Fear and anxiety have a negative effect on the concentration of the driver, which increases the risk of creating emergency. That is why it is important for novice drivers to overcome their phobias as soon as possible. Consider how to overcome the fear of driving in order to feel confident behind the wheel.
Specificity of fears
The most difficult thing to overcome is the fear of driving a car that has developed as a result of participation in serious accident or as a consequence of deep childhood trauma. In such cases, the tips suggested in our article may not be enough. If you yourself are unable to analyze the origins of fear and overcome fears, we recommend that you contact professional help psychologist.
Another group of fears includes phobias that are typical for most novice drivers, namely:
Nature of appearance
Common fears, as practice shows, are closely related. For example, uncertainty during rebuilding develops into a real fear of provoking an accident. The fear is reinforced by the fear of being guilty before other participants in the accident provoked by you, the fear of financial responsibility, damage to your own property, the purchase of which for many is worth a lot of effort. But what exactly provokes excitement and reinforces the natural fears of each person? The answer is obvious - lack of confidence in their strengths and actions. A driver who is confident in his control over the behavior of the car and understanding the traffic situation will never worry and feel fear.
The emergence of uncertainty when driving can be a manifestation of a person’s general low self-esteem or a consequence of negative experience gained while driving a car. Most often, this kind of experience is acquired when a person gets behind the wheel for the first time. The main role here is not so much in the skills and abilities of the novice driver, but in the degree of patience of the driving instructor. The constant rise in tone, accusations of wrong actions without proper explanation, the nervous reaction of the instructor can discourage even a capable student from driving a car. That is why you should not be afraid to change the instructor if you feel that the teacher's behavior does not allow you to develop and improve your driving skills. 
More practice
It is the practice of driving that is the main method in overcoming fears. We hope that you should ideally know the rules traffic before driving without an instructor is a matter of course. Otherwise, you risk not only provoking an accident, but also increasing your fears. Consider the following tips:
With a car on "you"
It is difficult to cope with the traffic situation if you constantly have to think about the controls of the car. It is not at all necessary to know that pressing the clutch pedal provokes movement release bearing and disengaging the clutch disc from the flywheel. A clear understanding of how a particular control affects the behavior of the car is enough. This will help you to "merge" with the car faster. The coherence of the movement of arms and legs comes only with experience - this is absolutely normal. Therefore, you should not wind yourself up and convict of the lack of inclinations to drive a car. Learning to drive and getting the first experience of driving a vehicle on your own is much easier on a car with an automatic transmission.
After you gain basic skills, sign up for. You will have the opportunity to absolutely safe environment and under the supervision of an experienced driver to drive a car in extreme conditions. You will be introduced to the causes and a, high-speed maneuvering between obstacles and other useful skills. We assure you that after training in extreme conditions, unhurried driving on city roads will no longer cause you so much fear and excitement. 
Fear of driving should not result in constant confusion. Transform it into more driving caution. Look in the mirror more often and evaluate the traffic situation more carefully, in no case be distracted by conversations, do not turn on loud music and radio, as unnecessary stimuli will negatively affect the level of concentration.
Sign "Student"
Stick on rear glass"U" sticker. Other road users will understand that you do not have the proper driving experience and will behave more carefully around your car. 
Don't be afraid to panic aggressive behavior other drivers. Alas, not all people are able to show tolerance and condescension to the mistakes of other road users. The main thing is to constantly analyze your driving mistakes, draw conclusions in order to avoid incidents on the road in the future. Without introspection and constant practice, it is impossible to overcome the fear of driving a car.
The car is comfortable and necessary remedy movement, especially in the city. Despite all the advantages, many people experience discomfort when sitting in the driver's seat and not knowing how to overcome the fear of driving a car. Mostly beginners experience similar emotions. Behind only a driving school and tips from an instructor. The courses are over, the rights are obtained, but the fear of driving remains and is growing every day. If you retreat during this period, then the knowledge gained in a driving school will be lost. So don't delay practical lessons. How to overcome the fear of driving a car as a beginner?
Where does the fear of driving come from?
