Help with Driving Test Nerves

Article by Paul and Denise Douglass

For many people, the anticipation of the driving test can be just as bad as the test itself. Thoughts of what might happen, or what might go wrong, just bring anxiety and stress. 

This stress builds and builds, and as the time of the test draws ever closer, the anxiety builds to such an extent, that the learner driver feels that all their newly-learned skills will be sure to abandon them, and just at the moment they know they'll need them the most.

They 'know' that they can drive perfectly well at any other time, but feel and sometimes find, that their skills desert them just as soon as the examiner gets in the car!

The stresses and strains that a driving test can bring, can be especially frustrating to the normally competent student. 

Issues associated with driving test nerves

• Feelings of anxiousness in the time leading up to the test
• Butterflies in the tummy, feeling sick, and a dry mouth
  
• Trembling hands trying to sign the forms
  
• A blank mind during the written test
  
• Worry over the inability to take the examiner's instructions correctly
  
• The extra pressure of friends and family waiting for your call to see if you've passed
  
• All your friends stories about how they 'passed first time!'

All these things can bring untold pressure on the student. And of course, if someone does fail a driving test, this can add even more pressure for a future test. and so on, and so on. it's almost self-perpetuating!

Lack of confidence in the driving test

Many of the feelings that people with a fear of the driving test face, are to do with their lack of confidence in a test situation, as well as a basic fear of losing control while they are 'on-the-spot' and being judged.

Of course, for some people the fears they experience prevent them from even sitting the test in the first place. 

They put it off, and put it off - and so completely avoid the issue.On the other hand, for some the fear of driving simply doesn't end after the test has been passed. 

For these people, another page devoted entirely to the fear of driving has been created.

How to overcome driving test nerves

The one thing we'd like to say right from the start, is don't worry, you CAN overcome driving test nerves when you know how.

This problem is, of course, is all about the fear that people may be judging you negatively, which is usually more of an assumption that you're making rather than being a fact, so if you can use some simple techniques to change those assumptions, then you're well on your way to overcoming it.

All you need to do, is use the right techniques.

What we've found over the years, is that there are a few simple techniques that you can use to overcome driving test nerves.

Sometimes, people who have driving test nerves can often feel quite out of control and negative about things, because it can sometimes feel like they're stuck with it, and there's nothing that can be done about it (which of course there is!).

So the first thing to understand if you're looking to get over your driving test nerves, is that that there IS something that can be done, and even that in itself can help you feel a bit more in control right from the start.

So, as we say, don't worry... we've found over the years, that there are a few simple techniques that you can use to overcome driving test nerves... you CAN overcome driving test nerves when you know how... it just might be that you need someone to show you how!

Next: What techniques can you use to overcome driving test nerves?

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