Gephyrophobia

Gephyrophobia is an anxiety disorder, a specific phobia, marked by a fear of bridges and tunnels, especially older ones. People who have it may avoid routes that cross bridges, or, as passengers, become very apprehensive when a bridge is crossed. Typical fears include driving off the bridge, being blown off it by a gust of wind, or the bridge collapsing underfoot. The fear overlaps with acrophobia, the fear of heights, and tends to be worse on taller bridges than on low ones. The term comes from the Greek words for bridge and fear. It is described as a situational phobia, and as one that often belongs to a larger cluster of fears and is seen in people who get panic attacks. Some bridge authorities in the United States have offered to drive the cars of affected drivers across for them, which shows how practical the avoidance can become.