Crash Course: ADHD Behind the Wheel
This article is written in partnership with Toyota Quezon Avenue, for the ADHD Society of the Philippines’ National Conference entitled “Metamorphosis: Succeeding with Adult ADHD” held at the Mall of Asia Complex on October 21–22, 2022.
Anyone who knows me knows I love driving long distances. One time, I was driving with Dr. Alexis Reyes, one of the pioneer developmental pediatricians in the Philippines. We had the opportunity to speak together at a school in Batangas. I offered her a ride, and I was fortunate that she said yes. I looked forward to learning more from her by being my usual hyper and talkative self. Instead, it was her who piqued my self-awareness that day by making a statement.
“You know for someone with ADHD you’re quite a safe driver.”
“Why thank you doc!” Obviously, I was quite proud of the compliment she gave me. Her statement was not unmerited, as many of my friends who also had ADHD were, to put it mildly, scary on the road. The truth is that in the past, I wasn’t a careful driver at all either. It was a moment of reflection for me as I introspectively told the story to Dr. Reyes.
It was my sophomore year in college. I was at home frustrated with schoolwork. I had just come off a very disappointing freshman year where I academically, socially and emotionally just couldn’t keep up. It was just the middle of the term but I was already burnt out. This time, however, I had the chance to finally get my first A grade in a subject I was doing reasonably well in. However, I had trouble with my group mates which I thought would compromise my grade. I remember being pushed to tears to volcanic levels of anger, feeling like I could just blow up at any time.
It was then that I got a phone call from my mom.
“Mama yes why?”
“John where are you?”
“I’m here at home why?”
“It’s your grandmother’s birthday! Did you forget again?”
I held my tongue, caught my breath and in a tensioned voice, I informed my mom that I would be there. Big mistake. Bringing all this emotion with my situation, I packed my laptop, my head still in the presentation, the passing deadline and my precious A grade hanging in the balance. I wanted to be responsible so I thought I could just shrug this off. Again, big mistake. I got in the car, turned on the ignition and floored the gas pedal.
Again, BIG MISTAKE.
What should have been a 10 minute drive from Marcos Highway to Industrial Valley in Marikina turned into an accident that could have killed me. I barely remember what happened. I do remember one of the drivers I crashed into (YES, more than one) asking me if I was drunk. Well, I wasn’t drunk but I may as well have been. Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of “Driven to Distraction” and “ADHD 2.0” calls this a problem with our DMN (Default Mode Network). Basically, when something is turned on in the ADHD brain it can’t be turned off. My emotions couldn’t have been turned off. I was in no shape to drive. I should have known better.
What made it real to me aside from the horrific traffic I caused, was standing on the side of the road looking down from the bridge into the Marikina River. A few more feet and I could have crashed through the barricade and into the deep water. I might have died just because I wanted that A!
Big mistakes have a way of rewiring even the most stubborn of ADHD brains. That was about 14 years ago. Since then, I’ve not had a single road accident. On that drive with Dr. Alexis Reyes, I learned why I drove safe and continue to do so.
People often think the problem with ADHD is solely paying attention in the classroom, or doing homework and staying still. But there are real societal problems affected by ADHD especially once we are adults. Some of the major ones include addiction, workplace issues and the like. But something as important and crucial as driving can also be affected. I wonder, without this self-awareness, how many people with ADHD actually died of car crashes?
We don’t even have to look too far. The most published and perhaps most famous ADHD doctor in the world is Dr. Russell Barkley. He had a fraternal twin brother, Ron, who died at the age of 56 in a car crash. Dr. Barkley wrote “That accident can be attributed to his ADHD and its impact on his driving habits — speeding, risk-taking, distractibility, use of alcohol, and disdain for the seat belt.”
Guess who wasn’t wearing a seat belt either on the day of my accident? I wasn’t a man of faith yet at that time, but even then I knew how incalculably blessed I was. I was able to learn this lesson the hard way and still be alive. Others are not so fortunate.
I also remember Vicente Rubio, a Filipino-American coach and mentor from New York City with autism spectrum disorder who worked with a good amount of clients with ADHD. He had this awesome ritual — a rite of passage, after he coached young men into getting their driver’s license. He would take a sword and ceremoniously usher them into manhood like a Queen would Knight someone. He would then hand them the car keys in front of family and friends who would be applauding and cheering him on to his new life of independence and responsibility.
Driving is a serious skill. It can literally be a matter of life and death. Kudos to Coach Rubio for this ingenious method that helps people with ADHD treat driving with the reverence it deserves. I believe that this allows the ADHD brain to rewire without the dangerous lesson of a car crash.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to address the driving safety issues for people with ADHD. This article will not delve into that, as what works differs on a case-to-case basis. I do hope that I’ve made the case that it’s important to think of ADHD in every aspect of life — especially one as essential as driving.
Today, I’m the proud owner of a Toyota Hilux 2021. This is the first pick-up I’ve owned and I’m probably sticking to Hiluxes for the rest of my life. Hopefully, I will be blessed to someday own the Hilux Conquest 4×4 for nature camping trips with my wife Julz and daughters Jordyn and Jaycie.
Written by Fiel John Meria for Toyota Quezon Avenue, one of our VIP Sponsors.
Sources
Barkley, R. (2021, September 6). My Brother Died in a Car Crash Because of His ADHD. Additude. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.additudemag.com/car-accidents-personal-essay-adult-adhd/
