe. As long as you obey the speed limits, and you are extra careful in the rain, with today's cars you have lots of traction and stopping power to avoid accidents.

i drive (probably not all that well.) learning was horrible. much screaming on the part of a parent. not fun.