How to overcome your fear of driving a car

Many years ago I thought that everyone does the 'right thing' on the roads. But I had a very big surprise. I was studying at TAFE in 1995. I lived in a suburb of Sydney relatively far from main transport. Therefore I did drive to TAFE college every day. I did love to drive because I had the chance to listen to the music and the daily news. Besides, it was convenient.

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 one. At the first main intersection, I saw a car signaling to vear right. When I got near the car, the driver changed her mind and veared sudenly left. Her car bashed into my car and pushed me under a table top truck. I was shocked and I could not move for a couple of minutes. Then I tried to open the driver's door, but it was stuck. Someone who saw the accident came and open the door and I got out of the car. The scene was awful. See picture attached.

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 terified to see another car bashed and the noise I heard at the time of the colision. I was afraid to die.

In a way driving became a necessity for me as my job required a fare bit of travelling between different sites. My boss was very supportive and did send a car for me when I needed to travel, but this was not the 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 sites and my partner did work night shift, so he could not drive me. I thought it was the time to drive again. The fear 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 feelings all the way to the end of the highway!! But, I did survive and that was the point when I did get my confidence back.

The morale of the story is: do not let a car accident to affect your entire behaviour. You have the power and strenght to change.