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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 01:42 
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The Sunday Morning Herald - Australia - The secret strife of white-knuckle drivers Here
NICK GALVIN wrote:
The secret strife of white-knuckle drivers by NICK GALVIN December 26, 2009

Road risk ... some fear is good for safe driving but too much is dangerous.

More motorists than you might imagine are terrified of getting behind the wheel — but help is at hand.
You probably think just about everyone drives. Sure, there are those who are too old, too young or too infirm to get behind the wheel but driving is such a vital skill that surely anyone who is fit to drive takes up that opportunity.
The truth is, for some people even thinking of a short car trip is enough to summon feelings of dread.
These people are car phobics and far from being a rare curiosity, there's a very good chance someone in your immediate social group is suffering from some form of the condition.
The good news is there are treatment options for getting phobics back on the road.
Driving phobias come in many forms and degrees. Some sufferers may only drive locally along familiar roads, while others might be petrified of driving across bridges. In the most severe cases, they may be so paralysed by fear they stop driving completely. Then there are even more exotic phobias that play on people's minds, such as a morbid dread of crashing or being splashed by the acid from the car's battery.

Parking is a particular concern for many people, says Tania Emmitt-Clarke, who specialises in helping driving phobics through her business, Fear of Driving.
Emmitt-Clarke says one woman who came to her had managed to hide her parking phobia for years.
"She kept making this excuse that the car was too big so her husband went out to buy her a nice, sporty, new little car," she says. "She came to me and said that she had to be able to park now. She was easily helped with some targeted driving lessons. Afterwards, she came in and said that the kids were so excited to see their mum parking between two cars - they had never seen it before!"

Emmitt-Clarke says she established the business after realising how widespread the problem was.
"I did a bit of a survey asking everybody I bumped into what they knew about this and everyone could name at least one person in their social group," she says.

Emmitt-Clarke believes a sense of shame leads many sufferers to hide their problem.
"I discovered that it is a far larger social problem than you might think because all these people are very secretive," she says. "It covers all age groups and both genders."
Although there are no official figures kept, Emmitt-Clarke is compiling her own statistics. One of her key findings is that the vast majority of people - 95 per cent - keep their problem hidden because others depend on them to provide transport or because their job depends on them being able to drive.
Surprisingly, it is common for sufferers to be very successful in other aspects of their lives. "The people who come to me for assistance tend to be very high achievers," Emmitt-Clarke says. "They are the ones who are sitting back and saying there is the potential for an accident to occur."
There are several possible causes of driving phobias. The most obvious is having been involved in an accident as either a driver or passenger, or as a pedestrian.
"People who have post-traumatic stress disorder from a traffic accident of course have a very understandable fear of driving," the director of the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University, Professor Ron Rapee, says.
Surprisingly, Rapee notes, it is often the passenger who is more mentally scarred after an accident.
"The passenger is often far more traumatised than the driver because the driver has a sense of control," he says. "Even though they are both in the same accident, the driver is trying to do something about it while the passenger is just sitting there and can't do anything.

"That sense of helplessness and loss of control is a major predictor of how much psychological damage you experience."
But it's not just being in an accident that can leave people fearful of driving. It may be they are already suffering from a condition called generalised anxiety disorder, in which they worry constantly about everything in their lives. A small incident while driving can be enough to tip these people into being driving phobics.
Others can have difficulty with driving because they have been scared in the past by the aggressive driving of someone else - often a family member.
"When a partner says: 'Would you slow down or back off,' the confident driver says: 'No, I'm an excellent driver' and doesn't alter their behaviour," Emmitt-Clarke notes. "So it becomes a frightening experience that is repeated over and over."

One woman, she recalls, was so traumatised by her husband's aggressive driving that she actually took to riding in the back seat and consequently lost all confidence in her own driving.
A clinical consultant psychologist, Grant Brecht, has treated many patients with phobias about driving. It's not unusual, he says, for sufferers to enter a destructive cycle of fearing that the symptoms of their fear will occur while driving.

