I have a fear of driving on the interstate, what can I do? Are there others like me?

Question

I like an house north of our major city, Atlanta, and I have this huge fear of driving on the interstate. I do ok if someone else drives, but if a big truck goes right beside on either side I freak out. & if 2 get on either side at the time I practically hold my breath until there is an opening again. Everything seems so close to the vehicle though. When I use mapquest, I always use the avoid highways option and go the longer route. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Just tell yourself this: No matter how bad you drive, there is someone out there you drives worse than you.

Answer 2

It's ok to be afraid of driving on the interstate but that is not a reason not to face your fear. The main thing is to accept that you lack and my guess is experience. I was also a bit afraid of the interstate but now I zoom through like everyone else. It's really just a question of doing it enough times until you gain the confidence. But by all means be careful when you drive. My two major problems were merging into the interstate and also changing lanes. Now I have become quite good at both -- but I still change lanes kinda slowly to allow anyone that I may not have been to beep at me.

I can imagine how you feel. Just drive even when big trucks are beside you. Concentrate on keeping your car on your lane and you'll be fine. Remember that even with those big trucks, the drivers are good at keeping them on their lanes. So, as long as you keep to yours, you'll be fine and with time, the fear will slowly go away -- and you'll be really proud of yourself too!! :-)

Answer 3

Best technique is to go with the flow. That is travel at the same speed as other cars which is usually higher than the limit. If you go too slow, then there are many cars and trucks passing you by which seems to be the source of your fear (you are not alone....). If you maintain the speed of the flow, then normally only very few cars will pass you by, and almost never a truck as they usually go a bit slower.

Another technique I found which makes driving easier is to follow a big truck. Just make sure you don't follow too closely and you'll be ok.

Answer 4

Dr Laura - the lady on the Radio psychologist has question asked several times. You could refer to her website or she say to drive out on the interstate to the 1st ramp and get off and get to the side of the road and then start doing some Push ups or Jumping jacks seems like 50 or so. Then get back into your car and get off the big road and go home. Then do it the next day adding another exit repeating the Push up or Jacks... each day adding more as you get more confidence.

Sounds goofy but it might just work. check out her website Drlaura.com for the better answer than I have here....

Answer 5

Yes, get someone to ride with you, get on I-285 and spend several hours on several weekends and practice driving with semis.

The chances of a trucker actually hitting you are almost nil. And If you learn a trucker's blind spots (most are on his right side) you should never have a problem. One thing to remember is that if you can see his mirrors, he can see you.

Also, your car can manuver much faster than that truck can, and you can pass him in short order if you don't like being beside him.

If I lived in the Atlanta area, I'd gladly do this with you at no charge, just to get you over your fears. In the meantime, I hope you can confide in a friend who will help you with this. You are wasting alot of time taking the long way when it isn't necessary.

I used to live in GA and travelled in Altlanta and traffic there is terrible, but it's the perfect environment for you to get over your fears.

Email me and let me know how you do. Good luck!

Answer 6

it seems like u dont trus the other drivers. i know u live in atlanta and is a very dangerous place to drive on the interstate and highways. everyone drives 100 freakin mph. just calm down and trust the other drivers. and if u can aviod it dont drive in the middle lane. either drive fast in the left and i mean real fast cuz they haul @$$ up there. or drive at ur own pace in the right lane.

Answer 7

If this only happens with big trucks, you might be claustrophobic.

I have a great aunt that will ride on the thruway because she was involved in a very bad accident on one many years ago.

Seek help. There might be some underlying cause to your fear that once you understand you may be able to minimize or eliminate your fear.

Answer 8

Take toddler steps for a speedy time till you sense delicate employing around human beings. you could properly be stunned to coronary heart that concern of employing in all fairness basic. a lot of human beings boost stress around employing on highways, over bridges, or in simple terms being in a vehicle in many situations. you could discover which you have substitute into hyper-alert while in a vehicle, to the quantity that it certainly makes employing greater complicated. because of the fact employing is basically an subconscious interest (you do no longer think of approximately shifting kit, or pressing the brake), too lots stress can intervene with the graceful operation of the vehicle. while this takes place, human beings frequently start to doubt their skill to stress, further increasing stress stages. conquer concern of employing will help retrain your concepts to chill out while on the wheel at an identical time as preserving a secure point of concentration. you're a lots greater secure motive force once you're comfortable than once you're under pressure, as you probably understand.

Answer 9

pay attn to your driving, ignore the size of the other vehicles, especially the trucks, just think whats going thru the truckers minds when they encounter you on the open road intherstates or not, they can`t , stop on a dime, a semi still has 40 tons chasing after me and i hope she doesnt do anyreally dumb stuff like distracting other drivers or talking on the phone...

Answer 10

take a high performance driving course , fear is caused by the unknown , a course like this will get you doing things on a closed course with a professional instructor that you will hopefully never have to do on the road , the more experience you have the higher your confidence level , my wife is learning to drive in snow this winter , be glad you don't have to contend with that .

Answer 11

I use to me nervous about driving on the highway too, but if its ur daily route, you will get use to it. Just stay on the lanes that you need to stay to get to your destination and you should be fine, that way you won't have to worry about changing lanes so you can exit or something like that.