To not want to drive

[sarah8484]

I bought a car off a neighbour for cheap. First day driving it, it broke down 3 times leaving both me and my children in potentially very dangerous situations (suddenly stopping with no warning on dual carriageway). It was the scariest situation i have ever been in and keep thinking our lucky we were. I now don't want to drive, especially that car. (It's been fixed but still scared to get back behind the wheel) my partner thinks im silly but he wasn't in the car. He didn't experience what we did. It was scary. He thinks i should just get back 'on the horse' but he is almost belittling my decision to not want to drive it right now. Aibu for not wanting to drive again even though its been fixed? That issue was a fuse, that cost £2 so feel i cant trust getting back in a car that has cost only £2 to fix (plus fitting). My gut is telling me no so surely my oh should respect that?

You should get back in the car.

Drive it on roads that aren't like a dual carriage way first but you really should get back in the driving seat otherwise it becomes a bigger issue as time goes by.

I'd probably take it for a test drive around your neighbourhood to get your confidence up/check out the car. Leave the kids at home.

It'll probably be a while before you feel confident in it but if you can't afford to change it, you might be best just trying to get on with it. Sorry that's probably not what you want to hear. I wouldn't be comfortable driving it for a long time so do sympathise with your worries x

Get back in the car. The longer you leave it, the bigger the issue will become.

Thanks everyone. It's the fear of it happening again that is scaring me. Good idea to leave kids at home and stay close to home. That will take away some of the worry. Im just thinking the worse.

Was the car fixed by a properly trained and qualified mechanic?

Pay to have the car serviced at a garage

Do you have car break down cover ?

I understand that it's hard to get over a traumatic experience but it sounds like you're expecting to be chauffeured around like a princess. I assume your husband has been driving you and the children everywhere - that's not very fair really.
If you don't want to be in a car then that's your choice. But if you want to be a passenger in the car or for your children to be driven around solely by your partner then you're actually just being selfish. Why would you be any safer with your partner driving?

Why don't you have a 'top up' driving lesson thing? Just to gain confidence with someone else in the car.

I might be a bit wary of that particular car but sorry it sounds a bit OTT to say you will never drive again!

Do you have any help for your anxiety issues?