Fear of Driving?

Question

Alright well I'm trying to pick up the pieces in my life and I know I have to learn how to drive, I moved from the city and now I'm in the cornfields where you HAVE to drive.

I drove two days ago after getting my Permit. I was soo scared that I actually left my father's seat wet with sweat.

I don't know how people can look at the front of them, in the mirrors, on the side that quickly...I drove around my block for two hours and learned how to make shape turns. However everytime I even THINK of driving my hands sweat and I begin to become scared.

Note: There are NO driving Classes or colleges where I live, There isn't even a bestbuy where I'm from LOL.

Please I need some real good advice, just typing this is making my hands sweat from thinking of driving.

Answer 1

you mjust need to get used to it. lots of people do. look around see all those drivers they had to learn at one time to.

Answer 2

I live in the middle of no where and when I go out to the city (about 15 miles away) I am TERRIFIED to drive on the interstate because of how fast everyone is going.

Usually the country is easier to drive in because the lack of cars and you don't feel so pressured.

If you are feeling pressured about driving because a car is following to close, etc. ignore them and if they have something to say ignore them once again, don't ever put your life at risk because someone was late and didn't think ahead to leave earlier and if they are in that much of a hurry they can pass you.

Take a breather, I was terrified of driving for the first 2 years and now I am much better but get freaked out whenever a car is beside me and won't pass me because I think I'm going to swerve in their lane or they will swerve in mine.

Have a close friend ride around with you and allow them to tell you your mistakes without hearing the honking of horns.

It takes time, as most things do, and before long you'll get used to it, I promise.

Answer 3

Practice/ face what you fear. Remember when you were being potty trained. Simple act now, right?

Answer 4

The first thing to understand is that fear is a natural and normal human 'negative' emotion. The purpose of negative emotions is to tell us that something isn't quite right; an indication that we need to take some kind of action.

A highly stressful or frightening real event at which, instantaneously Fear Of Driving is created. Similar to, say, a child being bitten by a dog and developing an immediate phobia, a single traumatic incident is a one-time experience at which there is such extreme fear - even if only for a moment - that the nervous system 'learns' to associate fear to help the individual avoid such situations in future.

So practice, take your time and when you are ready everything will fall into place, good luck and drive safe.

Answer 5

Get to know the vehicle you are driving. Walk around it, become familiar with the shape of your car, how long it is in the front (usually about 3-4 feet out from the windshield), if it's an S.U.V., then the back IS the back, so that's easy to judge, inspect the tires for uneven tread wear along the edges, and depth of tread (look for those litte "wear bars" in the grooves - when they are level with the surface of the tire you need new tires), check that all your lights are working (signals, brake, tail lights, headlights), then get inside your vehicle and get to know where all the controls are so you don't have to "find" them when you need them.........lights, wipers, emergency flashers, parking brake, gauges..............take a look inside the Owner's Manual.....there's a lot of information in that little book.

When you become familiar with your vehicle, you will begin to feel comfortable in it too.

It's easy to practice driving out in the country, because there are quieter roads and usually straighter roads too......I would suggest that you practice backing up and reversing around an empty milk jug filled with water and a piece of dowelling or something in it which is high enough for you to see from your vehicle. Practice backing around it to the left and right.......covering your brake during this exercise so you don't accidentally hit the accelerator and run into something.....do this on your property somewhere (ask your parent where)......

Get out on the roads and just drive 15 min or so a day until you begin to feel comfortable. Develop good habits, such as scanning ahead, ditch to ditch...........shoulder checking BEFORE lane changes and turns, checking rear view mirror every 5 - 8 seconds in traffic to know what's behind you..........once you develop some confidence, then start to enter heavier traffic and eventually begin to make left turns at lights to develop judgement (usually you have time to  make a left turn if the oncoming vehicle is approximately 1 block away doing a regular speed and not passing everyone).

Remember to always look where you want to go! This is very important because your hands follow your eyes. That's how your brain works...............relax, learn, and never assume what the other driver is going to do.........enjoy your driving!

Keep those eyes moving, you will eventually realize which things deserve priority while you are driving........never fix your eyes on any one thing for very long...........when shoulder checking, make them short (you can make several short ones, but never one long one), and when you shoulder check, push the opposite shoulder into your shoulder check, bending your elbow of the same arm as you do this. This will prevent you from "pulling" the steering wheel.