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Driving Test.

Roy

Hi, my youngest son keeps taking driving tests and not passing, we are 99% sure  he has ADHD, he was expelled from school when 13, the school couldn’t handle his outbursts. He drives very well, when at the test his anxiety goes off the scale, he sits in the car shaking, I’ve tried everything I can think of, I even took him to a test centre on a country route. Unfortunately his theory test has now expired so we are now on test 3 of that. He really needs to drive, he is now 21 and can progress at work a lot with a license. There is a box on the application for special requirements, unfortunately he is not officially diagnosed.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Parents

  • Hi Roy, I have been an Approved Driving Instructor for nearly 18 years, Grade ‘A’ and can empathise with your boy’s situation. 

    If there is such a thing in your area look for an ADI who specialises in neurodiversity training as there are coaches who do this. They can ask specific questions that can allow their candidates to open up about how they feel about driving, what they’re thinking of at the moment they spot a hazard, how to deal with road signs when they see them, etc.

    Changing DTCs (Driving Test Centres) will not make any difference as reading the road appropriately will be as much of a challenge in a local area as opposed to a new area.  You just never know what some people will do on your own doorstep. 

    Changing ADIs, however, to one who has the skills to manage your son’s abilities and expectations is definitely a positive step. 

    Good luck Fingers crossed 

  • in reply to RJW

    Sorry for not getting back to you sooner,  I didn’t know there are instructors that specialise in neurodiversity training. I’m going to have a Google now and see what I can find. I’ve noticed that if I give him an instruction, he takes no notice, if I give the instruction too early, it’s gone from his head or too late and he doesn’t process it in time. End result is then anger or anxiety.  His boss has offered to pay for an intensive course, I just don’t think he would process it all. I was a coach driver for 30 years, my road knowledge and driving skills are good, with me being autistic, I struggle to relay it to him.

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  • in reply to RJW

    Sorry for not getting back to you sooner,  I didn’t know there are instructors that specialise in neurodiversity training. I’m going to have a Google now and see what I can find. I’ve noticed that if I give him an instruction, he takes no notice, if I give the instruction too early, it’s gone from his head or too late and he doesn’t process it in time. End result is then anger or anxiety.  His boss has offered to pay for an intensive course, I just don’t think he would process it all. I was a coach driver for 30 years, my road knowledge and driving skills are good, with me being autistic, I struggle to relay it to him.

Children
  • in reply to Autonomistic
    Autonomistic said:
     The physical coordination needed to drive and change gears etc is extremely challenging at first, especially with dyspraxia. At least the last one does get easier with practice and experience.

    Totally agree with this - repetition builds the neural pathways in the brain to turn actions into habits.

    I've taught a few family members to drive and my brother in law was the most difficult - teenage boy with ADHD etc and he was very capable but had trouble learing the things to look out for.

    I used a technique where I kept a wooden ruler in my hand and after I had seen something ahead that could be a risk I would wait a second or two and if he didn't tell me that he spotted a risk (I just got him to say "car, bike, person, dog etc for quickness) then I would give him a modest whack on the leg.

    It was just enough to make him wince and to avoid it he soon became much better at scanning for threats - at least until he passed his test and I let him break the ruler.

    Sometimes we need to think differently when the people we work with are different.

    Such abuse may not be acceptable these days mind you...

  • in reply to Roy

    Can you take him out for driving practice without giving him any instructions at all? Presumably if he is at test stage he already knows what to do. Unless he's about to cause a pile up say nothing at all. If he could get comfortable driving without any verbal distractions it might help. 

    It took me 8 attempts over several years before I finally passed my test. Like your son I needed to drive for work and that pressure just added to the anxiety. I got there in the end so I would say keep going.

    There are so many challenges with driving in addition to the debilitating anxiety. Processing verbal instructions is very difficult and there can be too much information at once from signs etc. The physical coordination needed to drive and change gears etc is extremely challenging at first, especially with dyspraxia. At least the last one does get easier with practice and experience.