"The fear of the symptoms is as bad as the fear itself," he says. "They will get really worried that they are going to faint, pass out or make a fool of themselves or have a crash because they will start to hyperventilate or get panicky or whatever."
Experts point out, however, that a little fear is important in encouraging prudent driving. Graphic road-safety advertising is aimed at shocking drivers by showing the consequences of risky driving.
"For most people, when they start out driving, there is a small degree of fear," Rapee says. "Some people have too little of this, though, and they are the ones who take crazy risks on the roads. It is very much a continuum."
Brecht agrees that a sense of danger is vital for normal drivers. "But it's when that level of anxiety gets too high, such that your concentration goes and your co-ordination and timing goes, that you become a danger on the road."
The good news for anyone with a driving phobia is there are techniques to help overcome the problem that are successful for most people.
Typically, the treatment is the same as for other phobias and involves a process of desensitisation.
To start with, patients are asked to imagine whatever it is they need to do in their car. As their anxiety level rises, they are shown relaxation techniques to combat the fear.
After that, it is time to put the lessons to use behind the wheel.
"You take them out in the actual situation and get them to practise relaxation responses as they are actually doing the action that would once have brought them a great deal of anxiety and fear," Brecht says.
Emmitt-Clarke says that in her group sessions, tears are not unusual from clients who are relieved to be able to share their secret problem.
One technique she uses successfully is to refresh clients' knowledge of road rules so they can be assured they are driving properly - even if the people around them aren't.
"Very much what I am doing is saying: 'It's OK to be doing the right thing. You don't need to be intimidated by other road users."'

Fear factors
It's likely someone you know suffers from some form of automotive phobia.
The focus of the phobia and the severity can vary widely. Some sufferers feel unable to enter a vehicle and drive. Others can't drive on bridges or highways without experiencing symptoms of severe anxiety. Others fear a specific accident occurring.
Treatment is available and usually involves desensitising phobics to situations they find uncomfortable.

Trouble getting over it

Wendy Turner wasn't consciously aware that she had a problem driving across bridges until the day she was returning from a holiday with a girlfriend.
"Apparently, we were talking away and then I'd start going over a bridge," she says. "Mid-sentence I'd stop talking — and breathing — until we got to the end of the bridge and then I'd take up where I'd left off."
Now, Turner says, she will drive an hour out of her way just to avoid going over a major bridge.
A confident driver in other respects who has "driven all over the world" since getting her licence at 18, she has no idea why the problem developed.
"I've tried to work out why but I don't know," she says. "It's not like I was pushed off a bridge when I was little or anything like that. And heights are generally not a big deal. I get on planes like people get on buses.
"I don't know what it is that scares me. Maybe it's because if you are pushed off the side you've got nowhere to go."
In cases where she can't avoid a bridge, she relies on her own techniques to cope. "If I know I've got to go over a bridge I have to concentrate on my breathing," she says. "I'll shut everything out and concentrate on remembering to breathe and on the fact that it is only a little part of a big journey."
Source: The Age
Before some motorists can improve a greater understanding and research is required.
When those that are too scared to ask for help resort to hiding or not tackling their fears this is not good for their road use or for others around them.
I wonder what the percentage of road users this effects ? & how long it might last ?
If it is not being researched or 'treated' then the figures are unknown.
Having faith in the driver / rider who is in control to drive / ride well is a huge trust from the passenger and a huge responsibility to the driver / rider.

Are some just under-confident, an then it develops? - Does it start with under-confidence & / or trauma ?

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:04 
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The Sydney Morning Herald (AKA Pravda on the Harbour) is my daily newspaper and this is a reprint of an article in the motoring supplement earlier this year. (The Age is the Melbourne sister paper).
Drivers who have a phobia tend to make much noise about restrictions that they think should be introduced or stringently enforced to cover up for their problems/inabilities.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:17 
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Quote:
Drivers who have a phobia tend to make much noise about restrictions that they think should be introduced or stringently enforced to cover up for their problems/inabilities.


This seems to be the case in GB. Speeds are getting slower to accomocate the inept who have difficulty travelling at over 40MPH anywhere.....so guess what 90% of non rural and non built up roads are now limited to .......

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 14:19 
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MFL wrote:
Drivers who have a phobia tend to make much noise about restrictions that they think should be introduced or stringently enforced to cover up for their problems/inabilities.

You might be right, but I'm not convinced.

In many area of life I see people judging others by their own standards, which is of course wrong simply because we are all different.
Perhaps this is more a case of "That would be scary for me, so it follows that you must be a nutcase if you want to do it, therefore you must be prevented".
The misinformation spread by the SCPs "speed kills" camp reinforces such phobias.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 19:06 
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Steve wrote:
In many area of life I see people judging others by their own standards, which is of course wrong simply because we are all different.
Perhaps this is more a case of "That would be scary for me, so it follows that you must be a nutcase if you want to do it, therefore you must be prevented".


But, curiously, only in selective areas. No one would criticise a rock-climber for ascending an E5 or a skier for descending a black run just becauset they aren't capable of emulating the fear. But every body who has been the wheel of a car appears to be an instant expert on safe driving.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 19:34 
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Perhaps everyones perception of whats dangerous comes from the media. We have it hammered home that "speeding kills" so virtually everyone , driver or not, seems to think that anyone going at a speed thay they consider " too fast" is a potential killer.

