To be petrified driving on motorways

The idea of driving on a motorway terrifies me so I've not attempted it yet. I only learnt to drive a bit over a year ago and I only drive in my town and to my work in a town 20km away along a quiet country road (which is scary enough because the speed limit is 80km/h, and most people drive about 100, even in the 60 zones)

I'm considering booking some lessons with an instructor next summer, to practice city driving and motorway driving.

I got like a driving anxiety on the motorway and took me ages to get over it. You just have to go at the speed you're comfortable with. I can never overtake. But I can do short journeys.

I'll drive from where I live to York (about a 70 mile drive). Occasionally I'll go to Meadowhall on it. Honestly though, I'll only drive on it super early or after about 18:30. It's easy once you're on, but I have significant anxiety over merging.

I also won't drive in new city centres.

I don't find it especially limiting. I'm not a city person, and honestly driving to them is so much hassle that I'd rather go on the train.

It depends whether it bothers and limits you. It doesn't mean as I've got no real need to access them regularly. I would if I really had to.

You don't have to go on them.

it's 70mph which is about 113km/hr.

But dual carriageways are 70 limit as well? They're literally dual carriageways with an extra lane if you think about it. Even joining/ merging is exactly the same.

You get used to it during the journey, @mollyfolk

You don't need to go super fast -'to be honest, on UK motorways you might be lucky to do a constant 60 as traffic slows so often.

I find motorways less stressful than busy city/town driving. I find it crazy we get no mandatory lessons on motorway driving in this country included before taking the test. Plan your route in advance, honestly getting on and off is fine, just stay at a speed you are comfortable with and make sure you are always checking your mirrors and blind spot before manoeuvres. Go out early on a Sunday morning for a bit of practice while it’s quiet, to build your confidence. And maybe take someone who is a good driver and calm, to sit next to you, and give advice, to make you feel more at ease? I was scared at first but after a few journeys felt a lot more confident

It's the arrogant, over confident, over entitled drivers you want to worry about, not the timid, cautious ones,

Where I live the M25 is pretty much unavoidable if you want to go north any distance. I once got confused on a roundabout and took the wrong exit, which meant having to travel miles in the wrong direction with a pissed off passenger and I ended up a nervous wreck. I'm ok once I'm on the motorway and don't have too much of an issue joining others, but the M25 makes me very anxious.

This articulates exactly my own terror about motorways. I'm glad it's not just me and that maybe one day I will be able to overcome it like you.

I don't know where all these people are living that A-road journeys are quicker than motorways. They definitely aren't. My 2.5 hour journey on the motorway to parents is 4.5 hours on A-roads.

Where I am, there just isn't a choice. There's no motorway within an hour of my house, so your choices are A-roads or A-roads, lol.

I think it depends on your journey though and the time of day. When we've gone on holiday, the motorways often have closed lanes or accidents causing tailbacks, whereas the A-roads are mostly clear and free.

Motorways are easy. No pedestrians, no cyclists, no speed bumps, no traffic lights, everyone going in the same direction and very clear rules.

Get some motorway lessons, it really is so much easier once you build up confidence with merging, mirrors and lane changes.

I don't know where all these people are living that A-road journeys are quicker than motorways. They definitely aren't. My 2.5 hour journey on the motorway to parents is 4.5 hours on A-roads.

To be fair, I think that although driving on the motorway is easier as you have more time to think, the test has no motorway component and unless you learn on fast duel carriageways you're not that prepared, as a few people on here have said they passed their test but don't drive or are terrified of motorways.

It's a bit of a shortcoming of the test of you ask me. Having said that, most people manage.

Different people find different things stressful, though. It also depends on where you live and what you're used to.

I learned to drive on rural country roads and lanes - they're my "normal", but many people absolutely hate them. Similarly, lots of people hate driving in cities whereas a local probably wouldn't think twice. My mum hates driving to me as there are lots of single track roads with passing places whereas I don't think twice as I do it everyday.

But you're assuming I avoid motorways because of the danger - I don't - I've just never needed to use one.

The M6 is our closest but it's still over an hour away - so all my day-to-day driving is on A-roads and country lanes by default. If we do go further afield, DH drives as his car is bigger and more comfortable, and he much prefers driving. I'm quite happy being a passenger whereas he gets bored, so it's just what we do.

I'd be quite happy to drive on one if I had to, it's just never come up!

In my 50 years of driving I would suggest that long journeys on A roads are far more stressful than on Motorways, due to the constantly changing road and traffic conditions.

Could this be the result of the bright LED headlights?
They are a nightmare especially in the rain.

Your examiner thought you were competent enough to drive on motorways, otherwise he/she wouldn't have allowed you to pass your driving test.
In fact I find it simpler in some ways driving on the motorway. Everything is heading in the same direction as you. The stuff coming towards you is on the far side of a crash barrier.
I've also ridden pillion on motorcycles and to be honest I've felt safer on the motorway than in the city where drivers pull out of side roads without checking properly.

Rural lanes especially in the dark (and with incoming drivers blinding you) are so much more dangerous than just going in a straight line on a well-lit motorway

I would take more lessons if I was struggling as I do think not feeling confident to drive on motorways would be limiting.

I guess it depends where you live or need to go, but I've never struggled to get anywhere without the motorway. I quite like country driving though and going down rural lanes!

I know it's weird but it is possible to get about without using motorways. There was a time they didn't exist so you can get pretty much anywhere you need to go on non motorway roads.

I personally find them easier and more relaxing on long journeys.