This article consists of an interview with Approved Driving Instructor Colin Baker and clinical psychologist Dr Joshua Baker, a father and son team who specialise in treating UK drivers with a phobia about driving. Phobic drivers are those whose anxiety in a car is such that it results in them restricting the circumstances in which they drive or not driving at all. The importance of placing the risk in context is outlined. The increase of people with specific driving anxieties is a modern problem and little research has been conducted on the subject. Worried drivers display a wide range of symptoms. Fears of driving on motorways or dual carriageways, of driving above a certain speed or of overtaking are common. Causes are often not the result of a car-based trauma. Treatment is tailored to the individual and consists of an assessment session, relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, guided imagery and practical driving sessions.
Abstract