Even driving instructors say that once a person has passed their driving test is the time when they really start learning how to drive. Prior to that was the time for learning driving technique, the meanings of different road signs, gaining confidence in what the vehicle does and the ability to understand and control it.
Once the driving test has been passed many people then have to conquer their fear of driving. Going out in the car and deciding how to get where you want to go, making decisions about routes and traffic can be daunting, especially at first. Many people do not have the opportunity to practice driving regularly. Or they may drive in a certain limited area which keeps them in the security zone of driving to the supermarket, the school run or the short distance to the office.
At first some people like to use their new driver plates to replace the learner plates that they have just shed. They can act as a safety buffer because they alert other road users to the fact that the driver is still inexperienced.
Many people admit to being afraid of driving in certain situations. Unfamiliar roads, motorways, bridges, tunnels can all cause levels of fear or even panic. Some people learn to drive in the city and then relocate to the town. They may have learned to cope with heavy traffic, but often the speeds are quite moderate because of the volume of traffic in the city. Other people learn to drive in a town and then move to the city where the need to make quick decisions and know where you are going is expected or else the other drivers become impatient.
Being a nervous driver can become a self-fulfilling situation. When someone is tense then they become more agitated, levels of concentration suffer and mistakes can be made. Even a small mistake can be magnified if someone is feeling tense. Then the next time they are due to go for a drive the fear and apprehension can grow into a bigger and bigger sense of dread.
Practice is the key to becoming a more confident driver. Some people decide to take a few extra lessons to become more comfortable with motorway or night driving. Some people may practice driving at times that may typically be a little quieter, like early Sunday morning. Practice short unfamiliar runs, like joining the motorway and then coming off at the next exit, so that you are not committing yourself to too long a trip. Remember, you have got to drive back afterwards.
Sometimes self hypnosis and visualisation techniques can be beneficial. Practice driving in your mind, run through the journey and see yourself as relaxed, calm, confident and in control. Practice the different choices that have to be made when approaching a junction, deciding which way to turn, which lane to use, and signalling as you change the gears.
Positive self talk is valuable. Often when we are stressed we can be quite negative in how we talk to ourselves, but practising saying things like, ‘I am calm, capable and confident, I have passed my driving test and I know how to drive’ can reinforce a sense of being relaxed and comfortable with your new, invaluable skill.
Susan Leigh, Counsellor and Hypnotherapist
www.lifestyletherapy.net