Rock climbing, skiing and quite a lot more sports are dangerous to the point of claiming lives but because the fact isn't hammered home, so much, to people not participating in these activities, it is not their concern although some people think that all levels of skiing are dangerous, due to stories that they have heard from third parties. I wonder if when the "horseless carriage" was first invented whether the paranioa of "speed killing" was so prolific?

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 21:19 
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graball wrote:
Perhaps everyones perception of whats dangerous comes from the media. We have it hammered home that "speeding kills" so virtually everyone , driver or not, seems to think that anyone going at a speed thay they consider " too fast" is a potential killer.

Rock climbing, skiing and quite a lot more sports are dangerous to the point of claiming lives but because the fact isn't hammered home, so much, to people not participating in these activities, it is not their concern although some people think that all levels of skiing are dangerous, due to stories that they have heard from third parties. I wonder if when the "horseless carriage" was first invented whether the paranioa of "speed killing" was so prolific?


Was it said of rail travel or road -?? ,that speeds above 20 were deadly and that man was made to travel at this speed . :D :D
We seem to be seeing tha same old arguements thrown up , in favour of slowing road traffic down .([ MAN IN PUB SELLING DODGY GEAR] PSST-got a load of old Red flags going cheap -ideal for going out in car -give one to the wife [/ MAN IN PUB SELLING DODGY GEAR]

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 21:40 
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dcbwhaley wrote:
But, curiously, only in selective areas. No one would criticise a rock-climber for ascending an E5 or a skier for descending a black run just becauset they aren't capable of emulating the fear.

With good reason too (whatever "emulating the fear" meant).

Activities such as E5-climbing or black-runs are specifically designed to challenge those with high abilities.
Those 'less capable' won't want to try them (if they value their lives) and likely wouldn't be allowed anyway, hence they won't ever use them or interact with others within them (unless they reach that level of ability).

This is different on say motorways where travel on them is at the least strongly desired, and must interact with others of differing abilities.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 22:24 
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Or put another way, everyone learns at their own pace and we all set up our own boundaries. Understanding another persons boundaries which maybe very different to our own seems to have to be pointed out or learned, by most. Once there is comprehension that each and every person will have a different set of abilities and skills that can be greater and less than their own in every aspect of driving / riding, then a greater awareness of all issues can be attained.
Although basic abilities remain similar it is how we grow and develop beyond this that makes drivers & riders different.
We have to try and ensure that those basic skills acquired will provide a default safe driving / riding style and ability.

When some motorists become uncertain, or lack the skills or knowledge to deal with a situation I would think that this is when some fears or initial concerns are born. if these issues remain to fester and grow then I am unsurprised that this have all sorts of effects on that person and those around them.
Safe Speed would like to see (as our Manifesto stipulates) a motorists online help / phone-line type system/s put in place to help provide guidance and assistance to those that have experienced a bad or difficult situation and require some help. Obviously if further professional help is required then this type of solution is excellent and helps road safety.

I see 'emulating the fear' to mean having no empathy with another person nor understand why they may derive pleasure from those experiences that they (might) themselves just see as too scary to consider ever being a willing participant.

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PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 20:10 
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SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
Although basic abilities remain similar it is how we grow and develop beyond this that makes drivers & riders different.
We have to try and ensure that those basic skills acquired will provide a default safe driving / riding style and ability.
If driving to the regulations without question or thought is one of the most basic driving skills, it may provide a default safe driving style, but it chokes certain abilities, specifically empathy and understanding for others, which makes for more tension on the roads.

One of the basic social road skills that should be emphasized is empathy for different driving styles, specifically when 'shortcomings' are perceived.

Since no two learner drivers will have the same strengths and/or weaknesses, the techniques that the instructor uses to address a student's weaknesses should also be used by the learner to examine other drivers' perceived errors and weaknesses. As the student becomes a better observer of other drivers, they will also improve their own driving skills - especially if they are taught not to impatiently prejudge the apparent shortcomings of the driver in front of them, which is easier when their instructor tends to show them the same patience and thoughtful consideration.

If more drivers suffering from road anxieties were given extra time to thoughtfully sort through their concerns, their driving would not only improve, but by not bringing anxiety to the driving environment, other drivers could also relax.

