Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi!
Recently I have been thinking about learning to drive but im nervous if I have a meltdown or sensory overload whilst driving.
If you are autisitic and know how to drive (a car) could you tell me a little bit about your experience on what's it like and what the pros and cons are?
Thank you!
I don't have autism, but my boyfriend does. He drives and has for many years. On top of that, he is very skillful driver who knows what he is doing.
However, here are a few ways in which his autism (high-functioning) have affected his driving:- Tiredness - he tends to get very tired from driving, depending on the journey. I think has to do with the concentration levels and sensory reasons. So beware that driving may tire you out so you might want to keep lessons and practice short if it gets too much.
- Easily angered by other drivers - it seems to me (although plenty of people have road rage, autistic or not) that he becomes more easily frustrated by other people's driving, and we're not just talking about dangerous or careless drivers, but something as simple as the driver in front going slightly slower than he'd like to go. Fortunately he is not horrible to others on the road but he is easily frustrated by others.
Having said that, I do think his autism in part has made him a good driver. He is very meticulous with how he drives and parks and is skillful at it. Don't let your autism put you off and just ensure that you go at a pace comfortable to you. And if you're not ready than don't feel like you have to continue!
Best of luck.
I find driving very tiring too - it all depends on the traffic density and distance. If I have to drive a long distance, I put the cruise on at about 64mph - fast enough to drift past the trucks but all the aggressive drivers disappear into the distance and I don't have to deal with them..