I need serious help I'm TERRIFIED TO DRIVE!?

Ok well I got my learners like 10months ago and I've NEVER drove. Most of my grade already have their licenses and are already driving themselves to school. This makes me feel really REALLY sad but this still isn't enough to motivate me to try to drive. Last week my best friend got her learners and the day she got her learners she was already on the highway. Now everyday she keeps telling me "oh I drove here, or I get to take my grandma home today, etc." I just feel so pathetic that I'm afraid of something I haven't even tried. My mom has asked me like twice today if I want to go out to drive and I've told her no both times, then afterwords I cry because in reality I want to try but I'm way too scared. I could have already had my license , but instead I'm not driving. My best friend even wants to take behind the wheel with me, but I can't bring myself to drive, I'm just so scared. I really need some serious advice I just don't know what to do.
Additional Details
I'm not sure if there were driving instructors or not, mom just wants me to learn with her...

szybkibill

First of all, don't look at how your peers are doing. Everyone learns at their own pace, take it from an ex-driving instructor.

You have 2 choices before you:
1- Learn with your mother- which seems to be what you are prioritizing at this point.
2 - Take courses.

Since you are taking the option 1, here's what I suggest:
a- Have your mother take you to a large, empty parking lot and demonstrate starting the car, turning the wheel, using your right foot on the pedals and using the gear lever as well as adjusting your mirrors, seat belt etc.
b- Sit behind the wheel, with the engine off, practice pressing on the pedals.
c- Turn on the engine and practice turning the wheel all the way to one side and then all the way to the other side
d- Put the car in Drive and practice letting the car advance and stopping smoothly, all without touching the gas pedal.
e- Practice turning left, right and going straight, again without touching the gas pedal. (Don't forget - look where you want the car to go!!!)
f- Repeat steps d and e, but this time in Reverse.
This should be enough for the first time.
Next time, repeat all these exercises and throw in the gas pedal.

Once you feel comfortable maneuvering the car around the parking lot, try a 5-10 minute drive on an empty street.
You get the idea, go step by step and as soon as you get comfortable making left and right turns on empty streets, you can think about practicing lane changes on empty boulevards, then move on to busier roads and finally, when you're ready, go for the highway, which at that point will be pure fun.

One last thing I can suggest is to go to your local driving school and ask for 1 or two courses, just to help you get familiar with the car in a safe and controlled environment (explain your situation and ask for an instructor who will be able to give you confidence)

softballspazz

What you need to do is say ok i will drive step out of your shell and say i am ready to drive come on I belive in you and i know you can do it

alligatorfoo

i was just like you. all you have to do is actually attempt it. its easier than you think. and its harder to get in an accident than you think.
if your a bad driver on the road most of the people around you will avoid you anyways so just hop in the car with your mom and actually try. at your drivers ed place where you got your learners permit were there driving instructors to help you along the first few times of being in the car? thats how i got over it fast.

sarabeth

The first thing to figure out is what exactly about driving is so frightening to you, and then talk to your mother about it so that you can figure a way to deal with it. It would probably help to go very slowly with learning to drive. Start out in a large empty parking lot so that you can get used to accelerating, braking and steering. When you feel comfortable with that you can go out on the road and practice there, but chose times of day when the roads are really quiet, early on sunday morning is a good time to try it. Go slowly, have someone in the car with you to help you, and try to breathe deeply and relax as much as possible. Good luck!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: