[anjan_c2007]

This word is a new addition, courtesy the OP to my dictionary with the many other phobias. Amaxophobia manifests in quite a few other ways like the ones the OP and other posts have narrated. Here's another example of a friend, a veteran driver who would guide and instruct me with driving tips every two to five minutes as a co-passenger. Getting fed up, I had to tell him not to distract me with such age old tips. I added that if he is a veteran, I am a sub-veteran, only a few notches below him.

Another form of manifestation of the lurking fear within is through simulated feet movement with imaginary damage control measures by way of pressing the supposed clutch, brake and accelerator on the co-passenger's side. And also by grabbing the dash! Many Mahindras have that grab handle on the passenger side which is Amaxophobia friendly.

While feeling Amaxophobic, also think of the poor driving school instructors who have to hand over the wheel and controls to so many newbies as a part of their daily duties.

There's an American Country Music group, "Asleep at the Wheel " ( estd.1970 and rocking till the present day) that was formed in Austin, Texas, who had hits like "asleep at the wheel", " collision course", "keepin me up nights" and so on.

Hence, being asleep at the wheel either as a driver or as a co-passenger is not a good idea. Though Asleep at the Wheel's country songs are a good idea for great entertainment, asleep on the backseat in real life should be safer.

[vinya_jag]

I would never pay attention to how my passenger felt, when I was riding or driving, when I was younger. I had wicked ways of overtaking, hard acceleration etc. But as time passed, I felt I had to be smoother, and make it comfortable to the person sitting next to me.

That means, slower acceleration, not driving through gaps, comfortable distance to the vehicle in front and early breaking. Many times, it actually helps in traffic, where a slower approach to a traffic situation leads to a better choice of lane and smoother progress.

So yes, I am scared when someone is driving recklessly. But a sedate driver would please everyone in the car

[amit_purohit20]

Slightly Off topic or probably related to amaxophobia-
"Ignorance is bliss" Probably that's the saying which comes to mind. I remember travelling calmly without any issues in Mumbai's Double decker buses while standing at the entry footboard. As soon as I was in engineering and learnt about Centre of Gravity and toppling of vehicles I started fearing while standing on the entry footboard especially during the turns. Many a times during high-speed turns and especially when the bus was overloaded the entry footboard will scrape the ground. If I was standing on the footboard and caught in such a situation I would pray to dear God for my life and hold the grab handles with full strength.

Luckily no untoward accident happened. Many years later I saw a video on YouTube where the double decker buses were tested for the angle at which they would topple, and I was relieved of my fears. Double decker buses are an engineering wonder when it comes to taking turns and not toppling.
Add to it the Indian double decker buses were overloaded and the footboard was permanently deformed, deflected under load and hence used to touch the ground during a high-speed turn.

Coming back to topic- Yes, I am very much afraid of sitting in the passenger seat as I never get a chance to be on the passenger seat for two reasons: -
a) I am the only person who can drive in my family
b) I don't like my car to be driven by any person other than me. This habit has led me to increased levels of "amaxophobia."

Add to it I have more fear when the vehicle is on highways and driving speeds are high. I nearly start giving instructions to the driver to brake, be slow and show indicators and what not! Keeping my eyes closed and talking helps to certain extent to relieve me of my fears.

[autobahnjpr]

I sometimes feel that the view and experience from the driver side and the passenger side is different. When I as a driver sit on the passenger side, I too sometimes feel like that and would want the driver to do slow down or apply brakes etc.
And this happens very regularly when my wife sits besides on the front seat and she gets too worked up even when the situation has zero risk of anything. She will either let out a small cry or tighten up with hands clasping the dash or the sides for things which are very normal when viewed from the driver side. But it is something you live with or you ask them to move to the back seat.

[gauravdgr8]

Ah. A new word learnt on 2nd October.

I constantly feel like puking when sitting at the back of a Hycross, Innova, erstwhile Xylo, Scorpio and that's because of the body roll and also due to being busy on phone. If I am concentrating on the road, that feeling goes away. Same with my daughter.

Have you tried keeping yourself busy on a device, magazine, newspaper, music etc.?

[jensjoseph]

Finally there's a name for my phobia.

I have this too, but it is not the case with everyone. I don't suffer it one bit with people who I consider as confident drivers, but I do have loads of amaxophobia with those who are new or whom I am unfamiliar with; for example, Ola/Uber drivers.

When going to or returning from the airport, I'm constantly watching the driver to see if he's drowsy/sleepy or is unintentionally changing lanes and I slam the 'air brakes' or get fidgety in the back seat.

I try to keep myself busy with music, but once the thought creeps in my head, no amount of distraction can cure me of my amaxophobia.

[PreludeSH]

My wife moves to right when vehicles come on the left side when I am driving as if they are going to hit her. Don't know what its called.

Now a days my son has started driving and sitting next him, I feel little anxious. I agree that the view is a little different and I might be overreacting most times. I feel for the poor guy later

There is one friend who keeps showing his hands to left and right as if I don't know the way or I don't know how to drive. I get really annoyed with such people

[am1m]

I don't have this issue with cars, am very happy letting anyone else drive in Bangalore's horrible traffic!

