Driving and Autism

I was terrified when I learnt to drive. The second lesson was on the south circular in London, one of the busiest roads.

I passed first time. I had memorised the highway code, had been reading it for over 10 years, plus I read an advanced driving book.

I was scared of having an accident at first, or holding people up, or getting on the way, etc. but it passed.

I became over-confident I think and wrote off a car after about 7 years of driving (only accident Ive had in over half a million miles, and I have driven in multiple countries). I had another car I had to go and get so was driving a couple of hours later. If not for this I would have struggled to do it again. I agonised about it for months afterwards.

Every near miss I have ever had I replay to see what I did wrong and how to avoid it in future.

I would suggest you just ask him to slow down, to remember there are others in the car and that he does not need to feel pressured by others. There is nothing to prove. I bought into the racing about thing as I falsely believed the image that it was what you did to be cool and prove you were competent. I stopped that 

I have had advanced lessons, including on track, and have driven at up to 180 at Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Nurburgring at a pretty fair pace. Driving on track can slow you down on the road.

So autism is not a block to driving well. But I do not have dyspraxia. Indeed I used to be able walk on stilts and I can still juggle.

I was terrified when I learnt to drive. The second lesson was on the south circular in London, one of the busiest roads.

I passed first time. I had memorised the highway code, had been reading it for over 10 years, plus I read an advanced driving book.

I was scared of having an accident at first, or holding people up, or getting on the way, etc. but it passed.

I became over-confident I think and wrote off a car after about 7 years of driving (only accident Ive had in over half a million miles, and I have driven in multiple countries). I had another car I had to go and get so was driving a couple of hours later. If not for this I would have struggled to do it again. I agonised about it for months afterwards.

Every near miss I have ever had I replay to see what I did wrong and how to avoid it in future.

I would suggest you just ask him to slow down, to remember there are others in the car and that he does not need to feel pressured by others. There is nothing to prove. I bought into the racing about thing as I falsely believed the image that it was what you did to be cool and prove you were competent. I stopped that 

I have had advanced lessons, including on track, and have driven at up to 180 at Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Nurburgring at a pretty fair pace. Driving on track can slow you down on the road.

So autism is not a block to driving well. But I do not have dyspraxia. Indeed I used to be able walk on stilts and I can still juggle.

Thankyou that's really helpful

I have no idea how some people can manage to navigate their difficulties with driving. For me it feels entirely unnatural and forced, I am quite comfortable driving routes I know  and do regularly when I feel like it but when I have to make the effort for others it really unsettles me afterwards. I have a lot of driving anxiety that doesn’t improve to a normal regulated level no matter how much experience I have. There’s also a lot of drivers who have no patience and believe themselves to be more important than yourself being on the road. Honking their horns or giving you a look because you were just 1 second too slow to move at the lights! There’s also manners to consider, giving waves when someone lets you out or they will wish you dead basically. It’s a nightmare for some and I entirely empathise with anyone who struggles, I really do.

Stuart333 said:

I became over-confident I think and wrote off a car after about 7 years of driving (only accident Ive had in over half a million miles, and I have driven in multiple countries).

That reminded me of someone I used to work with who once declared, "I'm a good driver. I only have a serious accident about once every two years." This was after she'd written off yet another car. At least you learned your lesson the first time.

Nordschleife?