Anxiety about driving

[ClaudiaWankleman]

In case anyone else has been putting off getting back into driving, I just thought I would share a few words of encouragement.

I have always been a nervous driver, probably traced back to a couple of bad experiences while learning, plus a lack of driving experience post passing my test. I actually used to feel quite uncomfortable and my heart used to race if I was driven past the test centre.

Around a year ago I moved somewhere new, and it's recently become more important that I start driving again. We got a car last week but I hadn't driven it until today.

I took it out this morning, after the school rush was over. Did a small 5 mile circuit on a variety of roads. Nothing bad happened. I drove quite well. The things I learnt during my lessons came flooding back, including some smooth gear changing and filtering two lanes into one (always a pet hate of mine).

The things I did that helped especially were;

• 'Driving' the tricky parts of the route on Google streetview. For me this was a 4 lane roundabout (I wasn't sure when I had to change lanes/ which to take) and looking at where on the dual carriage way I had to come off.
• Sitting in the car and going through the gears with the car switched off, just to find where they sat and how to transition
• Realising that no one wants to crash into me, and that no one else wants me to be a bad driver. Take the pressure off yourself!
• Just taking it one step at a time. I told myself if I was struggling to go through the gears a few times then I'd just try again tomorrow until I was happy I could do it the way I wanted to.
• Not telling anyone I was going until I came back. I didn't want to commit to going to the shops for something vital if I couldn't face it.

Anyway it went very well - in fact the only difficult bit was reversing into our driveway. I never had to do that previously. Fortunately there was no one else around.

This post is a bit self congratulatory, but I know that many people do really suffer with anxiety about getting back into driving. It's an important skill that can really open your life up a bit more. Can anyone else share their getting back into driving stories, maybe to encourage or give some tips to anyone else dreading it?

Good tips! Well done for getting back into driving. I often think some people overthink about driving thus start stressing themselves and make it worse in their heads than what it really is.
I used to be very scared of driving until the pandemic struck. Now I love driving which is something I thought I’d never say! Good luck to those who hate driving and want to go back into it! You can do it!

Thanks for sharing @ClaudiaWankleman. I have driving anxiety. I passed my test later in life. I can do it, I just don't have full faith in myself yet, it doesn't help that I lack a sense of direction, and even on Google maps it isn't always clear on larger roundabouts which Lane you should be in.

I just need to build up the courage to keep on driving, I've been told that my driving is fine, but it is easier when others say that they've had the anxiety too.

Excellent advice, especially about using streetview. I do this if I know I am going to drive somewhere unfamiliar.

The key is to practice, practice, practice to gain confidence. Don't make yourself a prisoner of your fears.

You can have driving lessons with a driving instructor to get your confidence back.