I've decided it's probably best if I never drive

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I do fine when I practice driving in parking lots, but I get really anxious when I'm out on the roads; even in relatively quiet, residential neighborhoods. I get so anxious it's hard for me to breathe.

I also tend to get really mad at the other drivers on the road, and I don't know why....

Like yesterday, when my mom, stepdad, younger half - sisters and I were driving up to NY to see my grandparents, (my stepfather was driving, tho) and there were lots of stupid drivers in one particular area we passed thru. I offered at one point to flip someone off for my stepdad (something really out of character for me, but the guy in the Car next to him was giving him a look I didn't like) but he declined....and when we were making our way thru a construction area where there was only one lane, there was one dude who bumped a dude driving a pickup who nearly ran into us and ended up running into the back of a minivan and knocking his rear license plate off....I was really anxious and p!ssed for some reason, and demanded loudly to anyone who was listening, "Is he (the dude in the out of control pickup) DRUNK or something???"

And when the minivan drove over to a shoulder and the pickup dude kept going, I also blurted, "That guy's a hit - and - run!!" but it only turned out that he was just driving to a shoulder a little farther away. At the time, I didn't realize that it's wasn't pickup dude's fault he ran into the minivan, but my mom and sisters were in a car accident when my sisters were very young (back in 2006) and part of the reason why I was so upset was that I knew that if the pickup had run into us, they'd be severely injured and traumatized again.

So, yeah, I get mad at other people on the road, but I don't know why, cuz intellectually, I understand that they have much right to be on the road as I. I also posted something in a thread about people laughing at those who are angry about a time when I was SO frustrated and anxious while driving around a neighborhood, that I was ready to flip off the next person who went up my tailpipe, or pull over, grab a street sign out of the ground and go over and hit the driver with it (Not really, but that's what was going thru my head at the time)...

So yeah, that's why it's probably best if I never drive. I'll either have to be on enough anti - anxiety drugs to kill a horse or be overcome with road rage and do something I end up regretting. Oh heck, I ought to just lock myself away in a room like Fluttershy does in the My Little Pony episode with the yelly minotaur dude. I wish I knew why I get so angry and why I'm so bad.

I can sympathise with you regarding anxiety. I fell off my (motor)bike a few months ago, and I've only ridden it about ten times since then, amid constant anxiety. The only thing that really works for me in that situation is to kind of start noticing and processing every single detail I see around me (this is my standard anxiety cure). I don't know if it will work for you, or if I've explained it satisfactorily or not...

Regarding getting angry, I can't say I experience it personally, but I don't think its uncommon. People who drive (while I'm in the car, obviously) seem to get angry at traffic, bad driving, missing traffic lights and at anything in their path with frightening frequency. In the past, I've suggested not getting angry to reduce stress levels, but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe you could try to imagine a specific reason why someone is driving badly (I mean there are usually emotional reasons behind most things that people do, and its just easier to assume they're being affected by said emotional problem). I'm not saying I'm an expert on anger management, I'm just describing my basic philosophy on dealing with people who have annoyed me in some way. It might help to seek anger management help if you feel its a big problem.

Of course, if you feel that not driving is really for the best then I wouldn't try and stop you. But even if you don't drive much, but manage to overcome you're problems with it to some extent, it can be a useful skill to have.

I had a hard time with this, too. Well, I still do, but not as bad.

Going up or down big hills makes me panic. The feeling of going over a hill quickly - sort of a falling feeling - flips me out too.

You might just want to give it a few more years before you drive alone. I wouldn't give up on it because it is harder to pick it up again later.

I probably should not have driven alone till about twenty.

My 1st few years of driving were anxiety inducing as well. Turns out my biggest problem was watching the road ahead. that gave me little time to react which of course heightened my anxiety. Do you keep your eyes down the road and look into curves?
Once I got that down I was fine.

I'm the same way. First of all, I don't understand anything about driving. Second of all I am wayyyy too anxious to even get behind the steering wheel and third of all I'd know that I'd get major road rage.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to drive. I wouldn't be able to pay attention to everything around me and I'd be so slow and cautious and have such slow reaction times and so much anxiety that I don't know if it would be worth it.

One of the many problems I had the few times I got to practice driving long ago in my teens was the car around me blocking my view. I wonder if getting this car would help with that? I'm starting to like it and want it. It's so tiny it's almost like a toy car, like those ones you get for your kid to drive.

