Problems with Driving.. | ADHD Information

Sometimes I forget where I am going, but usually remember pretty quickly.  I have also at times forgotten paperwork for a job and had to turn back and I'm sure everyone has left a drink or something on their roof.  Been there, done that a few times.  Once I was actually able to pull over and save my coffee because when I went to take a sip and it wasn't there in the car I remembered where I'd put it.  I've actually been in a few accidents too, as a result of my not being aware of everything around me.  When I was much younger and didn't know I had ADD I did some really stupid things.  You've heard of doing things backwards, well I sure did.  It seems most of my goof ups were in reverse . I once backed into a truck parked directly across from the driveway I was pulling out of.  Even though I was at fault, I still in my own mind partially blame the other person for parking there to begin with.  I can't stand when people do that.

One of the worst accidents I had was being in the wrong lane, realizing it, and deciding to back up to go into the correct lane without looking behind me.  I backed right into someone.  Thank goodness we both were hardly moving on impact and no one was hurt. Just a little damage to the vehicles.  Those were the days when people tried not to involve the insurance companies, got estimates on damage and paid in cash for damages.  I was lucky.  No police, no insurance company involved.  Just me and the other driver.  Of course my bank account took a hit but it was all over and done with in a matter of a couple of months.   Something I will never ever forget though. 

I am much more conscientious now about looking around me before I make any move.  What seems to really bother me lately are traffic lights.  I have actually found side roads on the way to my one job so I avoid lights.  I seem to have the problem of extreme impatience with lights.  Sometimes it takes a little longer to get to my destination but it's worth it not to have to sit and get aggravated at a light.  You would think the older I get the less they'd bother me but I feel like it gets worse every year.   I'm really beginning to hate driving but it's something I need to do to get from point A to point B so I do what I can to make the ride just a little easier.  Dee
The small town where I live used to have just one stop light. After I leanred to drive they put in two more. I still treat them as stop signs most of the time, if i see them at all. I used to think it was just habit, but the lights have been around longer than I was driving before before they were there.

I am a notorious green light stopper.

But for the most part I never get lost and always know where I am. I rarely miss turns and exits. But I am a very spatial thinker and am very good at correlating where I am visually with where I am in space. YOu could say I'm kind of an idiot savant when it comes to this. So I don't have those kind of problems driving.

And I like to look at things while I drive. I like to see what kind of buildings are in the area. Even in my hometown I am constantly seeing new things that i have nevr noticed before.

My biggest problem with driving is my extreme impatience. I go berzerk if someone is in front of me driving the speed limit. I go even more bezerk if someone pulls out in front of the speed limit driver and goes slower. THe more cars in front of me the less likely I will be able to pass.

You want to know the really funny thing? Well, I'll tell you anyway. If no one's in front of me I usually drive the speed limit.

I have the same problems in crowds. I can't stand when people randomly stop in front of me. I fight the urge to shove them out of the way. I also hate when people step out in front of me from somewhere and don't notice or even say excuse me.

And I know most people don't like these things, but i have totally socially unacceptable urges that I can barely contain. And I am not a violent person and ususally don't regard people in this way, only when they inhibit my movement.

Dont worry I am learning to drive it had taken me quite a while! Today on my lesson, I completely missed a small roundabout, panicked whilst over it and swung to the left for the no reason. My instructor said she cannot understand why I am so impulsive!

Drivng is hard for us, so much to think about. I cried on my lesson Monday, purely because I was so frustrated with my ADD holding me back from learning something so vital to my lifestyle!! x

I drive on "Auto-Pilot" alot, and I have done all of the above.  I have even sat in the left turn lane at a red light, and waited for the oncoming traffic to clear, and then turned before the light turned green!  I'm sure the drivers that were waiting to cross the intersection loved this!  I constantly drive past intersections where I need to turn, and end up driving around the block.  One day, I was going to my daughter's school to pick her up for a doctor's appointment out of town, and turned out of our driveway in the opposite direction.  I finally realized that I was driving to the appointment, but without her!

I am always "losing" my car on parking lots.  I have even thought on several occasions that it had been stolen when I have come out of a different door at larger stores!

I used to be especially dangerous because I would listen to books on tape and have no memory of where I had been or how I got there!

I've also gone to the grocery store, bought my groceries and driven home without them and not noticed until it was time to cook dinner.

Red lights are only stop signs.

I can turn left on red at one way streets.

I "wake up" and don't have any idea where I am or where I am going and I'm not senile or have Alzheimer's.  I just know when I left there was really a good reason.

 

 

 

After years of frustration, I gave up and accepted the fact that "taking the scenic route" is just the way I get somewhere.  I double the time that someone else says it should take to get there.  That way I have time to miss any number of turns, wind up on the completely opposite end of town, explore unknown territory and still only show up where I am supposed to be only a little late.  *grinProblems with driving?  Oh Yah!!!  My fourteen yr old son loves to make fun of my distracted  driving.

My ADD causes some issues when I drive..

first I can't seem to notice road sings, things like left lane turns left, I totally miss them, It's just when I am driving I need my focus forward, so reading signs on the side become difficult.

Second I get lost in Daydreams as I drive, sometimes I miss my exit, or space out a bit. If its a good daydream, i will sometimes drive around the block to finish it, weird hunh.

I always forget where I park my vehicle, and wander around like and idoit at stores until I find it.

I wonder if anyone else struggle with this, I can't seem to fix it, the meds only help tone it down a bit.

Dave2u4now38818.7798263889I could just say Dito and I think I will Dito.  Let me add a couple more

When I wake up from my "daydream" I'm lost

I sometime stop at speed limit signs.

I sometime drive through stop signs.

Coming home after work, I drive by my house several times a week.

However, my meds do help some.  I don't seem to get totally lost as often.  Once going to the lake from my house I ended up in Oklahoma.  The sad thing is I live about 2 hours from Oklahoma , but I live on the lake.

i stop at green lights, that's scary for the people behind me!!