Driving behaviors in adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Researchers asked licensed drivers with autism about their real-world driving. They compared answers to drivers without autism.

People filled out surveys on crashes, tickets, and trouble they felt behind the wheel.

Drivers with autism said they had more accidents, more tickets, and more worries while driving. The differences were small but steady.

Chee et al. (2017) watched the same groups on actual roads. They saw the same struggles with tricky moves, yet found drivers with autism followed traffic rules better. Self-report and on-road data line up: maneuvers are the weak spot, not rule knowledge.

Reimer et al. (2013) ran a driving simulator one year earlier. Heart rate and eye-tracking showed stress and different gaze patterns under load. The 2014 survey findings now confirm those small simulator signs show up as real tickets and crashes on the street.

Anthony et al. (2020) tested brand-new drivers. Simulator errors and anxiety were large; on-road gaps were smaller. Together the studies map a path: start with anxiety control and cognitive load practice, then move to quiet roads.

Transition plans often skip driving. This paper says you should ask about it. Add two questions to your intake: "Have you had tickets or crashes?" and "Do you feel stressed while driving?" If the answer is yes, link the client to a driver specialist who can rehearse maneuvers and coping skills before more violations or accidents pile up.