#daydreaming about exploring alien planets has got me through many 13-hour drives

[rhysintherain]

Okay, having driven for more or less half my life with ADHD, here's my advice:

GPS is your friend. If your phone is too distracting, get a Garmin or something for your dash, you can get them cheap used.

If you do use your phone, put it in a proper phone mount on the dash.

Double check laws in your area and your license restrictions to make sure you're allowed to use either of these. If not, you can always make your passenger your navigator.

Music/podcasts/audiobooks are also your friend. Sometimes it helps keep your eyes on the road if your brain has something else to think about, especially on long trips.

If you're new and nervous, start out quiet. No chatty passengers, no loud music, no audio programs you need to focus to listen to. You can use the above advice once you're more comfortable and less overwhelmed.

Falling asleep at the worst times can be a symptom of ADHD. If you feel your attention drifting or feel tired, find a place to park and read/play phone games/call somebody and talk for a while until you feel awake again. I find this passes in a half hour or so and I can get back on the road.

What was that you just saw on the side of the road? NOTHING, that's what it was. It's behind you now. It doesn't exist. Do not look over your shoulder to see it better, do not think about it, move on. This takes some practice, but distracting yourself with shit that doesn't matter means you're not looking at the shit that does.

Make sure everything is secured and where you need it before you start your car. Phone in the holder, headphones plugged in to charge, coffee in the cup holder, bag behind the seat where it won't flop around, etc. You don't need to be doing that stuff while in traffic. If you're prone to forgetting to do these things, give yourself a little mental checklist before you start the engine.

While you're learning to drive, narrate everything you do. This will keep processes and sequences straight in your head and make sure you actually do all the steps. It's also great for driving tests, because it tells the instructor you know what process to use and you're doing it, even if they're looking at their clipboard and don't notice you check your mirror on a turn or something.

Look, I hate that this last one is some of my top advice, but. The thing that most improved my driving, after 18 years, an automotive career driving other people's cars several times a day, and a road trip up the highway where they filmed ice road truckers. Was starting ADHD medication. Which probably won't help everyone, but it magically made focusing on the road, a thing I'd fought to do every day I'd been driving, effortless. I was already a good driver before I got a prescription, but medication made driving 80% lower effort for me, and totally got rid of my falling asleep on long drives problem.

So, I have pretty bad ADHD (and def maybe have undiagnosed autism) and I have to learn to drive. Im 20 and am nervous that I wont be able to learn because I have difficulty focusing on driving and remembering to look before I cross lanes. Any tips?

Sent 27th May~

I’m in the exact same situation at the minute! I’ve been learning to drive for… a while, and it’s not going as well as I’d like - I don’t really have much advice unfortunately. I always drink some caffeine before a lesson, and it does help a bit. I also always repeat directions I’ve been given out loud, because the ADHD short term memory issues have previously meant that I’ve gotten to a roundabout and forgotten which way I’m supposed to be turning.

You do get better at it, though. It’s one of those things that takes practice—the basic things start to become second nature after a while.

If anyone has any tips, please leave it in the comments/reblogs!