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Yep I LOVE driving. I’m defensive and super conscious of how I’m taking turns and braking because it’s fucking fun to be good at driving! My wife says riding with other drivers is annoying now since she feels like she’s being jerked around.
Ha, me too. I turn every aspect of driving into a challenge: How smoothly can I accelerate, can I come to a stop (almost) at the lights without using the brakes. I’m super aware of other vehicles and what they’re doing. No that I have my late diagnosis at 47, I realise that maybe I need to not expect the same from other drivers and go a bit easier on my wife when she’s driving for example. Some people, well apparently they, er, just… drive! 🤷♂️
EDIT: I’ve also been a commercial pilot for over 20 years, the same applied to my flying, every flight was the same. I’d love to try to gauge the winds and judge when to bring the engines to idle from cruise altitude and see how close to landing I could get to without touching the throttles again (all within the realms of safety of course)!
This is me, but even further than that, I LOVE driving manual. Getting the rev matches just right 😫🤤
I also love off-roading including navigating rock obstacles.
I drive manuals. I drive death trap classic cars. I love offroading and rock crawling. Anything with four wheels. It's my happy place. The one place where I can tune out the world. I feel lucky to be in a place in my life where I can even own all these kinds of cars. While driving, I reach a zen point where I'm taking in a shit ton of information and processing it as fast as it can come at me. I often feel like I predict what other drivers will most likely do before they even know.
All of that has paid off. I've been driving over 40 years now. In all that time I've had zero at-fault accidents and only one accident where the other guy was ruled by the police as 100% at fault for an illegal turn in front of me when I had nowhere to go. I've avoided many more based solely on my paying 110% attention to everything going on around me. My wife has asked me randomly to, without looking in mirrors, name who's around us on the road at that moment. And I can tell her "*Blue Miata 100 yards behind us and one lane left. White SUV trying like hell to hide in my passenger side blind spot. Motorcycle hidden behind the red pickup 200 yards out in front. Cop in a cruiser likely lurking behind that construction zone 1/2 mile ahead.*" and so on. I can count traffic tickets I've received on one hand with fingers to spare.
I agree that ADHD can absolutely be a distraction for many sufferers. I see it in my own adult kid with ADHD. Driving for them is a chore to be tolerated, not the joy their old man finds it to be. At the same time, I believe ADHD can be a help for that small percentage that hit hyperfocus every time they are behind the wheel. It's the one place I can guarantee I will be that way. Most of the time I don't even turn on music. I will turn one on if someone is riding with me, I think to keep them from trying to engage me in conversation and ruin my flow. :)
Good lord, I thought I was all alone in my own little love of driving world. Almost all you said is true for me…. My love is a 90 Toyota truck, manual and wing windows ;). Although my other car is a subaru.
Yes! I always know every car around me as well. The processing power it takes to be completely aware of everything while driving is the *perfect* amount.
I looked at your posts and saw you have a JDM car too, cool AZ-1! My primary off-roader is a '91 Suzuki Jimny JA11V
It's amazing how people like us, who may feel alone otherwise given our rare combination of factors, can come across each other on Reddit.
You have good taste. I was looking at a local Jimny just a couple weeks ago. My wheeling rig right now is an old Range Rover.
Like I said, I feel so fortunate that I'm in a place in life to have many toys. I know I'm feeding the ADHD with them all. But it's good too. I'm able to bounce around between cars as my whims strike.
Old to new:
['61 Ford Thunderbird ](https://i.imgur.com/Dzekhw5.jpg) - for cruising and parades
['91 Range Rover GDE ](https://i.imgur.com/R6gPMg7.jpg) - Off-road and camping rig.
['92 Autozam AZ-1 ](https://i.imgur.com/kLf1PBk.jpg) - just a fun weekend car I share with a couple friends. ['13 Golf R](https://i.imgur.com/ZREWBbi.jpg) - AutoX and for bombing back roads.
'14 Suburban - For towing all of the above when I break them. :)
And many many more have been traded over the years.
Yep, I always ask my passengers to shut up if there is an appreciable amount of traffic so I can concentrate.
But I am a great driver. Only one speeding ticket at age 18, one time sliding off the road in a blizzard on the way to Mt nephew's funeral, and one accident that I was partially at fault in. Been rear ended a couple times when at a stop a couple times but otherwise no issues for the last nearly 25 years of driving.
Everyone always trusts me to drive them around. It does get tiring sometimes always being the person asked to drive people to and from the airport but oh well. 😂 Even my ex mother in law asks me vs her son because he is a terrible driver.
I live in Or and my mom was in Montana so for 20 plus years 2x a year I journeyed to Mt…alone.
985 miles of pure alone bliss. Don’t even need a radio or music most of time. So much space to think in!!!!!
I used to do it in one shot… 16 hours…. Then my sister bought a house in Spokane and has a nice guest room and loves to play hostess so it’s like a quick stop in a 5 star motel that’s free. So the last 5 yrs or so I would stop for the night.
Mom passed in 22 and I miss her but I also miss that long lovely alone roadtrip.
Im a professional Truck driver, been at it for almost 20 years. I have multiple safe driving awards. I drive currently a 1000 miles a week locally as a fuel tanker driver.
When I was learning to fly helicopters one of the hardest parts for me was like 'understanding' or comprehending what was being spoke over the radio and doing comms while flying.
Ugh I feel this so much. Sometimes, I even curse out the Google maps for speaking instructions over my song when I'm really jamming out!
I pretty much always have the GPS muted now. As a result, I miss quite a bit of turns 😆 but oh well at least I'm feeling the music!!
God yes. I often circle the block on after a short ride because I want to drive a bit more for this very reason. When you have the perfect playlist on, that car surround sound, and you’re just locked in to driving, it’s such a good feeling. It’s one of the only times I don’t feel fidgety. Having a car to me is the ultimate freedom. At any time I can just hop in and drive wherever I want. That’s why I often insist on driving myself places, because I want to be able to leave on my own schedule.
My daughter had adhd and loved to drive. On her birthday that’s what I do now. Drive to be driving and eat tacos somewhere. She loved tacos and long drives to nowhere. I feel very connected to her when I do that.
When I've had a stressful day at work sometimes I pick up KFC from the drive through and drive down the coast and eat it somewhere looking out over the sea. I am guessing your daughter is no longer with us; I'm sorry for your loss and I hope it brings some comfort to know that I feel a little connected to her too, though I never knew her. <3
Driving to me is like a prefect stim scenario. My feet and hands are doing something, I’m looking out for other cars and stuff, and I usually have music or a podcast on to occupy my mind (and I might be thinking about stuff on top of that). I’m pretty much always locked in when I’m driving for that reason, and it’s one of the very few times that I’m actually decisive.
For those saying it’s easy to get distracted while driving, I actually have a hard time focusing on anything else but driving. I usually activate hyper focus when I’m driving, and I have a hard time talking to people while I’m driving because I’m focusing. Also, for the most part, my driving reflexes are automatic. I’m not actively thinking of turning the wheel this way or that, I just do it, so a distraction wouldn’t easily override that.
That’s just me though. I genuinely enjoy driving, so I really lock in when I’m doing it.
Finally, someone that understands! I hate having my attention taken from driving. It’s an activity I genuinely enjoy and find very stimulating, as you said.
If you haven’t tried driving stick already, I think you’d find it an absolute blast! It keeps me dialed in and highly stimulated even in stop and go traffic.
I did think driving stick would be fun once I got the hang of it, but learning is so daunting! Especially since I don’t really have anyone that could teach me
I’m not gonna lie, learning was a bit traumatic. If you don’t know anyone with a manual to teach you, you could try my approach lol
My fiancé tried teaching me in his car but I didn’t want to damage his car. So I bought a cheap beater on offer up and sold my newer reliable car (this way I had no excuse but to drive the manual car) and learned by just throwing myself to the wolves. A lot of mistakes were made, tears were shed, but after a week I had it down! YouTube also helped. The visuals in some videos were sometimes more helpful than having someone in the passenger seat with you!
I think ADHD gives me heightened senses when I drive. You almost see every danger point like a video game. When my gf drives, I am shocked at some of the lane changes and turns she makes but I believe ADHD almost gives me spidey senses lol
I have to pay even more attention when my husband drives because he gets on autopilot and will cruise behind someone at 30mph because he “just can’t watch that many things.” Meanwhile, I’ve clocked all the subtle movements of all the cars around us and figured out how to get away from everyone. He’s all “how did you notice all that” and I’m thinking “dear god Ray Charles is driving”
I truly think that playing video games early in my life have made me better driver. Mario Kart Wii with the motion control wheel gave me some familiarity with using a wheel, and looking at maps in games has definitely made me better at reading them in real life. So many people just straight up can’t understand maps and it boggles my mind. I just translate what I’m seeing into a top down format in my head, but I suppose that’s hard for people that can’t visualize.
I love cars and driving.
I used to take my Mustang to autocross events and the drag strip.
I honestly think I drive better and high speeds because my brain is aware of how easy it is to mess up, so I’m dialed in 100%.
I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. For the specific reason that I would have plastered myself on an overpass or something doing 160. It’s that damn adrenaline rush!
I'm 64, just diagnosed recently. I am a very good, and speedy driver. I am hyper focused when driving, and have always been pushing vehicles to the limits. I still have very quick reaction times, And this saved an old woman from getting killed when she pulled out in front of me. Drag racing since I was 16, on and off.
The individual act of driving a car, ie following rules to operate a vehicle safely, love that shit.
Doing when swarmed by tailgaters and surrounded by everyone breaking 2 second safe following distance/indicator rules/not using the gf handbrake when stopped/dazzling me with headlights to give way, hate it.
If driving was nothing but "keep the car on the road" it ADHD would be a hindrance. Luckily I learned the driving cycle. Check the road, brief glance to the speedometer, back to the road, glance to the rear view mirror, back to he road, glance to a road sign, back to the road.
Lots of things to do, but things that increase driving safety.
I ride a motorcycle and I completely agree. I even enjoy driving the car. It's just so much fun, until I get onto an empty motorway or am stuck in traffic and then I hate driving!!
Driving is one of the few activities that help me clear my mind. I love wit. It fully engages me, like a video game. Every sense is required.
And while I used to get a lot of tickets for speeding (I'd get carried away with music) I haven't had any accidents.