I pretty much came to this same realization after I failed my road test for the fourth time. Considering the fact that I have absolutely no sense of direction, I'm sensitive to loud noises such as honking horns, and I tend to become overwhelmed and struggle when I have to focus on several things at once, it really is for the best that I'm not on the road.

Where I live, driving really isn't necessary. Most of the places I go to on a regular basis are in walking distance anyway. In a densely populated city such as this one, neighborhoods are packed pretty tight. There isn't space for sprawling landscapes, and there's no real separation between residential and business areas. Additionally, there's a Subway station a 10-15 minute walk from my home, and that will take me most other places I want to go. For places out of Subway range, there's buses. For trips outside the city, there's the Long Island Railroad. For trips out of state, there's other rail systems, such as Amtrack. For longer trips, I can take the Subway to the AirTrain, to the airport. I don't often venture out of Subway range anyway.

There's plenty of parts of my life that are highly disappointing, frustrating, and dysfunctional. This is the case for just about every part of my life, actually. The lack of a driver's license is the least of my problems. That hasn't bothered me in years. Sometimes, I feel that driving is more trouble than it's worth around here. Aside from high gas prices, I also frequently hear acquaintances of mine complain about getting caught in traffic, and more than anything else, how difficult it is to find parking around here, that looking for parking is sometimes the longest part of their trips. Sometimes, I think that not driving simplifies my life quite a bit. I know that it's really difficult to manage without a car in most other parts of America, but where I am, it's really not an inconvenience.

I don't really need to drive. I have a bus stop near my house that can take me to the mall, downtown, grocery stores, and a hospital. My vet is close enough that the cab isn't too expensive. I have no where else I need to go.

Yes, I would like my first Car to be a small one...like the smart Car you mentioned or one of the little Volkswagen Beetles...I think I'm just a "small Car" kinda person. Problem is, my dad has it in his head that I'm going to inherit my stepmom's yellow Mazda Protege when she gets a new Car. I've never been too fond of the Protege, tho, cuz it seems to me when I ride in it that it jerks around a lot and I get carsick (that could just be the way my stepmom handles it, tho, cuz I hardly ever get carsick in my dad's Car when HE drives).

Thanks to everyone else who replied, too....it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's anxious while driving.

those things are cramped, have no headroom for tallfolk, and ride like logwagons. and for some weird reason require expensive premium gas.

I've made that decision many years ago and I'm sticking to it. There are better things that my money can go towards.

The one I posted the picture of was the 2013 passion cabriolet.

That one claimed it was a lot roomier inside than it looked with legroom and headroom, plus it's a convertible so there is plenty of headroom when the top is down (I'm female and 5'8" not some 6'+ male). I don't know about needing expensive premium gas. It didn't mention that. Also it being a two seater would make it harder for anyone to try to get me to drive them places.

Who knows if I'll ever drive. I can't even get an id and the same proof of identity is required to get a permit, plus I have no one to teach me to drive or let me use their car to practice.

consumer reports did 2 tests of that make of vehicle, and they noted that premium was required in order for its high-compression little engine to not ping.


i was the last person anybody who knew me would think could drive- but 2 rounds of driver's ed [including a personal driving instructor paid for by DVR] eventually got me a license, at the age of 20. what is your status regarding vocational rehab? if your state has a division of voc rehab they might consider it useful to get you instructed in how to drive, so that you can get a job, especially if you live out in the sticks like i did as a young man [and still do].

I'm not diagnosed with anything or getting any kind of help from anywhere. I just stay home most of the time.

At least I'm lucky enough to be living in the city and can walk or take the bus to most of the places I need to go.

I realized I wasn't going to drive the first time I got behind a wheel, back in high school. Now I'm 53, never driven once. I lived in college towns most of my life, always got an apartment near work. Now I'm on a commune where the transportation is done by a select minority to serve the majority. Not driving hasn't been a big deal and certainly contributed to being in pretty good physical shape, a definite advantage.

That's really a very mature decision to make. People who insist on driving even though they know they are unsafe drivers are probably causing more than their share of accidents.

Have you looked into transportation alternatives? For example, do you know how to use the bus system, and to hire taxis or use trains if those exist in your area? If not, can you find someone to teach you, or find a way to teach yourself? Bicycles are also a good alternative for people who can't drive but still have the coordination to stay upright on a bicycle, and offer the benefit of being good exercise. And for a range of three miles or less, there's always a good pair of walking shoes; but don't count on cycling or walking every day, because eventually you're going to get pouring-down rain or two feet of snow, and you won't want to be out in that.