There are real, research-based concerns that occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), rehabilitation specialists, and driving assessors identify as barriers to driving for autistic teens and adults. Below I’m sharing findings straight from their clinical observations. Keep in mind that each point reflects individual differences rather than judgments about your capability to drive, and then check out the relevant research studies at the end. You know me, I’ve included links to companion articles with actionable steps sprinkled throughout!
1. Cognitive & Executive Function Barriers
Slower attention and hazard perception
Research shows that autistic drivers can be slower to orient to hazards and take longer to detect potential dangers in driving scenes, particularly in socially-relevant situations like pedestrians stepping into the road. These differences relate to attentional processing rather than lack of ability — and they’re measurable in controlled studies using eye tracking and hazard perception tasks.
Executive function and multitasking demands
Driving requires dividing attention between scanning the road, interpreting traffic cues, updating working memory with new information, and planning responses fast.
Imagine checking your mirrors, watching traffic lights, listening for sirens, keeping track of directions, and deciding whether to merge — all at the same time. For some autistic teens and adults, this mental juggling can feel especially tiring.
Many autistic individuals (and clinicians working with them) note that challenges in working memory, multitasking, and processing speed can make these mental demands tiring and slower to execute.
Urgent questions from my readers might be: How can I improve working memory? What does that look like at home? (read my article Things You Can Do Today to Improve Working Memory.)
Theory of Mind and interpreting others’ behavior
Scientific work in driving simulation suggests autistic drivers may approach social hazards differently. Driving often depends on guessing what other people are about to do — like predicting whether someone will change lanes or cross the street. Some autistic drivers approach this differently, which isn’t wrong — it just means these situations may need more practice and clearer strategies. (Read my action plan How to Strengthen Theory of Mind. Psst─it’s never too late but start young if you can!)
2. Sensory & Perceptual Barriers
Sensory overload
Lights, sounds, movement, unexpected reflections, loud vehicles, and rapidly changing visual environments can all contribute to sensory overwhelm for autistic drivers. Studies of transportation use also link sensory overload as a distinct barrier for autistic adults when navigating transit and driving environments.
Visual processing & motor planning
Bright headlights at night. Sudden honking. Flashing emergency lights. Reflections on wet pavement. For many autistic drivers, these aren’t minor distractions — they can feel intense and overwhelming. (See my companion article Tips for Coping With Sensory Overwhelm While Driving. Action steps included, of course!)
And research backs that up, suggesting individuals with higher autistic traits can show differences in perceptual-motor coordination — meaning integrating what they see with how they plan physical movements can take more effort or practice. This has direct relevance to steering, timing lane changes, and spatial awareness tasks while driving.
3. Social & Communication Barriers in Driving Contexts
Interpreting social cues from other drivers
Driving isn’t only mechanical — it’s social: There are unwritten rules; eye contact at four-way stop, reading the body language of pedestrians, anticipating intentions from other drivers’ movements, and responding to non-verbal cues. Multiple studies highlight how social drivers of behavior can be a challenge for autistic learners, not due to lack of intelligence or care, but due to differences in processing social information. For some autistic drivers, these unspoken parts of driving can be the hardest part.
Interactions with authority figures
Occupational therapy clinicians and driving assessors sometimes observe that interactions with law enforcement (where social nuance and communication style matter) can feel stressful or unfamiliar to autistic individuals — even when the driving skills themselves are solid.
Please, please, please, if you do nothing else, sign up for The Wallet Card today! You can find it here on the website of the Disability Independence Group (DIG).
Quoting DIG, here it is in a nutshell: “The Wallet Card Project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and communication between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, and law enforcement agencies. Our mission is to provide tools, training, and resources that empower individuals with disabilities and police officers and other law enforcement personnel to have safe and effective interactions with each other.” (important note, it is for speaking individuals only.)
Situations like being pulled over are stressful, even for someone who drives well. Knowing what to expect and practicing scripts ahead of time can make a big difference.
4. Emotional & Psychological Barriers
Driving-related anxiety & stress
Survey data indicates anxiety about driving, fear of getting lost, fear of accidents, and low confidence are common self-reported barriers among autistic adolescents and young adults. These emotional responses are linked to the complexity and unpredictability inherent in driving environments.
Confidence & readiness to drive
Parents and clinicians often note that lower confidence in the ability to pass driving exams or handle challenging situations can delay practice and licensure, even when the person could learn with the right supports. This isn’t a lack of motivation — it’s a barrier shaped by experience and pressure.
A Strengths-Informed Perspective (warm encouragement here!)
Even with these documented barriers…
- Many autistic teens and adults are excellent drivers once given the right practice supports and adaptations.
- Differences in processing don’t mean inability — they mean tailored training works best.