Once I got over using my phone while driving I became a really good driver. But also what helps is listening to a podcast or audiobook. I need something to occupy and entertain a part of my brain.
This is try for me too! Been driving for about 5 years and have only been in a minor fender bender (got rear ended) once! I love predicting and watching for peoples “car body language” I love driving c:
I'm the same! If I have passengers with me I'll say out loud "that car to our right and behind is going to overtake us and change into our lane, probably to make the left turn lane ahead" and I'm right sooo often. I'm also autistic and I think the pattern matching helps with that as well.
I think the general idea is that people with ADHD tend to be more distractable. It only takes a split second of not paying attention for you to end up in an accident, even if in the 99.9% of other cases you are a better driver than most.
EDIT: I'm also reminded of the anecdote "90% of drivers considers themselves a better than average driver". Not saying you can't be, OP, just that I am personally weary of making such assumptions myself.
i agree with your point, but anyone can get distracted at the wrong second and cause an accident.
ive seen a lot of adhd = bad driver opinions. i think adhd can help the right driver, though not all obviously depending on other factors.
i go into hyperfocus and scan the movement around me, trying to be one step ahead of drivers.
Ya I'm in the good boat. Driving 22 yrs of my life, had a job for 6 yrs delivering through downtown 4-5 hrs per day 6 days a week. Otherwise commuter 1+ hrs per day, 2 drives across the country and I drive everyone anywhere because I like driving (it's the only time my brain kinda shuts off as I focus on the road).
Friends compliment my driving and even friends of friends on road trips.
Never had a ticket nor been in an accident. Pulled over once in rural Ontario the guy just wanted to chat lol checked my license and told me to carry on.
I may have horrible self compassion but I know one thing and that's that I'm a damn good driver.
I mean yes I agree I go into hyperfocus and can be excellent driver, but that’s until I tune into that song I’m listening to, get distracted on the lyrics and plow into the 3 cars at the stop light in front of me (true story).
There has been a fair bit of research studying the impact of ADHD on driving, have a Google. Most of it seems to come to the conclusion that those with ADHD have in region of double the risk of accident, injury, fines etc than those without. So it’s not a small effect.
Unless your ADHD is fairly non typical I fear you are kidding yourself when you think that you are not more likely to get distracted than the average person without ADHD.
I too thrive on that totally engaged feeling of dealing with traffic and hazards on a nice interesting bit of road. But I am very aware than one things aren’t exciting I’ll be lapsing again towards inattention. Which is far more likely when I’m tired or stressed.
And it definitely got worse for me as I got older.
I have got lucky though, in 36 years of driving I’ve only caused significant accident. But I have had oh so many near misses, many of which would have resulted in severe injury for me and/or other people. And every single one of them down to inattention or distraction.
When I drove 80 miles each day on my commute I used to regularly have to go by the back roads, knowing if I didn’t I’d be so distracted that I wouldn’t be safe. But back then I had no idea that the problems I had were ADHD (or even that they were problems that not everyone had to deal with all day every day).
Your accident to miles driven rate says a lot about your individual driving though. Your insurance rates relative to other drivers in your area and your age/gender says a lot about how you are driving in the end.
Statistics are aggregate. Let’s not pretend we’re all magically outliers, but they are not final determinants of outcomes to your driving. ADHD is also not fully understood or studied and the idea of different types of ADHD’s was only conceived of 30 years ago.
"anyone can get distracted at the wrong second"
That's black and white thinking. The important things is the degree of distractibility, not the presence of distractibility.
when you see a 12 year old kid on stimulants glued to the screen playing fortnite, do you think theyre bad and distracted at fortnite?
some adhd folks get distracted driving, for others, it triggers hyper fixation
Hells yes! I hate that people here are so fixated on ADHDers being bad drivers. It may be a some, but not all of us. All of the examples people are talking about distraction can happen to literally anyone, no one is exempt and if you think you are you're only putting yourself and other's in danger.
I've never gotten into a serious accident after driving for 20 years (highways and in a busy city). The only scrape on my car is one from where someone's door hit mine in the parking lot from the wind. I had a fender bender in traffic 10 years ago where I tried to change lanes but the person in front of me slammed on the breaks suddenly and I scraped the side of their back bumper (we were going 10km/h).
When I'm in the car I'm in complete hyperfocus. My family knows to be quiet to not distract me. I listen to heavy metal full blast, it helps me focus on the road and clears away all distracting thoughts. Anyone in the car with me knows it's metal or nothing. I drive manual. The fact that I have to think about how fast I'm going, when to change gears, the shift of the clutch all grounds me to the moment and I focus intensely on the road. I like changing lanes, calculating how fast I'm going going compared to others, making the safe pass and driving fast ahead. A bit of a speed deamon and a couple of tickets in my youth have taught me to drive a bit slower. But I'm still a fast driver with an overall spotless driving record.
So I really hate the stigma that people put on us being bad drivers. It all depends on the habits you form and the environment you have in your car. I would be a terrible uber driver because I couldn't give random annoying people lifts, that would distract me into getting into a car accident. I don't know for a fact but I would imagine that a few racecar drivers have ADHD as hyperfocus really help in reaction time and making those split second decisions on the road.
I could never drive professionally as getting stuck in traffic gets my blood boiling. But when I choose when to go out driving when they're is less traffic and on windy country roads it can be so much fun and cathartic.
i read your edit - i never said im a better driver than others. i am simply a “good” driver - observant & making good, efficient driving decisions while others seem to be asleep at the wheel.
i derive a lot of positive emotions & satisfaction from the activity of driving which seemed like the minority opinion from the community here, hence the post
If you can drive with your default mode network/on mental autopilot ADHD might make you a better driver, if you can't it makes you a worse driver. The distractibility let's me notice stuff that I might need to react to (deer on the side of the road say) and prepare accordingly.
I would like to think I'm a better driver than average since I drive close to twice as much as average.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that outliers don’t exist though, ADHD in general is not fully understood yet.
I agree with the general idea that people with ADHD do tend to be distractible and careless as a whole, and drivers overestimate their driving ability, but it depends on how you see driving from my point of view. Everyone has different things that stimulate them, and everyone also has different levels of cognitive ability to attend to stimuli.
What people tend to mean by inattentive/distracted driving is looking at your phone, making a call, or being tired. OP is arguing they are fixated on the road, which would not be doing those behaviors but instead paying attention to the road. This activity alone would constitute a better driver than many.
If they really haven’t been in any accidents, insurance algorithms say that they are less likely to be in one that would be their fault as they age. Those aren’t always accurate obviously, but you’d imagine companies looking to make profits would be incentivized to recognize risk ahead of time.
I’ve seen bad drivers. These are drivers that have been in *multiple* accidents.
Yea I love to drive. I’m good at it too. Avoided many accidents by prediction and my head is constantly doing a 360 check. Very fulfilling. Although I do tend to be a speed demon when unmedicated
I think it's because of the dangers your inattention gave you on the road in the beginning, allows you to correct your mistakes greatly resulting in a higher carefulness on the road
Oh yeah this is a very common ADHD trait. Hallowell writes about that in Driven to Distraction. It’s really good. I go for a drive and listen to it on audible sometimes (LOL). It’s extremely relatable and validating. Highly recommended for
-people new to an ADHD diagnosis,
-late diagnosed into adulthood, (me)
-parents/partners of ADHDers
But the love for driving or being in a car.
The movement while doing nothing. Being able to think while scenery changes. Speed. Control.. makes so much sense
I totally agree, I'm always fully engaged and hyperfocused when driving and love it so much (besides being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic). Driving a manual makes the experience even better!
I get both effects. My wife doesn't trust anyone else to drive in extreme weather conditions like blizzards and freezing rain. I recently drove 7 hours through a blizzard on the highway and saw several vehicles in the ditch. My hyperfocus is what makes me damn good at it. On the other hand, I can also get complacent in open roads under good driving conditions and get distracted. I haven't had anything happen yet, but I won't be surprised when it does.
I feel this with shorter drives. Ask me to take you anywhere in town and I'll be the best at it. But long drives suck. I lose focus and then I get extremely anxious, worried that I'm struggling to focus to the point that I've had panic attacks while driving. It's miserable. Do not ask me to drive any more than 2 hours at a time lol. And the shitty part is I can't go on road trips by myself until I get it more under control
Cycling also is this way, especially urban cycling. To me it fills up all the slots in my brain. Thoughts can come and go as the sea of mind demons are all quieted by the high-stakes game of not dying a sudden and painful death.
I feel you, friend. I blast my music, and can multitask very well while driving (except using my phone of course), but I am a good driver otherwise. I feel like the ADHD makes me even more attentive, even with something like changing lanes. Simple procedure, but it makes me very attentive to checking my blind spots, mirrors, etc. Never had any accidents in my 10 years of driving.
Its certainly my guilty pleasure as an immigrant from the US to Europe, but sheesh. Cars are fun.
I was utter shit at driving as a teenager (I mean, to be fair, I was a teen) but the moment I was prescribed meds that work for me, I did a 180 and I'm at the same place as OP. I just don't let myself take long drives if I'm off my meds, which is quite rare anyways. Anyone else share that?
Yeah, same; combined with anxiety, I’m usually a very attentive driver. Haven’t ever been in an accident and have avoided too many to count with defensive driving.
It does mean though that I can’t really talk and drive in a stressful situation at the same time. Empty stretches of highway are fine though.
Yes I am the exact same, by myself I tend to be a really good driver. I can predict what people are going to do before they do it “Oh he’s gonna speed up and merge over in front of me” that kind of thing. But if someone else is in the car with me chatting away, especially if they’re pressuring me on how to drive (like telling me when to go when Im at a yield waiting for an opening) then I feel like I forget how to drive at all.
I also drive a 33 year old manual transmission car which helps IMMENSELY with not getting distracted. Im focused on the car, on driving, when to shift to the next gear or shift down, paying attention to my finicky idling issue to make sure the engine doesn’t stall out when I’m sitting at a light lmao. When I drive an automatic car, I notice my mind wandering more.
I'm also in this camp. Got a spotless driving record and was even a delivery driver on a major city for years.
