Uncovered: What scares us the most behind the wheel

Driving is something that comes naturally to many people. It might take hours of lessons and a few attempts at your test, but once you’re successful there should be no stopping you. Sadly, not everyone feels the same way about driving on today’s crowded, stressful roads. 

More people than ever before are suffering from driving anxiety while others simply fear being caught up in situations they don’t know how to manage. Whether you’re an inexperienced driver or you’re considered a veteran behind the wheel, you’ve probably felt a twinge of discomfort at some point whilst driving. 

Here we’ll explore what scares us most behind the wheel, and how you can overcome it!

Having a car accident

A car accident can happen for several reasons. Distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, drunk driving and dangerous driving are the most common reasons behind the thousands of accidents that occur every year – speak with a car accident attorney in Kennesaw if you’re the victim of a car crash that could have been avoided. A car accident can change your life in an instant and having dependents in the car with you during a crash is the stuff of nightmares.

Interestingly, it’s not just the event of a crash that frightens motorists, it’s the aftermath. Dealing with the police, your insurance company and a potentially aggressive driver is enough to frighten most motorists. Educating yourself on safer driving practices can help keep you safe behind the wheel and educating yourself on what to do after a crash can also help your anxiety.

Breaking down

Driving along, minding your own business when there’s an unexpected lunge from the engine, or you suddenly roll to a stop – this is enough to trigger anyone’s anxiety. With traffic mounting behind you, your car not budging, whilst you’re miles away from home and panic is rising… It’s hardly surprising that breaking down ranks pretty high on this list. 

The solution is simple. Keep your car well maintained and ensure it’s roadworthy. Always keep a full tank of gas and make sure your tires are at the right pressure. If you don’t know how to change a flat, then learn! It’s also a good idea to keep an emergency call out number stored in your car.

Getting lost

Driving to a meeting, visiting somewhere new, trying to figure out the road markings whilst following the GPS…getting lost is certainly panic-inducing. The best way to ensure you don’t lose your way is by planning your route as meticulously as you can. You could even check out the area on Google Maps so you can make yourself familiar with turn-offs and the road layout. 

And finally, parking

The dreaded parallel park can haunt drivers for years. You can see a space, but you’d have to parallel park to get into it and there’s plenty of people watching. Cringe! You have a couple of options here, you can either face your fears – give it a go and surprise yourself, or you can book some refresher lessons with your driving instructor and get to grips with the technique again.