Some drivers give me anxiety

Nqp15hhu

I have been driving for around 3 years. I have had one accident in black ice. I am a cautious driver, however, I don’t drive slow and I overtake when required (slow drivers mostly).

Anyway, I am quite a neurotic and anxious person. I am very nervous around bad drivers. Namely drivers who are too cautious.

Here are a few things that cause me anxiety and are appropriate examples:
- Drivers who pull out of a junction onto the straight stretch of road I am on. Then break! I had this happen to me recently, I had to slam on my breaks from 60mph down to 20mph. This person then proceeded to speed up when I attempted to overtake them. This happens to me at least once a week or two. These people cause me intense anxiety and worry, I am concerned that I would crash into them.
- As above people who sit at a junction, see you coming, sit staring at you. Only to pull out at the very last moment, requiring you to break harshly.
- Drivers who break constantly. I had this also. Driver kept breaking and breaking every few seconds, I kept having to slam on my breaks and nearly hit them. I could not anticipate their speed.

I mostly enjoy driving however it’s the cautious drivers that cause my anxiety and stress. I am can’t anticipate or prepare for a driver that is going to break abruptly or pull out at the last moment.

When I am around these people I just immediately want to overtake them. Occasionally when I do try that they brake again making me almost crash into them as I am pulling out to pass.

Smee_Again

Driving would be a lot less stressful if it wasn’t for all the other drivers.

A lot of what you describe is just part and parcel of driving unfortunately so I don’t have any advice other than focus on your own driving.

punisher5112

Honestly just don't read into it, these numpties haven't a breeze what's going on around them....

Get a dash cam is best advice I can give you, it's also peace of mind so if something happens you have proof you were in the right.

This happens numerous times a journey for me to or from work and at work also.

These are the type where you are overtaking on the motorway that then pull out as you are about to pass, they typically were doing say 115km/h or so, pull out then this drops to 105km/h or less, they the doddle along, eventually pull back in but while doing so the car magically gets more gas( unknown phenomenon this is)......

They are also the type that as you say you go to pass and they boot it, stick to the centre line or even the professional ones go on or over the centre line..... The minute you have a chance the car again magically gains more power or it could be gravitational or something.....


Best thing with these morons is leave them off, forget about them and just keep clear of them.

There are tell tale signs what they will do before indication of any or movement, watch their head if possible, watch the mirrors to see, keep space, keep your distance no matter what.
These people believe that brake checking is totally normal and a perfectly ok procedure.

antix80

Buy a car with good acceleration so overtaking isn't an issue.
Learn what cars are likely to accelerate and don't try to overtake them. Yellow plates and silver audis are an example.
A lot of ppl break constantly on bends, but then on a straight don't let you overtake... It's frustrating but learn to live with it.

Rubberchikken

The driver breaking and breaking is annoying tbh but unless you can safely overtake I find it easier to stay back and just accept that that's the way they drive and hope they'll turn off soon.

Its very difficult to second guess other drivers- better tbh to focus on your own driving and try to ignore their behaviour.

Loveinapril

antix80 wrote: »

Buy a car with good acceleration so overtaking isn't an issue.
Learn what cars are likely to accelerate and don't try to overtake them. Yellow plates and silver audis are an example.

This makes no sense.

OP, some driver are terrible and it can be really annoying. Three years is still a relatively short time driving and you will get more confident and less anxious with it over time. Just stay vigilant and as another poster recommended, maybe get a dash cam to feel a bit more secure in your own abilities.

Airyfairy12

They dont sound like cautious drivers, they sound like very bad drivers.
One bit of advice I would give is to stay well back behind cars when driving behind them. Sometimes drivers will abruptly break a few times as a warning to the car behind to back off, theres nothing worse than having a car behind you bumper to bumper when driving.

Secondly, just be alert, there are so many numpties on the road. I had to over take two cyclists today on a bendy road, finally got to a straight enough stretch of road where I could safely over take only for the back cyclist to cycle up beside his friend & cycle in the middle of the road, then went back again to where he was behind his friend a few seconds later but I couldnt overtake then because I was meeting a bend.
As stressful & frustrating as it is, everyone encounters bad and inconsiderate road users.

Wanderer2010

OP, I know how you feel. When i was only driving a few years, i absolutely hated tailgaters and not so much because they were being dangerous and inconsiderate, but more so the pain I would endure if i had to suddenly stop and have the car slam violently into me from behind and the resulting whiplash. It was unnerving and distracting and ironically led to me not focusing on the road ahead of me.
Also, my biggest fear was a car overtaking me at speed on a narrow road. That made my blood go cold as sonething about a car zooming past me at such close quarters scared me rigid.
These fears are totally normal and should alleviate the more you drive. Sadly, you are going to encounter an array of woeful drivers every single day- the constant breaking rubbernecker or car park hunter, the lane hogger forcing you into the path, the driver who wont wave when you leave them out, the red light braker etc etc.
I find the oldest advice the best- you can only control your driving and your reactions and if you always leave a decent space between you and the car in front, thats half the battle. Speed really is a killer and a slow driver has choice, and with choice comes the chance to make a clever choice, keep that in mind. If i could give you one bit of advice, its dont ever EVER expect anything of other drivers. Keep a virtual safe space around you at all times so you have choice when other drivers surprise you.

P.S just because someone indicates left or right, it doesnt mean they will follow through, trust me on that. Best of luck,OP.