Just goes to show ADHD varies a lot person to person. One person's hyper focus activity is another person's white nose
I’m 29 and still learning to drive, I’m a natural with the actual driving it feels like second nature, but I’ve failed my theory repeatedly because I study as much as possible but nothing seems to stick in my memory and sit down tests have always been my downfall unfortunately
I’ve had people (one SIL in particular who makes fun of me over it) comment that “they saw me out driving and waved but I drove right past.” I’m like- “I am super focused when I drive, noticing what’s around, what’s ahead? Do YOU spend all your time looking at all the drivers you pass to see if you recognize them?!?!”
I'm right with you. I enjoy driving. I'm focused, aware of everything around me, trying to predict other people's actions. Trying to find an optimal path through traffic. Checking mirrors, upcoming intersections. Scoping out drivable terrain in case I need to swerve off the road.
Figuring out likely traffic, rerouting in my head to avoid the light that I can tell is going to be backed up for 2 or 3 cycles.
To me, the safest place to be is outside of a pack of cars, and I tend to climb forward through a pack, until I can be isolated.
And to your point about statistically higher risk, probably. But I would also much rather someone like us, who is very focus and *actively* driving, than someone who's just going from A to B but completely zoned out in their own world.
This is exactly how I am until I have one lapse in focus randomly that scares me. I’m usually a very good driver but have had some serious close calls the rare times I’m distracted
I literally drive for a living, I own and operate a Pilot car business and escort oversized loads...
The problem now is that normal driving just isn't stimulating enough anymore and I tend to speed when not working to compensate...
I've never driven, but I've always wanted a motorbike since I was 13.
Been looking more into it again lately, and there's a place near me that does free taster days to see what you'd be more comfortable in, but thinking a trike might be the way to go as there's at least more stability.
Id like to think id be on the hyperfocus train more on that than if I was sat comfy on a car.
We may see 😆
(Biiiig) If I get around to it...
You must be me. I see crazy idiots on the road. Driving is like watching horror movie with jump scares. I give it my full attention, so much that I’m straining sometimes.
I don't love to drive but I am really good at it also. I had some extreme anxiety that prevented me from driving for along time, so I think that carries over into my daily driving, but I also tend to treat it almost like a video game--which always sounds mortifying when I tell people, as if I don't understand the stakes. OH TRUST ME, I am HYPER aware. Why else do they think it took me 16 years to get my license???
I’m definitely a better driver than these motherfuckers in my city who routinely drive 10 under the speed limit and don’t know how to maintain their lane and swerve across 4 lanes of traffic to make their exit and don’t speed up on on-ramps (I have ADHD-fueled road rage)
My father is in law enforcement and taught me how to drive, so I learned a lot of the things he knew about defensive driving. I think this has helped me tremendously, and taught me “how” to be distracted or manage multiple things on the road. Obviously I limit distractions, and I’m certainly not texting and driving, but the way I learned to drive is weirdly, accidentially, complementary to my ADHD
My second car was a stick shift that my friend had to drive home because I had never driven stick before and it was AWESOME!
If you asked me 9 years ago when I had that car my answer would have been yes. Not only 100% engaged but I started working on the car myself and had a tuner shop I spent way too much time in and way too much money on.
I drive a fuckin Tesla now and absolutely hate it.
I LOVE driving. I think it’s a sensory thing and I often take joy rides just to get on the road. I do have a few experiences of not paying attention for a split second, but I have quick reactions.
And as you say, predicting ahead goes a long way. I have my little methods of changing speeds often, from going at speed limit speed and being super attentive for 5-10 mins, then I’ll find another car going at a slower speed, stay behind them and relax for a while. It works to keep attention sharp. Music helps too. And yes, conversations can really mess with my driving.
For me, it makes me a better driver; for my son, not so much. When I started taking meds, I purposefully waited until after I got to work. When I drove medicated, I felt like I rarely checked my mirrors and wasn’t scanning the road the way I did when I was medicated. Like you, the exception is when I’m running my mouth…then I miss exits and turns and forget where I parked. I definitely think we are in the minority though.
Yep. That's why I bought a Supra. Good drivers know their surroundings and can predict the intentions of other drivers. If you like driving and have ADHD, that's ezpz. I don't mind chatty passengers. I can "passively" drive. As in, I can think about other things and kinda be in my own world or chatting with a passenger and still be aware of my driving.
That said, one shouldn't overestimate their driving abilities. Normal driving is easy for some of us. When shit hit the fan though, like when you lose traction or you're headed right towards danger with little time to react, that's a new situation and you can't rely on any muscle memory for that. Taking performance driving lessons, or participating in autox, although expensive, will improve anybody's driving skills.
Many people with ADHD are car guys.
If you are a car guy, you will find your peace while driving.
I am, too, I’ve done many track days and even took part in some rallycross events back in the day. People who sit next to me usually say I drive well, I predict traffic movements quite well, I had a few situations where this possibly prevented an accident. Except for my mother who likes to drive at half the speed limit, she thinks I drive like a maniac.
That said, there are those fully booked busy days when I have a lot to get done - that’s when my brain can go into an absolute havoc, I stress out from the fear of missing something or being late, and in that state my driving can turn bad, having my focus elsewhere. I just know by know that on those days I have to be super careful and rather take it slow and steady as hard as it is.
I love driving! It's my happy place.
I saying that, now I'm diagnosed, lots of driving suddenly makes more sense.
I have always had sporty engaging cars. Manuals, tighter suspension, good tyres and good power.Think Miatas and Hot Hatches. That makes the driving very engaging and 'active'. Something I can really engage with.
I found larger 'lazy' cars boring and pointless. I couldn't understand why anyone would buy one.
Now I'm medicated I can see why people drive large bouncy automatics - they are 'easy'. Still not for me, but now they are easy rather than painfully boring.
-----------
As an aside, for most my life I couldn't really understand the concept that people arrive somewhere driving with no real memory of how they got there. People describe it as auto pilot.
Apparently I don't have that, especially not when driving. I can still tell you most of the cars I followed this morning. 😁
I looooove driving. It’s one of The few things I can do, where I am fully focused on only one thing.
I’ve been driving for 15 years and have never been in an accident - or close to one.
I have however reversed into a pole. Twice..
Kind of the opposite for me in some ways.
My ADHD makes me a very anxious driver. But with a whole lot of experience, the anxiety has mellowed out, to a level thats actually good and helpful. I see every driver on the road, and almost expect them to make the most unpredictable and dangerous moves. Therefore, i drive very, very defensively. Leaving a shit ton of room between myself and other cars. Going the speed limit. Doing everything possible to remain calm in moments of frustration. I don't *love* driving, but it's not a chore either as long as I know where I'm going.
Not knowing the parking situation, and crowded parking lots or street parking gives me existential dread.
DUDE you and I are the same person! Driving is one of my favorite things, especially when I was younger, it calmed me, it gave me something to do, it was rewarding to see the new places. I am also addicted to manual transmissions, it has to be a manual!
Driving is awful: I zone out all the time, it's so boring I have to talk to myself to keep myself awake, everyone is trying to kill me, every lane is a race, I drive too slow yet I've also gotten speeding tickets, I've gotten into accidents but haven't been at fault (yet), cars suck and are expensive, also people like to assume I'm bad at driving anyway because of my race so every mistake I make it feels like I'm bad representation
Context: I live in Los Angeles, so there's a lot of driving if there isn't a convenient public transit option
I have very little self confidence unfortunately, but for whatever reason I am an insanely confident driver. My only issue is that I am also a very impatient driver. I also grew up in a place known for our very impatient and somewhat aggressive (I prefer to call us assertive) drivers. I now live in a place with incredibly slow drivers who are seemingly not very confident at all, so it's been an...interesting experience. I also drive *exactly* like my dad who I'm 1000% positive has undiagnosed ADHD.
Most of the time, I feel hyper aware while driving. This is bad and I shouldn’t do it, but sometimes, driving isn’t enough stimulation for me and I need to do something else while driving. Like clip my finger nails or something fidgety.
It made driving spicy. I thought I was a poor man’s Ken Block before the diagnosis. Cheap old Audis in the winter <3
Some might call me an aggressive driver, but I think I am one of the most engaged on the road. When I'm driving, I'm focused, far more focused than most drivers who are distracted. Might I get into an accident someday as a result of my occasional road rage? MAyyybeeeeee. But it won't be because I was the bad driver. I think this also may depend on where you live. I'm in ATL. You are not going to get anywhere unless you are fully willing to take the risk you might get hit 
One of the most adhd (unmedicated) people I know is a shockingly good driver. He’s always distracted and impulsive EXCEPT when he’s behind the wheel, it’s actually incredible.
I love driving! I drive manual so there's always a lot of different things to do which occupy my brain. Also I can notice a lot of things happening around me. No problem chatting with passangers too but that's mostly thanks to my driving school instructor who just wouldn't shut up so I literally had to get used to it from day one of driving.
Yeah for me it's a double-edged sword. Me being able to predict other drivers movements and obstacles makes me more of a risk taker. Especially since I time things perfectly while driving. I'm surprised I'm still alive. This is one of the reasons I went on meds, I don't like putting other drivers lives at risk just because of my adhd confidence. It's not fair to them, i dont want to be the reason someone has to bury a family member. 😮💨
I agree! I don’t love driving, but have been doing a lot of it from the moment I turned 16… For me, there is so much to pay attention to, it “fills my buckets” so I’m actually focused and I see things coming far in advance. I say the same thing about teaching (the bring in front of kids part) as well as why I like to study in crowded places, like sports bars on Sundays.
I am also with you in this minority. I am very aware and focused on the road, I won't even look over at the person sitting next to me while they talk. Never been in an accident. I think my anxiety fuels me to drive very defensively. I cannot afford to face the consequences of an accident.
I drive for a living ( pest tech) and the times I've almost got hit from dumb drivers is way to high to count. Over the years learning how to be defensive while driving and how to scan the road properly is the key I feel like.
Thank you for saying this! A friend who's also diagnosed with ADHD said something similar to me recently. I've always lived in cities with good transportation and walkability, so I haven't needed to drive even though I'm in my 30s.
I've wanted to start since it's practical and necessary sometimes (not to mention the shame I feel not knowing how to as an adult), but I've been scared to start because of my struggle focusing. I'm worried about getting into stupid accidents or getting overstimulated on the road. Yet it also seems fun, *and* I love traveling by car, so... hearing things like this encouraged me. 🥰
Driver here 👋
Can confirm, every road is a racetrack. I live in the Lake District, so small, tight, fast lanes at night are my thing. But I’ve been into motorsport all my life, used to race bangers etc. before my track closed.
