Fear of Driving

[rodvcpetrie]

Does anyone else have a fear of driving a vehicle? I have been advised by my employment agency that they want me to do a Driver's Education course, which they will pay for, in order to make me more employable.

However for the longest time I have had a fear of driving. I don't see a car as being this great contraption that gives you immense enjoyment, I also don't have any love for them at all, to me they are just a mechanical thing that gets you from Point A to Point B.

So I don't really have any interest in the car as something of itself. I find it very difficult to relate to things I have no interest in. Usually I gradually lose concentration and then mistakes happen. I cannot afford to do this in a car. I see it as a weapon and to get inside the car and to realise that I am putting everyone's lives and my own at risk is terrifying.

I am not confident in other people's driving skills because you have no idea what is going on in there head or whether they are taking their responsibility seriously or just being stupid. I hate being in situations where I cannot be confident that I don't have to try to control people and what they are doing. I guess I'm a weird type of control freak!

Maybe I am putting more thought into this than is necessary and that I am just working myself up but it's not like a video game where if you stuff up you just respawn, if I get injured or killed in a car accident that is reality.

[Shadow Wave]

It took me like 10 months after I got my Learners permit, before I even wanted to drive a car.

The main thing I freaked out about was braking when the next car in front braked.. that freaked me out to death. Then once I did it, i realised its quite easy.

When I finally started I freaked out for a few lessons/hours. But it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.

...and now I LOVE driving, its the greatest thing ever!

If you drive safe, and keep to the speed limit, you will notice most drivers pass you on the road because the majority speed just a little, which makes you one of the safer drivers on the road. Just keep your eyes open and focused and you will pick up driving in no time.

But I would suggest it would be a good idea to become a confident driver, think of all the possible situations that could happen in the future where YOU might need to drive a car... ie driving pregnant wife to the hospital..., driving injured person to the hospital etc...

Responsible drivers are safe drivers
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[slapshakle]

I hated driving at first. Mainly because I sucked and was scared of crashing. After a while you just learn to relax. I also had no interest in cars/driving even when I got my P's. Now I get to drive a kickarse snow road every day on the way to work and I love it.
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[Shadow Wave]

haha me too, i had NO interest in cars, now I have spent $4000+ on my car, and its just addictive to fiddle with bits and pieces lol. Great learning experience too. Never know when i'll need to fix something under the hood..
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[rodvcpetrie]

Thanks for the replies. Even after learning to drive I still don't think I would fall in love with my car, I would still see it in the same way. I would look after it of course by cleaning the inside and washing but as far as falling head over heels for it I don't think that will happen.

[Benza]

Not a lot of people do, most people I know there car is a mode of transport and thats it.

I don't particularly like driving but hell it beats walking.
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[Shadow Wave]

well thats fine too.

Just keep driving in different situations and become more confident.

My suggestion would be plan to do a big trip somewhere, a few hours drive away and get a friend/parents/whoever to be another set of eyes while you drive. When you get back you hopefully would feel a lot more confident because you did it and survived. And got used to driving in unfamiliar surroundings.
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[Jellyfish]

Pick a car that's not too powerful I drove (I'm still on my Ls) a Territory Ghia over Christmas and I was struggling to keep below the speed limit in the city

[Shadow Wave]

lol its easy to speed in whatever car you have You'll get used to the pedal more soon and wont speed as much.

But i disagree, you hear a lot that people who moved from a low power car to a high powered car end up crashing etc. So i say get a decent V6 or something so you are familiar with a powerful vehicle and can control one. I also had my learning instructor 2 years ago agree with with that.

But im a P Plater and I think im sounding like im Old and Wise so just remember that hahaha
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[lennex15]

Drivers education is a good idea and an opportuntiy you should take up if nothing else it will provide you with some skills and hopefully confidence.
Driving relies alot on confidence especially in the decisions you make so you need to conquer your fear.

They teach you how to drive defensively so everyone else around you can drive like idiots but at least you've got some skilz.

Then just get in that car and say bitch I'm in control, I'm wanting to go places so behave, then go to an empty car park, or any where there's no traffic do a donut feel the gee's and then tell me your not feeling the love.
After that driving is all your gonna want to do.
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[B3NBO]

Since I got my L's in mid november, i have been driving everywhere i can .

I drive my dads Suzuki Grand Vitara, it's a V6 and at first it was pretty scary to drive cause it takes off with the slightest touch of the accelerator..

I love it now though.. only problem is the car is too small for me.. because im so tall, my legs have to lean against the sides of the vehicle and it causes cramping etc, even though the seat is as far back as possible and it's quite a large car overall.. so im gonna need quite a big car when it's time to get one .

I'm going down to Melbourne on Friday, I want to do some driving but the thing I really hate is being limited to 80km/h on a freeway . Wouldn't it be better if everyone was travelling at the same speed? It would help to reduce holdups and anger amongst other drivers on their full license.. besides, a Learner is with an experienced driver anyway and so IMO it should be up to the learner to decide whether to stick 80km/h or less, or 120km/h.. I reckon it would help to build confidence and make them a better P plater.. all limiting the speed does is cause anger and frustration amongs other drivers.

