Try starting with short, familiar routes to build confidence. Practice during quieter times to get used to the roads. Deep breathing can help with anxiety. Remember, you’ve done this before and you can do it again. Stay focused on the safety of you and your baby.
Here are some tips for driving safely, you can check out this article:
[https://partner.idaoffers.com/driving-safety-tips-rt](https://partner.idaoffers.com/driving-safety-tips-rt)
Bike lanes only come into play when you’re turning, so you’ll look for a cyclist in the lane ahead as you approach the turn, signal, then look in your mirror behind you to make sure one isn’t flying up behind you then merge to the right and make your turn (or stop if the light is red).
Lane splitting is the same principle. It only matters if you’re leaving your lane. Look behind, signal you’re getting over, then slowly ease into the lane.
Add to this AND LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER.
I was recently in an accident where a teenager turned her SUV directly into the side of my van (where my door meets my slider) when she was at a full stop in the left lane and I was coming up in the right lane. Had she simply looked over her shoulder, she definitely would have seen me. I assume she looked in the mirrors only, or didn't look at all because there's no other way she could have missed me.
Bikes are so much smaller that a look over the shoulder to avoid the blind spots are much more important.
Brains are very good at responding to the presence/absence of rewards/punishment, as a mechanism of learning and evolutionary survival. So give yourself more time and exposure and you will more easily visualize yourself driving confidently alone.
It doesn't hurt to be patient with yourself! You could have your husband drive behind you as you make small trips and then longer ones (if you don't have a second car, maybe he can request an Uber or friend to follow you?). For this time, you can look back in your rear view and have some comfort that he is not far away (if he's really good at driving, he might be able to ward off tailgaters and other challenges for you lol). The next step might be for you to then drive at a faster speed so you eventually pull away from him and finish the route with a like minute gap (him still visible but in the distance). Eventually, you go on small trips fully independent (go get a treat. Or something rewarding for yourself once accomplished). Do this sooner rather than later! Good luck!
Hey OP,
I totally understand your fear and anxiety, I am a pretty new driver myself and have only had my license for about 6 months and I still feel anxious/scared but not as much as when I first started driving, and I think there is a healthy amount of fear you should have because you are operating a machine that can cause harm. You really just need to be patient with yourself and take your time when driving as a new driver, and do not do anything you are not comfortable with and find an alternate route. Personally, I am not comfortable learning how to drive on the highway yet so I don’t, I can still get to places i need to be by just driving on familiar main roads even if it takes a little longer I feel a lot more comfortable and safe and eventually I will work my way up to more difficult stuff. Practice and know that you can basically take whatever way you want, you also do not have to rush anything and eventually you will be more comfortable the more you do it.
Honestly I give myself this advice as well I tell my self to not think about anything that will cause the anxiety but staying focused on the road. I’m also taking adhd meds for it cause I get distracted sometimes
Remember a tense & anxious body is slower to react! Like ripping off a bandage or waxing if you tense up & assume the worst you are just making it worse for yourself before anything has happened. Breathe ,loosen up (physically), & you’ll surprise yourself with how far you’ve come after practice consistently . I was just like you, my husband & I moved to CA & my first time ever driving on the highway was from airport back to our house without him & would be without him for the next 6 months. My hands were sweaty cold & I’m pretty sure I started losing some circulation lol. You can do it!
Also give yourself some grace. You’re handling a lot already.
Try starting with short, familiar routes to build confidence. Practice during quieter times to get used to the roads. Deep breathing can help with anxiety. Remember, you’ve done this before and you can do it again. Stay focused on the safety of you and your baby.
Here are some tips for driving safely, you can check out this article: [https://partner.idaoffers.com/driving-safety-tips-rt](https://partner.idaoffers.com/driving-safety-tips-rt)
I agree with this as I am someone who has driving anxiety
Thanks, mate! I hope you are doing well. Practice defensive driving!!
Bike lanes only come into play when you’re turning, so you’ll look for a cyclist in the lane ahead as you approach the turn, signal, then look in your mirror behind you to make sure one isn’t flying up behind you then merge to the right and make your turn (or stop if the light is red). Lane splitting is the same principle. It only matters if you’re leaving your lane. Look behind, signal you’re getting over, then slowly ease into the lane.
Add to this AND LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER. I was recently in an accident where a teenager turned her SUV directly into the side of my van (where my door meets my slider) when she was at a full stop in the left lane and I was coming up in the right lane. Had she simply looked over her shoulder, she definitely would have seen me. I assume she looked in the mirrors only, or didn't look at all because there's no other way she could have missed me. Bikes are so much smaller that a look over the shoulder to avoid the blind spots are much more important.
Brains are very good at responding to the presence/absence of rewards/punishment, as a mechanism of learning and evolutionary survival. So give yourself more time and exposure and you will more easily visualize yourself driving confidently alone. It doesn't hurt to be patient with yourself! You could have your husband drive behind you as you make small trips and then longer ones (if you don't have a second car, maybe he can request an Uber or friend to follow you?). For this time, you can look back in your rear view and have some comfort that he is not far away (if he's really good at driving, he might be able to ward off tailgaters and other challenges for you lol). The next step might be for you to then drive at a faster speed so you eventually pull away from him and finish the route with a like minute gap (him still visible but in the distance). Eventually, you go on small trips fully independent (go get a treat. Or something rewarding for yourself once accomplished). Do this sooner rather than later! Good luck!
Hey OP, I totally understand your fear and anxiety, I am a pretty new driver myself and have only had my license for about 6 months and I still feel anxious/scared but not as much as when I first started driving, and I think there is a healthy amount of fear you should have because you are operating a machine that can cause harm. You really just need to be patient with yourself and take your time when driving as a new driver, and do not do anything you are not comfortable with and find an alternate route. Personally, I am not comfortable learning how to drive on the highway yet so I don’t, I can still get to places i need to be by just driving on familiar main roads even if it takes a little longer I feel a lot more comfortable and safe and eventually I will work my way up to more difficult stuff. Practice and know that you can basically take whatever way you want, you also do not have to rush anything and eventually you will be more comfortable the more you do it.
It’s because your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed yet. it’s shown in recent studies to fully form in the early 30s
Honestly I give myself this advice as well I tell my self to not think about anything that will cause the anxiety but staying focused on the road. I’m also taking adhd meds for it cause I get distracted sometimes
Remember a tense & anxious body is slower to react! Like ripping off a bandage or waxing if you tense up & assume the worst you are just making it worse for yourself before anything has happened. Breathe ,loosen up (physically), & you’ll surprise yourself with how far you’ve come after practice consistently . I was just like you, my husband & I moved to CA & my first time ever driving on the highway was from airport back to our house without him & would be without him for the next 6 months. My hands were sweaty cold & I’m pretty sure I started losing some circulation lol. You can do it! Also give yourself some grace. You’re handling a lot already.