Driving Tips for the Neurodivergent

Let’s talk about something that plenty of people with mental illness struggle with for a variety of reasons: driving. Hurling a metal death-trap at highway speeds while other people/cars are nearby can be a scary thing. Sometimes we don’t trust our perceptions enough to be behind the wheel, but oftentimes, it’s just a flat-out anxiety-inducing experience that some of us try to avoid. Here are a few tips to consider if driving is something that you struggle with.

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First,

There is no shame in not driving. We expect people who have been drinking to recognize that they cannot trust their perceptions at that time and to stay off the road for the safety of themselves and others. Why should we treat other circumstances any differently? If you don't feel safe behind the wheel, that is a good enough reason to not drive. You are making a responsible decision that protects you and those around you. It sucks that those of us in the United States don't always have reliable public transportation. However, ride sharing/car pooling, Uber/Lyft, and biking/scootering are all becoming accessible, and sometimes preferred, options. Think if yourself as ahead of the eco-consciousness curve.

1. Don’t drive while anxious or under stress

This one is a no-brainer. If you’re not in a good headspace you’re at a much higher risk of causing an accident. If you need to be late to an appointment, pull over on the side of the road for a breather, or find someone else to drive you, so be it. A quick text or call to let someone know that you may be a few minutes late will take so much pressure off of you. Be responsible and know your limits and trust the judgment of others if they tell you it’s an issue. I’ve been told that my driving is terrifying when I’m anxious, something I didn’t realize at first but I now take into consideration whenever I get behind the wheel.

2. Determine safe driving times for yourself

I try to run errands outside of rush hour if at all possible. I also generally avoid driving at night since that’s when it seems to stress me out the most. I only drive when I absolutely have to if I’m unmedicated.

3. Get a medical alert card

If your mental illness can leave you in a compromised state it may be a good idea to carry a medical alert card in your wallet. In the event you get pulled over, present it with your license. It may help ease suspicions that you’re under the influence or hiding something if you’re acting strange or having trouble following orders. Some other response cards may come in handy if you tend to go non-verbal, too.

4. Find parking before you go

I don’t know about you, but I hate driving to new places. If I don’t know the parking situation, I flat out won’t go unless I have to. I use Google Maps' street view to scope out the parking situation before I leave the house. If you’re going somewhere busy where you know you’ll have to pay for parking, use the app Best Parking to find and pay for parking before you even leave the house so you know exactly where you’re going and don’t have to wander endlessly looking for a garage. It can also save you a ton of money. Booking the same garage through that app can be half the price of booking it in person on the spot. (This isn't an ad and there may be a better app out there, but this is the one I'm familiar with!)

5. Park in the same spot

I try to park in the same place every time I visit somewhere I go to often. I try to pick one row, one streetlight, one garage level, whatever, that I park near. I lose my car a lot less frequently that way. If I do happen to forget exactly where I parked, I’ve at least narrowed the options down considerably. If you're going somewhere new, ask Siri (or Google?) to remember where you parked. If you get turned around you can ask Siri where your car is and it will lead you back to it.

6. Remove the back seat headrests to ease your paranoia

I hate looking in my rearview mirror and jumping because my brain tells me that the back seat headrest is actually a person sitting behind me. Just remove it, as long as there are no passengers in the back seat. It’s a safety risk to be in a car seat without them, so never actually remove them from your car so that you can pop them back on when needed.

7. Fold down your back seats or passenger seat

I drive a hatchback and so keeping my seats down ensures that I can see the entirety of my car from the driver's seat, which also eases my paranoia. If you are transporting anything in the back of your car though, please put them on the floor or put the seats back up so there is a barrier between you and the items. If you slam your brakes those things will keep moving forward and can seriously injure you if they hit you. I once had the wind knocked out of me when a Keurig machine I was taking into my office launched itself into the back of my seat when I slammed my brakes at a yellow light. Whoops.

8. Bonus: Get a car trash can

Say goodbye to apologizing to every passenger that has to sit with their feet in a pit of empty water bottles and fast food wrappers. Get one that hangs over the back of your passenger-side car seat (or just use a plastic bag) so you have a dedicated place to put your trash. I never thought I'd be the person with a semi-clean car for as long as I lived, but this seemed to do the trick. I can reach it while driving and the one I have is water proof to prevent leaking. Emptying it out once every so often instead of every time I leave my car is so much easier.

Happy driving!