Processing Information: Running Red Lights!

[ARD]

Dear All

I recently had an incidence while driving where I (nearly) went through a red light (luckily stopped by my partner yelling!), later on I nearly went across a roundabout when someone was coming.

Now these alone would be cause for concern, but equally worrying is that I didn't realise what was going on, that I was too tired (early morning), or stressed, or distracted (car full of family) to be driving.

 

I have always had a problem at lights often stopping at green (but am not color blind)..can anyone advise, is this a processing problem?

How do I realise when I am not in a fit state to drive? Anyone else had a similar problem which they have overcome?

 

Thanks

Andrew

dx AS

[Tally]

Running red lights and jumping out on roundabouts are issues which could result in people being harmed, and you being prosecuted and having your driving license withdrawn. I think you need to think very carefully about whether you need to surrender your license before anyone gets hurt.

[Ian Jordan]

 

You need specialist advice on this one as there a lot of things that could be going on - visual or visual processing.

As some of them may be of clinical importance it is ESSENTIAL that you get these checked in the near future.

[chris54]

Dear All

I recently had an incidence while driving where I (nearly) went through a red light (luckily stopped by my partner yelling!), later on I nearly went across a roundabout when someone was coming.

Now these alone would be cause for concern, but equally worrying is that I didn't realise what was going on, that I was too tired (early morning), or stressed, or distracted (car full of family) to be driving.

 

I have always had a problem at lights often stopping at green (but am not color blind)..can anyone advise, is this a processing problem?

How do I realise when I am not in a fit state to drive? Anyone else had a similar problem which they have overcome?

 

Thanks

Andrew

dx AS

By stating publicly ( on this forum) that you have a problem staying focused on what is going on around you when you are driving, you could find yourself in breach of the law just by getting behind the wheel of a car.

We all have miner lapses of concentration when driving, but you need to seriously consider if you should be driving at all. Could you live with causing a serious accident and injury.

As far as recognising if you are unfit to drive, You just told you that very thing.

[Juno20]

Hi ARD,

 

I am a driving instructor and am also qualified in teaching people with disabilities. I work part time at a centre that teaches and asseses people who are or have become disabled through illness or injury.

 

The centre i work for is part of a group of centres nationwide run by a charity that help to keep people on the road safely.

 

Part of what we do is assess people on behalf of the DVLA to asertain weather or not they are safe to continue driving. Our aim is not to get people off the road but to help people overcome there problems so that hopefully they can continuento drive safely.

 

The assessments are extremely thorough going through physical and cognitive tests, and finally an on road assesment.

 

I would suggest that if you are at all concerned about you fitness to drive you should refer yourself to one of these centres to be assessed by a profesional.

 

It is highly unlikely that they would find you unfit to drive however they may be able to find out exactly where your weakneses lie and help you to overcome or work on these isssues thus making you a safer drivier.

 

If you would like any more info on the charity just PM me.

 

 

 

 

[justine1]

Running red lights and jumping out on roundabouts are issues which could result in people being harmed, and you being prosecuted and having your driving license withdrawn. I think you need to think very carefully about whether you need to surrender your license before anyone gets hurt.

I agree with Tally.Also if you should never drive if you are tired.If this was a "one off" it probably was cause you tired.If not you need to see your GP,maybe visual or even epilipsy,as you may be having small blackouts.Either way you need to get hep now and please,please dont drive if you are tired!

[ARD]

Hi

Thank you for all you replies so far, I understand your concerns about the harm that could be caused, which is why I am trying to identify the cause of the issue

Just to put this into context, I have been driving for over 30years now, probably a minimum of 15,000 per year, and have never caused anyone any injury, I have had the odd knock here or there (never by running red lights), but, for instance, have only had 1 slight bump in last 6 years.

Conversely I would not say this "lapses in concentration" (or whatever it was) is a one off, rare events I believe, but my main concern is to try and identify when/why it happened so I can avoid those time. Juno20, thanks for your post, something I will investigate

Edited January 16, 2010 by ARD

[Tally]

Good driving is not just about avoiding crashes. It's also about your passengers and other road users feeling safe around you. I have to say that if I was a passenger with a driver who ran red lights, or a pedestrian trying to cross the road, I would be frightened by that kind of driving. The fact that your partner felt the need to shout at you to stop suggests that she was scared.

 

Everybody has occasional lapses of concentration, but your first post did seem to suggest that it was not a rare occurrence. This may account for the replies - certainly my own was because I thought this happened often.

[Karen A]

Hi

Thank you for all you replies so far, I understand your concerns about the harm that could be caused, which is why I am trying to identify the cause of the issue

Just to put this into context, I have been driving for over 30years now, probably a minimum of 15,000 per year, and have never caused anyone any injury, I have had the odd knock here or there (never by running red lights), but, for instance, have only had 1 slight bump in last 6 years.

Conversely I would not say this "lapses in concentration" (or whatever it was) is a one off, rare events I believe, but my main concern is to try and identify when/why it happened so I can avoid those time. Juno20, thanks for your post, something I will investigate

 

Hi.I am not an expert on ASD and driving.However I did have a few thoughts.

I do not know how old you are.However as you have been driving for over thirty years I gather you most be over 45.

If the difficulties you are experiencing are new I think it very unlikely that they are ASD related or processing issues.

These sorts of difficulties if related to processing due to a developmental disability [AS,dyspraxia for example] would always have been there.I would not expect them to develop after such a long period of driving.Even if you were not aware of the issues I would have thought your family would have noticed.

I wonder whether it might be a good idea to talk to your GP and describe the changes in your driving.

Also mention any other difficulties with concentration,organisation or planning.

I am a qualified nurse although I am not currently registered to practice due to home commitments.

I think that there are some medical conditions that could first show themselves in changes in driving ability and concentration or reaction times so it might be worth investigating further just to rule these out.

Karen.