Do you know what amaxophobia is? This name, which may seem like a dirty word to many, is certainly not common in bar conversations, but what it means is common in the lives of hundreds of people in the Federal District. This is the technical term for someone who panics about driving. The origin of fear itself may have emotional origins, traumatic experiences, or a simple lack of practice.
New Year’s is a time to face old ghosts. But Sebastiana Fonseca, 46 years old, independent, did not wait until 2026 to overcome her traumas. After 14 years without driving, out of fear, she got behind the wheel and started driving again after participating in a course offered by the Federal Road Traffic Department (Detran-DF).
Sebastiana reports that a trauma she suffered shortly after getting her driver’s license kept her from driving for over a decade and she started driving again after the course. “I was nervous, I was sweating, I was shaking. I couldn’t drive at all,” he says.
The trigger for amaxophobia may have emotional origins, traumatic experiences, or lack of practice. The course is aimed specifically at already qualified drivers who face these obstacles. And contrary to what many imagine, the emphasis is not on the practice of driving, but on psychological work.
Initially, Sebastiana expected to need hands-on lessons, but the process was completely different from what she imagined. “It’s psychological work. When I started driving again, I had the impression that I had never stopped,” he says.
For psychologist Elias Balthazar, support groups and courses like the one offered by Detran-DF are essential for drivers to understand the origin of the blockage. “Driving is a complex neuropsychological activity and cannot be minimized,” he says.
The courses are taught by Detran examiners, with a strong presence of psychologists. According to the director of the Public Traffic School, Marcelo Granja, the proposal aims to help drivers understand traffic in a broader way, and thus reduce the anxiety and fear associated with driving.
“The course is not practical. The work is psychological. Once you understand the road, the vehicle and coexistence with other drivers, emotional control becomes easier,” explains Granja.
How is the workload distributed?
The course has a workload of 32 hours, is entirely theoretical and the methodology intersperses contents such as legislation, safe mobility and psychology applied to road safety, which are at the center of the course approach.
After approximately 30 hours of lessons, participants spend 15 days outside the classroom and carry out personalized exercises recommended by the psychologist and always accompanied by a trusted driver.
The last two hours of class are for when the class returns for a final meeting, during which they share their experiences and progress, which Granja says are mostly positive.
About the course
Since the creation of the training in 2017, 718 drivers have already completed training, divided into 35 groups. After a break in 2018, the initiative resumed in August 2023. In 2025 alone, 10 classes were opened, with the participation of 195 students.
Each class brings together an average of 20 students, and new editions can be opened depending on demand. So far, according to Detran-DF, there is no information about other states offering a course with the same format.
Registration is done in person at the Public Traffic School (EPT), by prior appointment via the Services Portal or the Detran-DF Digital application.
According to the organization, there is no trace of similar initiatives in other departments in Brazil.
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