It is perfectly natural to have a fear of driving. This may come from a lack of driving experience, from accidents you have seen, or stories you have heard in the news. To be scared of sitting behind the wheel of a car is not uncommon, but it is something that can hold you back.
In this blog post, we have broken down those fears to help you better understand your worries. We tackle the stigma and help you see how our driving instructors can help you conquer your fears of driving.
What sort of fears of driving are there?
There are various degrees of panic, anxiety, worry and phobias that people can experience. This could be a worry of driving alone or feeling intimidated by more experienced drivers or larger vehicles, for example. In some cases, people fear faster speeds and losing control, or they are worried about having an accident.
Other people get anxious when driving in the dark, at night or in bad weather conditions; anxiety can also be experienced when driving in new or unknown areas. Becoming trapped in a traffic jam and running late for something, or becoming lost can be a real fear for some drivers too.
It is not unusual to think driving is dangerous because you have heard of reports in the media, or been unfortunate enough to be involved in a road accident. However, it is important to want to drive, to remain strong and affirm your position of power behind the wheel.
How to overcome your driving anxiety
There are some practical steps you can take to help you combat your driving fears. For example, you can speak to your driving instructor. They can go over the full workings of your car to help you see your vehicle is safe and what you need to do to ensure it is safe on a regular basis (and how to fix any problems).
You can go over regular routes that you will be driving to help you build up a familiarity with the route and gain confidence. During the classroom sessions, your driving instructor will teach you everything you need to know about road safety and the Highway Code; so in any given situation, you will have the knowledge to refer to.
Above all else: face your fears. It is important to know that you are not alone in your fear of driving. Many people felt that same way as you and they have been able to get over this fear to now be confident and safe drivers. Our driving instructors will be with you every step of the way through your driving lessons. They will guide you through the driving and talk through any worries you have.
The driving instructors here at GoGoGo Intensive are here to build your confidence and turn you from a novice learner into a successful driver, ready to handle any challenge, in just five days. That may seem like a stretch, but believe us, it is possible. Just look at all of our past students and their passes.
Here at GoGoGo Intensive, we can help you overcome fears driving so you can enjoy sitting behind the wheel and driving wherever you choose, with a smile on your face and a feeling of confidence. For more information about how we can help or if you want to get started learning to drive, get in touch.