How I Overcame My Fear of Driving and How You Can Too

I’ve always had a difficult relationship with driving. When I was a kid I learned the effects of drunk driving first hand. During that experience all I could think was that I was going to die. I often relive these moments in my head and recall screaming and crying and begging for it to end. I still consider it the most traumatic thing I’ve ever experienced and a defining moment in my life. This event shattered my childhood innocence and from that day forward I would always have to live with the consequences. I wish I could say it was over after this, but it was only just the beginning. For as long as I can remember drunk driving and alcoholism has been such a big part of my life that since the accident, my biggest fear was driving. Being in the car while other people were driving terrified me and it felt impossible to overcome. Driving on the highway felt like going over the hill on a roller coaster; I’d keep my hands and feet locked in place and I’d even close my eyes when passing by bigger cars. I was scared to leave my house because I knew someone would have to drive me and I couldn’t handle that.

When I reached the point where I could learn to drive for myself I was still too scared to go forward with it. The only reason I’ve made it to where I am today is because of the support from my friends and family and everything I learned in my drivers education classes. Learning about the rules and regulations put in place to protect people on the road made me feel so much safer. It made me realize how important it is to follow these rules because even though driving seems dangerous with the sheer number of driving related injuries and fatalities, when everyone does their best to follow the rules it creates an environment that is safer for everyone. To reduce the number of driving-related accidents everyone needs to be educated on the dangers of driving and the potential consequences of not following the rules of the road. I would also specifically like to see more education focused on the dangers of drunk driving. I know at my high school they had some drunk driving related programs, but I feel like these were either taught in a way that wasn’t engaging or in a way that didn’t make the message seem as important as it is. A drunk driving seminar shouldn’t be an excuse for kids to get out of class, it should be a way for kids to learn more about this serious issue that affects them and their peers.

Drunk driving should be a bigger part of the general drivers education program as well, especially since teen drivers are still learning the rules of driving and are more susceptible to alcohol than older people. Not only that, but younger kids should be more aware of these issues too. Making young kids aware of the dangers of drunk driving will help them make better decisions in their futures and be able to decide when it’s safe to drive with someone, and when it’s not. The reason I’ve made it to the point where I can feel safe driving myself is because of the driver’s education I received and all the practice I’ve had. I wouldn’t say my fear is completely gone, but I’ve made it to a place where I can move past it. From an outside perspective, a fear of driving might seem silly, but once you are personally affected by unsafe driving practices, it is clear to see that these fears aren’t unfounded. I still have moments where I’m driving and feel completely lost or confused, but everyone has them at some point. Driving is something that you get better at throughout your entire life and when you take it seriously there are valuable lessons to be learned. Being able to drive yourself wherever you need to go is a freeing experience, but in order to feel free you have to feel safe. Now that I can feel confident in my own driving abilities I can feel safe on the road and conquer my fear for the rest of my life. I urge everyone to take their driver’s education seriously and put as much effort into their driving practice as possible so that everyone can feel safe on the road and get where they want to go.