Sadly, road accidents are on the up in the UK and there are a few reasons for this. One is there are more vehicles on the road than ever before, and each year many thousands follow. Another reason is the amount of people who take to the roads without any thought for their own or other drivers’ safety.
If you’ve been in a road accident, getting back behind the wheel can be a very traumatic experience. For some, it’s something they will never do again and this is quite understandable, especially if you’re accident was serious and has left you with physical scars that will never go away. However, for those of you that suffered a minor accident, you can feel like you’re expected to just “get back on the bike and ride it”!
People who haven’t been in a road accident find it hard to understand what you’re going through mentally. This is because they cannot see what you’re going through. For example, if you have a huge pimple on your face, you will get far more sympathy for it than you would if it was somewhere no-one can see. You get the idea.
So, on to how you can get over those nightmarish jitters once you’ve returned to full health again.
The First Time
It could be that you look at you car sat in the driveway, and it immediately fills you with horror (and I speak from experience with this one). The one thing to remember is you should take this as slowly as you like. Even if you just start by approaching your car and taking a peek through the window you’re making progress. It might not fee like it, but you are.
Once you’ve mustered up the courage to open your car door, just sit behind the wheel for a while. Get used to how it feels, and if you start to feel anxious simply get out again. Trust me when I say this, you will find each time you sit in the driving seat it will be easier to spend more time there.
Once You Feel it’s Time to Drive
One word of warning here: DON’T attempt it on your own. Take someone with you that you trust. You don’t even have to go out on the open roads. You could just take a quiet back route around the area you live so you don’t come across many other drivers.
It may take time. For some people its weeks, for others its months so don’t rush. If you do, this will send you backwards. Over time, you will get over this and if you’re having real trouble with getting back behind the wheel there is no shame in speaking with a councillor, that’s what they are there for! You could even ask a driving instructor to help you. There are many professionals out there that are not just about teaching people to drive, they can also help you get your confidence back with driving again.
