Lost confidence in driving

I was on the verge of giving up my car as I live in central London and I so rarely used it. Then my son and his family moved out to the country. I hated driving there but eventually I made myself do it and I am now ok on that route! Still won’t go anywhere else. I find I am fine in a London as the average speed is so low - hate driving at speed.

Nonogran I'm often a tourist in Devon but you'd not spot me by my reversing! We live in the depths of rural Shropshire & reversing skills are an absolute must! Practice certainly make perfect -DDIL was useless when she came to us first but is now fantastic & can go back as quick as forwards. So many cars have rear view cameras to help with reversing & they are brilliant though I have to admit I do tend to skew right round & look over my shoulder- old habits die hard! For lack of confidence driving, I'd definitely recommend a few refresher lessons at a driving school & get practising!

I still have the petrol in my car I put in the tank in March. I do feel less confident but I haven’t been doing that much driving obviously.
However I would urge people not to rely on OH driving and to keep in practice as much as possible . Mine has had to have 2 separate years not driving post seizure and is now very reluctant to drive. So now I have to do most of the driving with a very critical passenger. ?

Devon Somerset and any other local county have very narrow lanes which take a lot of getting used to if you have moved from a town our areas have not been improv for the car like many .Go on an advanced driving course to give you the confidenceence

I had a bizarre meltdown driving back from Cornwall. Had been driving for 33 years, then just went oh my god, can’t do this. Was in a very stressy point of life. So that sort of explains it. But have never got confidence back. Which is so annoying. I’m ok if I have a qualified driver next to me. So I know if I go loopy, they will take over. But on my own, nightmare. Drove on my own abroad in the past, now the M25 is my nemesis...

Not surprised all those narrow wiggly roads with tall hedges growing up either side. Then the idiots who zoom up behind you and tailgate trying to make you go faster. Being a Londoner I'm more than used to driving in traffic but get in the country and although I love places like Devon but hate driving about

glammanana

I'm finding it hard to get back behind the wheel after selling our bigger family car after loosing my lovely John 7 months ago I had intended on buying something like a little Mini or similar but my confidence has gone completely the stupid thing is I used to drive 40+ miles a day to work and back and to places like Birmingham or Newcastle where the Rds are awful but I never bothered then now I am so worried about getting behind the wheel again.

Glammanana. I’m sorry to hear about your lovely husband. I suspect your fear of driving is a symptom of your grief. I’ve found that when somebody very special to us dies, so profound is the shift in our world that it no longer seems a safe place. Something so dreadful has happened that suddenly we’re waiting for the next awful thing, so day to day actions that we used to undertake without thinking now become major hurdles to be feared.

Think of your lovely John urging you on to go out and buy your new car. Perhaps find someone patient and understanding to accompany you on drives, just to reacclimatise to being behind the wheel? The longer you leave it the more difficult it will be and it would be such a shame to lose your independence when in reality, you’re perfectly capable.

I’m certain that your John would be so proud of you overcoming your fear. ?

FoghornLeghorn that is wonderful, compassionate advice and I hope Glammanana is ready for it.
Baby steps, ones you are happy with, that build confidence. Good Luck ?

Thank you i do take myself off and practice i have made a list of places to go and i tick them off as i have done them,i think it,s just practice i need yo build up my confidence again x