[FeralOni]

i got my l's back in mar 2001, still on them... driving just doesn't appeal to me... and the idea of me driving on a busy street scares the shit out of me
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[Cerebral]

I'm fine with it. After a while, I learnt to drive to work and make all the necessary turns and lane changes almost subconsciously (not that this helps the people fearful of other motorists). It's a thing you get used to, I would never reduce my car to merely a transport that gets us from point A to B. I'm not a total car nut either, but after spending some 15 grand on my car, it becomes like one of your possessions like my computer.

There's really very little to worry about when driving unless it's snowing and you're driving down a mountain while breaking the speed limit.
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[nnytard]

i'm pretty good at driving these days, but never had an interest in cars.

then again i'm 20 and share with my parents because i'm too lazy to get a real job (nightclub promoter) and spend my $200-300 a week on video games and toys.
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[Dani]

I freaked out about learning to drive. I'd work up a sweat and be incredibly anxious and restless leading up to every driving lesson. I panicked like hell sometimes.

But once you learn to control something... you relish it. I love getting past the bridge of not knowing something and becoming adept at something, completely in control; regardless of what it is or whether I had interest in it in the first place. I also find it difficult taking something on board that I have no interest in, but there are some things in life that are important to know, and often not something you would consider doing of your own free will. There are tools in life you will need to learn to use even if you don't think they'll benefit you in the beginning, but possessing the knowledge makes you all that more prepared for circumstances you might find yourself in. For example, being stuck in the middle of nowhere with an injured friend and a working car. Some things you just need to know, and if you don't teach yourself at some stage, you're seriously crippling yourself in the long run.

That's just how I see it, anyway. I find that a desperate need overcomes a fear. I guess you would have to discover that need.

[adam_91vn]

After you done it for a while you will never look back.

It gets better with age.
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[Nietzsche]

Driving is one of the best experiences in the world. Before I got my licence I thought of a car as a mechanical device to get from A to B. After I got confident driving as an L-plater it still seemed as a piece of equipment. Then once I got my P's and drove by myself it turned into something that is beyond words. The freedom when you realise you can drive anywhere is powerful and there is nothing better than finding a good song on the radio and cruising on a hot summers day. I highly recommend you consider driving as just think of all the situations driving is necessary and with all things your confidence will go up the more you drive.

[Sinthesys]

I used to be totally indifferent to driving: I just din't really have an interest in driving and cars in general. However, after I started riding in my mate's car while we did stupid shit like speed and drift etc, I came to love driving. Now, I actually want to drive places, just to have fun.

As for the fear thing? The first time anyone gets in a car, they have a bit of 'anxiety' about the experience and are quite nervous, but as everyone's been saying, practice and experience take all that away. Maybe I was lucky,a s I have no fear in a car for some reason, I think my brain is broken. I don't get scared when a car goes fast or drifts around a corner, but I know friends who hang on for dear life...
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[G3ck0]

Just a question, I am 16 now so old enough to get my L's, what would be some good sites to read about the rules, take practice tests etc?

[InvivnI]

The first time I drove I pulled out without looking and realised just how difficult it is to judge where the other side of the car is to the rest of the road. After years of using chase cam on games it was quite a shock! I was also so caught up by the rush of nerves and excitement that it was 20 minutes before I realised I hadn't even put on my seat-belt, which is something I normally automatically put on.

I love the idea of driving, but right now I'm stuck trying to build up this ridiculous 120 hours so I can actually go for my P's. Even my driving instructor tells me that 50 would probably be enough. Oh well, serves me right for being so lazy in delaying the acquisition of my L's in the first place.
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[canetoad]

@Sambo
For a Queenslander, this is pretty much all you need: The Queensland Transport Practice Road Rules Test
They are practically the exact same questions that are scattered through the different tests you might receive so if you keep practicing with that (lots) you'll pass easily.

Although it is a good idea to read up on the "Your Keys to Driving in QLD" handbook first as it covers everything whereas with the online test you might not get to answer certain questions. You can find it at Newsagents and Post Offices. Its around $12 though so you're much better off just downloading it in PDF form from the QLD Transport website itself. I got stung, paid $12 and found out 2 weeks later that you get exactly the same thing for free online.

If you study those a lot leading up to the test its very simple.
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[B3NBO]

[NeoSanity]

I'm mainly nervous doing a 90 degree park, everything else I'm cool with. Sometimes though I do worry considering it's not really my car but a car my parents bought for me to use.

[Puddingfork]

yeah sambo if your anything like me all you have to do is try that test canetoad linked to a few times until you can 100% it. Maybe read that book. I failed 2x, then tried practice on that test, and it made all the difference in the world to me. Several questions are even exactly the same.
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