Driving test nerves

I have been involved in my capacity as a driving instructor with preparing learner drivers for a driving test since 1983. I now help clients throughout the UK overcome driving test nerves, driving test problems and other driving test issues.

I've found that the techniques I use helps driving test candidates overcome test nerves and irrational fears. This service involves providing hypnotherapy specifically developed by Nervous Driver Nationwide and counselling to help clients overcome driving test nerves.

Issues not related to driving sometimes have a negative effect that results in driving problems. These issues include pressure from college due to impending exams, boyfriend or girlfriend troubles or work issues etc. All of these situations can distract learner drivers from demonstrating learned skills and result in failed tests.

These driving test problems tend to reduce in significance through the hypnotherapy element of the one day programme. A learner's confidence, attitude and skills often improve in direct correlation with each other following the course. This results in driving test nerves, driving test issues and driving test problems diminishing.

After the hypnotherapy and counselling, the client receives five hours test preparation driving in my dual controlled vehicle. I have found this combination of hypnotherapy and intensive driving lessons specifically related to the test produce significantly better results than either on its own.

Learners are encouraged to stay with their present instructor and sit the test when their instructor indicates they are ready. This one day course is advisable to clients who are almost at the point of giving up driving because of driving test nerves and/or failed driving tests.

A CD covering Driving Test Nerves will be released soon to reduce the cost of this service to driving test candidates. Watch this space.

Learners or young drivers

Learners, newly qualified and young drivers are on occasions so nervous that they resign themselves as being unable to drive through lack of experience and/or uncertainty about certain skills.

Clients in this category are often surprised by how quickly they can overcome their difficulty. New and young drivers who have recently passed their driving test respond very quickly to our one day course and rarely need any more than this.

Nervous learners who believe that they are unable to learn and are ready to give up can benefit from our one day course. Young people learning to drive have on occasions not perfected their assertiveness skills. Learning to drive should be interesting, challenging and fun. If you don't get along with your instructor, then consider a change.

The hypnotherapy element of our one day course frequently boosts the confidence of clients which results in improved driving performance. The five hours driving experience works specifically on the skills required to be a safe newly qualified driver. These are the same skills the examiner will be watching out for if you are a learner and about to take a driving test.

It is inadvisable to sit a test before you are well prepared and you can easily pass a mock test. If you are young and the money for driving lessons is an issue, you can't afford a car yet.

Driving instructors presenting clients for test before they are ready soon have their reputations ruined; a courteous learner will consider their position and only request a test when they can demonstrate they are ready.

Nervous/anxious drivers

Nervous or anxious drivers represent the largest group of clients who benefit from our service. Problems can develop through not driving regularly, uncertainty about certain skills or a generally nervous disposition amongst other reasons.

All of these issues and more are addressed on the course. These issues often result in the client's driving ability diminishing as well as their confidence.

I find that these clients respond well to our service as they have been confident and competent drivers in the past. Some would disagree with this statement but if a client has previously passed a driving test, the ability is present though it may be dormant.

Clients in this category frequently benefit on a personal level as well as with their driving as they regain a level of independence previously lost. The hypnotherapy session restores confidence and interest and the driving section restores ability.

The main thing any client needs is the desire to drive and the commitment to try.

Older and elderly drivers

Older and elderly drivers often feel overwhelmed by high volumes of traffic and faster speeds. Our service seeks to build confidence and restore the maximum level of ability the client is capable of.

Older and elderly drivers eventually will be safer not to drive as in very old age, reactions and perception slows down causing difficulties. However, older and elderly drivers can achieve a delay in the onset of the inevitable with restored confidence and the driver training skills provided by our service.

Older and elderly drivers who need help range from clients with a few (often rational) fears to a full scale phobia (irrational fears) and the time taken to resolve their issues will vary. I have not worked with a client yet who has not gained some benefit from our service.

Insurance premiums reflect the claims risk of particular groups of car policyholders. Insurance cover for older or elderly drivers are amongst the cheapest rates available for anyone. This may reasure drivers in the older or elderly category that they are considered less of a risk than most of the rest of the population.

The main thing any client needs is the desire to drive and the commitment to try.

Angry drivers

Drivers suffering from any form of road rage including shouting or swearing at other road users and drivers who become emotionally agitated while driving but repress the emotion can benefit from our course.

Anger or any other emotion is counter productive while driving. Angry drivers whilst being very involved with what everyone else is doing are unable to focus the correct amount of attention upon what they are doing and are more likely to make mistakes.

When angry drivers make mistakes they frequently blame others and that makes them more angry ad-infinitum. This downward spiral of emotion intimidates other drivers which can make other drivers more likely to make mistakes.

This problem can lead to poor driving, miserable passengers, and frustrated other road users amongst other things. I believe that angry drivers may resist enrolling for training but if you have one in the family you may be contributing to saving their life (and yours) if you encourage them to consider it.

Accidents, illness & ptsd

Drivers who have experienced accidents or illness (physical or psychological) and need to recover their driving skills can benefit from our service.

Obviously when a driver experiences an accident or illness and is incapacitated, their driving ability may diminish. This may be due to the possibility that they are unable to drive while their injuries or illness heals. However, sometimes drivers associate the pain and suffering caused by their injuries or illness with driving and this can also lead to driving problems.

If a driver is involved in an accident and returns to driving as soon as possible, the likelihood of problems occurring is reduced. It is as though the fear of driving creates the inability to drive. Also, illness can leave a driver lacking confidence with social and mobility issues. These issues are frequently resolved through the use of our driving recovery course.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a recognised illness that sometimes follows a trauma (including traffic accidents) and renders sufferers less able or unable to drive. The symptoms include being unable to face situations that remind them of the trauma and frequently becoming upset for little or no apparent reason.

The hypnotherapy element of our course alongside patient driving tuition is designed to help sufferers recover their former driving ability and live a more normal life.