Customer Feedback Letters & Comments |
||
  |
The following letters have been collected from those customers who have been kind enough to share their thoughts of their experiences with us and about tackling their road fear, driving phobia and anxieties with Ride Drive. We always appreciate your feedback, no matter what you might have to say, and thank all those who have contributed to this page so far. From the sub–menu you can access articles, again written by Ride Drive customers who we have helped to tackle their phobia of driving on motorways, driving over bridges, driving on hills, and all those other road environments that make driving so difficult for the phobic driver. If you would like to contribute to these pages with your own story we will be very pleased to receive your article. This kind of information really does offer great support to people suffering from road phobia and anxiety. — — — — — Dear Julian, I would like to say a big thank you for being there for me over the last year when I felt so very frightend, thinking that I was going mad. I will never forget what you and Mark have done for me. It’s nice to know that if I need you I can come to you again and that Ride Drive is there at all times. All I can say is thank God for Ride Drive and may you continue to help others as you have helped me. Kindest regards, Trish |
|
Ride Drive worked brilliantly for me. I was unable to get on a motorway or big A road before I started with them. Now I’m driving confidently on roads that would have before been impossible.
From the very first phone call they clearly understood my problem and through their driving expertise, practical knowledge and empathy got me back on motorways. My trainer was superb and understood very quickly the best way to restore my confidence in motorway driving. I’d thoroughly recommend Ride Drive to anyone suffering from any kind of driving phobia!
Michelle, Kent
Dear Julian,
Having driven for over 15–years without any problem, suddenly for no good reason I found I couldn’t get behind the wheel anymore.
It got to the point I was seriously considering selling the car I so loved. Thanks to Mark, I am confident and now go driving for the sake of it! Not only have my got over my fear, but Mark made me love driving again.
I can only say to anyone out there who has a developed a fear of driving or has lost their confidence – you don’t have to suffer, you really can rise above it and take control of the situation you are in. I did and it was well worth it. — K.B.
Dear Julian,
I had my last session with Jamie on Sunday and I am extremely grateful to you and Jamie for the help I have been given. I am much more confident now and am even thinking of buying myself a Fiat 500 – I wouldn’t have imagined this was possible a year ago.
On Sunday I drove with Jamie on the motorway – something I haven’t done for 25 years! Of course I still need too build confidence, but Jamie has given me many new skills which have changed the way I drive, and the way I think about driving.
So thank you so much for Ridedrive – I have already recommended you to friends – it’s a brilliant organisation! Thanks also for putting me in touch with Jamie who is an excellent teacher – exactly the right balance of kind understanding and firm belief in my ability to improve.
I can’t thank you enough.
Very best wishes,
Jill.
Dear Julian,
I just wanted to feed back to you, how much your company has changed my life. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I’m now driving on my own. Quite short trips, but alone never the less.
For the first time ever, my husband has left me the car while he is away on business and I am using it. No more walking to school in the rain, no more having to walk to the Doctor’s with an ill child.
Words cannot describe how I feel right now. Everytime my hgusband went away in the past I had such a worry about, what if I needed to walk to school and it was pouring down, what if I had to do x,y, or z?
I also find the forum so useful, just to get a bit of support and feedback if perhaps something on a drive has not gone quite right. Mike (my trainer) has dropped me an email to check all is ok as well and that has been appreciated.
I want to develop my driving in the future with Mike, but for the moment I want to gain some experience by practicing what I have been given. I will be back in touch.
Many Thanks
Carol
Hi Julian,
Having just got the news of the launch of the new website I thought I would bring you up to date.
Prior to my issues with driving I had driven all over the place, and loved it. My motorway panic experiences hit me out of the blue and were terrifying and that is when I turned to you for help (2006)
Since we last communicated my own driving experiences have been very good, though I suppose there is still a little residual worry if I think about doing a major motorway journey. To be honest, this is as much because I know that journeys of over an hour are likely to make me very tired, which is simply because I concentrate so hard.