Fears arise as a result of beliefs, parting words from others, scary stories, or for a reason. Seeing a city highway at rush hour, a novice driver goes into a state of shock, not knowing how to overcome the fear of driving a car in a city. The road is presented in the form of a labyrinth, through which cars, city transport, minibuses scurry about. No one can pull himself together, immediately get behind the wheel and drive “excellently”. That's why decide what is best: continue to panic further or master driving step by step. Answers to pressing questions will help to find the psychology of driving a car. Consider what fears exist and whether they can be overcome.
How to overcome fear of driving? Drive on familiar roads to start
auto fear. If you are afraid that you will lose control. The car is complex mechanism, but with conscientious attendance of courses, the basics should be learned. If there is not enough information, then check with an experienced driver, look for data on the Internet, watch a video. Having studied the car from the inside, you will understand how to overcome the fear of driving a car, because you will find out why certain movements are made and what they lead to.
Fear of getting into an accident. Occurs in people who have already been road accident participants. Or future driver subtle nature and was impressed by the news bulletin or the stories of acquaintances. Also appears in experienced drivers who have been in an accident. To find out if you can overcome your fear of driving, try taking a course in emergency driving.
Is it possible not to be afraid to drive a car at the sight of an oncoming car? For peace of mind, remember that the same person as you is driving the car. This is not a soulless machine rushing at you at full speed. Getting rid of fear comes with experience, because only after winding a few thousand kilometers, you will feel the dimensions of the car.
Fear of ridicule from experienced drivers. The problem with how to stop being afraid to drive a car occurs more often in girls. Having traveled with a male instructor and husband, women are convinced of their inability. To cross the barrier, consider that all drivers once started, made mistakes, they also honked and shouted abusive words. Everyone goes through this, so don't pay attention, but focus on the road and caution.
Boys, as a rule, get used to driving even children's cars from childhood.
Fear of driving often occurs among beginners who are afraid of traffic police officers. There are no drivers who would not once be stopped by an inspector. It is not always associated with a violation of driving rules. Is it possible to stop being afraid to drive a car in this case - psychologists give an unambiguous answer: do not panic, pull yourself together. Calmly listen to the claims of the inspector and solve the problem legally. It is better for girls to forget about female charms and tantrums. Traffic police officers are good psychologists, so they will notice fear and recognize a newcomer. If the inspector seemed suspicious, then write down the necessary data: full name, rank and car number. Pay the fine if necessary.
Psychological problems leave their mark. The insecure feel the fear of cars, tormenting themselves by cramming the rules. It seems to a suspicious person that he has forgotten the signs, traffic rules, markings.
Get started by choosing a quality driving school. After passing the theory, take a closer look at the instructors. Choose a patient person with good reviews. The instructors themselves advise how to overcome the fear of driving a car for a novice woman: take additional driving lessons. After graduation from driving school, enlist the support of loved ones. Leave at first with them. Get used to it a bit and do independent raids. If you don’t refuse help in time, then get used to riding on someone else’s orders.
Over 90% of green drivers are afraid to drive. At the same time, women approach driving more responsibly, while men count on the support and solidarity of experienced drivers.
How to overcome the fear of driving a car as a beginner?
Master the routes gradually. There is most often a fear of driving a car among beginners. Can it be overcome? For the first few weeks, go by car for short distances. Plan your route in advance. Choose to train early in the morning or late in the evening, when the roads are not crowded with cars. Then go for long distances, but without reference to time. You should not be late, this adds to the fuss and hassle. After a week of successful trips, go by car to work.
Use the navigator and choose familiar short routes at the beginning
Tune in to the positive. A person knows how to wind himself up to a state of neurosis. Scroll in your head not scary scenes of accidents or twisted faces of angry drivers. To the question “how not to be afraid to drive a car,” the advice of a psychologist gives an unequivocal answer. Imagine that you are spectacularly pulling up to the office, parking and getting out of the car. You are overwhelmed with a sense of pride, colleagues look at you. A positive attitude helps relieve tension and builds confidence.
