Driving Phobia – The Fear of Driving on a Motorway

At the end of 2008 I resolved to start driving on motorways again. I had been driving for over 45–years, and for 30 of them had driven happily on motorways.

The fear of fainting, sweaty palms and those awful panic attacks

My driving phobia had built up over a number of years, until in 1998 the panic attacks – sweaty palms, racing heart, fear of fainting – became too much. Other roads were not a problem, and but for ten years I had left the motorways to my husband, and once they were old enough, to my daughters.

A search on Google took me to Ride Drive

Googling ‘Motorway Phobia’ took me to Ride Drive. Discovering that I was not alone was the first step. The next was a long conversation with Julian, who not only understood my fear, but was able to explain it to me.

I had tried hypnotherapy and psychotherapy without success. ‘The devil’, he said, is in the car. That was where I was going to have to tackle it.

I wasn’t going to tackle it alone. In February 2009, I had my first session with Ride Drive instructor, Keith Buggins. I could not have asked for a more helpful, reassuring or patient instructor.

Whilst I didn’t initially enjoy it at first, I was tackling my driving phobia

I knew that, even if I never got onto a motorway again, I was becoming a better driver as the weeks went by. Never forcing the pace, Keith made me believe in myself again as a driver. Only when I felt ready did I venture my first few motorway miles, first on the M50 (only two lanes, and not much traffic), then on the M5. And I did not enjoy them.

For the first few motorway sessions, I wondered how I would keep a grip on the steering wheel with my sweaty palms. Keith’s calm voice kept me going. Mile by mile it has become easier. My heart rate used to rise at the very thought of joining a motorway.

Then came the first sign sof a breakthrough against the motorway phobia

The first breakthrough came when I found that I had turned onto the M5 without noticing it. I have driven short distances alone, long distances with my husband in the passenger seat, unable to take over following a knee operation.

I still prefer to drive gently at 60mph in the inside lane, and am not yet comfortable overtaking lorries, but thanks to Julian, and most especially, thanks to Keith, whose voice I still hear, I am back on the motorway and making progress.

Thank you Julian, thank you Keith,

Fran

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This page was last updated
Sunday, 16-May-2010

Overcome Motorway Phobia – Stop the Panic Attacks