Is it normal to be very afraid of driving at age 20?

Even when I think about it myself, it seems absurd and I keep telling myself that I can do it and it's a piece of cake. But whenever someone asks me to park the car or move it, - I don't know, something inside me just freaks out. I don't trust that I won't hit anyone or they won't hit me.
When I was 17, some friends of my family, three of their kids died in a car accident. It was a 22 year old women, a 10 year girl, and a 1 year old girl. They were hit by a truck and they all died instantly. There was something about seeing all three of them in the same coffin at the wake that was unsettling.
And then on top of that when I was 18 last summer I was hit by a car twice within two weeks and my knee got messed up. The cars were only pulling out of a driveway. Must have only been going less than 5 mph. It's not like I was stupid either for getting in the way - I had the right to go with the walk sign lit up. All this really showed me how destructive vehicles can be and how fragile the human body is. I really try not to let this hinder my ability to get over my fear of driving because ....I'm 20 and do not know how to drive. I'm a pretty normal individual who plans on going to college just like everyone else. I just have this fear of driving. Is this normal? Do other people put off learning to drive at such a late age?

Voting Results
74% Normal
Based on 70 votes (52 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • firefly88

    It's not normal to stuff three mofos in one coffin

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  • theytookthisone

    I use to feel the same way, when I was 18 (I just learned to drive then too). I'm quite surprised I got over my fear and I'm pretty damn confident now.

    I'd say practice makes perfect, drive around the neighborhoods or empty parking lots a bit to get use to it. Hope you get over your fear, I was able too and I'm a very anxious/nervous person.

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  • mluker

    Wow. Good luck.

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  • alv1592

    it's really not hard to learn how to drive. it's just a really big responsibility, and you have to be careful and aware of everything. i'm 18 and got my license last november. driving scared me a bit at first, but now i can drive anywhere and feel comfortable :) good luck!

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  • reneerenee

    i think people should learn to drive early and then they will have more experience and drive right!!! and then faster!!! Get to where they need to go! time is wasting!

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  • red_gal_85

    dont worry i'm in the same boat and im 25 trying new things can be scary sometimes

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  • doglover16

    I am afraid of driving to because I think that I might get into a accident just pulling out of the driveway

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  • House

    I'm going to be 20 in a a month and i swore that i would never learn to drive!!!There are just so many nut jobs out there that i have to look out for besides myself.

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  • BlueWolf

    ^ **21 next month

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  • BlueWolf

    I'm 20, going to be 21 next,and I've yet to learn how how to drive a car because of this huge fear of getting behind the wheel and getting into an accident, ect. It's getting to be a real problem, too since I'm going to be leaving for college away from home soon and have no way of getting around. You're not alone in this, trust me.

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