How do you handle your fear of driving a car?

Oh my, if that car crash experience happend to me, I don't think I'll ever want to drive or even sit on the front. I have no confidence to drive. I tried and got lessons, but never got to practice it. I feel the need to, but I don't know what will really push me to get on the wheel.

Thanks a ton for sharing this discussion. Well i can understand that the incident that u have described is quite scary and may be that is the reason why u are nervous while driving. I think u should forget whatever has happened in the past and concentrate what is happening today. U just need to have faith and confidence on yourself and that is how u can overcome the fear of driving. it is quite obvious to have such kind of fears. What say?

Oh my! That is a bad experience you had with driving or being in a vehicle. The bike didn't bother you as it didn't occur when riding a bike! But it's the same roads, and the same traffic, and actually someone is way safer inside a vehicle than atop a bike. I would start on lonely back roads if you have them or can get to them. And practice overcoming your fear and driving there for a while. The hardest part, I think, will be beginning, but after a while you will likely get used to it. Good luck and a little prayer to go with you!

I guess I have to consider myself to be lucky that I've never had that kind of a traumatic experience in my life that has kept me from wanting to drive. However, I do have to say that there is always some fear that comes when it is time to learn how to drive. All of that said, you mentioned that you've had a motorcycle license and a motorcycle in the past. Having done that, I think it would make it easier to overcome your fear of being behind the wheel of a car because of the fact that driving a car is a lot safer than being on a motorcycle.

I must say that I have trouble driving as well. It seems to be a health condition that I get nervous easily and sweat a lot more than others do. So I always have this problem in driving where I would be so nervous and my hand is covered with sweat which made even holding the wheel a problem. I guess the most common thing to overcome fear and nervousness in driving is to drive more.

As a kid I had seen a terrible accident involving a cycle where the guys head was totally smashed. From that I have had a fear of even riding a cycle. Till today I am not totally comfortable when I am sitting next to the driver in the car. I can only be comfortable sitting behind. Thats the reason I could not learn driving at all.

Sadly, I never learned how to drive and I do not think that I could learn ever, most especially with the way how people drive nowadays in those "killer highways". When I was younger, I really wanted to drive my own car. I was even about to apply for a student's license. My dad too was about to send me a new car. But then, my husband who was my boyfriend then, discourage my mom from giving me the car coz he said that he would just be picking me up in the morning and drop me off after class. So there was no need for us to have 2 separate cars. And so , I have never learned to drive a car!

Honestly, I have been terrified to drive since I was a child. I am 28 years old, and I still don't know how to drive! This fear actually runs in my family. My grandmother was the same way her whole life and my older sister was afraid for years also. I don't know how to get over this fear but I really need to learn to drive as well... I wish I could afford to get a private instructor but I can't. Oh well, maybe one day I will learn...

I don't know, but I'm answering, because I'd like to follow the answers... I've never had any bad experiences with driving apart from the occasional idiots who almost hit our car with theirs, but I'm really afraid, because it's too much reponsibility, and I have no mechanical affinity... like I can't estimate destinations, I can be easily distracted... I don't know when I'm gonna have a car and when I'm gonna take a drivers' license if I'm gonna do it...

I didn't start driving until 1996. I was 49. I never had a need to drive before that. I know how you feel. I was scared then and I still don't drive on the highway. I'm afraid of the other cars. The speed doesn't bother me, I'm afraid I won't be able to move over for cars entering the highway or that I won't be able to get over to the right to get off. I really don't like driving. The first year I drove I bought a brand new Saturn and had 5 accidents, all with parked, unoccupied cars. I'm not a good judge of distance. Now I have a bigger car, a 2006 Dodge Charger. I got it brand new. It was a gift. But I'm nervous when I drive. I do okay. I haven't had an accident in over 10 years. I don't drive at high traffic times of the day. You should go out to the country where there's not much traffic and drive all over. Just keep driving. After a while of doing this you'll feel more at ease and you'll be able to remember everything. Then you'll be able to concentrate on what's gong on around you. I hope this helps at least a little.

I don't have any fear of driving a car, but I understand yours :( Make yourself think of something else, but do still concentrate on the road. I don't that much ideas for covering up your fear, but maybe you should let the fear go?

I don't drive because I have fear of what might happen such as accident, etc. I have this imagination about driving on roads and I can't overcome it, so I decided not to drive anymore. Hope can overcome it someday. :-) Thanks for this. Have a nice day!

You just have to believe in your ability and your ability to avoid those situations. Things like that happen and it is unavoidable. That is just nature. But if something happens, you need to be prepared to handle it in the best way possible. Don't let one event ruin your experience. I am part of a drift group and people think it is stupid but it definitely helps with driving skills. It is not very dangerous either if you do it in the appropriate setting. Driving is one of the most fun things, in my opinion, and you shouldn't let that event ruin it for you. Just keep your head straight and don't panic. Panicking is the most problematic thing you can do when driving. Just be smart about it and you will be alright.

Just do it and you will get over the fear!

I'm not sure that there is a quick fix, but I have heard about courses and places you can go on where you can start learning ot drive in a car off road and like a computor car so you can see what is happening on the screen, and then when you feel like you can go out on the road you can slowly start driving on the road. You will have ot take things slowly and go out for very short amount of times and try being a passager more. I wish you all the best and hope you get on ok and can drive a car well in the very near future

With both hands on the wheel and the music up loud!