Don't get upset over trifles. Disturbances from other machines should not disturb you. Do not panic if you are sure that you are doing everything right. Any doubts? Stop at the curb, turn on the emergency gang, reflect, share your experiences with a friend. Next, continue on to minimum speed sitting behind public transport.
A controversial issue among green drivers is whether it is necessary to hang special signs on glass, a shoe or a teapot. One side is in favor, arguing the presence of stickers as a warning to other drivers. As a result, others will react with understanding, give way, prompt. The other side is categorically opposed, arguing that such labels are not needed. They shy away from newcomers on the road, and some craftsmen specially create dangerous situations while watching the driver panic. Since there is no unequivocal opinion on how to deal with fear for a novice driver, try a day without a sticker, and a day with it, and compare the reaction of drivers.
How to overcome the fear of driving a car after an accident?
First of all, seek psychological help. The participation of a specialist will be required if the accident ended in sad events: severe damage driver, passengers or pedestrians. The psychologist will help get rid of the fear of driving a car, will help remove blocks, sort out problems. However, when approaching the car, you will feel jitters at first.
Do you want to get rid of the fear of driving after an accident? Break the trip to the store into several steps and do one a day. To overcome the fear of driving on the road, make you just go to the car, stand near it, put things in order in the cabin. The next day, sit in the driver's seat, remember pleasant trips, get used to this position. Then move on to riding, cover at least 10 m. These steps are essential. If you do not act, then the panic will not go away.
After an accident, many behave inappropriately.
A little jitters and a desire to overcome fear behind the wheel will remain for some time, but this is normal. Fears and sad experiences make the driver more prudent and responsible. The understanding comes that it is better to give way than to bend your line.
Driving skills require regular practice. If you have clearly decided for yourself: I'm afraid to drive a car, but I want to - act! If you have not driven for a long time, then knowledge is lost, practice is forgotten. The adaptation period directly depends on how many months or years you have been as a passenger. For the first month of riding, follow the rules for a beginner. Think over the route, choose quiet highways.
Girls are more afraid to drive
How to overcome the fear of driving a car for a woman?
How to learn not to be afraid to drive a car for a woman in the city? If you look at automotive or women's forums, it becomes clear that every second girl is panicked and then the desire to learn not to be afraid to drive a car in the line locality. Fears appear after trips with her husband. The second half, trying to protect her beloved from mistakes, makes a bunch of comments. The husband can be understood, he worries about the health of his wife and the safety of the car. But at the same time, it instills in the girl fear and horror of the road. If you feel strong pressure from your loved one, then refuse his guardianship.
Start test drives
. To do this, get up at 5-6 in the morning when the streets are empty. Do not warn a friend or husband about a planned trip. Repeat the basic rules before leaving and discard the complexes instilled by men.
Practice every day. Gradually complicate the task: ride during rush hour, master new route pick up the child from school.
Learn materials that will help you behave in unusual situations, will tell you how to get rid of the fear of driving. Don't leave questions open. Met an unfamiliar sign along the way, come home and find the meaning. If you saw a controversial situation, analyze it and understand who was right.
Statistics show that 70% of accidents are the fault of the driver. He was distracted while driving, smoking, talking on the phone. So ladies forget about wearing lipstick while driving.
Enlist the help of a friend with driving experience. Surely she went through the mistrust of her husband or the ridicule of men and was already able to learn to drive a car without fear. Explain to your loved one that you set a goal to learn how to drive, and his negative statements will not stop you.
Get to know the machine. Read the instructions carefully before driving a car. You must understand the information on the instrument displays and know what to look for while driving the machine.
Don't forget that you are a girl, so behave properly. Yes, at first it will not be easy, because there is an opinion that women are not able to cope with a car. But practice shows that girls are more responsible, attentive and careful drivers. Therefore, forget about unjustified chauvinism and go ahead - conquer the city highways.
Driving a car is very serious matter. It is important that the driver is confident in himself and his abilities.
But it happens that a slight fear turns into a real one. phobia.
The driver sabotages any trip and flatly refuses to drive. How then to overcome the fear of driving a car?
