Fear of Driving: Insecurity Blocks in Time to Be at the Wheel

Who are accustomed to driving may not understand, but the traffic is composed of elements that can be among the biggest fears of people. The indiscretions committed by other drivers, coupled with the desire not to make mistakes and the risk of accidents often are locks when someone decides to be behind the wheel.

According to the instructor Luciano Lessa, specialized rehabilitation in traffic, people who are afraid of driving generally share a profile perfectionist and very responsible. "Usually, those who can overcome the fear becomes an excellent conductor. People are cautious, they do everything safely inside right", he explains. Luciano worked as an instructor practical, theoretical and educational director at Drivers Training Centres (CFCs), in Porto Alegre. However, we believe that training does not prepare practiced for transit to be focused on current practical test of DMV. In 2003, he started the course for Transit Rehabilitation for persons already qualified, who for some reason do not drive or need to recycle.

Luciano believes in driving school, students are conditioned to the path that will be done at the DMV practice test. "The future driver learns tricks that do not apply in real life and ends up taking a wallet with details to fix. Some return to school to improve their technique or lose the fear, "he says. For the instructor, however, it is normal to have uncertainty due to lack of skill and familiarity with the vehicle. "The driving school car is not yours. The student never drove the car in the garage that has never been alone in traffic. It is common to ask for help", he adds.

Insecurity at the wheel

The fear of driving is usually linked to insecurity with the attitude of other drivers. For Livia Bongiorni, fear is totally related to lack of confidence in driving. "It scares me in traffic the lack of patience and respect from drivers, everyone is always in a hurry and end up committing infractions totally unnecessary and leaving the traffic chaos," he explains.

A year ago, bought a car and Livia have attempted to practice more and more to become safer. "The fact that fear of driving limits me in many things, I do not do things that are far from where I live, to expedite things from my everyday life, I just depending on someone to get around, or spending money on taxi", comments.

Lizia Heineck also afraid for lack of practice. "I took the portfolio in 2005 aged 18, then tried to drive sometimes, but not often and so I lost the habit. I'm not afraid, but with the lack of practice to get the car in Porto Alegre today would be complicated, would have to go to a quiet place without traffic and without much movement to get used to return the direction", he says.

However, for Lizia, not driving is not a limiting factor. "I work very close to home and I usually walk. I try to do all things close to home, places I visit often are all close. The only difficulty is when I have some commitment evening. I live in a place that has bus options and stocking, which facilitates. While studying in college often went by bus and did not see any problem", he adds.

Routine helps overcome

Vitor Luis Silva Corbellini is an example of someone who was afraid to drive, even with qualification in hand. Even without car, attended the driving school lessons, thinking of just buying a vehicle, and passed the practical test. However, it took longer than planned to invest in a car, which brought even more afraid of traffic. "I was afraid to traffic, fear of an accident, did not want embarrassment... As was once in a class at CFC. From 1997 to 2011, when I bought the car, tried to drive at least once a month", he says.

The difference between what we thought the traffic was and what he really was only felt when Corbellini really started driving frequently. "You have to feel the traffic, follow speed. Who has not used the same speed and the same reflection of who is always in transit. But people who drive too do not want to know", he says.

To lose the fear, were 50 classes with instructor Luciano rehabilitation, but believes that today has become a very cautious driver. "At first it was traumatizing, but now I force myself to face situations that I'm afraid, as heavy traffic, to confront him. My initial insecurity today is the security they do everything right. Respect the limits too, am a driver regimented. I run a day-in, the other not to save. Once a week I go for train parking in quiet places. It is a matter of practice. The day to day is that we note the difficulties", he concludes.

5 tips to overcome fear

The instructor Luciano says his training is focused on the reality of transit for each person, with his common paths. "You have to get used to the ways it makes in your routine," he explains. Still, a few tips can help you lose the fear of driving:

1 - Login to the car and "dating" the vehicle moving on the seat, adjust the positions and read the manual are the best ways to learn and get used car.

2 - Walking paths in quiet: it is best to start by quiet streets in days of little movement, to know the car. Do not even try to start midweek at 18h. The attempt can be even more traumatic.

3 - Always Caring mirrors: the driver must be sure of what he sees.

4 - Make the most challenging routes on Sundays: it is best to choose a day when the streets are empty to see how the path is and how it should be done.

5 - Walking at least one hour for the first time: the ideal is to run the car long enough to make mistakes, learn the car, fix the problems. Short trips do not bring the necessary practice.