I have a bit of a problem. I finally have my driver's permit, a few years later than expected. I try to learn to drive, but I always become extremely afraid. I've always been afraid of cars, to be honest. I have a tendency to panic when in cars with anyone but my father, probably caused by the fact that I was in an accident a few months ago which left my right arm pretty screwed up. It always seems like the person at the next intersection is going way too fast to stop, or that the turn is way too sharp. So, now that I'm finally driving, I'm far too cautious. Anyone who sits in the car with me (I have to have someone over 21 in the car) just complains that I'm too cautious, and to pull over and let them drive. I can't help it, though. I don't want to die. I've never gone over 30 MPH. Any faster and I panic. Also, I have difficulty knowing how wide my car is, so I don't know how much room I have to the right of my car. As a result, driving along narrow roads with cars parked on both sides is nearly impossible. How exactly am I supposed to fix that? I can't exactly push it more and more until I scrape my mirror on something. Same with the front of my car. How do I know when I've pulled up enough in parking spaces? I won't know how much is too much until I've hit something. I live in the mountains, too, so every road is full of hills and deadly curves. It's absolutely terrifying. If I screw up, I go crashing down a cliff into a forest.
So, my question is, how can I be a good driver? I've considered going on anti-anxiety pills, but I don't want to be too sure of myself end up killing someone. Please help me!
Get a job delivering tofu for your dad. 5 years later and it'll go away.
Honestly, the best way to get over your fear is to face it. Drive a LOT-- as often and for as long as you can possibly muster the emotional strength to. In that driving permit period, everyone is really nervous; since you were in an accident it's probably a lot worse, so you should drive even more than someone else would.
I was in a minor accident a few months ago, and after it I found myself constantly looking in the rear-view mirror wondering if I would get hit again, or becoming nervous if anyone was even remotely around me. After I become sick of worrying, I basically told myself: "If I get hit, then I'll deal with it then." Don't worry yourself ill, just be aware of your surroundings, and drive the speed limit when you're able to. Keep practicing, because once you get enough practice, it will become a second nature, almost.
Good luck!
dont be a pussy
>>4 That's sort of difficult, seeing as how I'm a woman.
Practice, practice, practice. You'll start to feel more comfortable behind the wheel and you will start to learn about how to imagine the space the car takes up so you know if you are too close to parked cars etc. Girls are statistically worse at spatial awareness, but that doesn't mean you can't improve.
Oh and as for scraping your mirror on another car, you wont get that close. You'll clip the other cars mirror first, youre mirror will be pushed in towards your car because its designed to do that and by that point youve already realised youre too close and will have pulled away a bit. a mirror is no big deal in my view.
i can't drive without taking anti anxiety pills. maybe that WOULD help.