As you know, driving is a constant source of danger. The proof: many accidents occur on the roads every year. However, it’s possible to control the risks with a little learning, experience and the right precautions. Taking the wheel therefore requires perfect mastery of the Highway Code and sustained attention. It therefore seems normal and legitimate to be afraid of driving at times.

This fear is also justified in certain situations. However, it becomes unreasonable and problematic when it prevents you from getting behind the wheel when all your faculties and abilities are intact. I invite you to read this article to better understand this phobia. You’ll also find 4 practical solutions to overcome it.

What is fear of driving?

Also known as amaxophobia, fear of driving is an irrational, excessive and exaggerated anxiety that prevents a person from driving. This phobia affects a wide range of people. It could be someone who is just learning to drive, or someone who has struggled to obtain a driving licence. Experienced individuals may, with or without reason, also find themselves faced with this fear. In addition, there are older people who dread driving with age.

Despite this, some people still have a slight blockage and manage to take to the road on a daily basis. Sometimes, however, the handicap is much more serious and driving becomes impossible.

WHERE DOES THE FEAR OF DRIVING COME FROM?
Lack of self-confidence is one cause. Indeed, it’s not at all surprising that an insecure person should develop a fear of driving alone. However, this is far from being a general observation: even when insecure, some people are perfectly capable of getting behind the wheel.

People with a pessimistic nature can also develop this phobia. If you always expect the worst in any situation, this may explain your fear of driving at night, for example.

Fear of driving may be hereditary, according to some psychologists. This would explain why some people are only afraid to get behind the wheel, when they could just as easily get into the car on the passenger side.

The most plausible is the fear of driving after an accident, which comes from post-traumatic stress developed by a person who has been the victim or witness of a more or less serious road accident. In any case, the trauma suffered and the anxiety linked to this memory create a real block. It’s therefore possible that, after an accident, you may find yourself afraid to drive on the freeway.

The fear of driving may be directly linked to fears similar to obsessive-compulsive disorders, such as the fear of causing a serious accident, or the fear of having an impulse that is dangerous to oneself or to others.

It is also possible to be afraid of driving after the driving test if the learning conditions have not been better. Also, those who have lost the habit of driving a vehicle may feel frightened when they start again.

When does this fear become a phobia?

As I said in the introduction, it’s possible to feel fear sometimes at the idea of getting behind the wheel, during a journey following an event or even for no reason at all. Fear of driving becomes a problem when we can’t get past it, and it prevents us from practising the activity when we’re fully capable of doing so.

Fear of driving on the freeway, for example, leads some people to invent all kinds of excuses. They put in place numerous stratagems and demonstrate boundless imagination. Others refuse to learn to drive in order to get their license. In short, they use what is known as the avoidance strategy. But there’s no point in avoiding the problem in the short term, because it’s a long-term handicap.

Fear of driving is a real problem, as it can affect both your professional and personal life. There may be routine or emergency situations that require you to get behind the wheel. So it’s important to do everything you can to stop being afraid to drive.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AMAXOPHOBIA
This phobia manifests itself in different ways, depending on the individual. It can start as soon as you get into the driver’s seat and you haven’t even turned on the ignition. Just imagining that you’re going to have to drive sends you into a frenzy. You think the worst, and are gripped by a sudden terror.

For some people, the fear of driving is triggered by a journey in the most reasonably safe conditions, or by a trivial incident or obstacle. This is the case, for example, when the car stalls at a stop sign at a red light, or when a vehicle is speeding behind or in the opposite direction. You may also feel the fear of driving at night when you find yourself in a tunnel, on a bridge or in traffic jams.

A person may not be afraid to drive alone. The anxiety is only triggered when he’s with other people. He’s afraid of himself: he thinks he’s going to make a mistake that will endanger the lives of others. This is known as impulse phobia.

Like most phobias, the fear of driving on the freeway triggers a series of physical, psychological and physiological reactions. These include: palpitations, sweating, trembling, feverishness, stomach ache, dizziness, feelings of loneliness or negative, pessimistic thoughts, accelerated pulse, loss of sense of reality and obsession with losing control.

4 ways to overcome fear of driving

Driving phobia is a real problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Like any fear, all it takes is real awareness and the decision to take action to overcome it. Of course, this isn’t always easy, but you have to give yourself the means to get there. Here are 4 solutions to help you overcome this blockage.

TRY A DIFFERENT LEARNING METHOD
It may seem trivial, but it’s a very important detail: the way you learn to drive. Clearly, learning to drive is a difficult process, in which the learner needs to feel confident and at ease. If this stage has not gone well, you may be afraid to drive after your driving test, or even to give up before then. Is this you? The best way to overcome your fear is to find a new approach to learning. You could, for example, revise your driving techniques and take a few more lessons with the help of a professional.

ADOPT ANTI-STRESS TECHNIQUES
To stop being afraid of driving on the freeway, you need to learn to control your emotions and relax. The easiest way to de-stress is through breath control. With this technique, you’ll learn to relax your muscles and your mind. You’ll be calmer, more focused and much more at ease behind the wheel. Breathing to combat muscular tension and a racing heart can be done at any time, even while driving. However, if you want to see surprising results quickly, combine it with morning meditation or yoga.

BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY
If, despite all your efforts, you still can’t overcome your fear of driving, you can contact a shrink. He or she may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The aim is to help you free yourself from your fear of driving, whatever the reason.

HYPNOSIS: A SOLUTION TO THE FEAR OF DRIVING
There are many ways to get rid of your fear of driving. Today, therapeutic hypnosis is recognized as an effective means of overcoming many problems, particularly phobias. This technique, which is increasingly recommended by health professionals, can be an alternative to the fear of driving. Whatever the reason for your anxiety, this therapy will help you find the source of the problem, as well as the solutions to overcome it once and for all.

What to remember

Driving is a high-risk activity. It’s normal for it to be a source of stress. But when the fear of driving becomes such a problem that you stop driving, you need to react. You’ll need to find a way to deal with this phobia, which is likely to grow over time. Put an end to all avoidance strategies, take charge and act now.