LogFAQs > #904287129

EclairReturns posted...

Mostly the fear of ramming into other cars or something else in a high-speed environment. I just get nervous when I'm pressured to drive over thirty-five miles-per-hours because I know that every other car on the highway is driving about fifteen miles-per-hour more than that.

Remember that the motorway speed limit was only set at 70 because Jaguar was doing 140mph speed tests in the 60s. It's an arbitrary limit to stop people taking cars to the limit. Whatever car you are driving will be perfectly stable at significantly above legal limits anywhere.

I recommend you get a feel for how strong your brakes are so you have a reference point for how much space you need to give other people, when you know what's safe you can calm down.

EclairReturns posted...

To a much lesser extent, I'm also afraid of driving too much to the left or too much to the right in my lane, and being discourteous towards other drivers, who are sharing the road with me. I was also freaked out today about cutting my turns too sharply when turning at an intersection, which again, would result in a collision.

Figure out a reference point in the windscreen for how close the line is. In my car there's a ridge on the windscreen wiper near the joint which, when overlayed with the centre line, means the car is about a hand's width from it.

EclairReturns posted...

Oftentimes, I am worried about what to do when exiting a driveway. I'm too afraid of blocking the way of pedestrians crossing, which leads me to stop for too long before a stop sign before creeping out of the driveway. On one hand, I'll block people's way, but on the other, I'll interfere with people driving behind me who also wish to exit.

Inch forward slowly but don't stop, just keep looking around until your car is blocking the road for passing cars as this means you're out far enough that your main concern is getting out of the way and meeting traffic speed.

EclairReturns posted...

I also always have this habit of double-checking my mirrors and looking over my shoulder when crossing over to some other lane, because I'm afraid of ramming into some other car. I'm also freaked out because while I'm doing this, because my attention is shifted away from the front of the car, and that will also have a good chance of causing a collision.

Feel free to check around you to avoid collision, but don't worry about what's in front so much, you're travelling at the same speed and indicating your next maneuver, people need to be cautious of you.

EclairReturns posted...

I also lack general common sense on a road. Like, today, I checked my left side for incoming traffic at a stop sign because I thought that that was a thing to do, despite the fact that there's no road leading into the intersection from the left. In short, I really have absolutely no confidence in my driving skills whatsoever, and I honestly believe I'm a danger to everybody on the road, including myself. I'm a nervous wreck, I scare very easily, and don't have much confidence in adapting to unfamiliar situations. I don't even think I know how to control the car as well as I should be able to; like, I didn't even know up until today how to "straighten my tires". I don't think I have any business driving, whatsoever.

You're stressing too much, calm down, it's not a big deal, even if you do fuck up, everybody else is also meant to be keeping their distance to account for you. You will not crash as long as you try to keep pace with the traffic and don't stamp on your brakes randomly.
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Scloud posted...
Its like he wants two things at the same time.