How would you motivate a friend who has had a drivers licence for years but has anxiety/fear of driving to get behind the wheel again?

Driving is freedom and comfort but it also comes with responsibility.

Your friend is responsible which is admirable, but he or she may be too seriously worried about the impact of a risky road situation, so much that she or he cannot enjoy the benefits of owning a licence.

Danger is everywhere, what you can do is be cautious but that ends there, you can't predict the unpredictable. Getting up from bed is a risk on its own some days ;) Should that paralyze you ? Doing nothing is worse than taking a risk because when you take the risk to live, you move forward and you learn - with that your anxiety will also diminish. Because the more you drive, the more you will feel the car, your boundaries as a driver, the experience will help you relax with time.

Your friend can do this:
1. Psychological comfort to break the ice: Start by sitting in the car every day for about 5 minutes, Do nothing, just get used to being there and chill.. until you feel less tense on the driver's seat. Review all the buttons, maybe listen to some nice music, read a book, something that you like. Just get used to being in the car first. Remember to lower your shoulders and relax your muscles - being tense limits your scope of vision. Getting used to de-tense before even starting the engine is good for you and will help you concentrate on the driving and not on your inner thoughts.

2. Drive for 5 to 15 minutes only and get back. Repeat this until you feel more at ease.

3. Start doing grocery shopping close to home.

4. Start going on longer distances progressively from calm environments to environments with more traffic, when you feel ready.

5. Remember, the car listens to you, not the other way around xD

6. Remember to drive well rested, sober, without distractions. No texting, no alcohol, no long phone calls, if you need a GPS check the whole route and set it up before you press the pedal.. so many accidents happen only from distractions or tiredness or absent-mindedness.
When you drive, you drive

7. Remember to always verify your surroundings as a habit and don't ignore your blind spots - they are life-savers :)

If you are cautious and have courtesy on the road, there is no reason to hold yourself back from the joy of driving anywhere you want :)

Hope at least some of these suggestions help :)
With the building of experience, your friend will most likely progressively feel more at ease and may even start liking to drive 🚗💗

I'd suggest they take a few lessons with an instructor to get their confidence back.

Take it slow or just jump! that is the problem of all new drivers but once you start you get used to it.

Ease into it. Sit in the driver's seat. Get familiar with it again. Then, take a driver around the block. Do it until it's easy, then go a little further. Do a little more here and there until it feels normal. Then you can go anywhere.

People drive without driving licence as well. It's all about the confidence. Practicing in open spaces can help too.

If it's really bad the feeling then therapy? Maybe?

Omg this is applies to me too

CBT therapy.

For me personally I went out driving all over to overcome my anxiety. Straight to the motorway then onto country roads down steep hills lol I was a wreck but it was good … it was fun and I’m glad I did it I also had an experienced driver with me that helped a lot 😌🌷

I still prefer walking tho … different hats for different cats x

What happened? He get in an accident? Those can be pretty bad, especially if you're the one at fault. Maybe therapy would be a good idea.