People with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might experience difficulties while driving, for instance, related to hazard perception. These difficulties may be related to cognitive issues (internal) such as attention-shifting, sequential performance, and multitasking. Possibly related to these issues, some people with ASD experience stress and anxiety while driving. Among other reasons, stress could relate to the roadway environment and infrastructure design, e.g., sensory overload due to lighting conditions. Yet, the relationship between roadway environment and infrastructure and driving experiences of people with ASD is somewhat overlooked in previous research. This study aimed to (1) explore how people with ASD experience roadway environment/infrastructure while driving (2) identify coping strategies to deal with interfering elements related to roadway environment/infrastructure. There were twelve participants (mean age: 34.8, of which 66.7% were female), semi-structured interviews to examine the appraisal of roadway environment and infrastructure. The interviews were analyzed based on a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Each participant reported both positive (e.g., environment and infrastructure can be supporting, enhance predictability) and negative appraisals (e.g., stress, anxiety) to roadway environment/infrastructure. Various elements such as light, noise, and, being rushed caused additional pressure on (1) the driving performance (e.g., driving too slowly, not noticing important elements), (2) traffic analyzing skills (e.g., difficulties in overseeing new situations), (3) and the efficient application of traffic rules. The participants described different coping mechanisms to deal with the influence of interfering elements; for example, alternative transport means or adjusting behavior (e.g., switch off radio, early departure). This demonstrates that besides internal factors such as attention, external factors like roadway environment and infrastructure can also influence the driving experience of ASD drivers, potentially leading to driving-related stress and anxiety. Policymakers could consider the current findings when designing new guidelines and roadway environment and infrastructure design principles.

自闭症谱系障碍症（ASD）的人在驾驶时可能会遇到困难，例如，与危害感知有关。这些困难可能与认知问题（内部）有关，例如注意力转移，顺序表现和多任务处理。可能与这些问题有关，一些患有ASD的人在开车时会感到压力和焦虑。除其他原因外，压力可能与道路环境和基础设施设计有关，例如，由于光照条件而引起的感官超载。然而，以前的研究在一定程度上忽略了道路环境与基础设施以及ASD驾驶经验之间的关系。这项研究旨在（1）探索患有ASD的人在开车时如何体验道路环境/基础设施（2）确定应对策略以应对与道路环境/基础设施相关的干扰因素。有十二名参与者（平均年龄：34.8，其中66.7％为女性）进行了半结构化访谈，以评估对道路环境和基础设施的评估。基于现象学的诠释学方法对访谈进行了分析。每个参与者都报告对道路环境/基础设施的正面（例如，环境和基础设施可以提供支持，增强可预测性）和负面评估（例如，压力，焦虑）。光，噪音和被冲撞等各种因素对（1）行驶性能（例如，行驶太慢，（2）交通分析技能（例如，在监督新情况方面的困难），（3）以及交通规则的有效应用。参与者描述了应对干扰因素影响的不同应对机制。例如，其他运输方式或调整行为（例如，关闭无线电，提早出发）。这表明，除了注意力等内部因素之外，道路环境和基础设施等外部因素也会影响ASD驾驶员的驾驶体验，并可能导致与驾驶相关的压力和焦虑。政策制定者在设计新指南以及道路环境和基础设施设计原则时可以考虑当前的发现。（3）交通规则的有效应用。参与者描述了应对干扰因素影响的不同应对机制。例如，其他运输方式或调整行为（例如，关闭无线电，提早出发）。这表明，除了注意力等内部因素之外，道路环境和基础设施等外部因素也会影响ASD驾驶员的驾驶体验，并可能导致与驾驶相关的压力和焦虑。政策制定者在设计新指南以及道路环境和基础设施设计原则时可以考虑当前的发现。（3）并有效应用交通规则。参与者描述了应对干扰因素影响的不同应对机制。例如，其他运输方式或调整行为（例如，关闭无线电，提早出发）。这表明，除了注意力等内部因素之外，道路环境和基础设施等外部因素也会影响ASD驾驶员的驾驶体验，并可能导致与驾驶相关的压力和焦虑。政策制定者在设计新指南以及道路环境和基础设施设计原则时可以考虑当前的发现。替代运输方式或调整行为（例如，关闭无线电，提早出发）。这表明，除了注意力等内部因素之外，道路环境和基础设施等外部因素也会影响ASD驾驶员的驾驶体验，并可能导致与驾驶相关的压力和焦虑。政策制定者在设计新指南以及道路环境和基础设施设计原则时可以考虑当前的发现。替代运输方式或调整行为（例如，关闭无线电，提早出发）。这表明，除了注意力等内部因素之外，道路环境和基础设施等外部因素也会影响ASD驾驶员的驾驶体验，并可能导致与驾驶相关的压力和焦虑。政策制定者在设计新指南以及道路环境和基础设施设计原则时可以考虑当前的发现。