Dealing with fear
Fear is powerful, for good and for ill. A little is
ok, but it's important to know when you are experiencing too
much.
Decide if you are ok or getting too scared
When you are learning to drive it’s good to feel a little bit
anxious. It will help focus your attention. Fear and anxiety
is triggered by the part of our brain that helps us react to
danger. If you do not sense danger, you will not protect
yourself.
However, too much anxiety is a problem. If you feel really
anxious while driving, you lose awareness of what’s happening
around you. You become clumsy and don’t think clearly.
If this happens while you are learning to drive, don't try to
keep driving. Pull over somewhere safe and talk about it with your
parent/supervisor or driving instructor.
Take action and reduce the stress
Here are some more ideas to help you avoid or reduce
anxiety:
- Remember that learning to drive with a good supervisor is
mostly a very safe thing to do. Very few learners are hurt while
learning to drive.
- Anticipate stressful situations and work out how to take
control while you can still think clearly. Breathe slowly and
deeply and relax your neck and shoulders.
- If you make a mistake and another driver hassles you, don’t
take it to heart. To them you are a car that’s annoying them; it’s
not you personally. If they are getting annoyed that’s their
weakness, not yours.
- Work out what you're afraid of and talk to your
parent/supervisor about it. Ask them to help you with a strategy to
overcome the fear.
- Start off in a situation you feel comfortable with
and gradually step closer to the situation that worried
you.
- Ask your driving instructor or parent/supervisor to drive you
to a place where you feel comfortable starting off.
- Have a lesson but don’t drive. You can learn from the
passenger’s seat too.