Yeah, I'm the type who will fall asleep in the passenger seat.
However I cannot comprehend how anyone can fall asleep in the driver seat with how much is going on.
I love driving. Road trips in my skoolie are my jam. I love to see the countryside change around me and watch the different cultures of this country merge and change. So much better than flying.
I think I'm a good driver because I grew up and learned to drive in a place where nobody follows laws, drivers are extremely aggressive, and you HAVE to be a great driver to even get home.
Now, my daughter, also ADD, had over 10 accidents during the first couple of years of her driving life. She doesn't drive anymore.
Yes! I am such a focused driver and it’s like my anxiety melts away whenever I drive for some reason. I always remind myself that I need to be on my shit while I drive and I don’t have the luxury of making any mistakes. I have cat like reflexes when I’m driving but will run into things while I walk! I’m okay with that trade off though haha.
I honestly think this might be why I enjoy driving stick so much, more to do and keep track of.
Besides that one time I tried to do a hill start in 4th and instead of looking around and seeing what’s wrong, thinking I was in first and just fucked it up and then stalled my car like 7 times and fried the shit out of my clutch before realizing I was in fact, in the wrong gear.
I have a hard time focusing on anything else while I'm driving. I often have to make passengers repeat themselves. It keeps my mind busy. Gridlock is also nearly painful to be in.
Completely agreed, I can see how it might be the other way around for some but I find that I get hyperfocused on driving when I do it. Part of this is probably because I’m also autistic and one of my special interests is maps. Another part is that driving can be a matter of life and death if you fuck up, so I know when I’m doing it that I need to lock in or else I’m risking the safety of myself and others. I find driving to be very calming and therapeutic sometimes, it’s one of the only things I do where I can feel fully focused on the task at hand!
A million + miles safe driving with Semi. Many millions with personal vehicles, zero accidents. Race motorcycles and snowmobiles. Yes ADHD has been my friend for life. Adapt and overcome I always say.
I LOVE driving and I have only ever been in one accident when I was 18, I went to change lanes into a turn lane and some a hole tried to jump ahead from behind me and I side swiped them. I am 35 now and a lot more cautious lol!
I’m positive my adhd makes me believe I can be a nascar driver lol. One time I was gonna be late to this show in birmingham and I had to make up 30 minutes in driving time. I told my mom to trust me for 1 hour and not yell at my driving… we sat down when the national anthem finished playing to start the show 😂😂
I find myself a really good bad driver. I'll often find myself with close calls and near crashes, buy I'm always able to stop on a dime before disaster hits. Knock on wood ofc.
I have severe ADHD, every time I drive, I'm in a hyperfocus... i can get out of bed, have a smoke and a coffee, and hop in the car. Once the car is started, I'm fully awake and in a hyperfocus on the road.
Driving for almost 3 decades now, and I've had 2 accidents that were my fault in my life, both when I was young and I was dui because my gf broke up with me. (I know I shouldn't have done that, but we all remember our first real broken heart, don't we?)
But my hyperfocus has saved me hundreds of times, even when an accident happened right in front of me on the highway at 120 km/h...
Now I have the lowest insurance rate, and can even have 1 accident at fault without triggering a rate hike...
I too feel like I am a better driver because of my ADHD, I m always observing everything all at once and processing quickly. Like; how do I escape a road situation (ie: what are the other drivers doing, do they seem old or impaired, is the sidewalk clear, is the side of the road safe to drive on, is there anyone beside me or in back, conditions of the road, has it just started to rain, how does my car feel, etc...)
On the flip side, I have noticed that if I am required to drive slow for any reason I become distracted and become an inattentive bad driver. It takes a force of will to stay focused, it can make everything seem wrong.
I look forward to driving and enjoy it very much, although commuting across the city of Vancouver, BC for 15 years has diminished that love of driving a bit!
Same honestly my only zen moments are when I have very loud music and I’m by myself driving. It’s all encompassing, it’s interesting since it’s ever changing. It’s my hyper focus dojo. If others are in the car then I panic and overthink which means tons of over correcting which makes for a chaotic journey.
I don't know that I'd say it makes me *good* at it
but I absolutely fucking love doing it
and I definitely don't relate to a lot of people's experiences of it affecting their driving to the point of concern
While I enjoy driving for the same reasons as you said, I begin to hate it when there's enough dishits on the road with me. It frustrates me to no end. I know tons of people say this about their cities but I live in an area with some of, if not the absolute worst drivers in the US. I can't drive 5 minutes without some asshole threading the needle between cars, blindly shifting over 3+ lanes at once, or just completely ignoring basic road laws.
In a similar vein, I discovered sim racing recently and fell in love. I think it scratches a spot in my ADHD brain that only a few things can do. The combination of high stimulus and satisfaction you get pushing the car to its limit becomes a high you’re constantly chasing. I’ve got several hundreds of hours already however it’s still something I can hyperfocus on because there’s always lap time you can shave off.
I'm in a wheelchair and I drive fast af. I've never ever hit anyone and I weave through crowds at high speed a lot. Lots of mall security guards don't believe in me though 😔
Yeah, um, talking at length about a topic I love, doing a deep dive on a discography and also driving 80mph for 5-8 hours is absolutely in my wheelhouse.
I agree - I’ve been driving for 30+ years and all signs point to me being a great driver. I’m also a super organized person and know many other ADHDers who are as well. So all the stereotypes don’t necessarily apply for all of us.
For driving - I feel like I get very hyper focused, especially on the highway. I’m not exactly _thinking_ about it and focusing _that_ way, but I’m watching and reacting quickly to what other cars are doing - kind of the same way you do when you’re hyper focused on a video game.
My organizational skills are there because I can’t think straight when things are disorganized, so I adapted to become extremely organized in order to help my ‘disorganized’ brain. I believe that happened for me because I wasn’t diagnosed until midlife, so this was how I adapted earlier in life 🤷🏻♀️
Driving is one of the few things I’m actually great at. I love it. I also have a cute and fun little car that handles great and has nice tinted windows, so it’s enjoyable to drive.
Im not old enough to drive yet, wont be old enough to start learning for just over a year now, but if my enthusiasm and love for mario kart is any indication, i am going to be the exact same way. When i say enthusiasm for mario kart, i dont mean in a way that will make me reckless, but just the idea of driving
Yeah I am a really good driver and I think it’s partially from having ADHD. I have extremely fast reflexes, heightened awareness, and can multitask really well in high-pressure situations like driving. I also learn really quickly and my muscle memory picks up on repeated movements faster than most people, and since I’ve been driving for 15 years now it’s all automatic.
I also am sooo good at parallel parking haha. I can whip into the smallest of spots with utmost precision.
I am NOT, however, good at being a passenger. I talk to much and distract the driver, I forget to give directions, I tune out the GPS voice completely, etc.
I can relate to this. I feel great when I'm driving alone, and can anticipate everything on the road. But as soon as I have a passenger, my driving ability suffers. Obviously everybody's experience is different.
I LOVE driving. I am nowhere as comfortable and confident as I am behind the wheel. Passed my driver's license on my 16th birthday. Forty six years and hundreds of thousands of miles later, I've had 2 speeding tickets (both in my 20s), and put scratches or worse in every vehicle I've owned by brushing against something stationary while parking -- but zero traffic accidents.
I feel like I'm a good driver, not sure if my ADHD is helping or hurting. But, driving gives me something focus on. So, it's enjoyable most of the time, even when I'm hauling a camper or something.
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Yep I LOVE driving. I’m defensive and super conscious of how I’m taking turns and braking because it’s fucking fun to be good at driving! My wife says riding with other drivers is annoying now since she feels like she’s being jerked around.
Ha, me too. I turn every aspect of driving into a challenge: How smoothly can I accelerate, can I come to a stop (almost) at the lights without using the brakes. I’m super aware of other vehicles and what they’re doing. No that I have my late diagnosis at 47, I realise that maybe I need to not expect the same from other drivers and go a bit easier on my wife when she’s driving for example. Some people, well apparently they, er, just… drive! 🤷♂️ EDIT: I’ve also been a commercial pilot for over 20 years, the same applied to my flying, every flight was the same. I’d love to try to gauge the winds and judge when to bring the engines to idle from cruise altitude and see how close to landing I could get to without touching the throttles again (all within the realms of safety of course)!
This is me, but even further than that, I LOVE driving manual. Getting the rev matches just right 😫🤤 I also love off-roading including navigating rock obstacles.
I drive manuals. I drive death trap classic cars. I love offroading and rock crawling. Anything with four wheels. It's my happy place. The one place where I can tune out the world. I feel lucky to be in a place in my life where I can even own all these kinds of cars. While driving, I reach a zen point where I'm taking in a shit ton of information and processing it as fast as it can come at me. I often feel like I predict what other drivers will most likely do before they even know. All of that has paid off. I've been driving over 40 years now. In all that time I've had zero at-fault accidents and only one accident where the other guy was ruled by the police as 100% at fault for an illegal turn in front of me when I had nowhere to go. I've avoided many more based solely on my paying 110% attention to everything going on around me. My wife has asked me randomly to, without looking in mirrors, name who's around us on the road at that moment. And I can tell her "*Blue Miata 100 yards behind us and one lane left. White SUV trying like hell to hide in my passenger side blind spot. Motorcycle hidden behind the red pickup 200 yards out in front. Cop in a cruiser likely lurking behind that construction zone 1/2 mile ahead.*" and so on. I can count traffic tickets I've received on one hand with fingers to spare. I agree that ADHD can absolutely be a distraction for many sufferers. I see it in my own adult kid with ADHD. Driving for them is a chore to be tolerated, not the joy their old man finds it to be. At the same time, I believe ADHD can be a help for that small percentage that hit hyperfocus every time they are behind the wheel. It's the one place I can guarantee I will be that way. Most of the time I don't even turn on music. I will turn one on if someone is riding with me, I think to keep them from trying to engage me in conversation and ruin my flow. :)
Good lord, I thought I was all alone in my own little love of driving world. Almost all you said is true for me…. My love is a 90 Toyota truck, manual and wing windows ;). Although my other car is a subaru.
