How to Reduce & Overcome Driving Anxiety & Fear

Anxiety & fear around learning to drive, driving on highways, and getting back to driving after an accident are real. Learn strategies & techniques to drive safely here. Get DEFENSIVE DRIVING CHECKLIST: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/landin... SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ►    / smartdrivetest   Rick August, PhD's Autobiography: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/contac... Click for DEFENSIVE DRIVING SMART COURSE - https://www.smartdrivetest.com/defens... Join the Smart Driver's Mastermind Group: https://goo.gl/h5Q8Vd For many people driving is hard. Quite simply, it scares them. When they sit behind the wheel of the vehicle, they imagine the worst that could happen...a crash with injuries, death, and maiming. Although this fear is real, the chances of being involved in traffic crash can be significantly reduced with good defensive driving techniques. TO BEGIN, however, the driver has to overcome the anxiety and fear that is preventing him/her from driving. Have a look at this video for 9 Strategies to reduce & overcome fear when driving:    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   #1 KNOW THE COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVING TASK ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • Know what you're up against when you're driving and why the driving landscape is always changing #2 WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • when in the vehicle, wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Don't wear tight fitting pants or shirts that restrict movement. And have comfortable shoes that allow you good contact with the pedals #3 CLEAN THE VEHICLE ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • in our minds, a clean vehicle is a safe vehicle. And by reducing the clutter in the vehicle, you reduce distractions, which reduces stress and anxiety when driving #4 SIT IN THE VEHICLE ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • exposure to the vehicle is going to increase your comfort level. Sit in the vehicle 3 or 4 times a day and visualize yourself going over the primary and secondary controls of the vehicle #4 ELIMINATE NOISE IN THE CAR ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • loud noises scare us - screeching tires for example. Yelling children inside the vehicle distract us. And the radio too, can draw our attention away from driving. Reduce noise inside the car to maximize concentration #5 BREATH, VISUALIZE, RELAX ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • focusing on our breathing causes our body to relax. And by visualizing a positive outcome in our driving--ie driving well without incident--that is going to happen. And the more successful drives you have, the more you are going to relax #6 PROGRESSIVE STEPS TO LEARNING AND DRIVING WELL ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • begin driving in your laneway, in a back alley, in a parking lot or in an area where there is almost no traffic. As you your driving improves and you become more and more comfortable and confident, move into traffic #7 FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • it's easy to be distracted by the actions of other road users, especially when they're doing dumb things on the road. It's tough, but focus on what you're doing and let them go and have their crash some where else #8 ROUTE PLANNING & NAVIGATION - KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • many are duped when they watch others drive. Most of the time, drivers go to the same place, and know where they're going. If you don't know where you're going, and haven't looked at a map, you're going to get lost. Figure out your route before you get in the car #9 YOU MAY NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP ::    • 9 Tips to Reduce Fear & Anxiety on a ...   • you may need to work with a professional. At minimum, work with a driving instructor that works with seniors. The next level of help is working with an Occupational Therapist and a driving instructor that does driver rehabilitation. And finally, you may have to work with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Good luck on your driving. *************** www.smartdrivetest.com www.facebook.com/smartdrivetest www.twitter.com/smartdrivetest www.instagram.com/smartdrivetest/ Music: BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack - Epic Song **************** MONETARILY SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL: If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can donate via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/smartdrivetest This is appreciated and helps the channel, but please don't feel that it is necessary to be part of the smarter driver community. ****************