I've had my driver's license for a year. I passed my road test with no point deducted. I started driving last summer and one time, i tried to park, and i moved my feet to the accelerator pedal wanting to move forward, and then forgot and thought that my feet was still on the brake pedal, stepped on it, almost hit a person about 3 feet away. Since then, i'm really questioning my driving skills, have nightmares about hitting someone, and i generally panic when i'm driving in heavy traffic, or at atypical intersections. I have to drive for work, what should I do?
2007-03-30 17:19:49 · 9 answers · asked by Zach 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
I also drive for work. I deliver car parts to local garages. One day, I looked down and rammed someone in the back of their car. I totaled her car and damaged the one in front of her. I almost quit. But it all worked out legally. I was extremely afraid of driving after that. The best thing to do is for the next few months, do not listen to music while driving, leave your phone on vibrate and put it in your pocket. Make a checklist and put it on your dash. Concentrate completely on what you are doing. After work, drive around the neighborhood slowly. Practice in high parking areas where you need to swerve slowly. Drive in unfamiliar areas on your own time. Park in the Walmart parking lot and practice parking in other parking lots. Practice parallel parking. What your shifter. And most importantly, pay attention. When you go home at night, think about how well you drove that day. It will help you keep your mind at ease.
2007-03-30 17:30:51 · answer #1 · answered by Amber M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-09-15 18:24:59 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go nice and easy. Start with simple trips down the street and back. Then to the nearest mall parking lot and back. Then to the gas station and back. Now do all of them in one trip. Just keep adding and before you know it you'll be driving all over the place and it will feel natural. Keep your eye on the road...always shoulder check or look to wherever you plan on going...you will always catch things better that way. I didn't drive much in my earlier adult years as I lived in a big city and found it easier to use public transportation or walk instead. However, as I have gotten older I now live in places where those options don't exist and I had to learn to really drive. If you make yourself do the things you don't like, eventually they don't bother you anymore. Now, I'm fine...still don't like night driving though...never been a great fan of that one. However, if I'm in a city with good lighting I am fine. Good luck!
2007-03-30 17:36:50 · answer #3 · answered by daff73 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Driving in heavy traffic can be one of the greatest stressors in the world. I avoid driving as much as possible, but that may be difficult for some people.
The cost of driving is huge when you add car payments, insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs. Not only that, but fuel costs are likely to increase dramatically (query: "Peak Oil") Not to mention the stress of driving in heavy traffic.
However, you indicate that you need to "drive to work." If you cannot catch a bus, mass transit, telecommute, walk, organize a car pool, or ride a bike, you have my sympathies.
I'm so reluctant to drive, that I'd consider changing jobs or changing homes to avoid driving. If you drive into a city, consider parking outside the city and catching a bus to downtown.
Perhaps a very good friend (with your goals in mind) can help you build more confidence behind the wheel through driving practice.
By all means, when you drive pay absolute full attention to your driving.
2007-03-30 17:34:55 · answer #4 · answered by Skeptic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This happens to all new drivers, so dont sweat it. What I did was drive as much as possible, practice makes perfect.
I also travelled with my father who is a great driver and took advice from him.
Go to an empty carpark and practice parking and driving.
Dont worry about others too much, just make sure you are doing the right thing and take your time.
Pay some one for instructions
good luck
2007-03-30 17:29:19 · answer #5 · answered by claytonjscott 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go back to driving lessons if possible and take a refresher course to get your confidence back. You just made an honest mistake but you need to get back behind the wheel. Stay calm and go to a driving school and request a good instructor who specializes in anxiety and difficult driving situations! Practice as much as you can with the instructor until you BOTH feel comfortable you can drive without panicking. If there's a coworker who lives near you, you could ask him/her to drive you to work until you get your confidence back! And you may also need to see a psychiatrist who can help you find the cause of your anxiety! But do take a refresher course in driving PRONTO not just for your safety but for others as well! Good luck!
2007-03-31 10:23:28 · answer #6 · answered by cats 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn up the radio, relax, and just keep driving, eventually you should at least relax behind the wheel. On the bright side, you probably pay a lot of attention now, and are very unlikely to get into an accident of any kind.
2007-03-30 17:31:50 · answer #7 · answered by Kirstin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep going forward. You gotta get experience, before you have experience. just do it safely an pay attention....
2007-03-31 07:28:28 · answer #8 · answered by DennistheMenace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you run over the first two or three people it gets easier. Keep at it!
2007-03-30 17:24:03 · answer #9 · answered by BFH 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