At one point or another, you’ve most likely taken part in a long trip. According to the United States Department of Transportation, in 2001 between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend, 657 million long distance trips were made.
Whether it be by vehicle, train, or plane, making a long distance trip has become a way of life.
What if the idea of travelling for an extended period of time terrifies you though?
An estimated 10% of the US population has a phobia of some sort and that number is steadily growing as we research phobias and find out more about them.
People with a driving phobia or fear of driving, may experience sweating, trembling, loss of sense of reality, accelerated pulse, and thoughts of losing control while driving, even in situations that are reasonably safe. This fear will cause many to avoid driving at all cost, create excuses to not drive, or even refuse to get a driver’s license for years.
What Causes Fear of Driving?
Currently, there are three major known causes of driving phobia.
Past Events
The first and most common cause is past traumatic experience while driving. These events cause PTSD driving phobia, where the fear develops in response to a traumatic event. Besides a previous crash, other things like a road rage attack, getting lost, and driving through a bad storm can elicit the same response.
Driving & The Fear of Fatality
The second most common form is driving in general. Because there is some danger involved in driving and the possibility of a collision, fear exists in many rational people. It is not that uncommon for new drivers to have driving anxiety as they first learn to drive, especially for teenagers who may be influenced by their parents or guardians.
Agoraphobia
The least common category is an extension of agoraphobia, or the anxiety of having a panic attack while being in large crowds. One manifestation of agoraphobia is the inability to travel long distances away from home.
Could you advance in life at all if at every chance of a 284 mile drive (Which is the average one way vacation length in America currently) you, instead chose to cower in a corner like a frightened puppy?
How would someone get over that fear and get on with living?
If you are one of these people, hopefully by the end of this article and by utilizing these tips, your phobia will be resolved.
16 Tips for Overcoming Your Fear of Driving Long Distances
Tip #1 – Play Music
Studies have shown that classical music can help you concentrate, however studies have also shown that music can influence how you drive. Heavy Metal and Pop music are known to increase the speed of the driver while too relaxing a melody will have you nodding off at the wheel.
The optimum tempo for songs you listen to during a long trip should be around the same as a human heartbeat, that is to say around 60-100 BPM or “beats per minute”. Choose uplifting songs as well that make you feel happy and don’t be afraid to sing along!
Some examples of great driving music are Young The Giant and Mumford & Sons.
Tip #2 – Chew Gum
Chewing gum has been proven to help you stay focused longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring.
It’s also been shown to increase visual memory and can help you remember certain routes so you don’t get lost so easily.
On top of all that, the constant task of chewing keeps you awake so you don’t have anxiety about falling asleep at the wheel.
While you’re at it, pick a natural gum that will assist in keeping your teeth nice and shiny white like Simply Gum. Simply Gum is an all natural, Vegan, non-GMO chewing gum made with real ingredients that are actually good for you. Its also biodegradable which means its not only better for your body than traditional chewing gum, its better for the planet as well.
Tip #3 – Stop For Food
Give your brain and body some fuel and rest if you’ve been on the road for at least a couple of hours and stop for some grub.
Be sure to eat foods that are good for your energy levels if you can. Basically any leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables you can find will do the trick.
One thing you want to stay away from are heavy carbs as they can cause drowsiness and the last thing you want to be is sleepy when you still have 8+ hours of driving ahead of you.
Tip #4 – Set How Many Hours You Will Drive
Your body and mind can only handle so much and after it’s hit that limit, it will begin to perform poorly.
Don’t try to break a guinness world record by making your entire long trip in one go, set a reasonable limit for hours spent driving, allow time for breaks, and stick to it.
I know it’s easy to think of yourself as some sort of cross-country nascar driver, but cut yourself some slack and enjoy the trip for what it is. You’ll thank me later.
Tip #5 – Truck Stops
Truck stops like Flying J’s are excellent for quite a few things. They have food, gas, showers, and electronics you might need like phone chargers. If you know how to tell if your car fuse is blown, they will even have replacement fuses for you as well.
These stations also usually have local curiosities and souvenirs that will keep you staying there longer, which will help your body and mind rest up for the long trip ahead.
Tip #6 – Stretch
While you’re hanging out at the truck or food stop, don’t forget to stretch those legs! Long hours in a sitting position can be rough on the body. To avoid arriving at your destination in desperate need of some physical therapy, take ten minutes and stretch your entire body, and not just when it’s sore. This will keep you nice and loose and help you focus more on the road instead of your lower back pain.
