If you can’t do that- if it’s unrealistic- I’d recommend reading up on the subject. Motorcycle safety guides (free online) have many principals that translate to cars. Be aware of your surroundings, be visible, avoid unnecessary risk and how to identify risk- stuff like that. Learn some basics of car control by reading on that- and find a parking lot or something if you don’t have property to practice on- and do some basic practice. Accelerate to 10mph then stop as fast as you can. Then 20.... learn how your car feels and what it does or what it can do.

Modern cars are very safe. Modern cars outperform most any older car in “everyday” needs. Accidents can happen. That’s life. It’s no different than being a passenger- except as a passenger an accident isn’t something you have any control over. Being the driver means YOU have the control. You aren’t just hoping the driver knows what they are doing or does the right thing when it matters.

Learn. Develop your skills, and then rely on yourself. Trust yourself. If you’ve taken the time to study, to develop your situational awareness, to learn from experience how a car feels and reacts at the edge or beyond of control- and you apply these things- an accident becomes something that is just- an accident. You will have done all you possibly could to ensure your safety.

You literally cannot do more than that. If you take the time to become a master of car control and awareness, you can be sure just about anytime you are in a vehicle, the safest person to drive, the person who should be driving and had the lowest odds of an accident- is YOU.

Confidence comes from experience and ability. If you do not drive, you cannot develop your experience or ability beyond memorizing the how to manual and wiping exercises on situational awareness.

If it’s till too much to go to the cemetery or back road even- drive in your mind. When you’re a passenger, pay attention as though you were driving. Visualize the route you are taking in your mind and where you’d control the car to be at each step, what your hands and feet are doing at that moment. Watch the other cars and the terrain. Identify dangers or potential dangers. Look at the situation- things like intersections or yellow lights, ask yourself what you would do right in that situation if you were driving? Observe and see if that would have been the “right call.”

To get you back into the drivers seat- there is no magic trick. You just have to get in once you’ve made sure you’re as prepared and capable as you can be. Know the rules of the road, safety, how to be situationally aware and common dangers. Know and “dry practice” how to handle them. Take a car clinic if you can. And then- make yourself get behind the wheel and drive somewhere low stress and preferably enjoyable.

That’s really it. Driving comes down to the same thing as most things in life. Do you really want to do it? Jumping out of a plane can be scary. Zip lining, free climbing a giant rock face, getting in a ring and fighting, dancing or playing an instrument in front of people, speaking up for yourself, working with power tools.... in life there are dangers to everything and we can be scared. But in the end if you want to, if you have a good enough reason- you’ll jump out of that plane or get on stage and dance your heart out- because you want to.

Fear isn’t a bad thing. I got my first motorbike when I was a kid. I’ve had bikes most of my life. The day I am not scared to ride one is the day I will quit riding. Fear can be healthy. You have to respect a machine. A gun, a tool, a plane, a car. A car is an average of 3,000+ lbs of metal traveling 6-10 times the speed a human body was made to travel safely. It carries more kinetic energy than most any small arm bullet on earth.

You have to respect that. You have to be aware there is potential danger there. But you’re at far more danger walking or riding a bike or motorcycle than driving a car- any accident involving you and another vehicle is gonna be worse for you if you weren’t in a car no?

So treat driving with respect. Take it seriously but remember it is at its core, supposed to be enjoyable, increase your enjoyment of life. Work on your confidence and abilities as discussed- and then get back in the seat and drive. Slowly push your comfort zone. It’s how humans work. We are scared until we do a thing so many times safely doing it becomes normal. Sit in the car when it isn’t running. Get comfortable. Look around. Get used to the world from inside the drivers seat. Work up to it. But please give yourself the chance. In truth- some people just shouldn’t drive. They can’t take it seriously or apply care and discipline. If that’s HONESTLY you- that is what it is. But don’t use that as a cop out to avoid facing your fear.

Bad shit happens in cars sometimes. Bad shit happens all over all the time. Logic alone can’t beat fear, but it can help us subdue fear enough to do what we need to do. So logic it out, remind yourself- make a mantra for if you start to lose your shit. Center yourself on what you are doing and do it. Push everything else out of your mind and focus on what you are doing. You can do this. I think you can do it. Now you need to think you can do it... and then go do it. Good luck.

So, what I said. Lol

Lol. More or less.

You always were wordy but atleast you're smart. Haha

First one, dead to rights. Second one... verdict is still out. Lol.

There's always that saying, "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit"

Oh man. I got that all wrong. I usually baffle with brilliance and dazzle with BS. Oh well. Better than bedazzling the with bullshit and baffling the brilliant I suppose. When you get to be my age things are often backwards. Your nose used to smell and your feet used to run, and now my feet smell and my nose runs.

i just wing it and usually find the answer

That’s a valid strategy. It can get you all the way to the White House with a dash of timing and luck.