Source
r/ADHD•
Jasoncav82

Suggestion for ADHD Drivers:

Tips/Suggestions

I am an Adult (26M) with ADHD. I learned how to drive on a minivan when i was 16. I found driving very easy in the beginning, but I struggled with boredom and distractions on the road after I felt confident in my driving ability. I would find myself getting lost in intrusive thoughts and not paying attention.

As soon as I started driving a manual transmission car everything changed for me. I was focused on listening to the engine and shifting correctly, as well as heel toe downshifting. The sensory feedback the clutch gives me really helps me stay present on the task at hand.

If any of you are in the market for a car, I'd take a look at some manual transmission options. It completely changed driving for me and makes me feel safe knowing I won't get distracted by a road sign and rear end a car going 70mph.

Posted Feb 14, 2022, 2:56 PM UTC

3639
Lovercraft00•

Am I the only person with ADHD who's issue with driving is SHEER TERROR? I can't process all the things going on at once so I feel like I'm about to be smashed into at any given second...

26
fluffycritterADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

That generally gets better with experience, but gaining that experience can be really tough. I recommend driving with someone else who can be an extra set of eyes for you, and who can spot-check how you're doing. I found that to be helpful when I was otherwise overwhelmed with anxiety when driving for a while.

5
Lovercraft00•

I've been driving for 15 years haha... Still just as nerve wracking as when I started, I just live with the terror.

I'm usually ok on easy drives that I've done many times, but driving anywhere new or driving in busy areas (unavoidable where I live) is always nerve wracking. But thank you anyway :)

8
fluffycritterADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

Yeah I mean I've been driving for over 25 years now and I have to constantly remind myself that I have never caused an accident and that I am in control of my vehicle.

2
Lovercraft00•

haha same! I drive like a grandma. But my reactions to unexpected things are really bad.

I have however been in 3 accidents caused by other people, which did not help with the anxiety.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Jasoncav82OP•

I would get overstimulated too before i started drivinganual cars. I find driving a manual allows me to "zoom in" and dial out the outside distractions really well.

2
Lovercraft00•

Interesting! Maybe I'll try some time..

1
CottaBird•

I’ve heard of this with ADHD, but it’s one that I have never understood. I love driving, but I learned to drive on a tractor when I was eight. By the time I was getting my license, I’d been driving ranch trucks and tractors and other farm vehicles for a good six years. I think this is essentially why I don’t understand driving anxiety. I can deal with any driving situation in the western world. My wife hates driving, always has, because of the anxiety of how much is going on and how much she has to pay attention. She was just diagnosed with ADHD, so her driving feelings corroborate yours.

2
frugal-grrl•

Yes. I don’t like to drive.

2
Advanced-Cake1307•

Yes driving scares me but I forget that it scares me so I continue to drive. I hit two pedestrians in the span of a month last year. They were okay thank god.

1
SomebodyinAfricaADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive)•

Motorcycles are even more engaging, you have to pay real attention to the road surface, and slope/chamber, the drivers around you, and the feedback you're feeling through the bike, nevermind the throttle control, and having two brakes you operate independently, and how your body position influences the handling.

9
[deleted]•

I miss my bike. Thanks pal.

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SomebodyinAfricaADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive)•

Hey, me too.

2
hevaWHOADHD-C (Combined type)•

Never ridden a street-legal motorcycle (so therefore never on an actual road), but I learned how to ride a dirt bike last year for work (still learning tbh) and it’s honestly so engaging. I ride on trails and forest roads, and there’s so much going on at once that there’s zero chance of boredom/zoning out. I think activity like this, where there’s so much to process at once, is super beneficial for adhd brains. Firing on all cylinders, ya know?

Edit: hah didn’t even intend for that minor pun at the end.

2
Im_A_Salad_Man•

100% agree. I love my manual, be warned though; it's a path toward getting into cars and spending every cent you have

6
Jasoncav82OP•

Lol too late. I drive a 2015 GTI with an upgraded turbo, clutch, downpipe etc... makes around 360hp at the wheel.

5
Im_A_Salad_Man•

I've been building a K-frank engine for the past year or so. Just now finishing it, should put down about 240hp NA

^restinpeacesavings

4
Jasoncav82OP•

10k rpm or gtfo

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Im_A_Salad_Man•

😏

2
langsley757ADHD-C (Combined type)•

I just bought new headlights and a set of hellas for my car, I need an oil change.

1
fluffycritterADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

This is the main reason why I was such a holdout on manual transmissions. Having the stickshift to focus on helped me to stay focus on driving and not having a panic attack.

Car manufacturers have gotten progressively less supportive of folks who want a stickshift anymore, though, and they're totally not an option on electric vehicles (which usually don't even have a gearbox at all). I recently switched to an electric vehicle, so when I did so I made sure to get one with all the driver assistance features so that if I do lose attention I have a helpful AI looking out for me instead.

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Jasoncav82OP•

This is the thing keeping me from an ev right now. I don't like things yelling at me and driver assist features taking over control of the car. It freaks me out tbh and I tend to over-correct when I have to drive a car with tons of intrusive safety aids.

1
fluffycritterADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

Ah, yeah, I can totally see that. So far I've found Nissan ProPILOT to be at just the right balance of things, where it exists in this middle ground where it gives suggestions and enough stimulus to keep me focused without ever making me feel like I'm losing control. I don't turn on the full functionality most of the time, though, since I don't generally take longer trips on the freeway, but the little driving I've done with it has felt like a pretty good compromise for me.

