r/drivinganxiety

i drove to the store today, after a year of not driving, and otw back to my house i made the worst lane change of my life nd the person i accidentally cut off got SO mad at me they switched lanes so they were driving next to me nd they started screaming profanities at me and i lit didnt even look at them and then they were behind me for like five lights. i am feeling SO shaken up and scared to get behind the wheel ever again. how can i stop ruminating? could they call my plates in? i am feeling so terrified :(

I feel like I’ve finally overcome most of my driving anxiety, and I even think that I’m a decent driver. However, I still really struggle with the maneuverability portion, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips?

I have been driving since Feb and still every time I have to drive I get so anxious and feel sick to my stomach although I dont make any mistakes now but this anxiety is killing me I dont know why I feel this way. Can someone please tell me when will I feel better about driving 😭 i am so sick of this feeling

I’m actually pissed at myself lol.

The annoying thing is I don’t even drive that bad during practice. Like I’m not perfect, but I can drive. But once the test started, I got nervous as hell and super anxious...

I literally started driving with the hazard on instead of using the left indicator properly. Then the examiner kept telling me to speed up, which made me even more stressed. After that he told me to do a U-turn at a signal, then a right turn, and I messed up the timing/braking so bad that he had to hit the brake.

Then he told me to park on the dirt side and even that was messy.

It felt like I went from “okay beginner driver” to “first day behind the wheel” in like 2 minutes.

Now I have to wait for the next test and take more lessons. But honestly now my mind is telling me I’ll never pass, like no matter how much I practice I’ll just panic again when the real test starts. I know that’s probably not true, but right now it feels impossible and I feel kind of ashamed because it was such a stupid fail.

Just wanted to rant because damn, this one felt stupid.

Hello all! I'm a first time driver, I'm 29 and have passed my beginners (written) test (aka G1 in Ontario).

I have had some success with driver lessons and my instructor is great. But I definitely need more time in a vehicle, as of writing this I've maybe spent 10 hours in a car which is no where near enough. I have had about 4 lessons and the first 3 went great and then I kept messing everything up.

I noticed my anxiety comes with lack of familiarity so I'm hoping to get some tips and tricks for how to practice better. I have a realization I'm not necessarily scared of driving, but more scared of the newness of something I've never done.

Another thing, I feel like I'm constantly overwhelmed and struggling to focus on everything. Like manage your speed, check your mirrors, turn the wheel, scan the road ahead, make sure to signal etc. Even just typing out all the steps makes me start to sweat. It feels like so much to process.

My G2 (road test) is in August (for now) any tips that helped you? I'm finding that anxiety creeping in because it feels it's such an impossible task to master.

(Edit: I do have a counsellor for my anxiety and take medication as well so I'm okay there. I find driving throws all my mental skills out the window)

Thanks!

Sawyer

Im currently 17 and have my license but I hate driving, it makes me get really anxious. I took a few driving classes which I thought helped me(before I got my license, and at the same place I took my test). I actually felt really good during my driving test, I was still nervous but felt confident and very comfortable in the car since it was a sudan and had really smooth controls(I practiced with the school in sudan sized cars). After my test whenever I drove my family cars I felt very out of control and anxious(both are SUVs), and ever since I drove in my family cars two times I stopped driving entirely.

Its been basically half a year since I got my license and I really wanna drive, so I decided to practice over summer with more classes to build my confidence. When I told my mom I wanted to take classes and got kinda upset with me saying she didn't have money for that and told me to practice in our white SUV(which is older), and when I told her I felt very uncomfortable driving that car( or any SUV) she literally said she thought I was a strong person but I was actually weak?? I then tried explaining to her that I was sure that as soon as I started driving I would get really anxious, and that by taking lessons with a school instead I would feel more confident. I would also not potentially endanger myself or anyone around me.

Tell me if Im being unreasonable and stubborn by refusing to drive in our family cars. I really really wanna be able to drive confidently and good, especially for my senior year since I wanna get a job too. And let me know if anyone has any good tips for me.

Hello. So I'm just making this post to hopefully get some advice to improve my anxiety/nervousness with driving, because I've been driving now for a few years just casually but due to multiple different reasons I'm going to have to start driving a lot more often, and I want to just improve my driving ability as much as possible which I've read many times a good start is addressing any anxiety/nervousness.

I mean I'm perfectly fine and comfortable just with normal simple plain straightforward driving, clearly marked obvious turn only lanes or lanes that merge, clearly identified parking/no parking, straightforward driving on the highway, all that sort of relatively simple, and just clear cut stuff obviously. It's just I guess the uncertain/unfamiliar and unforeseen type stuff that makes me nervous to drive of course. I just don't trust/have confidence in my judgements and sense, in general honestly sad to say, but especially on the spot in immediate instances you know. I feel like when driving a vehicle there are inherently and unavoidably (especially the more you drive of course, and definitely even more especially in unfamiliar locations too) situations and circumstances you will inevitably encounter at some point, that you are not going to be prepared for and informed/knowledgeable about, and this is really I think what gives me the most anxiety with driving...

Hi I’m turning 17 in a few months and I’m glad to be taking my test but also nervous as I really don’t want to fail as I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I’m fairly well at driving except when doing unprotected left turns, I wait too long but I don’t want to risk getting into an accident 😓 any tips from anybody? Also for parallel parking/backing around a corner.

My dads getting a car for me and I need to drive it home from the place. And I'm actually so scared. It'll be my first time driving alone (probs not a good thing, that being the first time while getting a new car). I'm just so worried something bad will happen. The car is a big investment too, idk what to do.

Any advice to mentally prepare myself.

I'd say I drive well but idk I'm not sure

Just a vent. I’m (26) still shaken by the fact that I almost costed damages both financial and physical. I don’t have my license. Ive had my permit for only 4 months. I’ve taken driving lessons and now my parents are taking me out to drive. This was with my dad.

First time I was following behind this car, nearly rear ending it before I stopped at the last minute. To paint a better picture, there was a UPS truck parked in the lane so we had to pass it. I was following behind the car I mentioned earlier, it stopped after passing the truck. I was expecting it to move but didn’t notice its hazards before my dad had to tell me before I swerved.

The second time was the worst. I had to make a right turn onto the left turning lane of a main road. My thought process as I got onto the lane was to overtake the car that was coming from the opposite direction. I had the turn light, I didn’t want to lose it, and I knew I had to take it. My dad said to speed up, I floored it instead. For a brief moment I lost control of the car, didn’t realize it til the shock hit and I was horrified when I heard the tires screech. My dad yelled at me, rightfully so. At the speed I was going I wouldn’t have stopped in time to prevent an accident. I was so lucky there weren’t any pedestrians or else things would’ve been a lot worse.

I know this is gonna sound like I’m making excuses but I was running on 4 hours of sleep. I should have said something. But I need to practice every chance I get. I want to get my license. I’m too slow when I drive. I take forever when I make turns and I’m always disrupting the flow of traffic because I can’t read traffic properly. Any tips on how to get over this feeling?

For context I got my driver's license about a year ago and only started driving independently a few months after that. I moved overseas early this year to Sydney and started driving regularly again around March.

I’ve been trying to practice twice a week while balancing full-time studies, mostly driving to familiar places like malls, but every session leaves me more anxious and mentally exhausted. I get tailgated or honked at sometimes even when I’m following the speed limit, and expressways stress me out a lot. I’ve gone down the wrong route multiple times and spent ages rerouting afterwards.

My progress feels incredibly slow. I don’t really dare to explore new routes or places because I’m scared of messing up, panicking, annoying other drivers, or worse causing an accident. I’ve even gone back to needing someone in the car with me when I drive, and it feels difficult trying to regain independence again.

I’ve started preferring busy school days over off days because it gives me an excuse to avoid driving altogether.

Does driving anxiety eventually get better with experience, or is this one of those things where you just have to push through until it sucks less? Would really appreciate any advice or suggestions thanks

After going through 11 years of getting a permit, renewing it, and having to retest for one after it expires over and over again, I finally bit the bullet and took my road test. I didn't even need to take another knowledge test (even though I studied in all my free time 🙄). After checking out if all my lights work, the test just had me back out of the parking space (I messed up and turned the wheel the wrong way because nerves but quickly corrected), drive down about a block on an empty road, and turn around in a parking lot. No stop signs, lights, lane changes, or even traffic. I only saw one other car the whole time. Granted I tested in a rural area but it was scarily easy. I'm still nervous about driving by myself and no one helping me know where to turn or what to do, but one step at a time

My driving instructor always wants me to go faster, but I get nervous and almost feel like 40 to maybe 45 is my limit. I need to go faster, but mentally I just feel so uncomfortable. How do you handle the anxiety from going 50 to 55 MPH?

Hi, just to start first, I'm M17 and I've had my learner's permit for almost two yers now and am just finishing my junior year in high school. Last summer I attempted the driving test twice, and failed both; my first time I didn't even enter the testing zone and failed in the parking lot of the DMV (I accidentally accelerated when I should've braked due to anxiety), and on my second time I failed while backing out and hit a cone in the parking spot in the testing area. I'm registered for a private test administration through a learning course, and I'm hopeful I'll do well with that, but I just feel so ashamed sometimes because I feel inferior and less "grown up" than my peers in high school. Also, I feel somewhat lesser because my driving skills, which have described as jerky. I've had a lot of distress thinking about this, and I get almost physically upset thinking about going to the DMV for the test (which is not really present now b/c I'll be taking a state-approved private test, but still).

I hope what I've said makes sense. Feel free to respond!

Hello guys, I'm 20 M, It's my second try, it costs almost half of my wage to retry (380 bucks)!

I don't really have much to say, just that I'm really nervous and hopefully I get a good instructor or a calm day..

I was in an accident a while back and I only recently got a new car but I am crazy anxious when driving. I’m constantly thinking about getting into another accident, stressed about cars behind me thinking I’m too slow, etc that I end up making SO many mistakes. If it weren’t for the other car being aware, I honestly recon I would have been in another crash.

The thing is I know I’m making mistakes and I know I need to take a fucking chill pull but I’m so stressed out all the time on the roads.

Please tell me it gets better 🙏🏼

My dad taught me a little bit on how to drive and I was driving for the first time yesterday. I was driving successfully back and forth.

But I honestly forgot everything today. Then, I tried to park the car today, but it didn't work out. My dad ended up being too scared that he told me he can't let me drive anymore until i go to driving school. That honestly made me disappointed because he can't even pay for driving school right now.

Am I still gonna be able to drive. I'm also autistic, so am I still able to do it?

I'm senior in highschool, and other seniors have been able to drive and are driving now, they are done with driving school. I'm probably the only one that can't drive right now. It's honestly embarrassing to me. I just wanna learn how to drive, but my papa keeps getting scared. I know I might crash by accident, but.. I just wanna learn how to drive already so I can drive my future kids to school or drive myself to restaurants. Something like that. I just wanna be more independent now that I'm 18. I've been 18 since April.

I'm honestly scared to drive and especially the highway. That's the worst part. When do I know I'm ready for that?

I need some advice to cope over this and is there other people that go through this and are around the same age as me.

I’m 35 year old female I have my learners permit I’ve been practicing a little in a parking lot and I did better than I thought I’m still a little nervous though.