Highway anxiety

the_randomizer · Jan 10, 2014

calmwaters said:
Start out slow at first; it's a brave step into a new world of driving. Riding with someone is always best; you do so much talking to them. You ever hear of those little old ladies on the highway that everyone gets ticked off at because they go so slow? Be like them; don't worry about the "speed demons"; they won't intentionally crash into you. Besides, if you're a generally safe driver, nothing can go wrong. Just drive the way you would drive through a residential neighborhood. Only go a bit faster, like 10 miles/hour. Good luck.

Thank you, I will, and the weather or at least the roads should be favorable. It all boils down to common sense really

DinohScene · Jan 10, 2014

the_randomizer said:
Again, the weather tomorrow is a mystery, it may rain and turn into ice, but then again, it's supposed to be in the mid 40's so hard to say, that's what freaks me out the most, the fact it can turn dangerous and also my car doesn't have ABS I think. But in all honesty, it all boils down to common sense

Mine also doesn't have ABS (me Megane cabrio does).
Honestly I prefer cars without ABS and all those fancy smanshy electronics.
Driving should be driving and not just steering a car ;p

Or like those new Fords and Volvo's that stop for you and park for you.
It just takes the driving out of driving a car.
Better take the bus when you're going to rely on those gadgets.

Just make sure you break slowly but steadily on an icy surface.
That and make sure you got plenty of distance between you and the guy in front of you.
And when the road does go icy, just slow down your driving speed.

the_randomizer · Jan 10, 2014

DinohScene said:
Mine also doesn't have ABS (me Megane cabrio does).
Honestly I prefer cars without ABS and all those fancy smanshy electronics.
Driving should be driving and not just steering a car ;p

Or like those new Fords and Volvo's that stop for you and park for you.
It just takes the driving out of driving a car.
Better take the bus when you're going to rely on those gadgets.

Just make sure you break slowly but steadily on an icy surface.
That and make sure you got plenty of distance between you and the guy in front of you.
And when the road does go icy, just slow down your driving speed.

Pretty much that, I'll be careful, because the destination tomorrow is, well, heheheh, you'll see

DinohScene · Jan 10, 2014

calmwaters said:
don't worry about the "speed demons"; they won't intentionally crash into you. Besides, if you're a generally safe driver, nothing can go wrong.

Even seen people drive in Southern Europe/Eastern Europe?
Mate, safe driving there would get you killed quicker then driving like a lunatic ;p

the_randomizer said:
Pretty much that, I'll be careful, because the destination tomorrow is, well, heheheh, you'll see

Good luck chap!
Show your anxiety who's the fox lover!

the_randomizer · Jan 10, 2014

DinohScene said:
Even seen people drive in Southern Europe/Eastern Europe?
Mate, safe driving there would get you killed quicker then driving like a lunatic ;p

No, but it sounds pretty scary to be around those drivers lol!

DinohScene said:
Good luck chap!
Show your anxiety who's the fox lover!

Oh, I will!

stomp_442 · Jan 10, 2014

My car must have been made before they raised the speed limit so traveling at the speed limit doesn't net me the best gas mileage so I travel a bit under the speed limit. Here's a tip if your traveling on the freeway, slower traffic travels in the right lane, the left lane is reserved for faster traveling traffic, remember that and you'll be alright, you don't want to make another driver rage at you.

Clarky · Jan 10, 2014

Keep your eyes open scanning ahead, check your mirrors if you change lanes, stay alives, simples

BORTZ · Jan 10, 2014

WHEN you get speakers and such, take a look into audio books. They really really soak up time on the road. I first started by listening to the Dresden files. Really really help when you alone on the road.

the_randomizer · Jan 10, 2014

BortzANATOR said:
WHEN you get speakers and such, take a look into audio books. They really really soak up time on the road. I first started by listening to the Dresden files. Really really help when you alone on the road.

Just gotta get some more $$ first, then I can get some

(maybe I need to make another thread about car audio...)

Guild McCommunist · Jan 11, 2014

Well having all my friends get licenses around the same time they all talk about a general fear of the highway. Really, it's not all that scary.

Try to not leave during the rush hours (usually 9am or 5pm), often times it'll be rather vacant. I've been driving for over a year (so not too long but enough) and I've had to take the highway every day to school. Its become very second nature to me.

I'd suggest just keeping some tunes on or talking with whoever is in the car. If you're anxious then your conversation might be a bit distracting but eventually you'll feel very at ease with it.

I mean it all depends around your area, some places have horribly crowded highways and bad drivers, but for me at least and the highway I take, it's pretty quiet most of the time and even rush hour isn't hard to navigate.

the_randomizer · Jan 11, 2014

Guild McCommunist said:
Well having all my friends get licenses around the same time they all talk about a general fear of the highway. Really, it's not all that scary.

Try to not leave during the rush hours (usually 9am or 5pm), often times it'll be rather vacant. I've been driving for over a year (so not too long but enough) and I've had to take the highway every day to school. Its become very second nature to me.

I'd suggest just keeping some tunes on or talking with whoever is in the car. If you're anxious then your conversation might be a bit distracting but eventually you'll feel very at ease with it.

I mean it all depends around your area, some places have horribly crowded highways and bad drivers, but for me at least and the highway I take, it's pretty quiet most of the time and even rush hour isn't hard to navigate.

