What are your biggest fears? The thought of losing a loved one? Getting fired? Ending up alone? We all have fears and anxieties, and thankfully most of them are manageable. However, when those fears start to impact your everyday life, it might be worth investigating the root cause and seeking advice.
One of the most common anxieties in today’s modern world is a fear of driving. Getting behind the wheel and being responsible for your own safety, the safety of your passengers, worrying about making a mistake or being involved in a car accident are just some of the reasons many of us dread starting the engine – speak to a personal injury lawyer if you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
So, what are the reasons why you might have a driving phobia? Let’s explore these below.
Fear of having an accident
Maybe you’ve been in an accident before and the memory has stayed with you. Or perhaps you’ve never been in a crash yet the idea of being in one leaves you utterly tormented. If you’ve been in a crash, it might be worth speaking to a mental health professional about what happened to you. Alternatively, you could try some coping techniques or work with a qualified driving instructor to help quell those feelings of anxiety.
Performance anxiety
You may have passed your driving test with flying colors, but that doesn’t mean you trust your own driving abilities. This lack of confidence is more apparent when you put safety in mind. When you get behind the wheel, you’re responsible for your own safety and your passengers who may be young and relying on you to keep them safe. This kind of responsibility can really play with your confidence and make you doubt your driving performance.
You’ve had a bad experience
Sometimes things that happened in our past can make coping in the present incredibly difficult. Perhaps you remember your mom panicking after hitting another vehicle in a parking lot, you witnessed a crash, maybe you were in the car when the tire on your dad’s car blew on the highway, or maybe you have horrible memories of being scolded by an unprofessional driving instructor. Being able to pinpoint where your driving anxieties and phobia comes from can help you move forward.
And finally, you feel helpless
Many people suffer from a driving phobia because they lack the knowledge of what to do in the event of an accident or a roadside breakdown. The idea of your car breaking down in a busy city center and other impatient drivers letting you know their frustration is enough to scare anyone off driving. The solution is simple, know what to do.
If you don’t know how to change a flat tire, learn how to do it. If you don’t know the number of your breakdown service, write it down and keep it in the car. Get to know your car and ensure it’s always in good working order before you drive. And research your next steps if you’re in a car accident.