Dear Prudence,
I've read that 80 percent of drivers believe they are better than average. I, alas, am in the 20 percent. Although I'm a competent driver who's never been in an accident, I am not a confident one. I'm one of those speed-limit-obeying, freeway-avoiding, make-four-right-turns-to-avoid-a-left drivers who makes more aggressive drivers crazy. But I drive myself and my stepkids around, just sometimes taking a little longer to get there. I do get requests to participate in carpools or shuttle other people's kids to events. Having extra passengers makes me exceedingly anxious. Is there a way I can decline these requests in an honest way but without making people fear that I'm a hazard on the road?