Early this year, I had a couple of hypnotherapy sessions to see if that would clear up the last shreds of worry & I think it did help. But I still can’t say enough about Keith, who definitely made the biggest impact for me. Such a lovely chap – in a perfect world, I would have a refresher session with Keith once a year! I can still conjure up his calm presence in the passenger seat if I need to, so that must say a great deal.
I have all but overcome the fears and am now able to drive where I want to. Mostly, I even enjoy it like I used to, listening to my favourite music and having my me time in the car.
Anyway, I remain very glad that I came across Ride Drive and will always be ready to recommend your facilities.
Thank you again,
Judi
Dear Julian,
"I actually had fun today, as I am now a more confident, better driver than I realised. It left me feeling ready for a few more sessions just to polish a few areas where I lack confidence. All in all, a good challenging experience."
Deborah
Dear Julian,
Thank you once again for all your help and support. I never thought I’d improve so much so quickly. I’m making sure I do some driving every week now. The Christmas traffic is still rather nerve–wracking, but last week I made it along a cone–littered M4 at night – my least favourite time for driving.
Thank again for the offer to get in touch if I need more help – I’ll certainly take you up on it if necessary.
All the best, and Happy Christmas.
Claire
Dear Julian,
I found my latest lesson very useful – we spent a good part of the time adapting to the use of the gears on my automatic car, a good tool for acceleration⁄greater control on the motorway and on country roads – corners etc.
We had sometime on the motorway, which did not yet feel comfortable, but we survived overtaking two consecutive long lorries with spray! The actual driving along the motorway will hopefully improve with practise and experience – down to me to try when I can.
I will be in touch in the New Year sometime.
Angela
Dear Julian
Thank you for your follow up call – as we discussed I very much appreciated the session with Mohammed and found him very supportive and encouraging. I feel that the first hurdle has been overcome – getting me on the motorway. I feel that I have some way to go yet but have made a good start.
As agreed I will contact Mohammed when I am ready for the next session and look forward to progressing towards my goal of driving on the motorway more comfortably⁄confidently.
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Angela
"I am very pleased with what I have done so far and I am actually starting to look forward to driving for the first time in years."
Helen
Going on the motorway was daunting, but very encouraging as I haven’t driven on one for 5–years. The bend work was also very useful. There was a gradual build up in terms of types of roads used. This session built on the previous session and it was very encouraging. I feel my confidence is growing and the session for me was very valuable.
Christine
My fear was motorways and dual carrigeways. During the session we used both dual carriageways and motorways. Advice and tips given were all very helpful. Justin also introduced me to satnav and I will be investing in one very soon.
It was all good overall. Justin was very friendly and immediately put me at ease. I felt no pressure to do anything that I felt really uncomfortable with, but Justin gave me the confidence to drive as I had never driven before. I intend to purchase a satnav in the next few days, as I feel this will help me a great deal. Instead of taking my usual route from work today I ventured solo on the A12 and didn’t feel scared!
Thank you very much.
Nikki Freeman
Dear Julian,
I thought I just had to let you know that I have just passed a huge Ridedrive test. Whilst driving back from Cambridge in the dark about 1–hour ago, intending to go back home on the dual carriageway, I discovered there had been a road accident and all the traffic was being diverted off onto the M11. This should have been my worst nightmare, but I just thought, “Well, this is it,” and went down the slip road to the motorway. I found I wasn’t really worried, and just thought, “Oh, okay. I can do this.” How amazing is that????
I only did one junction, and then tried to find my way through the countryside back to the dual carriageway route I wanted, but when I got there that was shut off too (must have been a bad accident). I then went back and coped with unknown big roads, a small dual carriageway and I really was not fazed by any of it.
My mother–in–law, who was with me and my young son in the car, was amazed at me and said lots of people would have been quite bothered by all of that, but not me. So, I am just sharing this news with you. This does tell me that when I have to, I will be able to drive the motorways, as this has proved, and this makes me very happy.
Best wishes
Debra Jones
Dear Julian
Thank you for your letter. I found it very encouraging and thoughtful that you had taken the time to write to me.
