Know to drive, for me, gives a feeling of being independent. It surely makes one’s life easier. Whether you have to rush to some place urgently or step out late at night just to grab your favorite ice cream, if you know how to drive, you can just pick up the keys and leave. I guess it’s easier said than done. There are people who can drive but prefer not to. Fear, they say, keeps them off the road. The deadliest fear is involuntarily pressing accelerator when you had to apply immediate brakes. This can have fatal consequences thus leading up to other fear of killing or injuring someone on the road. A few others get scared of the vehicles passing by them at high speed; or reverse parking and in line parking. As a result, they would rather spend their time and money on cab or take up walking.
There are people for whom driving is a way to de-stress and unwind while for some it can be the source of stress. Being scared of driving leads people to quit driving altogether. This can be worked upon because fear of driving can make you stop living your life completely. You always have to rely upon public transport or other people.
There can be a number of reasons you don’t want to take control of the steering wheel. A car accident, road rage, getting lost can make your thoughts spin a new horror story every time you step into the car to drive. Driving at a new location all by yourself can be fearsome. One can feel uncomfortable stuck in traffic. It can give a feeling of being trapped and lead to panic attacks. In highways, there is always a pressure to accelerate lest you face the wrath of other drivers who overtake your car. As one accelerates, the fear of losing control creeps in. The biggest fear is to end up in some fatal car crash. All of these fears and thoughts together contribute to being anxious before/while driving. One needs to confront those fears and get past the anxieties.
Driving classes
This is the best way to gain some confidence while driving. When you are unsure of your driving, you tend to panic. It is important to enroll into a driving class. Backed by professional instructors, one feels comfortable while learning. You know there is an expert with you who can control and take things in their hands if needed. This mere thought will help you concentrate on developing your driving skills.
There are several Driving Fear Programs available online. You can also try them while you are taking driving classes. Some of these contain ebooks while others contain audio books that you can play while driving
Have a calm person sit with you
Realizing that there will not be any instructor can be daunting. In the initial days, it helps if you have someone sit with you. The person may or may not be someone who knows how to drive. You panic when you are alone and hence having someone will help you calm down and focus on driving.
Daytime driving
It is relatively easier to drive in the daylight. At night, one has to be extra careful with signals and directions. In the beginning, till you get past your fears, it is advisable to drive during the daytime. Also, you don’t have to speed up because other cars do. When you are a beginner, it is important to feel confident first. So drive slowly. Drive to nearby places first because those are the known locations. Gradually move to busy areas.
Music
Music always helps while driving. Some people consider it as a distraction but soothing music at low volume helps you concentrate better. It keeps you relaxed and focus on driving. Music has a calming effect on your anxious mind.
Driving on highways
As surprising as it may sound but driving on quieter highways are good way to overcome the phobia of driving. Driving on straight road for long will help you build confidence and get a better control of the vehicle.
Many people, after one bad experience, avoid driving leading up to phobia. It’s very important to get back on the road. You will let the fears rule if you wait for too long to get back to driving. The only way to lose fear is to keep practicing. Above all, our mind is the driving force. So, use the power of the mid to make positive changes.
