Do you struggle with anxiety when you drive?
You’re definitely not alone. Studies show that 66% of Americans deal with driving anxiety at some point – whether you’re a new driver learning the ropes or someone who’s been driving for years.
But wait… there’s more…
Apparently, 83% of drivers who began learning to drive amidst the pandemic deal with driving anxiety. That means that the majority of drivers feel stressed when they get behind the wheel.
But don’t sweat it… driving anxiety isn’t permanent.
When you know how to approach driving with the right mindset and have access to expert tips and tricks, you’ll feel less stress and more confidence while driving.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
- Define Driving Anxiety
- Why Taking Lessons From A Professional Matters
- 5 Tips From Driving Experts To Gain Confidence
- Importance of Smart Practice Sessions
Let’s dive in.
Defining Driving Anxiety
Driving anxiety is when you feel nervous or anxious when you’re driving (or thinking about driving).
It can present itself in many forms:
- Sweaty hands when you get behind the wheel
- Heart racing when you’re on the freeway
- Driving avoidance – either mentally or physically
- Panic when you need to merge or change lanes
Approximately 16% of drivers suffer from moderate to severe driving anxiety. If you feel your heart pounding every time you get behind the wheel, you’re not alone.
For new drivers, driving anxiety can cause students to feel overwhelmed. That’s why working with professional driving school services is so important. Students have a built in support system that allows them to gain real confidence behind the wheel.
Professional driving schools like The Next Street driving school in Massachusetts have certified instructors who work with students to help identify their anxiety triggers and help them work through it during their lessons.
Why Professional Driving Lessons Are Important
If you asked us the best way to overcome driving anxiety, we would have one simple answer…
Take lessons from the get-go.
Learning how to drive from a certified instructor helps you develop good habits and confidence early on.
Let’s break down what professional driving lessons can do for you:
- You learn how to drive the proper way.
- They can pinpoint your areas of weakness.
- You’ll get hands-on experience before you hit the road.
- Learn how to manage anxiety-inducing situations.
Professional instructors have helped hundreds of students overcome their driving anxiety. They know the tricks of the trade and can easily point out your weak spots.
Expert Tip #1: Take It Slow
We know this sounds like a no-brainer, but many new drivers try to jump right into driving.
Don’t start driving on the freeway during peak hours. You don’t want to drive when you’re already stressed.
Here’s what you should do instead:
- Empty parking lots
- Side streets
- Short errand runs during the day
- Roads you’re familiar with
Master your skills in each area before moving onto the next. You don’t want to learn how to drive on the freeway without knowing how to merge into fast-moving traffic.
Driving instructors will work with you at a pace you’re comfortable with. As you gain more confidence in lower-stress situations, you’ll feel more prepared to take on difficult ones.
Expert Tip #2: Breathe Through It
Did you know that your breathing patterns can affect your anxiety?
When you start to feel anxious, your body begins to take short, rapid breaths. That makes you feel even more stressed out.
Here’s a trick you can do before and during driving:
Take a deep breath into your nose for 4 seconds. Hold it for 4 seconds. Exhale through your mouth for 6 seconds.
Repeat this process 3-5 times before you begin driving. If you start to feel anxious on the road, focus your attention on your breathing. Take deep, steady breaths to help you calm down.
Professional instructors preach this method to their students because it works!
Expert Tip #3: Visualize Yourself Driving
This may sound crazy, but hear us out.
You can use visualization to your advantage before you get in the driver’s seat.
Sit down in a quiet area and close your eyes. Imagine yourself driving, how your arms feel on the wheel, and how smoothly you’re driving.
Visualize yourself conquering those situations that you feel anxious about. Drive yourself into your mind parallel parking between two cars. Merge onto the highway like a pro.
When you visualize yourself driving confidently, you’re programming your brain to do just that.
Do this for 5-10 minutes before each of your driving lessons.
Expert Tip #4: Know Your Triggers
Everyone experiences driving anxiety differently.
You may be perfectly fine driving around your neighborhood but hate driving on the highway.
Identify what triggers your anxiety:
- Driving on the highway?
- Parallel parking?
- Night driving?
- Heavy traffic?
- Bad weather?
Knowing your triggers will allow you and your instructor to work on those areas one-on-one. Avoiding your triggers will only make you more anxious.
Work on those tricky areas with your instructor until they become second nature.
Expert Tip #5: What You Can Control
Here’s a little secret that has helped many nervous drivers.
You can’t control what other drivers do on the road. You can’t control the weather.
What you can control are the following:
- Maintenance of your vehicle.
- How good of a driver you are by practicing.
- You can control the decision to drive defensively.
- You can control how you prepare yourself before each journey.
A lot of anxiety comes from your feeling of not having control. By focusing on what you can control, you feel more powerful and less helpless.
Consistent Practice Sessions
There’s a reason your parents told you to practice:
You have to do it to get better.
Practicing will slowly help you gain more confidence as a driver.
Every time you get into the driver’s seat and drive successfully, you’re telling your brain that you’re capable of driving.
That’s why driving with a driving school is so beneficial. They make sure you practice certain skills before you move on to more difficult tasks.
Consistency Breeds Confidence
Like with anything else in life, it takes time to become a confident driver.
You will have good days and bad days. That’s completely normal.
What’s important is that you have the right tools and support staff to help you through your journey of learning how to drive.
Professional driving schools help you learn how to properly drive while building the confidence that comes with knowing you’re a capable driver.
Even the most confident drivers feel anxious every now and then. However, they know how to control their driving anxiety and drive safely.
Seeking Additional Help
In some cases, driving anxiety can be associated with other things.
Car accidents, PTSD, and panic attacks are all things that can contribute to your driving anxiety.
You may want to seek additional help if:
- You’re too anxious to drive at all
- Panic attacks occur when you’re driving
- You’ve experienced trauma in your past that’s affecting your learning process
There is no judgment here. If you need to seek professional help to take your driving anxiety away, then do it. The goal is to get you back on the road, driving, and confident as ever.
Wrapping Up
Driving anxiety is common, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it control your life.
By using professional resources and practicing consistently, you’ll be on your way to driving confidently in no time.
Just remember:
- Take your time. You don’t want to rush the learning process.
- Breathe through your anxiety.
- Use visualization to your advantage.
- Identify what triggers your anxiety.
- Focus on what you can control.
Professional driving instructors are there to help you through your driving anxiety.
Slow your roll, and remember that you got this!