Some people have a significant fear of driving. This is often true for young drivers who lack experience, or for older drivers who have been involved in accidents before. In fact, car accidents can cause things like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which could make people feel very anxious when they are behind the wheel.
In some cases, these drivers turn to therapy to seek solutions and discover the root of their fear of driving. One thing that therapists report is that many people are afraid of driving on the highway. Because of the higher speeds, it feels inherently more dangerous to them, so they will try to stick to other roads. Is it really more dangerous to drive on the highway?
The highway is actually safer
Interestingly, studies have found that the interstate highway system is much safer than using other roads. Ironically, drivers are more afraid of the roads where they face the lower level of danger. They may inadvertently be putting themselves at greater risk by avoiding highways.
To some degree, their fear makes sense. After all, we recently discussed the role that speed plays in car accidents, especially on rural roads. Accidents that happen at higher speeds are more likely to result in fatalities or serious injuries.
What makes the interstate highway system safer is that traffic is controlled and moving in one direction. You do not have risks like driveways, intersections or people who are turning left and crossing oncoming traffic lanes.
Of course, you could be injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver on any type of road. It’s smart to have legal guidance to help you seek financial compensation if you are.