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2) Nothing gets hit, except to protect others; see Rule#1
3) The Laws of Physics are invincible and immutable - so-called 'laws' of men are not
4) You are always immediately and ultimately responsible for your safety first, then proximately responsible for everyone's
Do not let other road users' mistakes become yours, nor yours become others
5) The rest, including laws of the land, is thoughtful observation, prescience, etiquette, decorum, and cooperation


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 20:20 
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SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
When some motorists become uncertain, or lack the skills or knowledge to deal with a situation I would think that this is when some fears or initial concerns are born. if these issues remain to fester and grow then I am unsurprised that this have all sorts of effects on that person and those around them.
Thorough driver education, training, and testing would reduce the likelihood of such anxieties taking root, since that driver would be better equipped to apply additional thinking skills to more situations, thus less likely to focus on vivid, distracting emotional states that often metastasize when one is at a loss for how to deal with a situation.
Quote:
Safe Speed would like to see (as our Manifesto stipulates) a motorists online help / phone-line type system/s put in place to help provide guidance and assistance to those that have experienced a bad or difficult situation and require some help. Obviously if further professional help is required then this type of solution is excellent and helps road safety.
This is an incredibly novel idea. I strongly suspect that this would have greater long term benefits to road safety, both statistically and intangibly, than most of today's newer 'intelligent driver aids'.

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The Rules for ALL ROAD USERS:
1) No one gets hurt
2) Nothing gets hit, except to protect others; see Rule#1
3) The Laws of Physics are invincible and immutable - so-called 'laws' of men are not
4) You are always immediately and ultimately responsible for your safety first, then proximately responsible for everyone's
Do not let other road users' mistakes become yours, nor yours become others
5) The rest, including laws of the land, is thoughtful observation, prescience, etiquette, decorum, and cooperation


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:30 
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graball wrote:
Perhaps everyones perception of whats dangerous comes from the media. We have it hammered home that "speeding kills" so virtually everyone , driver or not, seems to think that anyone going at a speed thay they consider " too fast" is a potential killer.
It’s difficult for any driver to state they are a good driver without looking arrogant. But if you have a long safe driving history without even so much as a near miss then you must be doing something right.

This is why it is completely absurd for a speed camera, or operator, to suggest that my speed is going to kill when I have some 30+ years of evidence which proves that is simply not the case.

Telling me my speed is going to kill someone is like saying “we know you are a thief; we just haven’t caught you yet”. To which I say, how about judging me on my record before you start making wild accusations…

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.


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 Post subject: Trick questions ...
PostPosted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 04:06 
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Big Tone wrote:
It’s difficult for any driver to state they are a good driver without looking arrogant. But if you have a long safe driving history without even so much as a near miss then you must be doing something right.
Two people can have the same number of licensed years, and the same number of accidents, but if one covers 1,350 miles a year, and the other, 135,000 miles per, who is the better driver?
Quote:
This is why it is completely absurd for a speed camera, or operator, to suggest that my speed is going to kill when I have some 30+ years of evidence which proves that is simply not the case.
Jumping ahead quite a bit, how much higher would taxes be if posted speed 'limits' were set so that, at most, only 5% of the population could be detected exceeding them?
Part of the reason this kind of thing seems to gain momentum, is excessive population densities. With enough people, you probably have enough 'black sheep' who safely exceed posted speed 'limits', and enough 'bleating sheep' who do whatever the 'law' tells them to do, while railing against those who can drive safely without proxies like posted speed 'limits'.
Quote:
Telling me my speed is going to kill someone is like saying “we know you are a thief; we just haven’t caught you yet”. To which I say, how about judging me on my record before you start making wild accusations…
There's more money in it when everyone regularly violates the 'law'.
Another example ...
Which is worse:
a taxi driver who ruins a pair of bumpers once a year, every year @ 50,000 miles per, for twenty years, but never hurts anyone, or
the parent who drives 10,000 miles per annum and totaled two brand new minivans in five years and broke her shins both times?

The big reason why it sounds arrogant to boast of one's driving prowess is because there is no real measurement system available to most civilian drivers. I hold great respect for those who have additional license credentials, and I also know some people who think such credentials are meaningless.
If there is such a measurement system, it only holds water when an insurance company starts crunching the numbers, and they, just like the 'law', wield it pessimistically (only recently do some insurers offer things like 'accident forgiveness' and 'shrinking deductibles' for lucky/good drivers).

I measure good drivers by their ability to follow the five rules below ...

_________________
The Rules for ALL ROAD USERS:
1) No one gets hurt
2) Nothing gets hit, except to protect others; see Rule#1
3) The Laws of Physics are invincible and immutable - so-called 'laws' of men are not
4) You are always immediately and ultimately responsible for your safety first, then proximately responsible for everyone's
Do not let other road users' mistakes become yours, nor yours become others
5) The rest, including laws of the land, is thoughtful observation, prescience, etiquette, decorum, and cooperation


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