Too scared to drive over a bridge

[inman999]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23887805

Chesapeake bridge in the US. Some people pay to be driven across it. One guy has been using the service twice a day for 8 years.

I might go and set up by the Humber bridge, although this is probably one of those only in America stories.

[Dog Star]

GFs sister (who is a bit of a petrolhead and doesn't hang about behind the wheel) is terrified of bridges.

If its a multi-lane bridge she has to drive on the rightmost lane.

[TheHeretic]

I've been over that bridge. What is scary about it?

[tbc]

I don't think it's a fear of the bridge

more likely a fear of idiot drivers on the bridge

[illmonkey]

My mum has a fear of driving on bridges, says she just feels compelled to drive off it!

[Prizam]

I really dont understand this....

[Riley Blue]

Prizam said:

I really dont understand this....

What, that some people suffer from acrophobia?

[Leptons]

So too scared to drive over the bridge but does not wear a seat belt? Good one.

[Jayfish]

The bosses wife won't go over the QE2 bridge so when coming south he has to go into london and use the Blackwall tunnel, or come back late and hope she's asleep!

[Daniel1]

illmonkey said:

My mum has a fear of driving on bridges, says she just feels compelled to drive off it!

My sister is the same.

[J4CKO]

Have heard of this before, not sure whether people who wont drive over a bridge are really cut out for driving, suspect a lot of them arealso the ones that go down hills on the brake or brake when something comes the other way despite not actually being a hazard.

[surveyor]

Providing a service that some people need.

I don't see the problem, although after 8 years you'd have thought the guy might have got a grip...

[Dog Star]

J4CKO said:

Have heard of this before, not sure whether people who wont drive over a bridge are really cut out for driving, suspect a lot of them arealso the ones that go down hills on the brake or brake when something comes the other way despite not actually being a hazard.

See my post above; GFs sister is a very fast, confident driver, likes her fast cars etc. She just goes a bit fruitloop about bridges.

[Nickyboy]

I drove over it 4 years ago in an 32ft RV, my first time driving in the USA. Didn't even think about it.

[Prizam]

Riley Blue said:

Prizam said:

I really dont understand this....

What, that some people suffer from acrophobia?

Yes. I dont like heights but can make my self go up a ladder if i really need too.

[TangerinePool]

Slightly different to this but a friend of my father couldn't drive M6 Northbound where those big hills appear close to the road just south of Jct 38 Tebay. Said he felt overpowered and terrified by them and would just freeze.

Really weird as he was an avid fell walker too.

[RobM77]

Prizam said:

Riley Blue said:

Prizam said:

I really dont understand this....

What, that some people suffer from acrophobia?

Yes. I dont like heights but can make my self go up a ladder if i really need too.

Not liking something, or even being scared of it, is a bit different from having a phobia. It's like comparing getting down sometimes with having depression. It's also worth mentioning that like depression, phobias have no basis in logic - many people scared of bridges would probably happily drive without a seatbelt (as mentioned above), or handle an angry rattlesnake etc - phobias are not about logical fear.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I can see the issue with the bridge - it's those side rails which allow you to see over the edge, and don't look high enough or strong enough to stop you crashing over the side in a massive fireball.
Yes, it's irrational and it'll never happen, but 'what if'.
I'm usually OK if there is a barrier - I'd probably be OK driving it in a car, but not anything taller.
I simply don't do heights.

Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Monday 2nd September 12:34

[J4CKO]

Dog Star said:

J4CKO said:

Have heard of this before, not sure whether people who wont drive over a bridge are really cut out for driving, suspect a lot of them arealso the ones that go down hills on the brake or brake when something comes the other way despite not actually being a hazard.

See my post above; GFs sister is a very fast, confident driver, likes her fast cars etc. She just goes a bit fruitloop about bridges.

Yes, did see that, I epect tshe is the exception, most seem to be the perpetually nervous about all aspects of driving, soem people dont seem to have the spatial awareness, suspect it can go together with this but also can be a kind of phobia on its own.

[BaronVonVaderham]

There was a documentary on tv the other week about the Blackwall Tunnel and one woman couldn't cope with driving through the tunnel, so just stopped on the approach and caused a monster jam.

Instant licence revocation I say!