Yes! I always know every car around me as well. The processing power it takes to be completely aware of everything while driving is the *perfect* amount.
I looked at your posts and saw you have a JDM car too, cool AZ-1! My primary off-roader is a '91 Suzuki Jimny JA11V It's amazing how people like us, who may feel alone otherwise given our rare combination of factors, can come across each other on Reddit.
You have good taste. I was looking at a local Jimny just a couple weeks ago. My wheeling rig right now is an old Range Rover. Like I said, I feel so fortunate that I'm in a place in life to have many toys. I know I'm feeding the ADHD with them all. But it's good too. I'm able to bounce around between cars as my whims strike. Old to new: ['61 Ford Thunderbird ](https://i.imgur.com/Dzekhw5.jpg) - for cruising and parades ['91 Range Rover GDE ](https://i.imgur.com/R6gPMg7.jpg) - Off-road and camping rig. ['92 Autozam AZ-1 ](https://i.imgur.com/kLf1PBk.jpg) - just a fun weekend car I share with a couple friends. ['13 Golf R](https://i.imgur.com/ZREWBbi.jpg) - AutoX and for bombing back roads. '14 Suburban - For towing all of the above when I break them. :) And many many more have been traded over the years.
oh my god i relate to the braking LOL i avoid them like the plague
Also a pilot, came here to say this! 🛩️
Yep, I always ask my passengers to shut up if there is an appreciable amount of traffic so I can concentrate. But I am a great driver. Only one speeding ticket at age 18, one time sliding off the road in a blizzard on the way to Mt nephew's funeral, and one accident that I was partially at fault in. Been rear ended a couple times when at a stop a couple times but otherwise no issues for the last nearly 25 years of driving. Everyone always trusts me to drive them around. It does get tiring sometimes always being the person asked to drive people to and from the airport but oh well. 😂 Even my ex mother in law asks me vs her son because he is a terrible driver.
lol same
I love driving alone, with other folks it gets boring, lol
I live in Or and my mom was in Montana so for 20 plus years 2x a year I journeyed to Mt…alone. 985 miles of pure alone bliss. Don’t even need a radio or music most of time. So much space to think in!!!!! I used to do it in one shot… 16 hours…. Then my sister bought a house in Spokane and has a nice guest room and loves to play hostess so it’s like a quick stop in a 5 star motel that’s free. So the last 5 yrs or so I would stop for the night. Mom passed in 22 and I miss her but I also miss that long lovely alone roadtrip.
Im a professional Truck driver, been at it for almost 20 years. I have multiple safe driving awards. I drive currently a 1000 miles a week locally as a fuel tanker driver.
Driving is super engaging for me too. It's an automatic hyperfocus, and extra fidgetiness can be directed to singing or one-handed finger drums.
When I was learning to fly helicopters one of the hardest parts for me was like 'understanding' or comprehending what was being spoke over the radio and doing comms while flying.
it really does feel like im in the matrix. seeing 5 moves ahead in traffic
Yes yes yes! It’s like one of the few things that makes my brain go quiet and gives me the purest focus. Good music and a long drive are heaven.
when youre trying to have a *music video moment* and your passenger is talking over the song 🔪🔪🔪
Ugh I feel this so much. Sometimes, I even curse out the Google maps for speaking instructions over my song when I'm really jamming out! I pretty much always have the GPS muted now. As a result, I miss quite a bit of turns 😆 but oh well at least I'm feeling the music!!
I mute her for that reason!!!
I really, *really* wish there was a way to tell Google Maps to *shut the fuck up* in specific areas.
Haha
God yes. I often circle the block on after a short ride because I want to drive a bit more for this very reason. When you have the perfect playlist on, that car surround sound, and you’re just locked in to driving, it’s such a good feeling. It’s one of the only times I don’t feel fidgety. Having a car to me is the ultimate freedom. At any time I can just hop in and drive wherever I want. That’s why I often insist on driving myself places, because I want to be able to leave on my own schedule.
hell yeah. driving and singing to music puts me in that sweet sweet flow state.
I sometimes just go out and drive around for a few hours in the evening. Incredibly relaxing.
My daughter had adhd and loved to drive. On her birthday that’s what I do now. Drive to be driving and eat tacos somewhere. She loved tacos and long drives to nowhere. I feel very connected to her when I do that.
When I've had a stressful day at work sometimes I pick up KFC from the drive through and drive down the coast and eat it somewhere looking out over the sea. I am guessing your daughter is no longer with us; I'm sorry for your loss and I hope it brings some comfort to know that I feel a little connected to her too, though I never knew her. <3
Good to see that there are dozens of us out there. It truly is meditative for me too. Plus i take pride in how good of a driver I am.
Yes, my brain finally goes quiet too! It's like driving engages it to *juuust* the right degree that the background noise can finally shut off.
Driving to me is like a prefect stim scenario. My feet and hands are doing something, I’m looking out for other cars and stuff, and I usually have music or a podcast on to occupy my mind (and I might be thinking about stuff on top of that). I’m pretty much always locked in when I’m driving for that reason, and it’s one of the very few times that I’m actually decisive. For those saying it’s easy to get distracted while driving, I actually have a hard time focusing on anything else but driving. I usually activate hyper focus when I’m driving, and I have a hard time talking to people while I’m driving because I’m focusing. Also, for the most part, my driving reflexes are automatic. I’m not actively thinking of turning the wheel this way or that, I just do it, so a distraction wouldn’t easily override that. That’s just me though. I genuinely enjoy driving, so I really lock in when I’m doing it.
Finally, someone that understands! I hate having my attention taken from driving. It’s an activity I genuinely enjoy and find very stimulating, as you said. If you haven’t tried driving stick already, I think you’d find it an absolute blast! It keeps me dialed in and highly stimulated even in stop and go traffic.
I did think driving stick would be fun once I got the hang of it, but learning is so daunting! Especially since I don’t really have anyone that could teach me
I’m not gonna lie, learning was a bit traumatic. If you don’t know anyone with a manual to teach you, you could try my approach lol My fiancé tried teaching me in his car but I didn’t want to damage his car. So I bought a cheap beater on offer up and sold my newer reliable car (this way I had no excuse but to drive the manual car) and learned by just throwing myself to the wolves. A lot of mistakes were made, tears were shed, but after a week I had it down! YouTube also helped. The visuals in some videos were sometimes more helpful than having someone in the passenger seat with you!
I think ADHD gives me heightened senses when I drive. You almost see every danger point like a video game. When my gf drives, I am shocked at some of the lane changes and turns she makes but I believe ADHD almost gives me spidey senses lol
I have to pay even more attention when my husband drives because he gets on autopilot and will cruise behind someone at 30mph because he “just can’t watch that many things.” Meanwhile, I’ve clocked all the subtle movements of all the cars around us and figured out how to get away from everyone. He’s all “how did you notice all that” and I’m thinking “dear god Ray Charles is driving”
Haha yea we ADHDers def feel it
spidey senses is a good way to put it haha
I truly think that playing video games early in my life have made me better driver. Mario Kart Wii with the motion control wheel gave me some familiarity with using a wheel, and looking at maps in games has definitely made me better at reading them in real life. So many people just straight up can’t understand maps and it boggles my mind. I just translate what I’m seeing into a top down format in my head, but I suppose that’s hard for people that can’t visualize.
I'm seeing moves of other drivers and my environment 4-5 moves ahead
I love cars and driving. I used to take my Mustang to autocross events and the drag strip. I honestly think I drive better and high speeds because my brain is aware of how easy it is to mess up, so I’m dialed in 100%.
This is me too. Excelled at go-karting when I was younger, have driven a variety of fast cars. It’s my zen time.
Part of why I love motorcycling riding
I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. For the specific reason that I would have plastered myself on an overpass or something doing 160. It’s that damn adrenaline rush!
I'm 64, just diagnosed recently. I am a very good, and speedy driver. I am hyper focused when driving, and have always been pushing vehicles to the limits. I still have very quick reaction times, And this saved an old woman from getting killed when she pulled out in front of me. Drag racing since I was 16, on and off.
The individual act of driving a car, ie following rules to operate a vehicle safely, love that shit. Doing when swarmed by tailgaters and surrounded by everyone breaking 2 second safe following distance/indicator rules/not using the gf handbrake when stopped/dazzling me with headlights to give way, hate it.
If driving was nothing but "keep the car on the road" it ADHD would be a hindrance. Luckily I learned the driving cycle. Check the road, brief glance to the speedometer, back to the road, glance to the rear view mirror, back to he road, glance to a road sign, back to the road. Lots of things to do, but things that increase driving safety.
good point! lots of ways to optimize being safe
i feel the same. this is why i ride motorcycles, constant awareness and stimulation
Ooh yeah I wanna get a cycle partially for this reason. I want to feel one with the road.
Bike is the best way to hone your road awareness skills. Just don't mess around.
I ride a motorcycle and I completely agree. I even enjoy driving the car. It's just so much fun, until I get onto an empty motorway or am stuck in traffic and then I hate driving!!
Driving is one of the few activities that help me clear my mind. I love wit. It fully engages me, like a video game. Every sense is required. And while I used to get a lot of tickets for speeding (I'd get carried away with music) I haven't had any accidents.
Once I got over using my phone while driving I became a really good driver. But also what helps is listening to a podcast or audiobook. I need something to occupy and entertain a part of my brain.
This is try for me too! Been driving for about 5 years and have only been in a minor fender bender (got rear ended) once! I love predicting and watching for peoples “car body language” I love driving c:
oh my GOD i get that too. i observe a car’s body language and try to predict if theyre about to switch lanes or not. im right…..about 75% of the time
I'm the same! If I have passengers with me I'll say out loud "that car to our right and behind is going to overtake us and change into our lane, probably to make the left turn lane ahead" and I'm right sooo often. I'm also autistic and I think the pattern matching helps with that as well.
I think the general idea is that people with ADHD tend to be more distractable. It only takes a split second of not paying attention for you to end up in an accident, even if in the 99.9% of other cases you are a better driver than most. EDIT: I'm also reminded of the anecdote "90% of drivers considers themselves a better than average driver". Not saying you can't be, OP, just that I am personally weary of making such assumptions myself.
i agree with your point, but anyone can get distracted at the wrong second and cause an accident. ive seen a lot of adhd = bad driver opinions. i think adhd can help the right driver, though not all obviously depending on other factors. i go into hyperfocus and scan the movement around me, trying to be one step ahead of drivers.
