City living can be quite a trip, and city driving an even bigger one. The mere thought of maneuvering through the crowded, bustling and chaotic environment may intensify your driving anxiety enough to make you want to stay out of the car altogether. But remember that anxiety feeds on the fear of “what if” – not the reality of what’s actually happening.
And if you keep your eye on what’s happening in the here and now you may find city driving isn’t that awful after all. Or at least it doesn’t have to be if you keep a few things in the forefront of your mind.
Prepare for the Ride
Preparing for urban driving starts by reviewing the various situations you may encounter. These include:
- Cramped and tough-to-get parking spaces
- Pedestrians, bicycles, buses and other road intrusions
- One-way and/or confusing streets
- Sudden stops, traffic jams
Your next step can be practicing and implementing various driving techniques that can make it easier to handle any of the potential situations. These can include:
- Practicing parking techniques and maneuvering your vehicle into parallel, back-in and tight spaces
- Driving at a moderate to slow speed to be ready for sudden stops
- Scanning the environment far ahead of your vehicle, keeping an eye out for obstacles and traffic patterns down the road
- “Cover braking,” which is a technique where you place your foot on the brake pedal in anticipation of a sudden slowdown or stop; don’t press down the pedal until you need to, but have your foot positioned there at the ready. Cover braking can reduce your stopping distance by up to 20 percent, according to driversedguru.com.
Know How Long It Takes to Stop
Another helpful move is to keep adequate distance between your vehicle and those around you, especially those in front of you. Having a general overview of how long it actually takes a vehicle to come to a complete stop at various speeds can give you a helping hand with this one.
- 30 mph: Total stopping distance is 131 feet
- 40 mph: Total stopping distance is 193 feet
- 55 mph: Total stopping distance is 304 feet
- 65 mph: Total stopping distance is 393 feet
Hopefully you’re not trying to cruise through the city streets at 65 mph, or even 40 mph. City streets typically have a speed limit that doesn’t exceed 30 to 35 mph, and speed limits are set at the safest driving speed for a particular area. It should go without saying that heeding them is always a priority.
Don’t Forget the Stress
Urban driving and living can also come with large amounts of stress, thanks to all the crowds, noise, chaos and unexpected events that can come from anywhere, anytime. Stress can heighten anxiety, fueling it to greater proportions. If you’re stressed out to begin with, you’re more likely to suffer from driving fear or even full-blown panic.
You have many ways to beat stress, starting with getting adequate sleep, nutrition and exercise. You can also try deep breathing, meditation and other relaxation techniques, perhaps right before you take a ride. Another helpful move is establishing a regular routine. A great routine to follow would be one that includes city driving during slower times, if possible, avoiding the extra hassle of rush hour.
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Photo Credit: Sunset Noir via Compfight cc
