Car accident has turned me into nervous wreck

LegacyUser

Hi guys. I was wondering if you could give me any advice on this.

About 6 weeks ago I was involved in a road traffic accident. There's not a lot to be said about the accident - I was shunted from behind and found to be without fault. Both myself and the other driver walked away uninjured and my car has been repaired. All good or so you'd think

My problem is that the accident has turned me into a nervous wreck. I'm an experienced driver who had never had a road accident until this one. Before this I was the sort of person who was happy enough to drive just about anywhere. Not just here but in the UK as well.

My parking has gone to pot big time. I was never one of life's great car parkers but I was competent. Now I'm parking my car like someone who's barely in control of it. I used to be OK at reversing the car into spaces but I've lost all confidence. This evening I went into a multi-storey and passed by empty spaces because they were too hard to get into. That never used to happen to me. When I finally found a space I felt I could handle I reversed into it inch by inch. I'm no good at pulling into spaces any more either. Several times now I've had to get into my car and re-park it in work because I've not been able to keep it between the white lines. That never used to happen before. I seem to have lost my feel for the car and it feels like I'm driving a juggernaut or something.

On the roads I've become a jumpy nervous driver as well. I'm hesitant at roundabouts, I'm a little scared at times on motorways and I keep worrying that someone else will slam into the back of me. I know if I keep going the way I am I'll cause an accident.
If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. In case anyone suggests them, I can't afford to sell the car and wipe the slate clean. Nor can I take the bus to work. There is no public transport where I work.

ivytwine

That's completely natural and understandable after what you went through. Minor accident or not, you got a shock and also a reminder that although you can be a safe driver, your safety is dependent on how competent other road-users are.

As you say taking a break from driving is not an option, anyway I don't think you should, it might make the fear worse when you return.

There are lots of good tips online for nervous drivers, and although most of them focus on the test, there's some things that may help you, such as breathing exercises.

Are you near a quiet country road? Maybe you could go down a long drive down that and it might help you to relax without other cars being around?

Tokyo

Hi OP,

It's completely understandable to be nervous after an accident like this, and to be a little paranoid about other road users. You're not going to change the driving behaviour of everybody else on the road, so the best advice I can give you is to try to be calm and just pay attention to your own driving. Be cautious and drive a little slower than you normally would have before the accident, perhaps put on some relaxing music and allow a lot of extra time to get places. Then you won't have the added stress of worrying about being late.

If you feel that you could do with a little extra help for the initial stages, you might consider contacting your local driving school and taking a few supplementary lessons? If you call them up and explain to them what you have told us here, a couple of outings on the road with a qualified instructor may go a long way towards putting your mind at ease - he or she can also go through some of the scenarios you have described above - roundabout approaches, parking etc with you until you feel a little more confident again.

Rubberchikken

i think i'd feel nervous too after an accident, never had on *touches wood*, but i understand where you're coming from.
how about getting some lessons from a local instructor.

good luck

alias no.9

Definitely contact a local driving school and ask for an instructor who specialises in instructing nervous drivers. A lesson or two with the right instructor should put you at ease.

AlbionCat

Definitely +1 on going out with a driving instructor. I was spending alot of time driving for my job and felt I was getting careless. I did two hours and learnt alot. (And after 25 years of driving!) Do explain why you want the assesment. I suspect you will not be the first person who goes back to a driving instructor after something like this.
Good luck

imitation

IMO I think talking to a councillor might be more worth while if you feel its really getting to you, you havent forgotten how to drive after all. Driving is has its risks, which we tend to forget about as its pretty mundane most of the time, an accident can be a very uncomfortable reminder of this.

AlbionCat

Definitely +1 on going out with a driving instructor. I was spending alot of time driving for my job and felt I was getting careless. I did two hours and learnt alot. (And after 25 years of driving!) Do explain why you want the assesment. I suspect you will not be the first person who goes back to a driving instructor after something like this.
Good luck

hoodwinked

op, i too was in an accident where someone hit the side of me and i was found to be without fault, there was absolutely nothing i could have done to avoid it, i was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, we all walked away from it,

i also had my then 2 year old in the car at the time,

the next day i had to go pick up my temporary replacement car and i was a double nervous wreck not only driving for the first time post accident AND being in a car i'd never driven before, i just sat in the car and started doing the basics as i was taught the first time i drove, made a small journey and got used to being behind the wheel again, i was scared stiff but i powered through.


it might sound silly, but it does get better and easier over time, all i can recommend is you keep working through it, 6 weeks is still relatively soon, up to a year after my daughter was still asking if a van was going to hit the car, now she barely remembers it, but still to this day she HATES loud noises and gets upset at sudden bangs, i am still more cautious when i drive now but not in a way that impacts on my driving, all these re-actions are normal,

you will feel more confident again just give it time, for now, just keep practicing the basics, get comfortable in your car again.

i hope it all works out for you and you find your driving feet again.

daisybelle2008

Hi OP, I was involved in a couple of fairly bad road traffic accidents. Became very nervous both as a passenger & driving as a result. I had counselling, I can't say it helped that much, but the nervousness got better with time. The driving lessons might help.

funkey_monkey

I'd suggest going on an Advanced Driving course. I gained much more information from them rather than the 'normal' instructors. Plus you might get a discount on your insurance if you take the advanced test.