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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so anxious about driving?

201 replies

Gretasmyname · 14/01/2020 14:16

Or more specifically, parking and manoeuvring.
Passed my test last May
First time pass and took my time learning
Never hugely confident and looking back,?I feel I was eased into the test a bit too much and not fully prepared for 'real 'driving.
Didn't drive at all after passing as no access to a car.
Stupidly went out a bought a pretty much new car in Sept. Thinking id get straight out there all of a sudden. Wrong.
Crippling nerves.
Worried about not being able to park.
I dont have trouble with my left or right but big trouble visualising how I'm.actually going to manoeuvre into the space.
I'm also anxious that i may need to reverse on a busy street and i wont be able to do it or I will rev the car too much and hit something.
I know I need to practice but I live in a very very busy area and nowhere is quiet to try.
All car parks are busy.
Any advice off how to safely practice?
I haven't driven the car since Dec as I feel I don't know what the hell I'm doing .

OP posts:
Weekday28 · 14/01/2020 18:38

I have new driving instructor and she has taught me to park with dry steering with is not ideal but until I'm a confident driver it is the safest and quickest way. I've been watching youtube videos and it really has helped. I don't know how old you are but I've found now I'm older I feel much more confident and in control of the car. I have been having lessons on and off for 10 years Blush maybe just try and do 20 minutes every day like everyone is saying x

Thethiniceofanewday · 14/01/2020 18:39

Take a look at the IAM. It’s not just for old people - it’s a non-profit organisation that will pair you up with an experienced volunteer to help build Your confidence. I don’t work for them but I have done some of their motorcycle training and found it really useful.

firstimemamma · 14/01/2020 18:40

No advice but you are not alone. Been driving for 3 years and still get nervous! Thanks

PositiveVibez · 14/01/2020 18:47

I didn't learn to drive until I was 34.

I can only reverse park oddly enough, but I can't parallel park.

Funny our little habits we pick up.

I don't enjoy driving tbh, but it's pro's far, far outweigh the cons.

It makes life so much more convenient.

Stick with it. You'll get to a point where your comfortable.

Gretasmyname · 14/01/2020 18:57

weekday
My instructor taught me 'dry steering' which i thought maybe wasnt the best method,but it kind of helped

The instructor who did my refresher lessons went nuts and was telling me to steer and move at same time. I was massively flustered.
Btw I'm in my40s. Some areas of my life I don't give a shit.this I'm hugely over analysing.

OP posts:
Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 12:44

Well today I was all psyched up just to go for a drive but as per,I couldn't do it

I even sat looking through my cars handbook prior!
All I could think of,was I've got to get back!
The other problem I've got is I live on a very busy street and there is constant traffic.
I've either got to come back and park on the drive with inevitable traffic behind me making me anxious.
Or parking on the street outside- again another potential stressful situation with cars behind me..
For most people this is obviously not an issue but the way I feel I need a clear space around me
Something that's never going to happen!

OP posts:
PracticallyFamous · 15/01/2020 12:58

Every day I say tomorrow I will go but but then I talk myself out of it.
All I can think is what if I end up on a road where there is some obstruction or roadworks.and I have to reverse or turn round

Honestly OP, look into NLP (neuro linguistic programming). It's ideal for getting rid of 'blockers' like this - you essentially retrain your brain so instead of picturing the negative 'what ifs', you replace it with images of a lovely smooth positive-experience drive, in really vivid detail.

Damntheman · 15/01/2020 13:05

I was really nervous too after I passed as an adult :) You've got to drive a little every single day. Just a short jaunt and back, you don't have to park on the first few weeks until you get home if you don't want to.

If your car has a reversing camera and/or sensors then USE THEM. It's going to be okay! You just need to get used to it :)

andyjusthangingaround · 15/01/2020 13:19

@unbaffled - dont drive!
You are not confident. you passed a test, you did the refreshers... but you are still freaking out.
Dont drive! you will cause an accident then you (and others) will blame you which will have all of your anxiety (and other MH issues) spiral out of control.
Tried. Failed. Move on. Sell the car and enjoy public transport.

pineing · 15/01/2020 13:59

@andyjusthangingaround
Not sure why your comment is aimed at me?

user1471465987 · 15/01/2020 14:10

I was exactly the same only i also hated nosing into spaces. I only reverse in unless it is a straight through space as I hate reversing out. I also still can't parallel park. Now though i am a reverse park ninja....the secret...drip your wing mirrors so you can see the lines...this was the gamechanger for me...no guessing where you are in relation to the edge of the space. Keep at it, move slowly, make small adjustments if you are just about in and remember that it is usually easier if there is a car to one side of you good luck!

PPopsicle · 15/01/2020 14:15

@andyjusthangingaround

Totally agree. If you’re not confident, you’re going to cause and accident and be one of those people who suddenly slam on their brakes for no reason who drive me crazy.

Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 14:17

andy
I dont Have any MH issues actually,
Just driving anxiety.
But you may be right,maybe it's not for me.
I'm probably not any more dangerous than the people round by me speeding and/or using their mobile phones though.
Thing is how do I know if it's not for me or I will change my mind?
I haven't driven any more than a dozen times so hardly lots of experience.

OP posts:
Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 14:20

popsicle
It's my manoeverung that worries me. Doing it under pressue.
I dont slam my brakes in randomly when I'm driving normally.