The Tesla stuff, on the other hand, scares the hell out of me, especially with the number of incidents where it thinks it knows better than the driver and ends up careening into a median or worse.

1
GMRVNM•

Don't rely on that, eventually driving a manual becomes just a second nature is driving an automatic, and you go back to the way things were before. All of my cars for the past 10 years have been manuals, there's something comforting about it.

3
Jasoncav82OP•

Oh I've been driving a manual for 10 years now. I took my test in it. It was just when I learned to drive I took the minivan.

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1
ughkatchoo•

As someone from the UK, manual is the norm here. I've had both transmissions though but felt no difference in the way I drive which is literally everything at speed including acceleration. I just react quicker with my observations and gear changes 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm eyes are flipping everywhere when I drive though, I must check my mirrors more than the average person and I constantly scan across all lanes.

1
LordyVoldermorty•

listening to audiobooks on topics that interest me has saved my sanity

1
LordyVoldermorty•

or podcasts

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badboyme4u•

I learned driving when I was 14 on a vintage three on tree then a Diesel trucks. Tractors in fields to driving sports cars on Highway’s. Absolutely love driving. I used to drive in and out all the time now I just drive in the right lane and I absolutely love it. Slowly and safely.

1
DemohFoxfireADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

Similar here. Learned manual, unfortunately driving auto for my DD but drive any manual I can get my hands on. Last decade ive been exclusively diesel and I am now the slow lane guy not pushing past 65 so I only pass 1 semi to every 20 that pass me. To the point of selling all the performance stuff off my trucks and reverting to just above stock levels. (last 2 months driving a whopping 160hp 12 valve. I accelerate slower than a loaded semi.)

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But there has been a side effect. 15 years of me wanting to drive every piece of machinery and large trucks. aside from construction equipment I take driving very seriously and now driving class 7 and on my way to class 8 trucks. This year ill be driving tankers because its fun. I thoroughly enjoy trucking and I am lucky enough to have friends who have businesses who need part time drivers. I always thought I could never get my CDL because I never wanted to take a pay cut to work for a trucking company but through persistence and taking driving seriously Ive unknowingly achieved my goal (or almost.) Last year I drove 27,000 miles using 2000 gallons of diesel, and that was just my daily driver, not counting vehicles I would hop in for other trips/jobs/fun/etc...

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So maybe just a slight obsession with driving. I recently discovered american truck simulator so now im trying to rebalance my life so im not spending more time behind a logitech wheel than a real one.

2
badboyme4u•

You know what it is, as you get older you realize that you love the difference between being pleasurable driving and asshat driving. I want to take scenic routes, I want to explore remote areas and see people from different walks of life than try to get from A and B at insane amount per hour and kill innocent people on my way. It’s not worth it. I work for USPS and drive a LLV ( tin can) lol but I have been thinking about getting a CDL. The thing that’s stopping me is the anxiety of driving that huge truck and driving everyday with crazy drivers that don’t care about other people on the road.

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DemohFoxfireADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive)•

Ahh LLVs. while they get a lot of hate and I assume you dont care for them, I wouldnt mind having one. Im sure you are excited with USPS in talks for updated replacements.

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But yes, I agree. I am all about the scenic route. Case and point: I spent half of my vacation visiting a friend I havent seen in a while but was in a state that I dont regularly travel to. My method to navigate me there wasnt my typical google maps on a smart phone, instead I went back to my childhood and navigated via road atlas. I only started my GPS after I was in the downtown area of my friend's city as a US road atlas doesnt have anything but major roads, and his city was small enough to not have a blown up version of it.

Thoroughly enjoyed navigating that way and I am definitely going to make sure my kids can read a map. After all, doing hurricane recovery the only resource you have is a map.

2
badboyme4u•

No I don’t hate LLV’s, I actually enjoy them and sometimes love taking a sharp right or left turn and have a little postal drift in the rain or in winter. I absolutely hate following gps because it overwhelms you unless you are medicated or it overstimulates your mind. Would love to follow the US Atlas and find my way through major roads to a no man’s land and then into the city. Sometimes it’s great to be lost.

1
Lynntrades•

Low speed accidents are common with people with ADHD. Parking lots and residential areas. I have to have a strict no phone rule when I drive.

1
hevaWHOADHD-C (Combined type)•

Can confirm. Grew up in England, learned to drive on a manual, and even when I moved to America, I’ve always had manual cars. Only now are we actually considering getting an automatic, and it’s just because we want something for off-road adventuring in CO. But we’ll still be keeping our civic si for all that shifting fun/engagement. I’ve always been a huge advocate for the fact that manual cars keep you way more connected to the driving experience.

1
hassanselim0•

The way I drive is quite weird...

I drive while daydreaming, I'm having a dozen thoughts on my mind (my typical adhd brain), but the driving is all happening almost subconsciously, I glance at the mirrors and adjust the car without fully registering what I'm seeing and doing.

If I focus on the driving I actually drive more dangerously, as I switch lanes much more frequently and aggressively (note: I live in Cairo, lanes are quite a joke here, only a minority of people obey them). So actually playing music and singing along or even drumming on the steering wheel makes me drive safer and I'm less focused on the minutiae of driving. Now that I say it, this drumming might be a stim!

Keep in mind that I highly suspect that I have ASD alongside my ADHD, so my brain could be wired a bit differently to someone who just has ADHD.

1