How to Overcome Your Fear of Driving a Car

A fear of driving a car also referred to as amaxophobia, ochlophobia, motorphobia, or homophobia, is a type of phobia that results in persistent and intense fear of driving or riding in a vehicle.

According to Paul Greene, Ph.D., a psychologist and director of the Manhattan Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a driving phobia is characterized by significant distress at the prospect of driving, as well as fear-based efforts to avoid driving.

Some people experience distress or fear while being a passenger in a car, while others fear driving in specific situations, such as driving over a bridge, through a tunnel, at night, at high speeds, changing lanes, or merging.

Regardless of the driving scenario, Brian Wind, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at JourneyPure, says most often, people are afraid to drive because they fear something negative will happen.

Moreover, this intense fear is often more significant and debilitating than the fear or worry caused by general stress or anxiety. When left untreated, this fear can disrupt daily routines and contribute to other long-term health conditions.

I was studying at TAFE in 1995. I lived in a Sydney suburb relatively far from the main transport. Therefore I did drive to TAFE college every day. I did love to drive because I had the chance to listen to music and the daily news. Besides, it was convenient.

I did learn that car drivers should be very alert and courteous on the roads. I believed that everyone should do 'the right thing' in order to avoid car collisions and stupid accidents. I was wrong.

I was afraid to sit in the car even on the back seat after the accident. I guess I saw my death with my own eyes. I was afraid that other drivers will not drive with caution. I was terrified to see another car bashed. I was afraid of another collision. I was afraid to die in such an awful way.

I did not drive for 3 years. This fear of driving caused me lots of headaches. I had to catch the bus and the train to get to work every day. It took me 1 hour to get to work instead of 20 minutes by car. But the trauma this accident caused me was terrifying. I had to do something to overcome my fear.

This specific morning, I sat in my car and started my trip to TAFE. I had plenty of time, so I did not have to rush. I knew the roads and the traffic because I did travel on the same streets every day in the past 3 years. The main road I was driving on had 3 lanes and as usual, I took the middle lane. At the first main intersection, I saw a car signaling to veer right. When I got near the car, the driver changed her mind and she veered suddenly left. Her car bashed into my car and pushed me under a tabletop truck. I was shocked and I could not move for a couple of minutes. I thought I was dead. Then I tried to open the driver's door, but it was stuck. Someone who saw the accident came and open the door for me and I got out of the car. The scene was awful.

Driving became a necessity for me as my job started to require a fair bit of traveling between different sites. My boss at that time was very supportive and he did send a car for me when I needed to travel, but this was not a viable solution. Although I went to a psychologist for a while, he could not convince me to take up driving again. He told me that I am too strong-willed and that I have the power to change.

One day I had to get to a few worksites and my partner did work night shift, so he could not drive me to different sites where I needed to go to. I thought it was time to drive again. The fear of driving was very strong, but I was determined to give it a try. I do not know whether I was fortunate or unfortunate that day, because I ended up driving between 2 tabletop trucks on the highway. You can imagine my fear all the way to the end of the highway!! But, I did survive and that was the point when I did get my driving confidence back.

The moral of the story is: do not let a car accident affect your entire behavior. You have the power and strength to change.