As I said in this post Driving = Scary, I’m afraid of driving.  Strangely though, I’m a bit of a gear head.  I LOVE cars.  I watch shows like Top Gear and fall in love with some of the cars they present.  I adore researching cars.  I choose the cars that I’d love to own in a fantasy land where money was no object.  Cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Zonda fascinate me, though I’ll never see one in person and I’d be too afraid to drive them.  It’s a confusing place to be.  In love with cars but afraid of driving them.

I’ve had my drivers license for a little more than a year now, and I’m still not quite comfortable.  I really wish people had told me how scary driving actually is.  I’ve always been told things like “Driving is so easy” “Driving a car is so much fun. You’ll love it”  They were all lies.  Driving a car still scares the bejeezus out of me.  Cars are big and dangerous and very intimidating. It’s like driving a freaking bomb.

I do drive my car and I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it.  I’m constantly afraid that another car is going to hit me or force me off the road.  I get scared when people don’t signal properly or drive on my tail.  And if strange lights come on in my car I’m practically near tears.  Driving is just not a comfortable time for me.

Strangely though, I’ve driven some very long distances.  I’ve been in my car, alone, for more than 4 hours driving for business.  That trip involves major highway and city driving, mountains and tunnels.  It’s quite an adventure in driving, especially in imperfect weather.  Having 3 tractor trailers behind you, going down a mountain, in the fog and rain will probably make the most experienced driver nervous.  Me, I’m signing at the top of my lungs, trying to pretend they aren’t there so that I don’t freak out.  So far, that strange tactic has been working for me.  And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I’m hoping that with more experience driving, I’ll become more comfortable and less nervous.  Maybe I should practice with video games some more as well.  They helped me before my exam.  Any one out there have some hints?