Even though it’s super exciting to get your driving license, many people often agree that the “hard” part comes after passing their driving test!
Even just the idea of driving out on the roads can be a scary thought, especially when it comes to driving on the highway.
But, this is where we come in to lend you a helping hand! In this guide, we are going to be sharing with you essential steps that you can take to help you overcome your fear of driving.
From having an experienced driver with you all the way to additional driving courses, we’ve made sure to cover all bases.
So, without further ado, just keep on reading to learn more about how you can overcome your fear of driving on the highway! Scroll on.
Ask Someone To Come With You!
If you’re feeling nervous to take on the highway for the first time, then we strongly recommend that you consider asking a friend, family member, or experienced driver to accompany you while you get used to driving on the highway!
Regardless of whether you have been driving for years and want to build your confidence on the highway, or you’ve just recently passed your driving test and you want to get the hang of highway driving – asking someone to come with you is a great idea.
While this person doesn’t necessarily need to have a driving license, it’s a good idea to ask someone who has driving experience (preferably on the highway) if they can come along with you.
Besides being able to keep you calm, give you driving assistance and provide you with guidance should you need it, having someone in the car with you that has experience driving will also help to keep you relaxed and level headed.
After you get used to driving on the highway with someone with driving experience in the car with you, you can then begin to take trips out on the highway by yourself.
Consider Taking A Highway Driving Course
Believe it or not, many drivers (both experienced and just getting started) often find themselves seeking additional teaching after they have passed their driving test and completed their driving lessons.
That being said, if you are currently struggling with overcoming your fear of driving on the highway, considering taking an additional driving course that specializes in highway driving is a fantastic way to build your confidence.
These types of additional courses are created to specialize in areas of driving that might not have been covered during driving lessons – and the highway is certainly no exception to this!
By undertaking an additional course in highway driving, you will be able to overcome your fear, all while learning and developing your driving skills in a safe and controlled way.
All in all, if you have a fear of highway driving you would like to overcome, a highway driving course is a great way to do it!
Stick To Daytime Highway Driving To Begin
Regardless of how much driving experience you have in general, if you currently have a fear of driving on the highway, we highly recommend that you start off by driving during the day only.
Driving during the night is a lot more challenging than driving during the day, and can pose a great variety of risks that might make driving on the highway distressing and scary for you. This includes the following:
- Low lighting conditions
- Difficulty spotting other vehicles
- Harder to see people and animals
For these reasons, while you are building up your confidence and working to overcome your fear of driving on the highway, you should make sure that you are sticking with driving during the day.
By driving during the day, you will be able to enjoy optimum lighting conditions, which will help to keep you calm and aware of your surroundings while driving.
Avoid Driving During Adverse Weather Conditions
Driving on the highway can be a scary experience for new or anxious drivers on the best of days, so the last thing you want to do is take on the highway during adverse weather!
Weather such as rain, sleet and snow will make driving on the highway more challenging and more dangerous.
So, that being said, while you are getting the hang of highway driving and working to overcome the fear that you have surrounding it, you should make sure that you are only driving on the highway during the day, when the weather is good.
Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
If your fear of driving on the highway is particularly bad, a fantastic way to overcome it is by seeking cognitive behavioral therapy treatment, which is often abbreviated to just “CBT”.
This form of therapy is used for a variety of mental health issues, and can also be extremely beneficial in helping individuals overcome driving fears.
If you’re interested in undergoing CBT, it will focus on your thoughts and attitudes surrounding highway driving, and help to overcome your fear through positive coping skills
Final Thoughts
You’ve reached the end! After spending some time reading through our top tips above, we hope that we have been able to share with you some of the best ways that you will be able to overcome your fear of driving on the highway.
No matter what your current level of driving experience is, driving on the highway can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone.
However, driving should be something that you enjoy doing each day, and shouldn’t be something that makes you feel afraid or anxious.
By making sure that you are following our advice above, you should find that you are able to drive safely and confidently on the highway in no time at all.
Thanks for reading, and we wish you the best of luck on your journey to overcome the fear of driving on the highway!