What to Do If You Have a Driver's License but Are Afraid to Drive?
3 Answers
Here are some solutions for those who have a driver's license but are afraid to drive: 1. Be bold and careful: Many people can drive but are afraid to, lacking even the courage to get into the car. So, if you want to drive, you must muster up the courage. With the increase in the number of cars, minor collisions and rear-end accidents happen from time to time, and various unexpected situations arise. Therefore, it's essential to be careful when driving. 2. Maintain a calm mindset and stay composed in emergencies: Nervousness is almost a common experience for every new driver. The view outside the car is clear, but once you sit in the driver's seat, you might feel confused, as the perspective is entirely different from outside. The more afraid you are, the more nervous you become, and the worse you drive. 3. Practice more: There are no shortcuts to driving. Only through frequent practice can you become skilled. For the first few times, it's advisable to practice in areas with less traffic before gradually merging into heavier traffic. Having a transition period will make it much easier.
I remember when I first got my driver's license, I was extremely nervous and even afraid to drive out of the neighborhood gate. Later, I realized that you can't rush this—it's a step-by-step process. I found a large open space to practice for half an hour every day, first getting the feel of the clutch and accelerator right, then making sure the steering wheel movements were smooth. It's completely normal to drive in a wobbly manner at first—I even crushed several traffic cones in the parking lot back then. Once I got more comfortable, I gradually started driving to less crowded suburban areas, especially during evenings when traffic was lighter. The key is to practice starting and stopping until it becomes muscle memory; only when your hands and feet coordinate smoothly will you feel confident. Honestly, driving is all about practice making perfect. Just look at experienced drivers—they all started as beginners. So don’t rush onto main roads too soon.
I completely understand this psychological barrier—it ultimately comes down to a lack of practical experience. I recommend hiring a professional driving instructor for about ten lessons. Having an instructor with a brake pedal on the passenger side provides much more peace of mind. I remember when I first started driving, my legs would shake at every turn, but my coach kept emphasizing the right timing to check the rearview mirror and taught me to anticipate other vehicles' trajectories. Try driving a few kilometers on national highways during weekends—though there are many large trucks, the lanes are wider. The key is to establish a sense of driving rhythm; learning to match the flow of traffic is much safer than crawling at a snail's pace. In fact, accident statistics show that beginners driving below 40 km/h face higher risks, as this speed range is most prone to rear-end collisions.