How to overcome the fear of flying on an airplane? you will find on our website.
What is the name of the phobia?
Amaxophobia- Pathological fear of driving.
Considered one of the most common phobias in the world.
According to experts, amaxophobia affects more than 25% of the population.
Most experienced drivers admit that they are nervous before they get behind the wheel, and in the process of driving they experience stress and feel panic fear.
If an experienced driver is afraid to drive, then what to say about newcomers? Fortunately, fear of driving can be overcome. You can do it yourself, or you can seek the help of a psychotherapist.
First you need to determine what exactly you are afraid of, how strong your fear is, whether it can cause serious damage to you and those around you.
In what way does it manifest itself?
Many drivers, having passed a driving school and received a license, have never do not put their knowledge into practice. Fear is so strong that it does not allow a person to get into a car and just drive.
Symptoms phobias:
How to get rid of claustrophobia on your own? Learn about it from ours.
How starts driving fear? The psychologist comments:
Causes
The fear of driving lies deep in the reasons that this fear and provoke. Most often, a person is not afraid to drive a car, but worries about what it can lead to.
Terrible stories of acquaintances, stories about accidents in the brightest colors usually lead to the fact that the driver may refuse to drive at all.
So the reasons are:
Amaxophobia in beginners - is it normal?
For a beginner, experiencing fear of driving is quite naturally. Inexperienced drivers are overwhelmed by overtaking cars on the road, traffic jams, busy highways and more. What can a beginner do to overcome his fear?
Fear of driving goes away with experience. Therefore, you need to practice as much as possible. For this, choose routes and roads already familiar to you, on which you will feel confident.
You can ask for help now experienced driver or instructor. So that he travels with you in a pair and prompts when you are doing something wrong. Be sure to learn the traffic rules, knowing all the signs, markings and signals, you will feel more confident.
Remember that doing something for the first time is always scary. If you really want to drive a car, then you should not debug the solution to your problem for later. Moving by taxi or public transport, you will not get rid of your phobia, but only run away from it for a while.
10 tips how to overcome fear of driving
Fear of driving in women
Fear of driving can occur in both women and men.
It doesn't matter if she is a beginner or an experienced driver. Statistically, women are indeed more susceptible this phobia than men.
It is harder for the female half of the drivers to overcome their fear than the male half. This is due to the fact that women are more emotional. Men are cooler, more reasonable and attentive - this gives them an advantage on the roads.
Often, women are afraid of the same things as men: traffic accidents, car malfunctions, harming passengers, etc. But there is more several fears inherent mainly in girls:
- fear bring down there is some animal on the road: if you are afraid of this, then you should drive as carefully as possible and carefully look at the road;
- fear to be ridiculed: It's no secret that male drivers often make fun of female drivers. A male instructor, or even one's own husband, can sow huge self-doubts in a girl, which can develop into a phobia. Do not worry about this, remember that everyone once started, that nothing works right away.
And by the way, it has been proven that girls, by virtue of their nature, drive much more carefully and more carefully.
To get rid of the fear of driving, girls should practice as much as possible. It is also important to study all technical side question. To be a self-confident driver, you need to know how the car works, what are the names of at least its main parts.
After all, in this matter, women always rely on men. But in order not to worry about anything, you need to know what and how it works.
I want to drive a car, but I'm afraid. How to overcome the fear of driving a car? Tips from the auto lady:
How to get rid of fear?
Like any other fear, amaxophobia can be overcome.
If you feel that this is not just a slight excitement before getting behind the wheel, but a real paralyzing fear, then you should ask for help.
The first thing to do is to come to a consultation with a psychotherapist. He will find out the reasons for your fear and prescribe the necessary course for you. Next, you need to clearly follow all the instructions.
Remember why you wanted to become a driver, how important it is for you. After all, it’s quite easy to live with amaxophobia: you don’t need to drive, use only public transport.
But if this option is not suitable and you really need to drive a car, do your best in order to get rid of this obsessive fear.
Psychology
Practice
I'm afraid to drive in the city, what should I do?
