Juliet Eysenck spent years dodging driving duties after suffering a panic attack behind the wheel. Here she explains how she overcame her nerves

Mastering the art of three-point turns, parallel parking and reversing around a corner is just the beginning. The true test of driving ability comes only once you have ripped up those L-plates. And while most people find their first solo drive a nerve-wracking experience, for some that feeling of anxiety never goes away.

The first time I drove alone was five years after passing my test. The long gap wasn’t down to a lack of confidence, but because I lived and worked in London, which meant that it was easier and cheaper to get around by public transport, so I didn’t bother with a car. But then one day at work I agreed, as a favour, to return a company vehicle to another office, a distance of about 15 miles.

Getting into an unfamiliar car made the nerves start to rise. Realising that I would be alone for the first time without my instructor (and her dual-controls) also made me worry. And when I asked about the quickest route, I was told to take the M25. It was at this point that I remembered I had never driven in fifth gear, let alone on Britain’s busiest motorway. At 4.30pm, on a Friday.