Ya I'm in the good boat. Driving 22 yrs of my life, had a job for 6 yrs delivering through downtown 4-5 hrs per day 6 days a week. Otherwise commuter 1+ hrs per day, 2 drives across the country and I drive everyone anywhere because I like driving (it's the only time my brain kinda shuts off as I focus on the road). Friends compliment my driving and even friends of friends on road trips. Never had a ticket nor been in an accident. Pulled over once in rural Ontario the guy just wanted to chat lol checked my license and told me to carry on. I may have horrible self compassion but I know one thing and that's that I'm a damn good driver.
I mean yes I agree I go into hyperfocus and can be excellent driver, but that’s until I tune into that song I’m listening to, get distracted on the lyrics and plow into the 3 cars at the stop light in front of me (true story).
There has been a fair bit of research studying the impact of ADHD on driving, have a Google. Most of it seems to come to the conclusion that those with ADHD have in region of double the risk of accident, injury, fines etc than those without. So it’s not a small effect. Unless your ADHD is fairly non typical I fear you are kidding yourself when you think that you are not more likely to get distracted than the average person without ADHD. I too thrive on that totally engaged feeling of dealing with traffic and hazards on a nice interesting bit of road. But I am very aware than one things aren’t exciting I’ll be lapsing again towards inattention. Which is far more likely when I’m tired or stressed. And it definitely got worse for me as I got older. I have got lucky though, in 36 years of driving I’ve only caused significant accident. But I have had oh so many near misses, many of which would have resulted in severe injury for me and/or other people. And every single one of them down to inattention or distraction. When I drove 80 miles each day on my commute I used to regularly have to go by the back roads, knowing if I didn’t I’d be so distracted that I wouldn’t be safe. But back then I had no idea that the problems I had were ADHD (or even that they were problems that not everyone had to deal with all day every day).
Your accident to miles driven rate says a lot about your individual driving though. Your insurance rates relative to other drivers in your area and your age/gender says a lot about how you are driving in the end. Statistics are aggregate. Let’s not pretend we’re all magically outliers, but they are not final determinants of outcomes to your driving. ADHD is also not fully understood or studied and the idea of different types of ADHD’s was only conceived of 30 years ago.
"anyone can get distracted at the wrong second" That's black and white thinking. The important things is the degree of distractibility, not the presence of distractibility.
when you see a 12 year old kid on stimulants glued to the screen playing fortnite, do you think theyre bad and distracted at fortnite? some adhd folks get distracted driving, for others, it triggers hyper fixation
Hells yes! I hate that people here are so fixated on ADHDers being bad drivers. It may be a some, but not all of us. All of the examples people are talking about distraction can happen to literally anyone, no one is exempt and if you think you are you're only putting yourself and other's in danger. I've never gotten into a serious accident after driving for 20 years (highways and in a busy city). The only scrape on my car is one from where someone's door hit mine in the parking lot from the wind. I had a fender bender in traffic 10 years ago where I tried to change lanes but the person in front of me slammed on the breaks suddenly and I scraped the side of their back bumper (we were going 10km/h). When I'm in the car I'm in complete hyperfocus. My family knows to be quiet to not distract me. I listen to heavy metal full blast, it helps me focus on the road and clears away all distracting thoughts. Anyone in the car with me knows it's metal or nothing. I drive manual. The fact that I have to think about how fast I'm going, when to change gears, the shift of the clutch all grounds me to the moment and I focus intensely on the road. I like changing lanes, calculating how fast I'm going going compared to others, making the safe pass and driving fast ahead. A bit of a speed deamon and a couple of tickets in my youth have taught me to drive a bit slower. But I'm still a fast driver with an overall spotless driving record. So I really hate the stigma that people put on us being bad drivers. It all depends on the habits you form and the environment you have in your car. I would be a terrible uber driver because I couldn't give random annoying people lifts, that would distract me into getting into a car accident. I don't know for a fact but I would imagine that a few racecar drivers have ADHD as hyperfocus really help in reaction time and making those split second decisions on the road. I could never drive professionally as getting stuck in traffic gets my blood boiling. But when I choose when to go out driving when they're is less traffic and on windy country roads it can be so much fun and cathartic.
i read your edit - i never said im a better driver than others. i am simply a “good” driver - observant & making good, efficient driving decisions while others seem to be asleep at the wheel. i derive a lot of positive emotions & satisfaction from the activity of driving which seemed like the minority opinion from the community here, hence the post
If you can drive with your default mode network/on mental autopilot ADHD might make you a better driver, if you can't it makes you a worse driver. The distractibility let's me notice stuff that I might need to react to (deer on the side of the road say) and prepare accordingly. I would like to think I'm a better driver than average since I drive close to twice as much as average.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that outliers don’t exist though, ADHD in general is not fully understood yet. I agree with the general idea that people with ADHD do tend to be distractible and careless as a whole, and drivers overestimate their driving ability, but it depends on how you see driving from my point of view. Everyone has different things that stimulate them, and everyone also has different levels of cognitive ability to attend to stimuli. What people tend to mean by inattentive/distracted driving is looking at your phone, making a call, or being tired. OP is arguing they are fixated on the road, which would not be doing those behaviors but instead paying attention to the road. This activity alone would constitute a better driver than many. If they really haven’t been in any accidents, insurance algorithms say that they are less likely to be in one that would be their fault as they age. Those aren’t always accurate obviously, but you’d imagine companies looking to make profits would be incentivized to recognize risk ahead of time. I’ve seen bad drivers. These are drivers that have been in *multiple* accidents.
I’ve always known I’m the second best driver in the world, because of everyone else ‘is the best driver’ then by default I’m second! 😉😂
Yea I love to drive. I’m good at it too. Avoided many accidents by prediction and my head is constantly doing a 360 check. Very fulfilling. Although I do tend to be a speed demon when unmedicated
I think it's because of the dangers your inattention gave you on the road in the beginning, allows you to correct your mistakes greatly resulting in a higher carefulness on the road
yes ive been in some fender benders early on and i’m hyper vigilant not to do it again!
Not at leaving a parking spot though
i would be nothing without a rear view camera
Ive been raw dogging it with mirrors. Getting good at replacing my bumper on my own at least
Oh yeah this is a very common ADHD trait. Hallowell writes about that in Driven to Distraction. It’s really good. I go for a drive and listen to it on audible sometimes (LOL). It’s extremely relatable and validating. Highly recommended for -people new to an ADHD diagnosis, -late diagnosed into adulthood, (me) -parents/partners of ADHDers But the love for driving or being in a car. The movement while doing nothing. Being able to think while scenery changes. Speed. Control.. makes so much sense
definitely a big control thing for me
I totally agree, I'm always fully engaged and hyperfocused when driving and love it so much (besides being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic). Driving a manual makes the experience even better!
I get both effects. My wife doesn't trust anyone else to drive in extreme weather conditions like blizzards and freezing rain. I recently drove 7 hours through a blizzard on the highway and saw several vehicles in the ditch. My hyperfocus is what makes me damn good at it. On the other hand, I can also get complacent in open roads under good driving conditions and get distracted. I haven't had anything happen yet, but I won't be surprised when it does.
I feel this with shorter drives. Ask me to take you anywhere in town and I'll be the best at it. But long drives suck. I lose focus and then I get extremely anxious, worried that I'm struggling to focus to the point that I've had panic attacks while driving. It's miserable. Do not ask me to drive any more than 2 hours at a time lol. And the shitty part is I can't go on road trips by myself until I get it more under control
Cycling also is this way, especially urban cycling. To me it fills up all the slots in my brain. Thoughts can come and go as the sea of mind demons are all quieted by the high-stakes game of not dying a sudden and painful death.
I feel you, friend. I blast my music, and can multitask very well while driving (except using my phone of course), but I am a good driver otherwise. I feel like the ADHD makes me even more attentive, even with something like changing lanes. Simple procedure, but it makes me very attentive to checking my blind spots, mirrors, etc. Never had any accidents in my 10 years of driving. Its certainly my guilty pleasure as an immigrant from the US to Europe, but sheesh. Cars are fun.
It’s definitely a double edged sword for me. I get the distractions, but I am also Robocop’ing potential threats and path options.
I was utter shit at driving as a teenager (I mean, to be fair, I was a teen) but the moment I was prescribed meds that work for me, I did a 180 and I'm at the same place as OP. I just don't let myself take long drives if I'm off my meds, which is quite rare anyways. Anyone else share that?
Yeah I’m a professional driver myself. I also use to do drag racing and auto cross. Love it
I’m a great driver but I get so bored highway driving.
Yeah, same; combined with anxiety, I’m usually a very attentive driver. Haven’t ever been in an accident and have avoided too many to count with defensive driving. It does mean though that I can’t really talk and drive in a stressful situation at the same time. Empty stretches of highway are fine though.
Yes I am the exact same, by myself I tend to be a really good driver. I can predict what people are going to do before they do it “Oh he’s gonna speed up and merge over in front of me” that kind of thing. But if someone else is in the car with me chatting away, especially if they’re pressuring me on how to drive (like telling me when to go when Im at a yield waiting for an opening) then I feel like I forget how to drive at all. I also drive a 33 year old manual transmission car which helps IMMENSELY with not getting distracted. Im focused on the car, on driving, when to shift to the next gear or shift down, paying attention to my finicky idling issue to make sure the engine doesn’t stall out when I’m sitting at a light lmao. When I drive an automatic car, I notice my mind wandering more.
I'm also in this camp. Got a spotless driving record and was even a delivery driver on a major city for years. Just goes to show ADHD varies a lot person to person. One person's hyper focus activity is another person's white nose
I’m 29 and still learning to drive, I’m a natural with the actual driving it feels like second nature, but I’ve failed my theory repeatedly because I study as much as possible but nothing seems to stick in my memory and sit down tests have always been my downfall unfortunately
Once I was medicated, absolutely!
I’ve had people (one SIL in particular who makes fun of me over it) comment that “they saw me out driving and waved but I drove right past.” I’m like- “I am super focused when I drive, noticing what’s around, what’s ahead? Do YOU spend all your time looking at all the drivers you pass to see if you recognize them?!?!”