Driving in the city is much more difficult than outside it. A huge number of cars and people, signs and traffic lights, all honking furiously - this is scares newbies and sometimes even experienced drivers.
It is very difficult to concentrate on driving in such conditions. But you need to learn, because if you passed on the rights, bought a car and live in the city, you simply have to overcome your fear.
Need to start with mastering small routes, they may already be familiar to you, for example, you used to get to work on public transport. But sitting on the bus, you don't pay attention to road signs and now they need to be studied.
Get on the road early in the morning when cars are scarce and no traffic jams. It will be better than rush hour. Think over your route well, study all the signs and traffic lights on the map in advance.
Try to ignore those who honk furiously. People are different, but you still inexperienced driver, do not spoil your mood, because it can confuse you.
You can ask someone more experienced travel with you for the first time. But don't overdo it this way.
You can get too used to having someone around, which means that you can always shift the responsibility to someone more experienced. But when it comes time to drive yourself, you may panic that no one is around and no one will help.
Remember the feeling of fear belongs to every person. There is nothing strange in the fact that you are afraid of such a responsible task as driving a car.
If you realize that the fear of driving is preventing you from living, then worth asking for help. You can get rid of any phobia, you just need to really want it.
How to learn to drive a car without fear? The girl behind the wheel - we teach confident driving in the city:
In our age high technology and speeds, it is already very difficult to imagine a comfortable life without at least one car in the family. Giant traffic jams in megacities confirm that today this is the most sought-after and popular means of transportation. Numerous social surveys show the steady desire of citizens to have personal vehicle. But in such a stream, how to overcome the fear of driving a car?
Safety is above all
One desire to buy a car is not enough. For safe and productive driving in modern road conditions must have good experience driving. Not only the life of the motorist himself, but also pedestrians, who are the same road users as drivers with their cars, very often depend on this.
Quite often, people who want to buy a car face an unexpected obstacle ... It is the fear of driving a car. Such an unpleasant sensation arises for a number of reasons, which I would like to focus on in this article. Also, taking into account the opinions of experts in this field, we will try to figure out how to overcome the fear of driving a car.
Typical Boyaguz
Popular psychology has long studied and described typical situations associated with the fear of driving. It turns out that you can find the answer to main question how to overcome the fear of driving and the fear of the road, rummaging in itself.
We will conditionally divide the “afraid” and their main fears and fears while driving into two types. The first includes beginners who are just planning to get behind the wheel, or have very little driving experience, limited by courses. The second type includes just experienced drivers who got into an accident or other stressful situations on the roads.
To be afraid of wolves - do not go into the forest
So, it is the fear of driving that unites both groups of these people. It should be noted that any kind of fear does not affect their desire to drive. Still, for the most part, they sit behind the wheel. However, prolonged stress of fear of driving can have a very sad effect on the general psychological state of such drivers.
What are newbie fears? For the most part, they cannot know the real dangers that the road is fraught with. Therefore, their fear is not motivated by anything. Rather, it is a lack of self-confidence when managing a complex unit of at least a ton in weight. It comes from not knowing some of the basics of driving that are often overlooked in prep schools.
For novice drivers
According to experts, the first thing that beginners need to pay attention to is the ability to fully concentrate on road conditions. That is, all the actions that you perform in the cabin, forcing the car to move, must be performed automatically. The movements of the arms and legs must be clearly worked out so as not to connect additional visual attention. The easiest way to achieve this is in vehicles equipped with automatic boxes gears. Learning to drive in such a car allows the driver to learn how to control the road space without being distracted by the intricate combinations that need to be performed to change gears (as happens in cars with mechanical box gears).
Another problem for all beginners that causes fear of driving a car is trying to control all the devices on the control panel. At the initial stages of training, this is absolutely not necessary, and at a more serious level, such control is only partially necessary.
Modern car manufacturers, being in conditions of fierce competition with each other and fighting for a potential buyer, put a lot of effort into something to distinguish themselves in a more profitable way. One of such active competitive niches is the arrangement and design of the dashboard. What designers do not come up with to make the internal ergonomics of the car more friendly. The modern dashboard shimmers with multi-colored lights, graphic images, columns of information that the driver needs and does not need, which is displayed on the display on-board computer. All this, of course, distracts the beginner from the main thing - the current traffic situation.
