If the thought of driving makes you feel anxious, know that you are not alone. It is very common for some adults to be afraid of getting behind the wheel, and the anxiety makes it difficult for them to drive in certain situations or even drive at all. If you are an adult with a fear of driving, rest assured that there are proven methods to overcome your worries and make you a confident, safe driver!
With adult driving lessons specifically tailored to every individual’s needs and schedule, you can face your driving fears head-on and learn how to move past them with the help of a certified Driven2Drive instructor.
What You Will Learn
- How driving anxiety manifests in adults
- Why driving lessons are a great way to overcome anxiety and fear
- Practical skills and defensive driving techniques tailored to build confidence and meet Pennsylvania driving requirements
Why Should Adults in Pennsylvania Choose Specialized Driving Courses?
The anxieties that adults face on the road are often a lot different than the ones teens and younger students deal with. It’s important for adults to get specialized driving courses that address their specific needs and help provide more confidence on the road.
Addressing Driving Anxiety in Adults
Whether it’s your first time taking a driving lesson or you already have experience on the road, many adults deal with a fear of driving. These fears and anxieties can develop over time or appear suddenly out of nowhere and can stem from many different causes, including:
- Past negative driving experiences or accidents
- Accidents loved ones were involved in
- Living in an area with heavy traffic
- Learning how to drive from a friend or relative who didn’t provide proper feedback
- Health issues such as mental health or vision problems
- Relocation to an unfamiliar area
- Life changes and external stressors (new job or job loss, divorce, pregnancy, recovering from surgery or medical procedure…)
- Buying or driving an unfamiliar or new vehicle
- Fear of height, bridges
These anxieties can also take the form of specific phobias, such as fears of driving on a highway alone, in certain weather conditions, locations, or even at night.
Benefits of Taking Adult Driving Courses in PA
With adult driving courses, you can get a tailored experience that helps you address your anxieties head-on and learn driving skills and coping mechanisms that will help you feel more confident behind the wheel. Here’s how:
- Practicing with the same instructor can make you feel more comfortable over time
- Personalized courses made for adults can be tailored to your specific needs and anxieties
- Learn defensive driving techniques that will make you feel more in control
- Get exposure to stressful driving situations in controlled environments with a car equipped for students and a professional driving instructor
- Create more positive driving experiences by learning or relearning driving habits with constructive feedback and positive reinforcement
Driving doesn’t need to be a stressful activity, and with the right course and instructor, you can begin to feel comfortable on the road again.
Ready to regain confidence on the road? Enroll now!
What Can You Expect From an Adult Driving Course?
Adults can be apprehensive when it comes to starting a new driving course. Typically, they assume that lessons are for young drivers, but the truth is with the right tailored driving lessons package, a driving course can fit any adult’s needs and schedule.
Tailored Lessons for Adult Learners in Pennsylvania
Driven2Drive offers lessons designed specifically for adult learners, providing specialized attention to help you improve the driving skills that matter most to you. Every student can customize their lesson package to fit their schedule, learning style, and specific areas of focus.
Building Confidence Behind the Wheel
The goal of any driving lesson is to make the student feel prepared for any scenario on the road. For adults who already have driving knowledge and maybe have had some negative experiences, driving lessons are about reframing certain scenarios and reinforcing essential road skills to build more confidence. Here’s what one Driven2Drive adult student had to say about her lessons:
“I always used to be afraid of driving at night because of a small accident that happened years ago. My fear of driving in the dark has been holding me back from meeting friends and being more mobile at night, and I really wanted to work on my night driving. The patient instructors and customized lessons at Driven2Drive completely turned things around for me. The instructor made me feel safe driving at any time of day and gave me the confidence I was missing to feel comfortable driving at night again!” – Sarah W., recent graduate
Overcoming Common Challenges with Adult Driving Lessons
Anxiety can make adults feel ashamed of driving, or force them to avoid it altogether, but with the right mindset, instructor, and techniques, it’s possible to overcome these challenges.
Managing Driving Anxiety with Practical Techniques
There are a lot of different techniques drivers can use to handle anxiety, some of which aren’t even behind the wheel. Some specific techniques drivers can use to handle and overcome anxiety include:
- Practicing breathing techniques before driving to calm your nervous system
- Slowly getting more exposure to new driving scenarios
- Journaling about what triggers driving anxiety
- Repeating positive affirmations both inside and outside of the car
- Seeking professional mental health for more severe anxiety or phobias
- Learning defensive driving skills
Learning Defensive Driving for Pennsylvania Roads
Mastering defensive driving techniques is a great way to build confidence and reduce anxiety behind the wheel. By practicing on local Pennsylvania roads, you’ll develop essential skills like scanning your surroundings, anticipating potential hazards, staying calm, improving visibility, and driving safely in various weather conditions. Your instructor will provide in-depth guidance on defensive driving strategies during your lessons, helping you feel more confident and at ease.
Why Choose Driven2Drive for Adult Driving Lessons?
Driven2Drive is Pennsylvania’s Premier Driving School & License Testing Center, offering a variety of driving lesson packages tailored to students of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds
Driving Anxiety Experience and Training
While Driven2Drive does not offer clinical counseling for driving-related anxieties, our experienced and highly qualified instructors are equipped to work with students facing driving anxiety. We’re also happy to collaborate with a student’s certified clinical healthcare provider to help transform anxiety into confidence behind the wheel.
Flexible Scheduling with Certified Instructors
At Driven2Drive, we customize driving courses around your schedule, making it easy to fit the driving lessons into your work or other commitments. With flexible morning, evening, and weekend hours, you can find a time that works for you. Our qualified & professional instructors provide expert guidance to help you navigate various road scenarios and prepare confidently for your driving test and for life.
Convenient Pennsylvania Locations
Driven2Drive has six convenient locations around Pennsylvania, making it easy for students to access our facilities. You can practice driving from any of these locations, meaning you’ll get real experience driving in areas you’re likely to be in most frequently. Choose to take your lessons at any of these locations:
- Bala Cynwyd
- West Chester
- Oaks
- Horsham
- Brookhaven
- Northeast Philadelphia
Book Your Lesson Today
With flexible driving lessons from Driven2Drive, you’ll learn the essential skills you need to feel more confident on the road. Our instructors will help you overcome anxiety while teaching you safe driving techniques so that you always feel comfortable stepping into a car.
Related resources
- Getting Insurance Discounts Through Driving Lessons in PA
- Drivers Ed in Philadelphia: Expert Classes & License Testing
- Teen Driver’s Ed vs Adult Driver’s Ed: The Key Differences
Ronit Tehrani is the Founder and Co-Owner of Driven2Drive, a premier driving and license testing center in Philadelphia. Since 2013, she has been dedicated to providing safe driving education and skills for lifelong success. Under her leadership, Driven2Drive became Pennsylvania’s first privately owned PennDOT-certified testing center, now with six locations.
