Fear of Hit and Run

What is Hit and Run OCD?

Fear of Hit and Run – Common Obsessions

• Fear of causing an accident and not realizing it
• Fear of losing control and hitting a pedestrian on accident or on purpose
• Fear of hitting animals
• Fear that hitting a pothole or a speed bump might have been a person or animal
• Fear of losing control and driving off the road

Common Triggers

Just as there are many different types of obsessions, there are plenty of common triggers that can cause intrusive thinking. Hit-and-Run OCD doesn’t only occur when someone is driving, but can also be triggered when they are a passenger. For example: the passenger may worry that they are being too distracting and could cause an accident. People with OCD tend to often avoid situations where they could potentially have an accident or be partially responsible for one.

Consider these possible scenarios that could trigger obsessive episodes in Hit and Run OCD:

• You are driving down a busy street and notice a woman pushing a baby stroller. You look off the road for a moment and hit a pothole. You keep driving, but fear sets in that you might have caused an accident and you continuously check in the rearview mirror. About a mile down the road, you turn around and drive slowly over the same roads, checking for any bodies or evidence of an accident.

• You are watching the news and hear about an incident on a street where you often drive. You review in your mind over and over about your driving patterns and memories. You remember that it has been a few days since you drove on that street, but you are convinced that it must have been you who hit somebody. You call the police because you don’t know for sure or not if you hit somebody earlier that day, despite not having any evidence that you were driving on that street at the time. 

• You are driving with a friend and a good song comes on the radio. You go to turn it up. You notice the driver observes you while you mess with the radio. The two of you start to sing, and the driver hits a speed bump. You are convinced that the driver hit somebody, but they aren’t concerned. A minute or so down the road, you hear sirens and see an ambulance. You are convinced that you distracted the driver, and start telling them that they need to turn back.

How can I tell if I’m experiencing Hit and Run OCD and not just anxiety or cautiousness?

This is a good question. Many people will spend a lot of their time looking for one simple answer, but the truth is, you have to learn to recognize the cycle of OCD.

OCD is composed of three basic stages: 1) intrusive thoughts, feelings, or urges; 2) anxiety that comes as a result; 3) compulsions done to relieve anxiety. Understanding this cycle can help you distinguish OCD from other conditions or issues. Another good rule of thumb is this: a person who has hit-and-run OCD does not have a desire to hit anybody with their vehicle, and will likely be particularly cautious, rather than reckless or careless, when driving.

Intrusive thoughts can happen to everybody, with or without OCD, on any given day. OCD, on the other hand, causes people to give these thoughts special significance, often making them question their identity, values, intentions, and character. 

Another sign is that thoughts or urges from OCD are often especially aggressive and completely out of character. This is because intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, which means that they do not align with someone’s values, beliefs, or identity.

Common compulsions

When people with Fear of Hit and Run experience these intrusive thoughts, they may start to engage in compulsions. Compulsions only offer temporary relief and encourage the cycle of OCD to continue. Repeating the same action only brings the same result, and often causes people to feel hopeless. 

Because of the vicious cycle of OCD, people with Hit-and-Run OCD may think they will never be healed or can never drive again without extreme anxiety. In some instances, people with OCD Hit and Run fears will practice extreme compulsive avoidance, only leaving the home if somebody else is willing to drive them. 

Compulsions for people with fear of hit and run, both physical and mental:

• Listening to police radio scans
• Going back over your driving route to check
• Avoiding driving at night or in crowded areas
• Avoiding driving altogether
• Asking nearby people if they saw someone get hit
• Looking for accident reports in news media
• Driving especially slowly or cautiously

How to treat fear of hit and run