In this case, you need to remember that, being in a training car, you cannot set off by default with empty tank or faulty generator. And the instructor sitting next to you will never let you exceed the speed. Therefore, no matter how distracting you dashboard, take the advice of experienced people - concentrate on the road.
Size matters
An important factor that causes a feeling of insecurity in driving a car is a misperception of the true dimensions of your steel friend. In other words, the driver does not know for sure whether the car will turn into a narrow turn, whether it will pass between two trees, etc. With experience, this feeling quickly passes. It's all about basic driving practice. The more time you spend behind the wheel, the sooner you will learn to estimate the distance and size of obstacles. And then the question of how to overcome the fear of driving a car will remain in the past.
And, of course, a sense of fear inspires a possible accident. Here, no matter how trite it sounds, you just need to remember the rules of the road and know the permitting and prohibiting signs, as well as strictly observe the prescribed speed mode. If you accept and understand all the situations described, you will not experience any fear of driving.
What to do after an accident
How to overcome the fear of driving a car after an accident, you ask?
There are probably no unambiguous and clear advice here. And the opinions of people who deal with psychological problems of this type are quite different. After all, such fear is much more serious than inexperience. A person has felt a real threat to his safety, and the consequences of what he experienced can remain in his memory forever.
The first thing to consider if the fear of driving is acquired as a result of an accident is the possibility of completely or at least partially refusing to use the car for a while. You need to come to your senses, understand and realize the reasons for what happened. It is best to seek help from an experienced psychologist.
If you feel the strength in yourself to get out of this situation on your own, then just become a pedestrian for a while. Analyze your actions, being, as they say, on the other side of the barricades. Over time, the realization of one's own mistake comes and again pulls behind the wheel.
There are also alternative expert advice: to carry out “work on the mistakes” and continue to drive in an increased volume, overcoming the complexes that have appeared. It's a kind of shock therapy that has helped quite a few people.
Costly but effective
A fundamentally different, but very effective technique called "How to overcome the fear of driving a car" is to change the car with which unpleasant memories are associated. Very often they sell a “loser” in order to get behind the wheel of a new one. This method requires financial investments, but, nevertheless, it allows you to get rid of the resulting stress.
In the world there is absolutely no safe cars. But there are cautious and experienced drivers who have traveled most of their lives without any unpleasant impressions - which is what we wish you.
A car gives a person an incomparable sense of freedom, and the ability to drive helps to realize many plans and dreams. You pay for expensive courses, spend in class a large number of time, cramming the theory, worrying before exams - and now, finally, the cherished rights are in your hands! But as soon as you get behind the wheel on your own, you experience real horror and find that you can’t even leave the yard. Or maybe you have been driving a car calmly and confidently for several years, until this one appeared, it is not clear where the fear came from? This is a fairly common problem, and we will try to help you deal with it.
If you delve deeper into this topic, you will find that there are a lot of people who experience fear while driving. Among them there are both novice motorists and experienced drivers, and even instructors. Fear of driving can be experienced not only by women, but also by men. It is the representatives of the stronger sex who are subjected to much more stress, as they are afraid of public censure and ridicule from friends.
The phobias of such people have completely different reasons, for example, the fear of having an accident, violating traffic rules or knocking down a pedestrian. Such experiences are quite normal for a person with a healthy degree of responsibility to all road users and with a natural instinct for self-preservation. But there is another measure of this phobia: when uncertainty prevents you from adequately responding to what is happening on the road. In other words, fear leads to muscle spasm, breathing quickens, and you lose control of the situation. And now driving - what you have been striving for for so long, and what you have spent so much time and money on learning - becomes something frightening and repulsive for you.
