To be petrified driving on motorways

Honestly , most of the motorway network is under speed restrictions due to roadworks and add in that it is this time of year, and you probably won't be traveling at more than 40mph for the vast majority of your journey anyway !

Most of the dual carriageways I go on I join from a side road. It's nothing like joining a motorway with fast flowing traffic.

If you regularly drive on dual carriageways do you not have to use a slip road to get onto them?

You'll definitely build up more confidence by doing it more regularly.

I love hearing stories like yours, @LastNightMyPJsSavedMyLife

Inspiring 🙏🏻 and audio books or a good series of quiz/panel talk shows are brilliant driving companions,

I was like this until moving a few months ago rurally. I now have no choice but to drive on dual carriage ways and motor ways where a few months before I would have avoided them like the plague.

Just getting on with it was all I could do and now I don't think twice!

Goog luck op. It's a horrible feeling.

yeah me too, much better than driving through cities with a lot of different streets and routes. I had a motorway driving course when I first passed, and dad also took me out for my first drive on the motorway. The speed isn't scary when everyone else is going at the same rate.

I'm not some little woman that's ferried around though ha ha.

My DH is 🤣

Yes that's true. I don't like driving. DH has been driving many years and is very experienced. I'm not.
I'm not some little woman that's ferried around though ha ha.

That's not saying you're oblivious, sorry! Just that you have someone in your life that always drives!

@Iusedtobecarmen to be fair, you sound like my DH. He has a car and can drive but if we go anywhere long distance, I drive. He's a little oblivious to things and I'm a bad passenger. He's kind of been forced into it but is fully. Capable. Even car-sharing with colleagues, I'll always drive.

I agree 100%

Not driving on the motorway has zero impact on my life. But if I had to go somewhere on my own far away ,I would put the sat nav on to avoid motorways. I'd still get there.

Yes I agree, but the kind of confidence I witness is the dangerous type. Being caught with mobile phone/drink driving/ dangerous driving should be a lifetime ban.

@Iusedtobecarmen yes, with you on those two. If I was to pay attention to stereotypes, it's usually a younger male with the confidence. Everyone is on their phone, makes me sick.

Motorway is actually straight forward.

the difficulty is joining

Personal choice is of course fine, but many on this thread are not motorway driving because they are scared to do so.

I am glad I am not one of them because it would really impact on the things I want to do and the people I want to see. I understand that this is due to where I live and the life I lead and that for many people it's absolutely not a barrier.

Op you can do this! It's really not how you think it is going to be. The more you do it the more relaxed you are about it.

Up until this year I'd used motorways on occasion and it felt like a big deal.

Now I drive 400 miles every other weekend all on the M56/M6/M75. At the moment it's always dark, usually raining and can hit fog at times. It is fine.

I take a hot drink and listen to an audiobook. I'm 56 and have been driving for a long time but only got into motorway driving this year.

@Bogginsthe3rd yes and no. I'll drive as required. Sometimes it's behind a lorry, sometimes it's overtaking them and sometimes sitting behind, sometimes it's being nowhere near them but if I'm not sitting in lane 3 at 60 watching the guy in front of me dilly dally because he's on his phone and forgot to look at the speedo, I'll get aggravated because I have the patience of a three year old that can see a bouncy castle. If I'm behind a lorry making sure I'm safe, my heart rate and blood pressure remain low. I know that's my problem but that's my way of solving it. Like I say, I drive a lot and sometimes I don't care and sometimes I do. Whatever reduces my workplace stress and frown lines is the best option as long as it's safe.

Yes I agree, but the kind of confidence I witness is the dangerous type. Being caught with mobile phone/drink driving/ dangerous driving should be a lifetime ban.

There isn't actually any proper motorways anywhere near me, I'd have to drive quite far to get to one so its not something I've ever had to avoid because I've never had to drive anywhere that it would be an option. There are dual carriageways though and I also don't want to drive on them, so I can't drive to the nearest city when I want to visit there but I take the train instead. Problem is, if I need to see a doctor in the evenings or weekends the nearest A&E is in the city, so if my OH wasn't able to drive then I'd have a problem (though even if there weren't dual carriageways I don't think I could focus that long for that drive as its 85km and I get tired after 20)

OH always drives when we go somewhere altogether, and I contribute by looking out for elk!

I have no idea.
I offered to car share when I passed my test and then I wouldn't have to fork out for another unnecessary vehicle. And I could share the driving.
I expected him to be delighted, but he wasn't keen.
And then said he likes driving, it's fine, he said.
Well who am I to argue. I wasn't begging him. So I went and bought myself a car.
I hated learning to drive and I still don't like it. So it's fine by me. I d rive when I have to and I drive every day really.

• Disagree. Being nervous isn't great. But being cocky and driving too fast and intimidating other drivers so you can speed is worse. And don't get me talking about mobile phone use*

@Iusedtobecarmen 100% agree but there is a middle ground of calculated, confident awareness. I like to think that's me but I 100% make errors as everyone does.

Thanks 😊