Zoning out while driving

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Almost every time I drive, I end up zoning out. Its never caused an accident, but I frequently go in this mode where I am on like auto pilot and my mind is on a different planet if that makes sense? Like I said, its never caused an accident, but there have been quite a few close calls. I've heard that this is an aspergers/autistic thing and you can lose your license over it? Is this true?

Not sure about losing your license but I do this often also. I'll all of a sudden "come to" and can't remember how the hell I got this far.
I found that if I drive my car with a standard shift I do it a lot less, but if I end up on the thruway then even there all bets are off.

I've never had a close call as if something is going on my driving brain seems to step in get control back.

And I have had several Aspies mention they have the same problem

I only normally do this on long boring motorway runs. Music helps me keep my concentration but I still often end up not remembering large chunks of the drive. I always put it down to my rubbish memory.

I do this, and it scares the hell out of me. I haven't heard of anyone losing their license over it, but I have heard of people refusing to drive because they know they are prone to it. I haven't "come to", as FredOak put it , just in time to avert an accident; but it terrifies me that I have no idea what happened while I was "gone".

I have heard alot of people describe this (including neurotypical people), it is definately frightening, but quite common so I doubt you could lose your license.

I do this all the time and it freaks me out. I blame it on my poor concentration.

Yes, I do this too. It's like I go on autopilot, but I do seem to handle the driving okay in this mode, except for occasionally passing an exit, but I don't like it.

REMEMBER!! ! When missing an exit, don't freak out or try to back up. Just go down to the next exit. Yes, it's annoying, but it is easy and a lot safer than acting up in traffic, or trying to back up.

Like another poster said, I use music to help keep myself from zoning out. Sometimes I will hum along with the radio, and other times I will sing or hum along to a tune called up from memory. It does help some.

I don't get out much, so my car battery tends to drain due to lack of use. I only have a parking pad, so there is no outlet for a trickle charger and the solar charger I use is not really strong enough. A few months ago I took my car for a short drive on a nearby highway intending to go down one exit and then come home, just to help recharge the battery. I was distracted by a slow moving truck in the slow lane, and trying to decide whether to pass or not. I finally did pass it only to find I had just passed the exit. So okay, I would just go down to the next exit. I got down to #2 and found: ROAD CONSTRUCTION USE NEXT EXIT! So I had to go down to the third exit before I could turn around and come home, not for any kind of shopping trip or errand, but just to help charge up my battery. At least the scenery is nice.

Going into autopilot is fine if you're painting or dancing. I do it often when I'm in the middle of these - it's 'the zone'. Coming to and finding you've created a 'masterpiece' or you've gotten through a whole dance routine, without consciously thinking about it, is a very pleasant experience. But, I would not take the risk with a potentially dangerous pursuit like driving, hence one of the reasons I can't/won't drive.

Although I doubt this would happen to me here anyway. It's not like we have many long straight roads, where you could easily drift into your own world. I would only do long motorway journeys if I was going on holiday. But, I have many other reasons for not learning.

I did this often so I gave my car away three years ago and find that it doesn't happen when I ride motorcycles.

Mostly I am too anxious to lose focus, but on large carriageways I do go on to autopilot.

Aw, is it an AS thing???! !! ! It happens to me all right. Way too much to my liking.

It isn't even necessarily just a driving thing too. It used to happen to me at work while doing important tasks that I had done before, it happens while studying for certain classes, sitting in class during something I don't care about, reading something that I am not interested in, it happens a lot actually all the time. The one place that it really concerns me is while driving since it is such a dangerous activity.

I do this while walking. I bet I'd be dangerous behind the wheel.

NOOOOO!! !

Please. Think of the others on the road. This is not funny.

Keep your eyes on the road, and your periperal vision on the adjacent lanes and the side view mirrors. And don't let your mind wander off! You need to constantly think about where you are, where you want to be, where the other vehicles and pedestrians are, and where they might be a few seconds from now.

Do you really want to end up by the side of the road, waiting for a tow truck and cops and an ambulance, and have it all be your fault? No?

Serious advice: try a driving school. A 38yo friend of mine is doing exactly that. She voluntarily stopped driving years ago and got rid of her car because she caused so many accidents. She wants to drive again, but will go to a driving school first.