How to stop being afraid to drive a car in terms of psychology
Many motorists are advised to sign up for driving lessons with a personal instructor to solve this problem. He will analyze with you each situation separately, teach you to respond quickly in different situations and get rid of fear. After all, today a professional psychotherapist can help you deal with any phobia. Experts are sure that you can get rid of the fear of driving, if it is mild, on your own. And they give good advice.
Choose a reliable and calm instructor
Many women believe that they can learn to drive with the help of a husband, friend, acquaintance, or father. Of course, if you completely trust this person, then perhaps this is a good source of knowledge and various tricks that a novice driver may need. But if your teacher quickly loses his temper, gets nervous, criticizes you for wrong decisions taken, raises your voice, you will almost certainly develop some degree of fear of driving. Experienced Instructor trained to prevent this, he will support and encourage you, teach you how to respond correctly to the most difficult situations.
Failing is okay
If you are afraid of making a mistake while driving, becoming the subject of ridicule, hearing unpleasant words addressed to you from the lips of more experienced drivers, then remember that they also once learned this skill and most likely were also in such a situation. It's just that this is the property of human memory - to forget moments that are unpleasant for your self-esteem. The scorcher who cuts off the driver with the letter "U" on the glass in order to "teach him a real lesson" does it out of a desire to assert himself. An adequate driver will drive around your stalled car and calmly drive on, or stop and ask if you need help.
"Domino effect"
Many psychologists, when faced with patients who are afraid to drive, began to analyze their lives at the time when the fear first appeared. Someone had serious problems at work, someone was going through a crisis in his personal life, someone just found himself in a difficult situation. These experiences gave impetus, which led to the destruction of general confidence, after which it became not just scary to drive a car, but almost impossible. In this case, experts recommend identifying the very event that knocks you out of your life rut, coping with it, and then confidence while driving will return again.
Always remember motivation
If you feel like dropping everything, selling your car (and buying a bike) and getting back to riding buses, subways, and taxis, think back to the time you decided to learn how to drive. Recall the moments when you enjoyed this process. Perhaps you dreamed of going on a trip by car? Or do you like the feeling of mobility and independence? Or maybe your image, position at work or respect among friends depends on this skill? Think positive instead of imagining the terrible situations that happened to you while driving.
"Post Traumatic Syndrome"
Very often, the fear of driving appears in the driver who got into an accident. In this case, you must convince yourself that you can handle the situation another time. To do this, scroll through the incident in your head, think about how you should have acted. And most importantly - do not look in detail at the photo reports of city crime reporters and do not "grind" the details of accidents on the forums.
Tips for getting rid of fear directly while driving
Don't get behind the wheel too hard. Before that, sit quietly in the car, try to relax. If possible, take a short drive on a quiet one-way street.
While driving, listen to your favorite music, the one that lifts your spirits and inspires you.
In a difficult situation, turn off the panic. You can do this with the help of proper breathing: inhale for five counts, exhale for 7. In principle, you can breathe at any pace, the main thing is that the exhalation be longer than the inhalation.
If you have someone who makes you feel more confident driving around, ask them to ride with you at least during this transition period. Psychologists warn that there is a risk of some kind of dependence on this presence.
If you are confused, hear other motorists honking behind you (stress factors that increase fear), and feel fear starting to roll in, stop, if possible, get out of the car and try to calm down, following the breathing technique from point No. 3.
If you panic and think you're about to make a mistake, try to just stick to your lane and move at the speed of the flow. This is almost guaranteed to eliminate emergency situations.
As often as possible, imagine how confident you are in the driver's seat. Try to "drive" several familiar intersections, look at yourself from the side - you feel and drive calmly. Before such mental training, you need to sit comfortably on the sofa or in an armchair and carefully relax. You can try to "stage" some dangerous moment on the road and successfully "handle" it.
The key to overcoming your fear of driving is to drive more. You must definitely drive the prescribed number of hours (or even more) with an instructor, and then regularly go to busy streets. So you will improve your driving skills as much as possible, bring them to automatism, and with it your fear will disappear. Remember that millions of people around the world drive without fear, which means you can too. If you clearly know and observe road rules, learn to simultaneously control various factors and focus on the road, then you will minimize the risk of getting into an accident!
