What's Driving Your Anxiety?
From merging onto highways to dealing with aggressive drivers, there are plenty of reasons why some people avoid getting behind the wheel. After all, driving often requires quick thinking and can put you in situations you might not feel fully confident in. Whether you struggle with driving anxiety yourself or are simply curious about it, here are 20 of the most common reasons people fear being behind the wheel.
1. Highways & Merging
Sure, not every trip around the block requires you to merge on a highway, but fear of driving on these busy roads is a common reason why many may opt to take public transit instead. Not only can heavy traffic spike anxiety, but high speeds and merging can also be extremely nerve-wracking.
2. Changing Lanes
Though perhaps not as scary as merging onto highways, changing lanes can also be a reason some might prefer to stay off the road. After all, forget a shoulder check or move a split second too late, and you could cause an accident.
3. Hitting a Car
No one wants to scratch, bump, or dent another car, especially when you're the one behind the wheel. And because that thought can weigh heavily on the back of your mind, knowing that the responsibility to drive safely rests on your shoulders, you might choose not to drive at all.
4. Injuring a Pedestrian
Even worse than denting a car is accidentally striking a pedestrian. While this might sometimes be completely out of the driver's control—say, when a pedestrian jaywalks—the responsibility still rests on the driver to stay alert and vigilant, which only adds to the pressure.
5. Causing a Fatal Accident
Minor scrapes and scratches are already enough to spike anxiety in drivers, but it doesn't help that driving is considered one of the most dangerous forms of transportation, behind motorcycles and other light-duty vehicles. The fear of causing a fatal accident can be so overwhelming that it keeps some drivers permanently off the road.
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6. Being Judged
Some drivers, especially new ones, may avoid getting behind the wheel because they're scared of being judged by other road users. Even though everyone makes the occasional minor mistake, new drivers might hate the possibility of making errors so much that they would rather not put themselves in situations where those hiccups could happen at all.
7. Getting Lost
Getting lost when you're behind the wheel can make your brain feel like it's scrambling—something you definitely don't want to feel when you're already under pressure and constantly scanning the road around you. For some, this fear of driving in remote or unfamiliar areas can keep them from exploring outside the neighborhoods they're used to.
8. Having a Panic Attack
Those who have an anxiety or panic disorder may fear getting behind the wheel because they're afraid they might freeze up, black out, or swerve off the road. And because their brains are constantly on high alert—and not in a good way—they would rather stay away from the driver's seat.
9. Losing Control
Panic attacks may make you lose control of the wheel, but there could be other ways this could happen as well. The most common one? Driving distracted, which includes texting, eating, calling, or even searching for a different song to play. While you might think you can avoid this fear by keeping distractions away, some drivers may still feel wary.
10. Not Braking Fast Enough
Lots of things can happen on the road faster than you can blink. A car could run a red light. A pedestrian could run out from behind a parked vehicle. A cyclist could appear next to your vehicle. An animal could pop out from behind the line of trees. If your reaction time isn't fast enough, the worst-case scenario could happen.
11. Past Traumatic Experiences
Some people may avoid getting behind the wheel or obtaining their license at all if they've been in a serious car accident in the past. Moreover, it might not even be the case that they fear being the driver, but being a passenger as well. Because of this, they may steer clear of vehicles entirely and opt to walk or take the train.
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12. Triggering Someone's Road Rage
Just as new drivers may fear making mistakes or being judged while behind the wheel, they may also shy away from driving in fear of triggering someone's road rage. While we can't control the reactions of others, amateur drivers may think they have to be perfect on the road, and thus put too much pressure on themselves to the point that they avoid driving altogether.
13. Bad Weather
Not every time you drive will be under sunny skies; sometimes, you'll need to drive in heavy rain, sleet, snow, or during thunderstorms. Of course, if the roads are too dangerous to drive in, it's best to stay at home, but some drivers may fear driving in any weather other than clear skies.
14. Encountering Aggressive Drivers
Even when road rage isn't directed at you, it can still be nerve-wracking to encounter aggressive drivers on the road, simply because they're unpredictable. For this reason, some drivers may avoid getting behind the wheel so they won't need to deal with situations where they'll need to think on their feet.
15. Night Driving
Driving in bad weather isn't the only reason why some may avoid getting into the driver's seat; in fact, driving after dark may be even scarier. After all, any situation where your vision is obscured can be dangerous, so some people may only choose to drive when it's still light out.
16. Not Knowing How to Park
Believe it or not, struggling with parking can keep some drivers off the road, even if it's not the driving part they find challenging. And since public transit takes you to your destination without you needing to worry about finding a parking spot, some may prefer that over driving themselves.
17. Bridges & Tunnels
Some drivers may have an extreme fear of driving in tunnels or on bridges, and this either keeps them from driving on roads that have these structures or they may avoid getting behind the wheel entirely. This fear may stem from being scared of heights, tight spaces, or being trapped.
18. Mechanical Failures
While you can generally avoid mechanical failures by keeping your vehicle regularly maintained, some things can be unpredictable and happen suddenly. A tire could blow out when you're on the highway. Your brakes might stop working when you're traveling at high speeds. It's these fears that keep some drivers off the road.
19. Causing Injury to Passengers
If you're driving younger children or the elderly, it might put more pressure on you to drive safely—and for some, that stress might be overwhelming enough that they would rather not take on the responsibility. It's not just that they don't want to hurt other road users, but they don't want to potentially cause harm to their own passengers.
20. General Lack of Confidence
Why do some people fear getting behind the wheel? More often than not, it's simply due to a lack of confidence. They don't trust their abilities, and they second-guess every decision they make on the road. Because of this, they choose to take the easy way out and avoid driving altogether.