OP posts:
PPopsicle · 15/01/2020 14:21

Actually OP, driving slow runs exactly the same risks as speeding, and I can safely assume you would drive slow due to being nervous, so yes, you would be just as dangerous

Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 14:24

Er, no popsicle
You can safely presume that i DONT.
Nowhere have I said that I drive slow!
I'm fine driving on normal roads and drive at the direct speed(say fine,don't exactly enjoy it) and dual carriageway,roundabout. Just flustered re: small manoeveres

OP posts:
ColaFreezePop · 15/01/2020 14:26

@Gretasmyname You need to get someone in your car with you who is an experienced driver - preferably not a partner - and just drive at times of the day or night when it isn't busy. So after/before rush hour, early Saturday or Sunday mornings.

In regards to parking it's a case if you don't use it you will lose the ability to do it. So if you need to practice parallel parking do it when it isn't busy and the same with reverse parking. What you will learn with reverse parking is that some places have narrow bays e.g. Tesco, Aldi, lots of 70s covered carparks while others are more generous.

Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 14:29

cola it's the parking that worries me
I have been to big supermarkets a couple of times or so. One time i parked right away and it was ok
Other times car parks rammed and I bottled it.
I live in such a busy place even Sundays are as bad.

OP posts:
grannycake · 15/01/2020 14:30

I passed my test 10 years ago at the age of 54. I hated driving but had to do it as public transport was so dire. I was OK on my route to and from work (probably because my DH made me drive it all the time when I was learning - he would pick me up and I'd drive home or I would drive in, park and then he's take the car home again. Once I passed I used to go out on my own at about 8:00 on Sunday - roads were quieter and carparks were empty and I could practice as much as I wanted. Also for about a year I used to park in the easiest spot in supermarket carparks (usually at the back) and walk to the store. I would say it took about 2 years before I felt really comfortable but now I'm fine and so glad I've got the car - it won't happen overnight but you will get there

Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 14:33

Thanks granny
That's what I need to do. I know. It's just psyching myself up to do it!

OP posts:
grannycake · 15/01/2020 15:00

You will be fine - I still don't reverse into carpark spaces - there's always one you can drive into!!

OverthinkingThis · 15/01/2020 15:15

You're fine OP, don't let MN convince you that you don't have as much right to be on the road as everyone else who's passed their test.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with @ColaFreezePop and say you really need to go out driving on your own, so you are forced to problem solve any situations that crop up for yourself. Don't get into a rut of needing someone else to tell you what to do - you have a licence and you CAN do it.

A big part of parking is choosing a decent space - don't spend 15 attempts struggling to get into an awkward one, just breathe, move on and try somewhere else.

I didn't reverse into a car parking space for about 5 years after passing. I do it plenty now though!

andyjusthangingaround · 15/01/2020 17:18

@pineing - sorry, not sure what happened with my tag

@Gretasmyname - you have passed your test last year and you are still not confident based on your own admission
You are a hazard at the moment, until you sort yourself out.
driving anxiety is still going to be classified as MH if you cause an accident.

Driving in the UK is a dream! have you heard about Paris, Poland and some other European countries? If you are struggling here, with all of these foreign drivers, not to mention mobile phone users...etc. It is not for you.
If you dont get over it one way or another, please dont risk the lives of others.

user1471465987 · 15/01/2020 18:38

As everyone has said, do it every day - do the same journey every day, even if it is just around your town. I felt confident driving in my town - my husband said to me to keep doing the same route and to make sure to drive in town at every opportunity - to make it the default that I drove.

I sort of dismissed him at the time, thinking, how can I get better driving in my town - I need to go further afield. But you know what - he was right, becuase roads change all the time and by practicing somewhere you know you are taking away the cognitive load of not knowing where you are going and are able to do things like judging whether 2 cars can get past a row of parked cars without either having to stop, or what to do when students walk out in front of you with their headphones in, completely oblivious.

Once you feel a bit more confident then make a plan to go somewhere a bit further afield on you own, where you have to park. Pick a nice day, pick a non rush hour time and google streetview the route, the lanes you will take and the car park. Plan it all. I found it better when I had pressure - i.e. it was for work - I couldn't just turn back and go home, but you might decide to go to a retail park or something to do some shopping. If you decide after a few tries that you can't park then nothing lost - you have driven somewhere new.

I half and half agree with the speed thing - when you get a bit more confident in the car everything will feel slower so you will feel happier at higher speeds. I find that if I am driving somewhere new I still have to turn the radio off and I still find that things seem to happen more quickly than in places and situations I know - but each one you face will give you confidence that you can manage the unexpected.

Where I would say to slow down is doing maneovers - you think that you are taking an age, but really you are not. Take your time and don't be bullied by people who are waiting to get past. Even if it takes a few goes to get far enough into the space to let them past, so be it. If you let them past and you are not in the space properly, just come out a good bit and straighten up.

Honestly, I am still scared driving to a certain extent. I passed my test 15 years ago and have stopped and started and stopped and started, had refresher lessons etc, but this past year I have made a concerted effort to bite the bullet and do it. It has taken a year to get where I am now, and whilst I don't enjoy driving, I would really miss it if I couldn't do it. You will get there for sure - practice little and often for a few month and see how it goes.

Gretasmyname · 15/01/2020 18:39

andy
You are very rude
I haven't done anything dangerous!!
I passed my test last year that's true. But I didn't have a car for months to drive!
I can confidently drive on the roads. I just dont think I've had enough practice with manoeveres and this is making me anxious and I don't seem to have the opportunity to practice safely.

I'd more more dangerous if I went out and practiced parking in between cars in busy car parks. And didn't given it a thought like most people do.
The times I've gone out on my own I have parked safely away.

OP posts: