If you aren't anxious about driving, do you have any tips?

[Anonymous]

I often worry about the possibility of getting into a serious crash. I've considered therapy, but I don't think it's bad enough that I need it right now.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

take a defensive driving/smith system driving course before you take therapy for it.

[Anonymous]

If you are afraid of driving, don't drive. I don't mean that meanly, but you're more likely to cause an accident due to it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:take a defensive driving/smith system driving course before you take therapy for it.

Thanks! This is a great idea for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are afraid of driving, don't drive. I don't mean that meanly, but you're more likely to cause an accident due to it

Thanks. I only feel anxious before driving. Once I'm driving, I'm fine and have never caused an accident

[Anonymous]

I think a little anxiety might be a good thing. We should be nervous about these giant vehicles we drive at high speeds. I find it calming to go over my route ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a little anxiety might be a good thing. We should be nervous about these giant vehicles we drive at high speeds. I find it calming to go over my route ahead of time.

I wonder why most people aren't.

[Anonymous]

Focus on the yellow line and keeping plenty of distance in front

[Anonymous]

Are you observing dangerous situations or is it an irrational fear of what may happen, like looking down through a glass floor on a tall building.

[Anonymous]

I get anxious too, OP. Only thing that helps is driving more (which is funny because that increases the odds, really). It's scary that there are accidents that happen that you could never have prevented no matter how cautious you are. People drive drunk, stupid, and I see so many people on their phones it's terrifying. To top things off, my cousin died after being hit head on by a drunk/high driver and the guy somehow got off scott free.

I wonder if mindfulness or CBT would help. This must be fairly common.

[Anonymous]

Take a car control class.

Something like this:

https://bsr-inc.com/events/accident-avoidance/

Alternatively find a local autocross group that has an intro to autocross class.

[Anonymous]

I have a pretty severe anxiety disorder OP but for some reason once I start driving I feel more in control.

I like the PP's suggestions of taking a defensive driving course.

[Anonymous]

Take a couple of shots first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a little anxiety might be a good thing. We should be nervous about these giant vehicles we drive at high speeds. I find it calming to go over my route ahead of time.

I wonder why most people aren't.

Because most people drive thousands of miles a year at high speeds with absolutely no trouble at all.

Yes, a few people have crashes each year. The vast majority do not. Because operating a vehicle safely is within the abilities of the average person. That’s why “more people don’t worry about it”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Focus on the yellow line and keeping plenty of distance in front

no no no you do not focus on anything near your car, you need to focus further ahead, if you focus on the line you trace the road.

take the smith class, you need to learn how to prevent a crash, what can you be doing to prevent things, a lot different than fault. you can not be at fault but could have prevented it. prevention is not something the police determine but we use it for our almost 899 drivers who work here.

aiming high in steering prevents you from getting too close to the sides of road and other cars.

Great video here to stay centered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASx4JtLvx_M