Feature Article
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid!
This issue's inquisitive reader writes:
Dear Doctor:
I’m a nervous wreck and hope that you’ll be able to help me. You see, I’m almost petrified to drive my car anymore. Is there a name for this condition and what do you think is causing it?
Ima Fraid
Fridley, MN
The Doctor’s diagnosis:
Dear Ms. Fraid:
Although it lacks an official name, the fear of driving is incredibly common and may be mild or severe. Some people fear only specific driving situations, such as driving in storms or on freeways, while others are afraid of simply sitting behind the wheel.
A simple driving phobia may be caused by different factors, but a common one is from being in a previous bad experience. If you have been in a car accident, you may be at elevated risk for developing a fear of driving. Other potential triggers include driving through a major storm, getting lost, being pulled over or driving in unusually heavy traffic. The negative situation need not have happened to you either. Witnessing a particularly bad crash in person or on television, or knowing someone who went through one, could be enough to trigger this fear.
Those who suffer from dystychiphobia, or the fear of accidents, try to avoid situations that increase the risk of physical danger. In addition, a more general risk aversion may also heighten the fear. As an inherently risky activity, driving has the potential to trigger risk-based phobias.
Being The Highway Doctor, I have to give you the unfortunate news that your fear of accidents may not be all in your head. You see, more and more drivers are causing more crashes than before. The primary reason: distracted driving. A primary cause: cell phones.
The catastrophic consequences of distracted driving grow higher each year. Consider the following:
To combat the epidemic, states across the country have implemented laws targeting distracted driving habits. It is important to remember that even if states do not have laws directly related to distracted driving, the act of driving distracted leads to driving behavior that is illegal, such as reckless driving and other traffic violations.
I see that you are from Minnesota. This past legislative session, the legislature passed and the governor signed a “hands free” law making it illegal to hold your phone in your hand. The new law allows a driver to use their cell phone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only by voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone. Also, a driver may not use their phone at any time for video calling, video live-streaming, Snapchat, gaming, looking at video or photos stored on the phone, using non-navigation apps, reading texts and scrolling or typing on the phone.
Will this make the roads safer? Yes, in two ways. In 12 of 15 states with hands-free laws, traffic fatalities have decreased by an average of 15 percent. This law will also help law enforcement keep Minnesotans safe. Because drivers aren't allowed to have a phone in their hand, it will be easier for law enforcement to see violations and take more effective action. But remember, hands-free is not necessarily distraction-free.
I was very happy to see my friends at the Anoka County Transportation Division spreading this message at their County Fair last month with a very witty T-Shirt slogan:
“Keep your eyes on the road…
…and get your head out of your apps!”
I think that says it all!
To good health on the highways,
The Highway Doctor
Dear Doctor:
I’m a nervous wreck and hope that you’ll be able to help me. You see, I’m almost petrified to drive my car anymore. Is there a name for this condition and what do you think is causing it?
Ima Fraid
Fridley, MN
The Doctor’s diagnosis:
Dear Ms. Fraid:
Although it lacks an official name, the fear of driving is incredibly common and may be mild or severe. Some people fear only specific driving situations, such as driving in storms or on freeways, while others are afraid of simply sitting behind the wheel.
A simple driving phobia may be caused by different factors, but a common one is from being in a previous bad experience. If you have been in a car accident, you may be at elevated risk for developing a fear of driving. Other potential triggers include driving through a major storm, getting lost, being pulled over or driving in unusually heavy traffic. The negative situation need not have happened to you either. Witnessing a particularly bad crash in person or on television, or knowing someone who went through one, could be enough to trigger this fear.
Those who suffer from dystychiphobia, or the fear of accidents, try to avoid situations that increase the risk of physical danger. In addition, a more general risk aversion may also heighten the fear. As an inherently risky activity, driving has the potential to trigger risk-based phobias.
Being The Highway Doctor, I have to give you the unfortunate news that your fear of accidents may not be all in your head. You see, more and more drivers are causing more crashes than before. The primary reason: distracted driving. A primary cause: cell phones.
The catastrophic consequences of distracted driving grow higher each year. Consider the following:
- 9 people die every day in the United States from driving distracted.
- 11% of car accidents leading to fatalities are related to distracted driving.
- When texting, your eyes are off the road for 5 seconds. That's the length of a football field when driving at 55 MPH.
- You are 3 times more likely to crash when performing a visual or manual activity—such as reaching for a phone.
To combat the epidemic, states across the country have implemented laws targeting distracted driving habits. It is important to remember that even if states do not have laws directly related to distracted driving, the act of driving distracted leads to driving behavior that is illegal, such as reckless driving and other traffic violations.
I see that you are from Minnesota. This past legislative session, the legislature passed and the governor signed a “hands free” law making it illegal to hold your phone in your hand. The new law allows a driver to use their cell phone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only by voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone. Also, a driver may not use their phone at any time for video calling, video live-streaming, Snapchat, gaming, looking at video or photos stored on the phone, using non-navigation apps, reading texts and scrolling or typing on the phone.
Will this make the roads safer? Yes, in two ways. In 12 of 15 states with hands-free laws, traffic fatalities have decreased by an average of 15 percent. This law will also help law enforcement keep Minnesotans safe. Because drivers aren't allowed to have a phone in their hand, it will be easier for law enforcement to see violations and take more effective action. But remember, hands-free is not necessarily distraction-free.
I was very happy to see my friends at the Anoka County Transportation Division spreading this message at their County Fair last month with a very witty T-Shirt slogan:
“Keep your eyes on the road…
…and get your head out of your apps!”
I think that says it all!
To good health on the highways,
The Highway Doctor
Copyright 2019 Douglas W. Fischer Minneapolis, MN