Driving with Schizophrenia: Tips for Handling Stress and Helping to Build Confidence

In many parts of the world, if you're stable and receiving treatment, you can drive with schizophrenia. Erica Crompton shares her journey of getting back on the road after a 10-year break and provides practical tips for others in similar situations. She emphasizes building confidence, selecting the right car, and driving safely while enjoying the freedom that comes with being behind the wheel.

When my late grandmother, Margaret, passed away, I knew I wanted to use my inheritance to visit my family more often. But with cabs and Uber trips costing me a lot each month, I knew I needed to buy my own car. Even though I hadn't driven for 10 years.

Driving isn't always easy when you've been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Many of us struggle with challenges such as managing stress and tackling low confidence. But once you learn to manage stress while driving, you will feel more confident behind the wheel. The benefits of driving make all the extra effort worthwhile. 

Driving has dramatically improved my life. It has reduced my costs from a few hundred pounds (GBP£) a month on cabs to a more manageable two-figure amount. I can now easily go to my doctor's appointments, attend group therapy sessions, or visit my mother for hugs!

 

5 steps to driving safely with schizophrenia 

1. Check your local laws and talk to your doctor or psychiatrist to see if you can drive

As a UK driver with a severe mental illness like schizophrenia, I needed to let the authorities know about my condition before they gave me my driving license. They then spoke to my psychiatrist to confirm my fitness to drive. 

If you don't need to report to your licensing authority where you live, it's still wise to consult your psychiatrist or doctor. You can discuss whether driving might be a good option for you.

I'm glad there's a protocol to keep the roads safe. There have been times when I'm in the middle of an episode of psychosis, and it may not be safe for me to drive – I’d hate to cause a traffic accident.

2. Choose your car wisely

I started my journey with an hour-long "refresher session" to ensure I was safe driving on the road, which went well.

Then I started researching cars – what could I afford? Which ones were cheap to run and cost-effective to insure? I opted for a small, second-hand Fiat Panda in a fetching canary yellow colour.

3. Find coping strategies for stressors on the road

Schizophrenia presents some unique challenges in a car, especially with other drivers on the road. Firstly, the traffic and all its loud noises can become overwhelming. To help with this, I open my window a bit and feel the breeze on my face. This distracts me from feeling overstimulated without compromising my driving.

I'm a slow and cautious driver. Sometimes, other drivers try to get me to speed up by tailgating. This makes me more stressed and causes me to drive even more carefully.

To keep my stress levels down, I maintain a steady pace and tilt my rearview mirror slightly. Doing this helps a lot, particularly at night when the lights of nearby cars can be dazzling.

4. Know your limits; don’t push too hard

With all this in mind, I must admit that driving can be a little stressful. I tend to stick to routes I know in and around the town where I live. These are the necessary journeys: to the pharmacy, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, and visiting local friends and family. I can map out a trip on my smartphone to get directions for further afield.

Before pulling off my drive, I always take five minutes to settle any anxieties and intrusive thoughts. Checking I can see out of all my mirrors and that I have enough gas usually reassures me before I head off on a journey.

I've learnt to know my limits, and I'm not comfortable with motorways (highways or freeways in the US) or distances of more than 30 minutes.

5. Build up that confidence! 

For people with schizophrenia, low confidence is often an issue, but we need to be confident on the road. To build up my skills and savvy, I started making morning journeys to see my mother at 5 a.m.!

She's a 30-minute drive away along a busy dual carriageway (or a divided highway to US folk). Yet these roads are always empty then.

I'd return home the next day at 5 a.m., driving into the sunrise and enjoying my newfound freedom and quality time with my mother.

I've kept up with my habit of driving during the early hours. With my disrupted sleep – something many people with schizophrenia may be familiar with – I'm often on the road at a silly time in the morning to avoid traffic.

In a way, I'm making the most of my insomnia. And, at a time when there are no other drivers on the road to contend with, the drive is exceedingly enjoyable.

Sources (infographic)

1. Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2008. Medical Fitness to Drive and a Voluntary State Reporting Law (PDF)
2. Harris County Medical Society, n.d. Reporting Duties
3. Shouse California Law Group, 2024. Can My Doctor Get My Driver's License Revoked?
4. GOV.UK n.d. Schizophrenia and Driving
5. GOV.UK, n.d. Schizophrenia and Driving
6. GOV.UK, n.d. General Information: Assessing Fitness to Drive
7. European Commission, 2025. The Commission Welcomes Provisional Agreement on Modernised Driving Licences Rules
8. CIECA, 2019. CIECA Report Medical Fitness to Drive Psychiatric Illness / Mental Health (PDF).

The information presented is solely for educational purposes, not as specific advice for the evaluation, management, or treatment of any condition.

The individual(s) who have written and created the content and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence, or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen.

NPS-ALL-NP-01556 JUNE 2025