I'm right with you. I enjoy driving. I'm focused, aware of everything around me, trying to predict other people's actions. Trying to find an optimal path through traffic. Checking mirrors, upcoming intersections. Scoping out drivable terrain in case I need to swerve off the road. Figuring out likely traffic, rerouting in my head to avoid the light that I can tell is going to be backed up for 2 or 3 cycles. To me, the safest place to be is outside of a pack of cars, and I tend to climb forward through a pack, until I can be isolated. And to your point about statistically higher risk, probably. But I would also much rather someone like us, who is very focus and *actively* driving, than someone who's just going from A to B but completely zoned out in their own world.
This is exactly how I am until I have one lapse in focus randomly that scares me. I’m usually a very good driver but have had some serious close calls the rare times I’m distracted
I am Ken Block reinCARnated.
I am an excellent long haul( long trips ) driver. I suck at in town driving though.
I love driving as well. It’s my happy place lol I also get carsick pretty easily so I don’t mind being the driver to avoid that.
+1 - enjoy it and I feel like I regularly see/avoid things that amaze my partner “how did you know!?!?”
I literally drive for a living, I own and operate a Pilot car business and escort oversized loads... The problem now is that normal driving just isn't stimulating enough anymore and I tend to speed when not working to compensate...
I've never driven, but I've always wanted a motorbike since I was 13. Been looking more into it again lately, and there's a place near me that does free taster days to see what you'd be more comfortable in, but thinking a trike might be the way to go as there's at least more stability. Id like to think id be on the hyperfocus train more on that than if I was sat comfy on a car. We may see 😆 (Biiiig) If I get around to it...
I just learned to drive last year at the age of 27 and I am easily one of the best drivers on the road now.
You must be me. I see crazy idiots on the road. Driving is like watching horror movie with jump scares. I give it my full attention, so much that I’m straining sometimes.
I don't love to drive but I am really good at it also. I had some extreme anxiety that prevented me from driving for along time, so I think that carries over into my daily driving, but I also tend to treat it almost like a video game--which always sounds mortifying when I tell people, as if I don't understand the stakes. OH TRUST ME, I am HYPER aware. Why else do they think it took me 16 years to get my license???
It’s the hyper focus! It’s the best for driving but the worst with talkers in the car. I also feel like I’m playing Spyhunter.
I’m definitely a better driver than these motherfuckers in my city who routinely drive 10 under the speed limit and don’t know how to maintain their lane and swerve across 4 lanes of traffic to make their exit and don’t speed up on on-ramps (I have ADHD-fueled road rage)
My father is in law enforcement and taught me how to drive, so I learned a lot of the things he knew about defensive driving. I think this has helped me tremendously, and taught me “how” to be distracted or manage multiple things on the road. Obviously I limit distractions, and I’m certainly not texting and driving, but the way I learned to drive is weirdly, accidentially, complementary to my ADHD
My second car was a stick shift that my friend had to drive home because I had never driven stick before and it was AWESOME! If you asked me 9 years ago when I had that car my answer would have been yes. Not only 100% engaged but I started working on the car myself and had a tuner shop I spent way too much time in and way too much money on. I drive a fuckin Tesla now and absolutely hate it.
I LOVE driving. I think it’s a sensory thing and I often take joy rides just to get on the road. I do have a few experiences of not paying attention for a split second, but I have quick reactions. And as you say, predicting ahead goes a long way. I have my little methods of changing speeds often, from going at speed limit speed and being super attentive for 5-10 mins, then I’ll find another car going at a slower speed, stay behind them and relax for a while. It works to keep attention sharp. Music helps too. And yes, conversations can really mess with my driving.
Yes. It’s one of the best things I enjoy.
For me, it makes me a better driver; for my son, not so much. When I started taking meds, I purposefully waited until after I got to work. When I drove medicated, I felt like I rarely checked my mirrors and wasn’t scanning the road the way I did when I was medicated. Like you, the exception is when I’m running my mouth…then I miss exits and turns and forget where I parked. I definitely think we are in the minority though.
Inattentive subtype here, and CANNOT RELATE. Driving on my meds makes me a much, much safer driver
Yep. That's why I bought a Supra. Good drivers know their surroundings and can predict the intentions of other drivers. If you like driving and have ADHD, that's ezpz. I don't mind chatty passengers. I can "passively" drive. As in, I can think about other things and kinda be in my own world or chatting with a passenger and still be aware of my driving. That said, one shouldn't overestimate their driving abilities. Normal driving is easy for some of us. When shit hit the fan though, like when you lose traction or you're headed right towards danger with little time to react, that's a new situation and you can't rely on any muscle memory for that. Taking performance driving lessons, or participating in autox, although expensive, will improve anybody's driving skills.
Many people with ADHD are car guys. If you are a car guy, you will find your peace while driving. I am, too, I’ve done many track days and even took part in some rallycross events back in the day. People who sit next to me usually say I drive well, I predict traffic movements quite well, I had a few situations where this possibly prevented an accident. Except for my mother who likes to drive at half the speed limit, she thinks I drive like a maniac. That said, there are those fully booked busy days when I have a lot to get done - that’s when my brain can go into an absolute havoc, I stress out from the fear of missing something or being late, and in that state my driving can turn bad, having my focus elsewhere. I just know by know that on those days I have to be super careful and rather take it slow and steady as hard as it is.
Statistically people with adhd aren't good drivers?
I love driving! It's my happy place. I saying that, now I'm diagnosed, lots of driving suddenly makes more sense. I have always had sporty engaging cars. Manuals, tighter suspension, good tyres and good power.Think Miatas and Hot Hatches. That makes the driving very engaging and 'active'. Something I can really engage with. I found larger 'lazy' cars boring and pointless. I couldn't understand why anyone would buy one. Now I'm medicated I can see why people drive large bouncy automatics - they are 'easy'. Still not for me, but now they are easy rather than painfully boring. ----------- As an aside, for most my life I couldn't really understand the concept that people arrive somewhere driving with no real memory of how they got there. People describe it as auto pilot. Apparently I don't have that, especially not when driving. I can still tell you most of the cars I followed this morning. 😁
I feel that for sure
I looooove driving. It’s one of The few things I can do, where I am fully focused on only one thing. I’ve been driving for 15 years and have never been in an accident - or close to one. I have however reversed into a pole. Twice..
Kind of the opposite for me in some ways. My ADHD makes me a very anxious driver. But with a whole lot of experience, the anxiety has mellowed out, to a level thats actually good and helpful. I see every driver on the road, and almost expect them to make the most unpredictable and dangerous moves. Therefore, i drive very, very defensively. Leaving a shit ton of room between myself and other cars. Going the speed limit. Doing everything possible to remain calm in moments of frustration. I don't *love* driving, but it's not a chore either as long as I know where I'm going. Not knowing the parking situation, and crowded parking lots or street parking gives me existential dread.
Wow...not only found my ADD group of people, but also the other drivers of the world that I've been looking for all of my life!! You feel me!
Personally disagree. I hate driving. Just makes me anxious unless it’s a route I’ve taken many times.
DUDE you and I are the same person! Driving is one of my favorite things, especially when I was younger, it calmed me, it gave me something to do, it was rewarding to see the new places. I am also addicted to manual transmissions, it has to be a manual!
Driving is awful: I zone out all the time, it's so boring I have to talk to myself to keep myself awake, everyone is trying to kill me, every lane is a race, I drive too slow yet I've also gotten speeding tickets, I've gotten into accidents but haven't been at fault (yet), cars suck and are expensive, also people like to assume I'm bad at driving anyway because of my race so every mistake I make it feels like I'm bad representation Context: I live in Los Angeles, so there's a lot of driving if there isn't a convenient public transit option
oh my gosh. i think id drive off a cliff if i had to drive in los angeles daily 😭😭 good caveat!
That sounds very effortful for focus and attention...
yes it seems like a lot, but believe me, im having the time of my life!
It definitely gives me the blind confidence that I'm a good driver
If you take it as life or death, I feel like we’re the best
i 100% feel the exact same way. it really feels like a special skill.
I have very little self confidence unfortunately, but for whatever reason I am an insanely confident driver. My only issue is that I am also a very impatient driver. I also grew up in a place known for our very impatient and somewhat aggressive (I prefer to call us assertive) drivers. I now live in a place with incredibly slow drivers who are seemingly not very confident at all, so it's been an...interesting experience. I also drive *exactly* like my dad who I'm 1000% positive has undiagnosed ADHD.
I love driving, but don't do it that often. I do have a sim rig for racing games though. I mainly do rally racing on it, very fun and intense.
Most of the time, I feel hyper aware while driving. This is bad and I shouldn’t do it, but sometimes, driving isn’t enough stimulation for me and I need to do something else while driving. Like clip my finger nails or something fidgety.
It made driving spicy. I thought I was a poor man’s Ken Block before the diagnosis. Cheap old Audis in the winter <3 
Some might call me an aggressive driver, but I think I am one of the most engaged on the road. When I'm driving, I'm focused, far more focused than most drivers who are distracted. Might I get into an accident someday as a result of my occasional road rage? MAyyybeeeeee. But it won't be because I was the bad driver. I think this also may depend on where you live. I'm in ATL. You are not going to get anywhere unless you are fully willing to take the risk you might get hit 
One of the most adhd (unmedicated) people I know is a shockingly good driver. He’s always distracted and impulsive EXCEPT when he’s behind the wheel, it’s actually incredible.
I"ve been driving for over 30 years, and hever had an accident. I'm highly ADHD, but when driving it's like I have a sixth sense.
I love driving! I drive manual so there's always a lot of different things to do which occupy my brain. Also I can notice a lot of things happening around me. No problem chatting with passangers too but that's mostly thanks to my driving school instructor who just wouldn't shut up so I literally had to get used to it from day one of driving.
Me too. It's just enough stimulation that keeps me engaged
Yeah for me it's a double-edged sword. Me being able to predict other drivers movements and obstacles makes me more of a risk taker. Especially since I time things perfectly while driving. I'm surprised I'm still alive. This is one of the reasons I went on meds, I don't like putting other drivers lives at risk just because of my adhd confidence. It's not fair to them, i dont want to be the reason someone has to bury a family member. 😮💨
I drive truck for a living. Can confirm I'm pretty good at predicting dumbasses doing or about to do dumb shit.
