<p>I am absolutely, positively terrified of driving and refuse to get my license even though I'm eligible to take the test. Sadly, because I live in a rural area, it's necessary for me to obtain my license before looking for a job, which I need. Not to mention it looks rather silly being carted around everywhere by my mother when my friends all arrive to whatever venue in their own vehicles. </p>
<p>Do you CC'ers have a crippling driving phobia? Or am I just a big baby?</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re a baby. Wheni first started I was absolutely terrified. Sure, I could drive around an empty parking lot, but a STREET? No freaking way. I really think if you start out small that you’ll be okay. Start with what I did, a parking lot. Make sure you don’t stamp your foot on the gas, like I also did. Progress slowly. I don’t think I went on an actual road until my 3rd or 4th time around. And since you live in a rural area like me, you’ll have very little traffic to worry about once you get on the road! Don’t let yourself be afraid of something you’ve never done!</p>
<p>The first time I ever drove on the street I was pulled over for drunk driving. :D</p>
<p>I’m not scared of driving but I suck at it, so I can’t pass the license test.
(Ohio has a maneuverability test where you drive in between four road cones and then back out without knocking them over and I can’t do it despite hours and hours of practice.)</p>
<p>I have a permit and love driving. I do it every chance I get. I promise its not that bad.</p>
<p>goodnoodle, I’m with you! Drove 300 miles to Cleveland the week after I got my permit and it was awesome!! You just have to go out there and do it and you’ll become more comfortable as time goes on. Start on small roads without any traffic so the only car you have to worry about is your own. Good Luck :)</p>
<p>My driving anxiety was not helped by the fact that I started driving on country roads that were much, much more well-traveled than my dad and I thought. The first (and only) time I ever got behind the wheel I had a huge panic attack because of all the cars that were passing us. I almost ran off the road since apparently, hyperventilating isn’t a good idea while you’re driving. </p>
<p>I’ll have had my permit for a year this July and have been eligible for my license since 3/21, which was my 16th birthday. My parents have been begging me to take the test for a month now and lol nope not gonna happen.</p>
<p>See, I know to start out small, but that’s not much help when I won’t even get in the driver’s seat. I’m really starting to consider seeing a doctor for my general anxiety problems, which probably results in my intense fear of driving. 
Other than just going ahead and driving in parking lots and things, does anyone have any other tips for calming myself down when I start to feel panicky in a car? I’ve heard deep breathing really helps…</p>
<p>I’m fine driving on major roads/high ways, but I hate driving on residential roads. I’m always afraid because cars park on both sides of the street here, and people don’t use the sidewalks and they just walk in the middle of the road. Also, I’m so afraid of children running out into the middle of the road. That’s probably because when I was 12 I was hit by a car after the brakes on my bike stopped working. I was very lucky and wasn’t hurt that badly, but I’m afraid I’ll do the same thing to a kid and he won’t be as lucky.</p>
<p>Okay, so I just got my license a month ago after dealing with a phobia of it for 2 years. I got my permit in 2011, but was too terrified until now. I know how you feel. I hated that all my friends drove without a problem, while I was scared. </p>
<p>I had to force myself to drive, first in parking lots and then in residential areas. Also, I scheduled my driver’s test a month past the date I signed up. Then, I told all my friends that I signed up for my test. This made it so that I HAD to drive, or else I would fail my test and have to tell my friends and family that I couldn’t do it. It really was the only thing that really gave me a reason to drive!</p>
<p>Just do it, but start slowly. The longer you leave it the harder it will get 
My debate coach won’t drive, which means we end up giving her lifts to competitions, it’s such a pain.</p>
<p>I don’t know why, but for some reason I know A LOT of people who don’t like driving (1 of which is a senior, 1 is a junior, and a handful of sophomore’s). I, on the other hand, love driving. It’s not that bad. At first I was kind of scared my car would magically run into the cars in the other lane, but I just had to get rid of that mentality, and once I realize I was in control, it was fine. </p>
<p>Of course, my mom continually grumbles, “Of course I had to get the kid who likes to drive…”</p>
<p>I just got my license last week, and I’m hesitant to drive on the main roads-even though I already completed a driver’s ed course and, at one point, drove on the interstate-because I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid and put myself and/or somebody else in danger. The best way to combat this, I think, is to start slow in a parking lot or neighborhood, and then slowly progress to more difficult environments, like 4 lane roads or nighttime driving. The more you practice driving, the more comfortable you’ll become at it, and eventually it should become second nature to you.</p>
<p>Does anyone else’s parents not like them driving?</p>
<p>My mom lets me drive, but she doesnt really enjoy letting me, and shes a nervous wreck whenever I drive.</p>
<p>She hates the idea of me driving without her in the car, and its gonna be so hard to convince her to let me get a car :(</p>
<p>It’s less scary the more you practice, believe me.</p>
<p>Don’t be embarrassed, I was scared at first too. It’s pretty normal to be scared. Like others have said, just practice more. The more you do it, the less scared you will be. This looks like a situation where you are just going to have to face your fears. Some day you will look back and wonder why you ever stressed about driving.</p>
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<p>Oh Lord yes.</p>
<p>Don’t know much about this but I have some suggestions. </p>
<p>What about trying to conquer the phobia, fear, or anxiety by trying to get used to the feeling of driving. I am sure there are xbox, wii, etc. games out there that simulate driving and try that. I have seen my son play these games and some of them look pretty real so just a suggestion. </p>
<p>Another idea is to try to overcome your fears by visualization or meditating. Just visualize yourself behind the wheel driving with confidence and enjoying yourself. Once you have done this, and feel you are ready to take it further maybe next time go sit in the car and just sit at the wheel. Visualize yourself driving but don’t actually drive. Next time, do the same thing but take it one step further, and just start the car. Again, don’t drive anywhere but just visualize. So just baby steps for as long as you need until you are ready for the next step. Next time perhaps after several engine restarts, you are able to drive down the street, etc.</p>
<p>I never heard of driving phobia until recently when my mom told me about her friend that suffers from this (45 yr. old) but I am sure this is just a form of anxiety, that manifest itself this way. However, you did mention anxiety so I would definitely talk to a doctor about that, especially if it affects other areas in your life.</p>
<p>Both of my parents, especially my mom, are scared to death about letting me drive. They barely want to take me into the parking lot to drive, much less the main roads. And as I said in my original post, I’m not sure if I want to either.</p>
<p>The fear lasts pretty much until I got my license… Driving with a parent I feel takes away some of my confidence, and when I am not confident, I don’t drive as well. (Well, it’s necessary for the times that I didn’t know I was doing something wrong)</p>
<p>But once I got my license, getting to places by myself was worth more than the risk and the fear–its nice to drive peacefully in a quiet car for once–it feels so amazing those first few drives alone. And then you build confidence.</p>
<p>That’s strange, my parents are pushing me to drive. Like I said before, we live in a rural area, so the only way to get anywhere is by car. They’re pretty much tired of hauling me around everywhere, I guess.</p>
<p>I am scared too. It’s not that I’m afraid of hitting people or getting hurt. It’s that I have awful social anxiety and having to interact with other drivers and turn a car in front of them. Too much for me.</p>