Tip #7 – Listen To An Audiobook
Amazon has an excellent service called Audible that you can use to pick out a book and listen to it. Engaging yourself in a story can be both entertaining as you watch a movie play out in your mind as well as keep you distracted from long trip anxiety.
Tip #8 – Pick A Place To Crash
If you know your long trip if going to take more than 8 hours to complete, you might want to consider reserving a hotel to sleep for the night. Pushing yourself beyond your limits while driving isn’t smart and you’re an intelligent person so why would you?
Tip #9 – Get AAA
Whether you’re taking a route through the Tennessee mountains or travelling along the coast of California, you’ll feel better having the assurance that if something goes wrong, someone can help you. You can place your time and energy elsewhere when you know that you won’t have to frantically search for a towing company or a locksmith if something goes south.
Tip #10 – Set Your GPS
There are over 3000 deaths a day related to driving, of these roughly 9 of them are attributed to distracted driving. Don’t be a statistic! Set your location in your phone before you drive and make sure you have a hands free stand to place your phone on like this one on Amazon. It has a super strong suction cup to help keep it locked in place and its Easy One Touch mechanism allows you to quickly and easily mount and remove your smartphone effortlessly. This is a must have item for any long distance driver.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to use your phone during the trip, just make sure you pull over first.
Tip #11 – Pack Snacks
Although gum is great for keeping you awake, it won’t keep you full, and if you don’t have the time to stop at a restaurant, packing some snacks to munch on might be a good idea.
Make sure you grab healthy snacks like jerky, nuts, and granola bars to keep your mind and body happy and properly functioning.
A great way to carry a variety of snacks with you is with a portable snack container like this one on Amazon. This super convenient container makes it incredibly easy to pack multiple snacks for all of your on the go adventures. It comes in multiple colors, has a removable carry handle, and is dishwasher safe. And because each container locks into the one below it, you’ll never have to worry about losing your favorite snack along the way.
Tip #12 – Wear Comfortable Clothes
While making along trip, the last thing you’ll probably think about is how comfortable you are while sitting there for an extended period of time. Clothing that is loose fitting and shoes that won’t get caught on the gas pedal are ideal.
This doesn’t mean you have to wear pajamas and slippers but make sure you steer clear of things like tight fitting jeans and flip flops.
If you’re driving in hot weather consider shorts and a loose fitting t-shirt. Likewise, if it’s snowing where you’re going, make sure you bundle up and keep warm, but do it in layers so you can easily remove excess clothing if it begins to get too hot again. Shivering while going down the interstate can’t be very safe.
Tip #13 – Get Your Vehicle Inspected
Before you do any of the other steps on this list, do this one. Make sure your tires have plenty of air and tread, your lights are all in proper working order, and all of your fluids are topped off.
The last thing you want is a tire blowout or a failing engine because you forgot to take care of your vehicle before your long trip.
Tip #14 – Exposure Therapy/ Driving Coach
With freeways, the primary fear is becoming trapped with no way out and nobody there to offer assistance. This is another form of Agoraphobia.
Exposure therapy means exactly what it sounds like. A therapist will gradually help you increase your exposure time behind the wheel and over time, you’ll find that you won’t, in fact, lose control or become trapped with no way out.
You can also hire an experienced driving instructor to help you practice the safest driving habits.
Tip #15 – Take a Defensive Driving Course
There are many books, DVDs, and online courses that teach defensive driving to improve your driving skills. Contact your local DMV for suggestions about finding the right driving course for you.
Tip #16 – Consider Trying CBD
CBD or Cannabidiol is relatively new on the market, but it’s widespread effects are incredible. Research suggests that CBD helps with anxiety, depression, acne and heart disease.
Taking a CBD gummy every few hours will calm you down and help with a fear of driving long distance. Be careful with this though, too much of a dose can make you sleepy so build your tolerance by starting with a small amount.
In Conclusion
Whether having to make a long trip for business, pleasure, or otherwise; for some people it can be both an exhausting and terrifying experience.
If your nervous about driving long distance and you put these tips into practice however, they will help ensure that you arrive to your point of interest safe, happy, and healthy. Stay safe, and thanks for reading!