Therapists specializing in driving rehabilitation are great partners in building confidence, scanning skills, hazard anticipation, and sensory strategies. (Read Dr. Janet’s companion article How Can Scanning Skills Be Improved in Autistic Children, Teens and Adults? )
- Everyone’s journey with driving (or choosing alternative, fulfilling mobility options) is unique — and real support can make it safer, more comfortable, and empowering for autistic teens and adults.
I know that ease in finding an occupational or physical therapist can vary widely by region here in the United States. I have readers from other countries, too, and I’ll admit that I don’t know much about therapies in other countries. (Readers, feel free to message me and let me know!) I hate that resources can be so hard to find in some locales, but don’t worry, I’ll always try to include steps you can take at home, no matter where you live.
I’m a big believer in actionable steps so I hope you’ll browse through the companion articles for helpful tips you can start immediately.
Want to See the Research?
Cognitive & Executive Function Barriers
- Attentional Differences in a Driving Hazard Perception Task in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., Underwood, G., & Ropar, D. (2017). 47(2), 405–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2965-4 - Social and Non-Social Hazard Response in Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(4), 905–917.
Bishop, H. J., Biasini, F. J., & Stavrinos, D. (2017).
- Neuropsychological Predictors of Driving Hazard Detection in Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD.
Child Neuropsychology.
Bednarz, H. M., Kana, R. K., Svancara, A. M., & Stavrinos, D. (2021). 27(6), 739–758. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2021.1908531 - Driving Simulator Performance in Novice Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Executive Functions and Basic Motor Skills
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(4), 1379–1391. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2677-1
Cox, S. M., Cox, D. J., Kofler, M. J., Moncrief, M. A., Johnson, R. J., Lambert, A. E., Cain, S. A., & Reeve, R. E. (2016)
- Brief report: driving and young adults with ASD: parents’ experiences
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(10), 2257–2262.
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1470-7
Cox, N. B., Reeve, R. E., Cox, S. M., & Cox, D. J. (2012).
- Executive function “drives” differences in simulated driving performance between young adults with and without autism spectrum disorder
Child Neuropsychology, 26(5), 649–665.Patrick, K. E., Schultheis, M. T., Agate, F. T., McCurdy, M. D., Daly, B. P., et al. (2020) DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1713311
Sensory & Perceptual Barriers
- Transportation Use and Barriers for Employed and Unemployed Autistic Adults.
Autism in Adulthood, 6(2), 241–246.
Pfeiffer, B., Song, W., Davidson, A., Salzer, M., Feeley, C., & Shea, L. (2024).
- Systematic Review of Factors Affecting Driving and Motor Vehicle Transportation Among People with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(9), 837–846.
Lindsay, S. (2017)
- Sensory Processing in Autism: A Review of Neurophysiologic Findings.
Pediatric Research.
Marco, E. J., Hinkley, L. B. N., Hill, S. S., & Nagarajan, S. S. (2011). 69(5 Pt 2), 48R–54R. - Motor Coordination in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Synthesis and Meta-Analysis
Fournier, K. A., Hass, C. J., Naik, S. K., Lodha, N., & Cauraugh, J. H. (2010).
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(10), 1227–1240.
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-0981-3
Social & Communication Barriers in Driving Contexts
- Attentional Differences in a Driving Hazard Perception Task in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., Underwood, G., & Ropar, D. (2017). 47(2), 405–414. - Neuropsychological Predictors of Driving Hazard Detection in Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD.
Child Neuropsychology.
Bednarz, H. M., Kana, R. K., Svancara, A. M., & Stavrinos, D. (2021). 27(6), 739–758. - Correlates of Police Involvement Among Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Tint, A., Palucka, A. M., Bradley, E., Weiss, J. A., & Lunsky, Y. (2017).
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(9), 2639–2647.
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3182-5
Emotional & Psychological Barriers
- Perceived Driving Difficulty, Negative Affect, and Emotion Dysregulation in Self-Identified Autistic Emerging Drivers
Fok, M., Owens, J. M., Ollendick, T. H., & Scarpa, A. (2022). Frontiers in Psychology, 13 - Dimensions of Self-Reported Driving Difficulty in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults and their Relationship with Autistic Traits
Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., & Ropar, D. (2023). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(1), 285–295 - The Experience of Learning to Drive for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Vindin, P., Wilson, N. J., Lee, H., & Cordier, R. (2021). Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. - A Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults: A Pilot Study
Baker-Ericzén, M. J. et al. (2021). Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 168–178
Strengths & Structured Support
- Licensing Outcomes for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults.
Pediatrics.
Curry, A. E., Metzger, K. B., Carey, M. E., & Power, T. J. (2018). 141(Suppl 2), S134–S141. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-2551G - Scoping review of the driving behaviour of and driver training programs for people on the autism spectrum.
Wilson, N.J., Lee, H.C., Vaz, S., Vindin, P., & Cordier, R. (2018).
Behavioural Neurology, 2018:6842306