Welcome to Driving anxiety coach Amersfoort
Safe and with confidence on the road again!
In the Netherlands, between half and a million drivers' license holders are afraid of driving. A portion of this group drives with fear, some of them even leave the car at home.
Fear of driving
Driving anxiety, also known as “autophobia” or “amaxophobia,” refers to an intense fear or anxiety about driving. People with driving anxiety can experience varying levels of anxiety, ranging from mild nervousness to severe panic attacks at the thought of driving a vehicle.
The causes of driving anxiety can be diverse and range from traumatic experiences such as traffic accidents to social anxiety, lack of self-confidence, or even generalized anxiety disorder. This anxiety can be specific to certain traffic situations, such as highways, tunnels, or busy city centers, or it can be more general in nature, with the person being anxious about driving in general.
Driving anxiety can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life, limiting mobility and participation in activities. Professional guidance, such as driving anxiety therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, can often be helpful in addressing and overcoming driving anxiety, allowing individuals to feel more confident and comfortable behind the wheel.
Do you recognize yourself in this? Then take the test and we may be able to help you get back on the road with pleasure and safety.
Rijangst Coach Amersfoort is onderdeel van:
"I was guided in a clear, calm manner. It helped me regain confidence in driving."
"I took a refresher course because I was nervous about driving long distances or on the highway. The lessons were fun and relaxing. Marcel's dedication, flexibility and experience helped me achieve my goal. Thank you Marcel for your help and support!"
"A pleasant driving instructor who thinks along with you.
I had taken a refresher course. During the lesson we decided together which situations we wanted to practice. I can now go on the road again with confidence, safely and independently".
Why choose Driving Anxiety Coach Amersfoort?
- Certified driving anxiety instructor
- Intake interview in advance
- Trial lesson
- Plan of approach
- We drive in a car without advertising and without an L sign on the roof
Symptoms of Driving Anxiety
The symptoms that people with driving anxiety have vary from person to person. How severe the symptoms are anxiety together with the level of anxiety:
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Light-headed feeling
- Fear of losing control of your arms/legs
- Shaky, unsteady feeling in your arms and/or leg
- Altered sensory sensitivity (sound irritates more quickly, sharpened perception or blurred vision)
Consequences of Driving Anxiety
Driving anxiety can have all sorts of consequences, depending on the type of driving anxiety. Anxious drivers do not sit relaxed behind the wheel of the car, for example, they get muscle pain in their legs because they are too tense. They hold the steering wheel tensely and become tired from that tension. Excessive vigilance often leads to people constantly looking in their mirrors, more often than necessary, and that also leads to fatigue. The night before they set off, they have trouble sleeping because they worry about the next day's journey. Some anxious drivers respond to traffic situations that provoke tension with an aggressive driving style. It takes time if you take detours to avoid the motorway, for example. Most navigation systems have the option to "avoid motorway". This is useful but does cost extra time. The travel time from the centre of Amsterdam to the centre of Utrecht is 42 minutes via the motorway, but if you avoid it, it will take at least 1 hour and 20 minutes. The train from Amsterdam Central to Utrecht Central takes you only 29 minutes, which is great because you don't have to drive.
The result of this is that you become dependent on others, your partner or friends. Your partner will take you to your friend in that other city. But yes, you see her/him less often than you would like because your partner doesn't always feel like or has the time to take you and pick you up. And if you don't have a partner, you may go to your friends or family in another place less often because it is quite an undertaking to go by public transport if you have to change trains three times, for example.
If you have to drive a lot for your work, the preference of your job can be a serious consequence. Or you limit your options when it comes to jobs, you don't apply for positions that require you to drive. Moving to that beautiful, far-away house is something you don't even think about. You would become too dependent on others to drop you off at a bus stop or station. Doing the weekly shopping, transporting things, taking children to school or their sports club, taking your parents out for a day, it is all so much more practical if you can just do it in your own car. You may also incur the annoyance of friends or housemates, because they do not always feel like being there for you.
In addition, many people are ashamed of their fear and hide it from others.