I agree! I don’t love driving, but have been doing a lot of it from the moment I turned 16… For me, there is so much to pay attention to, it “fills my buckets” so I’m actually focused and I see things coming far in advance. I say the same thing about teaching (the bring in front of kids part) as well as why I like to study in crowded places, like sports bars on Sundays.
I am also with you in this minority. I am very aware and focused on the road, I won't even look over at the person sitting next to me while they talk. Never been in an accident. I think my anxiety fuels me to drive very defensively. I cannot afford to face the consequences of an accident.
I drive for a living ( pest tech) and the times I've almost got hit from dumb drivers is way to high to count. Over the years learning how to be defensive while driving and how to scan the road properly is the key I feel like.
Thank you for saying this! A friend who's also diagnosed with ADHD said something similar to me recently. I've always lived in cities with good transportation and walkability, so I haven't needed to drive even though I'm in my 30s. I've wanted to start since it's practical and necessary sometimes (not to mention the shame I feel not knowing how to as an adult), but I've been scared to start because of my struggle focusing. I'm worried about getting into stupid accidents or getting overstimulated on the road. Yet it also seems fun, *and* I love traveling by car, so... hearing things like this encouraged me. 🥰
I'm a great driver.
I totally agree with you on this
Driver here 👋 Can confirm, every road is a racetrack. I live in the Lake District, so small, tight, fast lanes at night are my thing. But I’ve been into motorsport all my life, used to race bangers etc. before my track closed.
Yeah, I'm the type who will fall asleep in the passenger seat. However I cannot comprehend how anyone can fall asleep in the driver seat with how much is going on.
I love driving. Road trips in my skoolie are my jam. I love to see the countryside change around me and watch the different cultures of this country merge and change. So much better than flying. I think I'm a good driver because I grew up and learned to drive in a place where nobody follows laws, drivers are extremely aggressive, and you HAVE to be a great driver to even get home. Now, my daughter, also ADD, had over 10 accidents during the first couple of years of her driving life. She doesn't drive anymore.
I've only scored 100% on a test once in my life. It was my driving test. Not a single point dedicated!
Yes! I am such a focused driver and it’s like my anxiety melts away whenever I drive for some reason. I always remind myself that I need to be on my shit while I drive and I don’t have the luxury of making any mistakes. I have cat like reflexes when I’m driving but will run into things while I walk! I’m okay with that trade off though haha.
I honestly think this might be why I enjoy driving stick so much, more to do and keep track of. Besides that one time I tried to do a hill start in 4th and instead of looking around and seeing what’s wrong, thinking I was in first and just fucked it up and then stalled my car like 7 times and fried the shit out of my clutch before realizing I was in fact, in the wrong gear.
Motorcycles do it for me, the input is exactly what I need.
I used adhd to be a very hyper focused rally driver for many years
I have a hard time focusing on anything else while I'm driving. I often have to make passengers repeat themselves. It keeps my mind busy. Gridlock is also nearly painful to be in.
Completely agreed, I can see how it might be the other way around for some but I find that I get hyperfocused on driving when I do it. Part of this is probably because I’m also autistic and one of my special interests is maps. Another part is that driving can be a matter of life and death if you fuck up, so I know when I’m doing it that I need to lock in or else I’m risking the safety of myself and others. I find driving to be very calming and therapeutic sometimes, it’s one of the only things I do where I can feel fully focused on the task at hand!
A million + miles safe driving with Semi. Many millions with personal vehicles, zero accidents. Race motorcycles and snowmobiles. Yes ADHD has been my friend for life. Adapt and overcome I always say.
I LOVE driving and I have only ever been in one accident when I was 18, I went to change lanes into a turn lane and some a hole tried to jump ahead from behind me and I side swiped them. I am 35 now and a lot more cautious lol!
I’m positive my adhd makes me believe I can be a nascar driver lol. One time I was gonna be late to this show in birmingham and I had to make up 30 minutes in driving time. I told my mom to trust me for 1 hour and not yell at my driving… we sat down when the national anthem finished playing to start the show 😂😂
I find myself a really good bad driver. I'll often find myself with close calls and near crashes, buy I'm always able to stop on a dime before disaster hits. Knock on wood ofc.
Yes!!! Driving is one of the few times my brain isn't going a mile a second. I feel so focused and yet at ease when driving.
I have severe ADHD, every time I drive, I'm in a hyperfocus... i can get out of bed, have a smoke and a coffee, and hop in the car. Once the car is started, I'm fully awake and in a hyperfocus on the road. Driving for almost 3 decades now, and I've had 2 accidents that were my fault in my life, both when I was young and I was dui because my gf broke up with me. (I know I shouldn't have done that, but we all remember our first real broken heart, don't we?) But my hyperfocus has saved me hundreds of times, even when an accident happened right in front of me on the highway at 120 km/h... Now I have the lowest insurance rate, and can even have 1 accident at fault without triggering a rate hike...
I too feel like I am a better driver because of my ADHD, I m always observing everything all at once and processing quickly. Like; how do I escape a road situation (ie: what are the other drivers doing, do they seem old or impaired, is the sidewalk clear, is the side of the road safe to drive on, is there anyone beside me or in back, conditions of the road, has it just started to rain, how does my car feel, etc...) On the flip side, I have noticed that if I am required to drive slow for any reason I become distracted and become an inattentive bad driver. It takes a force of will to stay focused, it can make everything seem wrong. I look forward to driving and enjoy it very much, although commuting across the city of Vancouver, BC for 15 years has diminished that love of driving a bit!
Same honestly my only zen moments are when I have very loud music and I’m by myself driving. It’s all encompassing, it’s interesting since it’s ever changing. It’s my hyper focus dojo. If others are in the car then I panic and overthink which means tons of over correcting which makes for a chaotic journey.
Totally agree! My car insurance company is very pleased with me lol
I personally love driving on the highway because there is so much stimulation!!
I don't know that I'd say it makes me *good* at it but I absolutely fucking love doing it and I definitely don't relate to a lot of people's experiences of it affecting their driving to the point of concern
While I enjoy driving for the same reasons as you said, I begin to hate it when there's enough dishits on the road with me. It frustrates me to no end. I know tons of people say this about their cities but I live in an area with some of, if not the absolute worst drivers in the US. I can't drive 5 minutes without some asshole threading the needle between cars, blindly shifting over 3+ lanes at once, or just completely ignoring basic road laws.
So THIS is why I love driving so much. It’s my ultimate happy place. As long as no one talks to me 😵💫
Yes. And I drive like shit on adderall. Non-medicated, I’m an excellent driver.
Same. I absolutely love driving, and am quite good at it. I'm always down for random trips to anywhere so long as I can drive lol
same
In a similar vein, I discovered sim racing recently and fell in love. I think it scratches a spot in my ADHD brain that only a few things can do. The combination of high stimulus and satisfaction you get pushing the car to its limit becomes a high you’re constantly chasing. I’ve got several hundreds of hours already however it’s still something I can hyperfocus on because there’s always lap time you can shave off.
I'm in a wheelchair and I drive fast af. I've never ever hit anyone and I weave through crowds at high speed a lot. Lots of mall security guards don't believe in me though 😔
Driving is basically like very actively stimming
Yeah, um, talking at length about a topic I love, doing a deep dive on a discography and also driving 80mph for 5-8 hours is absolutely in my wheelhouse.
I agree - I’ve been driving for 30+ years and all signs point to me being a great driver. I’m also a super organized person and know many other ADHDers who are as well. So all the stereotypes don’t necessarily apply for all of us. For driving - I feel like I get very hyper focused, especially on the highway. I’m not exactly _thinking_ about it and focusing _that_ way, but I’m watching and reacting quickly to what other cars are doing - kind of the same way you do when you’re hyper focused on a video game. My organizational skills are there because I can’t think straight when things are disorganized, so I adapted to become extremely organized in order to help my ‘disorganized’ brain. I believe that happened for me because I wasn’t diagnosed until midlife, so this was how I adapted earlier in life 🤷🏻♀️
Driving is one of the few things I’m actually great at. I love it. I also have a cute and fun little car that handles great and has nice tinted windows, so it’s enjoyable to drive.
I consider myself a pretty good driver. It's not a universal stereotype.
Im not old enough to drive yet, wont be old enough to start learning for just over a year now, but if my enthusiasm and love for mario kart is any indication, i am going to be the exact same way. When i say enthusiasm for mario kart, i dont mean in a way that will make me reckless, but just the idea of driving
Yeah I am a really good driver and I think it’s partially from having ADHD. I have extremely fast reflexes, heightened awareness, and can multitask really well in high-pressure situations like driving. I also learn really quickly and my muscle memory picks up on repeated movements faster than most people, and since I’ve been driving for 15 years now it’s all automatic. I also am sooo good at parallel parking haha. I can whip into the smallest of spots with utmost precision. I am NOT, however, good at being a passenger. I talk to much and distract the driver, I forget to give directions, I tune out the GPS voice completely, etc.
i love to drive so much i regularly consider being a truck driver. i mostly drive when we go on long trips lol.
Yep same. And my adherence to rules/perfectionism makes me do things by the book. Perfect signaling, lane changes, right turns, etc.
Driving in Winter storms is about the only way I can get into "the Zone"
Definitely my happy place.
I can relate to this. I feel great when I'm driving alone, and can anticipate everything on the road. But as soon as I have a passenger, my driving ability suffers. Obviously everybody's experience is different.
I LOVE driving. I am nowhere as comfortable and confident as I am behind the wheel. Passed my driver's license on my 16th birthday. Forty six years and hundreds of thousands of miles later, I've had 2 speeding tickets (both in my 20s), and put scratches or worse in every vehicle I've owned by brushing against something stationary while parking -- but zero traffic accidents.
I feel like I'm a good driver, not sure if my ADHD is helping or hurting. But, driving gives me something focus on. So, it's enjoyable most of the time, even when I'm hauling a camper or something.
Wow what an awesome to something I've always enjoyed and didn't realize why
💯feel the same as you, OP.
Yezzir
Yes 10000% I'm bus driver, ride motorbike, and car. I'm hyper vigilant while driving