How to Overcome a Fear of Driving

Most teenagers can’t wait to start driving. Me? I was afraid of it. A weird thing to be afraid of to be sure, but the fact was, I was terrified of it. From the moment I entered the Driver’s Training classroom, to the day I got my license, driving was not something I wanted to be involved in. In fact, I would avoid it at all costs. It wasn’t until later that I realized I wasn’t the only one with this outrageous fear. There are many people who are afraid of driving, and who hate doing it for that reason alone. However, it is a fear that can be overcome and dealt with more easily than you may think.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A desire to face your fears
• A good driving instructor
• A desire to drive

1. Don't be afraid. Any time you have the chance to drive, do it. Whether you want to or not. You can’t overcome your fear if you’re not willing to face it.
2. Have someone ride with you while you drive. Wherever you’re going, no matter how long the trip, bring a reliable friend and a good driver with you. They can help walk you through the process, calm your fears, and give you great tips at the same time.
3. Push yourself. Whether it’s driving an extra block or giving parallel parking a shot, push yourself to at least try the things you’re most afraid of. Once you do, you’ll discover they are not as bad as you had imagined them to be.
4. Practice. It will make you more familiar with the roads and the rules, and you’ll eventually find yourself becoming more comfortable behind the wheel.
5. Realize that you are the one in control, not the car. The car can’t do anything you don’t make it do. If you know what you are doing, the car will follow suit accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• While driving, become one with the car. It sounds stupid, but when I thought of myself as a mere speck not knowing how to control a two-ton hunk of metal, it made things that much worse. When I began envisioning the car as an extension of myself, it calmed many of my fears and put me back in control, instead of the car.
• People who drive more than four hours a day or 25,000 miles a year are six times more likely to take sick leave for a back injury than those who drive less.