After being involved in a road traffic incident it is easy to lose confidence and the thought of getting back in the driving seat can be quite daunting. This week’s tips give advice on how to cope after the aftermath of a driving incident, from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman.

• Take your time - there is no rush to get back behind the wheel-it is not something you should feel pressured into doing. It is important to be in the right state of mind and to be confident of your ability behind the wheel

   

• Everyone is different but think carefully before you change your driving patterns to avoid the crash site. Changing your route to avoid where the incident occurred isn’t always productive and may not help you – it could even escalate the issue

   

• When you first get back in the car consider taking another person with you for support. If your confidence has been seriously affected engage the assistance of a professional

   

• If the concern is affecting you in your daily life, consider seeking help form your GP. A post incident intervention course from a provider such as IAM RoadSmart can be a good option to help restore confidence and allay fears. If you are worried and you notice it is stopping you from doing your normal activities, we recommend getting in touch with your GP

   

• Remember road traffic incidents happen all too frequently; the important thing is to understand what happened, learn from it where you can and then move forward and start enjoying your driving again

Richard said: “Even a minor collision can play on your mind but it is important to learn from the experience. A major part in the human factors around driving is the ability to self-evaluate your driving and make a conscious decision to improve.  Even a collision where we have to accept some or all of the blame should be taken as an opportunity learn and improve. Recognising that help is needed is a major step to asking for it.”