Driving When You Are an Anxious Person
tional situations must be considered before getting behind the wheel .
There are many drivers out there who do not have an autistic diagnosis but do have problems in these social areas , and sometimes , no matter how much you prepare , you just don ’ t know how you will react until you are in the situation . It is for this reason that every new driver should practice , practice , practice so that the physical act of driving comes so naturally that any additional energy can be used to deal with the unknowns .
While we have pointed out many critical skills to consider , it is always important to remember that no two individuals are alike and that there is no set rule to determine when someone is ready to drive , regardless of autism-related challenges . Just because a person may not have the desire or ability to drive now , doesn ’ t mean he won ’ t in the future .
Driving When You Are an Anxious Person
“ For years , there have been conflicting motivations in my mind for wanting to get a driver ’ s license . Of course , I ’ ve wanted to be able to drive myself anywhere , but I ’ ve also pressured myself because I thought I was supposed to , or should , get a license just like most people my age . However , driving has always been difficult for me with the anxiety I felt from urging myself to get a license as well as the anxiety I feel in simply getting behind the wheel of a car . At first , driving was an amazing new experience , but that changed when I moved into more populous areas . I tend to tense up whenever I ’ m driving ; therefore , my reaction time isn ’ t very fast . The unpredictability of drivers ( especially in Virginia ), coupled with my Asperger ’ s- induced anxiety , makes me very nervous in heavy traffic , and I feel unsure of my abilities . Therefore , even though I ’ ve driven for at least four years with a permit , I ’ m still getting used to driving . I ’ ve been waiting to retake my driver ’ s test since I ’ ve passed the written exam , but fear of failing , like I did on my first test due to simply not stopping all the way at a stop sign , has partially prevented me from taking the test again . However , with assurance that the test won ’ t be as difficult as I ’ ve imagined it to be ( I often imagine things as worse than they really are ), I plan to take it again soon .”
:: Thomas Wiese , autistic self-advocate
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