The highway I'm referring to isn't terribly crowded like the interstate, but it is windy and narrow at times, so early afternoon is the best time to travel, that, and during dry conditions, there are numerous accidents, but that is mostly due in part of stupid drivers who try to go too fast, which I've no plans on doing, luckily my destination is pretty straightforward, just gotta take it slow and steady is all

It's a 90-mile stretch, but pretty uneventful lol.

eosia · Jan 11, 2014

Driving alone is an amazing sensation, you feel so free and like if you were flying

the_randomizer · Jan 11, 2014

eosia said:
Driving alone is an amazing sensation, you feel so free and like if you were flying

Oh, I'll be driving with my mom and three friends so they'll be five of us, I do like alone time, but I do get monophobic from time to time

she's going to drive there and I'm going to be driving back

Where I'm going is going to be worth the drive, let's just say it has to do with quadrupedal puffballs

Veho · Jan 11, 2014

Highways don't freak me out (nearly) as much as town driving.
Seriously. It's just a straight stretch of road, the only danger with highways is boredom, and that one might feel the urge to hit the gas and go overboard with it because srsly, it's boring. Hours and hours of absolutely nothing. I'd sell my foot for cruise control.

Relax.

omgpwn666 · Jan 11, 2014

Chew some gum. It has been scientifically proven to lower anxiety.

Veho · Jan 11, 2014

omgpwn666 said:
Chew some gum. It has been scientifically proven to lower anxiety.

It also improves concentration.

omgpwn666 · Jan 11, 2014

Veho said:
It also improves concentration.

Yeah, gum helps a lot more than I ever thought it would. Lol

PityOnU · Jan 11, 2014

the_randomizer said:
This thread is silly, I know, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter

I've driven about a decent amount in the past few years, including a race to get from CA back to PA in two days so I was in time for Uni, so I have a couple of thoughts for you if you are concerned about freeway time.

1. - Stay in the correct lane. The great thing about freeway driving is that you can drive pretty much any speed you want to (slow or fast) and no one will get pissed at you as long as you are in the correct lane. I had an 8 hour stint at 55mph on my way back home from NY state in order to reduce fuel costs (my V8 only uses 4 cylinders during freeway driving at reasonable speeds), and even though the speed limit was 60mph not a single person rode my bumper or honked their horn at me the whole time because I was in the right-most lane. They all just went around. Did the whole trip on a single tank of fuel.

2. - Stay away from barriers. The worst things ever on the freeway are the 4ft. tall concrete barriers. Driving next to those at 55mph+ totally sucks, no matter how good/calm a driver you are. Move into a different lane to stay away from them.

3. - Don't be afraid to pull off to the side. Sometimes in really, REALLY heavy rain, it becomes almost impossible to see out of the windshield. Do not be afraid to pull over, put your hazard lights on, and wait it out. I have seen way too many people just refuse to stop and navigate using only the blurry lights from other cars at 55mph+. That's how horrible accidents happen.

4. - Log some hours in a driving sim with all the settings put at "realistic." This sounds really retarded, but it works. I recently started playing Gran Turismo 5, and from my time spent playing the game in first person view with all the assists turned off, it has definitely improved my driving. You learn how a car behaves in situations you don't usually come across in real life, so it helps you to anticipate in case the worst should happen. It also teaches good driving techniques in general (how to reliably take corners, the effect of hard braking on handling, etc.) I think a 2003 Honda Civic is actually available as a drivable car in GT5

Hope that helps!

the_randomizer · Jan 14, 2014

PityOnU said:
I've driven about a decent amount in the past few years, including a race to get from CA back to PA in two days so I was in time for Uni, so I have a couple of thoughts for you if you are concerned about freeway time.

1. - Stay in the correct lane. The great thing about freeway driving is that you can drive pretty much any speed you want to (slow or fast) and no one will get pissed at you as long as you are in the correct lane. I had an 8 hour stint at 55mph on my way back home from NY state in order to reduce fuel costs (my V8 only uses 4 cylinders during freeway driving at reasonable speeds), and even though the speed limit was 60mph not a single person rode my bumper or honked their horn at me the whole time because I was in the right-most lane. They all just went around. Did the whole trip on a single tank of fuel.

2. - Stay away from barriers. The worst things ever on the freeway are the 4ft. tall concrete barriers. Driving next to those at 55mph+ totally sucks, no matter how good/calm a driver you are. Move into a different lane to stay away from them.

3. - Don't be afraid to pull off to the side. Sometimes in really, REALLY heavy rain, it becomes almost impossible to see out of the windshield. Do not be afraid to pull over, put your hazard lights on, and wait it out. I have seen way too many people just refuse to stop and navigate using only the blurry lights from other cars at 55mph+. That's how horrible accidents happen.

4. - Log some hours in a driving sim with all the settings put at "realistic." This sounds really retarded, but it works. I recently started playing Gran Turismo 5, and from my time spent playing the game in first person view with all the assists turned off, it has definitely improved my driving. You learn how a car behaves in situations you don't usually come across in real life, so it helps you to anticipate in case the worst should happen. It also teaches good driving techniques in general (how to reliably take corners, the effect of hard braking on handling, etc.) I think a 2003 Honda Civic is actually available as a drivable car in GT5

Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone, while I didn't end up driving on that highway (someone else wanted to drive), I noted that it really wasn't that bad and the road is actually pretty dang safe, but I will drive on it next time I go

DinohScene · Jan 14, 2014

Good lad c:
Next time, I'll invite you to drive on the Autobahn with me c:
FULL SPEED!

Highway anxiety

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