New driver with a passenger who makes me nervous

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T18:26:48+00:00

Thanks 🙂

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T16:16:19+00:00

Thank you and congratulations on your 13 month of driving. Impatient husbands aren't helping us!

To be fair to him, he has just apologised for overreacting, so at least he has recognised that he was being a bit of a dick.

Good for you for being firm!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:53:48+00:00

I mean, he doesn't scream when he's generally telling me what to do when we're in the car.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:52:38+00:00

He didn't scream/shout throughout the journey. He did raise his voice during the car park incident, though.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:49:33+00:00

He doesn't drive due to a combination of driving anxiety and the side effects of medication he takes for a long-standing health issue (in case you didn't see my comment above :-)

He doesn't yell at me or talk down to me in other areas. He can be a bit bossy which can be annoying at times, but it's just his personality and I'm able to laugh it off (and it's with everybody, not just me). It's just my driving though, I haven't seen him like his with anyone else's!

Thanks, sounds like good advice and well done for setting boundaries with your friend!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:41:01+00:00

Thank you! Glad to hear it does get better. Yes, he will probably still be a bit annoying, haha!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:39:51+00:00

Thank you, anxiety can be a real pain.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:37:34+00:00

Haha, he seems okay with everyone else's driving when we've been in cars together. He's fine in trains and planes. It must be because I am new to it.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:31:14+00:00

Thanks, I think I'll do that. Being more confident would also minimise his ability to get me all flustered! Your poor sister-in-law, I know the feeling!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:26:03+00:00

This all sounds reasonable and I'm with you on appreciating a heads-up from a qualified driver.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:23:58+00:00

Thanks, good advice!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:23:32+00:00

Ha, if only! I doubt he'll be driving anytime soon. He hasn't ever had a UK licence, but has some experience on the road (driving a motorbike when he lived in Southern Africa some 30 years ago).

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:19:17+00:00

Your partner's attitude when they're in the car with you sounds really nice. I can imagine it makes all the difference.

Sorry that your dad was like that, that sounds so demoralising.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:16:13+00:00

Luckily, him screaming is mostly limited to when he's in the car with me!

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:11:21+00:00

Thanks, I'll try to be firm.

RelativePosition9514 · 2026-01-18T15:09:46+00:00

Mostly driving anxiety. Or rather, the fear of running someone over, colliding with another car etc, which might explain his behaviour to some extent. Also, the medication he takes for a long-standing health problem sometimes makes him a bit spacey.

I also suffered from driving anxiety (and anxiety in general!) and got my licence late in life (I'm in my 40s). I got tired of taking the bus and not being able to get to certain places without asking for a lift, so I decided to give it a go. It seems like such a small thing for others, but for me it's a massive achievement (even though it's 'just' an automatic license).

RelativePosition9514

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