After a bad car accident I acquired a car phobia. It was bad. I screamed in cars. I couldn't drive outside a certain perimeter before I started shaking. I went to a person who used EMDR. After ,3 sessions it was all gone, as though it had never been there.

i hope you are ok with my answer. give yourself a day or two to cool off - maybe at most a week - ok two weeks max, but however much time you take, and i hope it is as little as possible, get back in the car and drive. you can do it. there are dangers within as much as on the road. unfortunately, we have to face them and deal with them as best as we can. you might as well make the decision to do it because either way is just as much investment. its just that one has a positive side.

oooooh, i see you started with a few weeks eeks! ok your time is up, go and drive. but since i made the mistake of not reading carefully, take one more extra day max. sorry for the confusion.

Driving isn't one skill, but a hundred learned skills.

Drive, drive, drive. Start in an empty parking lot if you need to. Move up to a suburban neighborhood. Practice ALWAYS using your turn signal (I use mine so unconsciously, I even use it turning into my own driveway). Drive, drive, drive, signals, drive, drive.

Then move up to busier roads with only 2 lanes. Again, drive, drive, drive.

The more lanes, by FAR the more you have to watch for. So stay away from those roads until your basic skills are more automatic. When you hit the point that you're really comfortable, then go back to tackling roads like the one where you forgot to look. At that point, you may just find that it's not that hard after all...

I'm teaching my son right now to drive...we've got this, Patti

It is hard. I was in a near-fatal MVA 1.5 years ago. You have to breathe, keep a large distance between you and the car in front of you and just pull over or change lanes if someone is tailgating you. I experience anxiety every day so I know how difficult it can be. Just try to be alert and safe.

I had a similar situation only I was on a one lane road behind a trailor with no working breaks or anything and a tailgater behind me. And it was raining. I was heading to the mall and I realised the guy in front of me was slowing down. But I couldn't tell until I was right behind him. I also had a tailgater as o said and he wasn't slowing down. I was trying to slow down but I ended up hydroplaning. I got control and was able to slow down to at least 20 but it wasn't slow enough. But I couldn't do anything. Thankfully the trailor got out of the way so I could speed up quickly without getting into an accident. But I quickly got to the mall and rushed to the bathroom to calm my nerves. I let my mom drive for the next few days so take it easy. Let a family member drive you or Uber. It's a risk we all take while driving, all we can do is hope we're safe.

I would take a couple of days to regroup, then take a short trip on my own street, then around the block, and on until getting back to where you were. That's so your skills are solid.

As for others like that person who drifted in your lane, it's a reality it is good to bear in mind no matter how much experience a person has. It's amazing how distracted other drivers can be out there.

Make sure to wear your seat belt no matter how sure of yourself you get in the future. There is always that distracted person out there. No need to be terrified, but it's good to have a healthy caution.

I didn't learn to drive until I was 40. I used to have nightmares that I was forced to drive a car and didn't know how. I still try to avoid major freeways, and will take the slower old roads. I don't blame you for being scared after what happened, and not wanting to injure yourself or other people. Maybe talk to the driving teacher? But if you don't feel ready yet to drive, it can wait. Many people have driving phobia. It's nothing to be ashamed of. May God bless your day.

Thank you all!

I'll also add, that when I'm on super highways (4-5 lanes going each way is insane, but I've been on those roads.) I try to drive in either the far right or far left lanes. I'd rather drive fast and only have my right side to watch. Or drive slow and only have the right side to watch (some merging on and off, but driving slower it's not so much.)

When you're older...always, always, always defensive driving.

I too have almost merged into someone, and I've had it happen to me where someone pulled into my lane dozens of times. It's just one of those things that happens to nearly everyone. (Those FEW a-holes that blow their horns, annoy everyone.)

I myself just started driving and had the same experience as you did. I even make up my mind back then to not to drive again, but when I was browsing the net and read some articles and blogs especially https://4wheelonline.com , it made me convinced to try again. Now I'm trying to get some racing license soon.

That's actually pretty awesome :)

I worry about driving too. It's a huge responsibility and if something goes wrong I'm not merely risking my life but other people's as well.

There are a lot of a**hole drivers out there. I was afraid to drive for many years, and though now I do I avoid major highways and take the back roads. When you say you are worried about having an accident . . . IMHO, you're right to feel that way. Many people drive without any thought for the bad things that can happen. Some people may suggest that you plow right through your fears, but in my experience don't do anything you aren't ready for. May God bless your day.

ourcap, that's pretty awesome, getting your racing license. This summer I've been to the races in my town for the first time, dirt track races. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but it's been fun to watch. Good luck!

I've been wondering how it's gone for you, skii. Good luck to you, too.

Thanks