But I noticed I've developed this issue riding pillion on bikes. Used to be very happy riding pillion with anyone, but of late, get very nervous as a pillion, especially on the highways, even with friends I've been riding with since college. Would much rather be riding the bike! Must be getting over-cautious with age.

[noopster]

I definitely don't have amaxophobia (word of the day! ) but share your anxiety while in the passenger seat of a rash or otherwise bad driver. It manifests in strange ways like pressing an imaginary brake, grabbing the dashboard (passenger side only!), nervously warning the driver to slow down/ maintain more distance/ not brake so hard or giving up and switching cars (in group drives) or asking to take the wheel myself. Moving to the rear seat does NOT help, except if I am sleepy and then I just doze off!

Am a fairly sedate driver and my behaviour does annoy my wife (who is a trifle more aggressive than me at the wheel) so most of the time she lets me drive! Not that I'm complaining...

[Evyas]

Originally Posted by jonesanto

I love to drive, 99% of the time I will be at driver seat. There’s one more reason behind it, I have front seat passenger side anxiety. I always had this issue and I think it is mild level of Amaxophobia.

I am pretty sure there are others experiencing the same and wondering if there are any tips to make this condition better?

Hi, I think most of the people who have replied to this have some form of it. But I would seriously suggest you talk to a good counsellor as it seems to be above our expertise. No harm in trying to find a solution for it or at least to get to the root cause of the problem.

The reason I have it is manifold. I have been involved in an few accidents - thankfully not major but I’ve been in the front seat in most of them. In one case the car turned turtle and I had to crawl out of the shattered windscreen. When I was interning in Delhi a lot of times I had to return past midnight from CP to Noida, and 9 times out of 10 the scooter guy would be dozing off. I could figure out thanks to the rick swerving side to side at decently high speeds. So it’s years of conditioning that have led me to not trust other drivers. Maybe talking to someone will help you find the root cause and they might also help you find solutions and simple tricks to do while in those situations. The trick I use is the army breathing tricks. You can read them here:

https://ace.edu/blog/how-to-destress...deal”%20number.

Take care

[Swapnil4585]

I was always aware that this behavior is some sort of a phobia. Good to know the exact word!

I have an extreme amaxophobia. So much that I completely avoid being a co-passenger in any turbocharged car. Somehow that sudden surge when a turbo kicks in is enough to generate a heart attack in me - only when I am the co-passenger at the front seat.

Once I had to travel with my cousin in his new Verna (the pre-Fluidic one) back in 2011. It was notorious for its strong acceleration. He was an expert at block shifting. Like a 100 in 3rd and then direct to the 5th. I was extremely restless and panicked and asked him to stop. But once he handed over the wheel to me, I was enjoying doing those things myself!

[Maverick Avi]

As long as your anxiety is not resulting in palpitations, nausea or panic attacks you should consider yourself lucky and try to tackle the situation using positive reinforcements. More instances of you being able to overcome such episodes positively more your mind gets trained to not go into fight or flight mode. It might not be easy to completely eradicate such anxiety and you might continue to experience it every now and then but the aim should be to keep it at a-level that it doesn't interfere with your well being.

[stormdRider]

I have an almost similar issue, but like most pointed out it depends mostly on the driver. I have realised from my own experience that the most comfortable seat in a car is the one behind the steering wheel . While travelling with certain people behind the wheels it has been so much stress for me that I even thought of getting off midway. I get nauseous every single time when travelling on the rear or even the co-driver seat while travelling through ghat roads. I have noticed that this can range from mild to severe discomfort depending on the driver and the vehicle (hatchback/sedan < suv/muv).

My most terrifying thought on a road trip is travelling with someone who zig-zags along a ghat road on an suv/muv. To be honest, I was also one of those people who used to drive in the above manner during the initial years of me getting behind the wheels. But after experiencing the difficulties of being the passenger of similar drivers like me, I became more considerate to my passengers. Some people who have travelled with me after a certain period gap have even remarked that the drive experience has become better than earlier. I sincerely believe that a considerate driver can always make the journey for the fellow passengers a comfortable and enjoyable one.

[Rodie09]

Having been through a nasty crash on expressway a decade back and miraculously escaping from this sure shot fatal accident, I have completely lost trust in other drivers when it comes to highways. Specially the hired drivers or cabbies. I'd still perhaps trust a known family member if there is no choice. But I'd still be very much on edge of seat if I am in front passenger seat. I think the safest (apart from driving myself) I feel is behind the driver - and that is where I was in that crash in 2013.

Coming to the detail of fear on front passenger seat, protruding cargoes and fear of some steel rods etc. piercing through is what I I dread the most. Next would be hitting a large truck or trailer head on from the passenger side. Not much worried in the city traffic though.

[svsantosh]

Cure for Amaxophobia.

After years of having this Phobia I may have found a perfect cure for it.

I moved to Dubai recently and sitting on the left side of the car holding the controls made me overcome this phobia.

(PS - take it in a lighter vein!)