I was very apprehensive when I set out for my initial assessment as I wasn’t sure what to expect. Paul very quickly put me at my ease and I felt confident he wouldn’t push me into doing anything he felt I wasn’t capable of doing.
Yes I made the motorway on my first morning, which I hadn’t driven on for 14–years so that really was a milestone. I had also become reluctant to venture far and was also not keen to drive on dual carriageways.
I have done some driving on my own on the A38 and A50 since my last programme. I have also been made aware of a lot of changes in road markings and signs, which in the past I have more or less been glanced at and thought to myself I don’t know what that means!
I am having a break, as Paul has already told you, as I felt at saturation point and also I am going on an unexpected holiday at the end of the month. On my return the arrangement is that I will either contact you or Paul.
In the mean time I will keep practicing.
Yours Sincerely
Kath Alsop
"I found everything very useful, in particular bend assessment, car stability and development of advanced observation. How to reverse out of a parking space safely. Before I started the half–day I was a very nervous driver who lacked confidence. Ken made me feel at ease and helped me to re–build my confidence. I was given practical guidance, advice and learnt new skills on how to handle my car effectively.
Thank you."
Gillian Moore
"Janet is a wonderful instructor, and person and she has helped me a lot. I am consolidating what she covered and I can now go a lot faster than when we had our session. She was so patient and put me at ease from the start. I might not always have liked what we did, but it was what was needed to get me further on.
Thanks you for your help."
Carol
“Confidence almost fully restored. I was put straight at ease and found Paul very constructive and encouraging. I realise I can drive and that I should have taken this step years ago.”
Kath Alsop
“Positive, helpful, encouraging.”
M.B.
Dear Julian,
As you might remember, the reason for my coming to you was due to my lack of confidence. Having been squished between two articulated lorries on a motorway, combined with a couple of other unfortunate incidents, I had virtually given up driving altogether.
Cliff was fantastic, and helped me to overcome a lot of my fears without making me feel stupid. He was very positive about my driving ability and passed on to me many helpful hints and tips as to how I could improve some elements, specifically my obsession with changing down gears one by one when I needed to slow down or to approach a roundabout. Now, for the first time in over a year, I drove on the M4, M3 and A3, despite an absolutely horrendous downpour of rain, and then finally I drove around the M25.
Four weeks later I am delighted to report that I am driving now. I choose to follow the back roads if I can, avoiding the motorways, but as my confidence increases still further I will be able to conquer this as well.
I thank you for arranging this for me and please pass on my grateful thanks to Cliff.
Kind regards,
Mandy
"Everything that I have experienced with Ride Drive has been excellent, from the initial conversation, information on the website, and forums, and my first session. I wish that I had found the website and discovered your company sooner.
Alan was brilliant in my first session and made me feel distinctly at ease. The information provided during the session and on the website has been invaluable to me. The phobias forum is a brilliant idea and has made me realise that other people have the same feelings and concerns that I do. Everything was taken at a comfortable pace and I didn’t feel pressured into doing anything with which I wasn’t comfortable."
Michelle
"Very helpful to gain practical experience to help me through my phobia. I have tried hypnotherapy etc. but found I still had the same problems when I got behind the wheel. I hope that this works and that there are no relapses to come."
T.D.
"In two sessions I have learned so much that I feel that I am a completely different driver. Certain things that we should all be doing anyway, but time and laziness made me forget.
In general I am enjoying driving much more and giving it my full attention. The motorway issue clearly isn’t a big problem or I would have never have been able to do the driving that I did with Keith. I still have a few fears, but only that the fear itself will return. However, now I have the implement and better skills⁄knowledge to combat that I just have to get out and do it. Keith has been brilliant and I feel very lucky to have had someone in whom I felt such confidence."
Judy
You Are Here » Home Page » Feedback Letters & Customer Comments
This page was last updated
Wednesday, 03-Aug-2011
Drivers Dealing with Road Fear, Anxiety & Driving Phobia
Site Map | Help | Terms of Use | Business Terms | Privacy Policy | Contact Page
Site and Content Owned by Ride Drive Limited
