To be petrified driving on motorways

@Carouselfish

Most the a roads around here are 60 or 70 mph, plus narrower and bendier than motorways. Please don't be that driver travelling at 30 mph on a 70 mph a road as this in its self is dangerous, people coming around bends slamming on brakes causes accidents not to mention frustrated drivers overtaking - we can all say they shouldn't be going to fast but back in the real world...

Drive for the road which on single carriageway a roads in rural areas typically is no slower than 50mph on average, a speed it's quite acceptable to drive in lane one of motorways too

I was like you and didn't go on a motorway for years after passing my test.

Take some motorway lessons.

Now I prefer to drive on motorways rather than other roads. So much easiedr.

I used to be, then I got divorced so had to pull up my socks, put on my big girl pants and do it, I'm not saying i wasn't super nervous at first and still I'm not that keen but I drive on them even at night if I need too

At the moment I have badly lit, only just wide enough, muddy A roads with the too bright headlights, many with barely visible road markings, even fewer with cats eyes.

I have to drive along these to get to the motorway where I breathe a sigh of relief.

OP, I have become quite nervous since in recent years I span off the road on mud and had someone drive into me at a roundabout.
I absolutely will not let it become A THING because I really need to be able to drive confidently.

Can you identify what exactly you are afraid of and work on beating it?

THIS!!!!

No animals/children/idiots running into the middle of the road.

I work in insurance. Car vs person claims always go in favour of the pedestrian even if the pedestrian is an idiot!

Motorway; take a nice (non-alcoholic) drink, put on your favourite tunes and enjoy the drive!

I prefer motorways. All traffic going in the same direction, no traffic lights, pedestrians, cyclists, idiots pulling out of side roads etc etc

I really don't like driving on the motorway - I don't like people joining and leaving - the speed some people go and find it extremely stressful. If someone else is happy to drive - I always let them. If no one else is able to drive, I way up the pros and cons of either not going, or go by train.
I drove on the motorway the other - I could have got out of going but would have felt worse if I hadn't attended - most of the time I will avoid.

I took some l theanine tablets about half an hour before I went and about half an hour before I returned. I don't know if it was placebo but it helped.

I wouldn't choose a motorway if there was another option, but yes it can be a bit daunting if not used to it, so many idiots. Don't be bullied into going faster than you feel comfortable with, that's why there are lanes so others can overtake and go at whatever speed they want to.

I understand, and I don't really like driving on motorways, but they are statistically safer than other roads, partly because a barrier separates you from the cars going in the other direction. I now go on a short stretch of motorway every day to work, so I'm more used to it. I think if you do it rarely, and only for long, important one-off journeys, you don't become more relaxed about it.

I find it by far easier, when I lived in the country, it was always more difficult to overtake and there were many fatal crashes with youn inexperienced drivers. Agree either take instruction or get an experienced driver to go with you. Just a matter of confidence

The more you do it, the less scary it is.

This^^

How can anyone consider themselves a competent driver when they're unable to make use of certain types of roads. Do you also not use duel carriageways?

No help to you at this point OP, but in the new year book yourself some driving lessons so that you can be taught how to drive on motorways without putting you and other drivers at risk due to your fear. Meanwhile go by train for this current journey.

Motorway driving can be really easy if the roads are clear as it's basically just putting your foot down and going. But equally it can be quite stressful if it's very busy or there's a lot of road works and variable speed cameras, so don't put yourself through the ordeal as it's likely to be busy this time of year.

If you never drive further than near your home and always on the same roads I imagine you will find it very stressful as you're going to be way out of your comfort zone. A panicking driver on a busy motorway is going to cause an accident.

With motorways everyone is going in the same direction in a fairly straight line, no roundabouts, traffic lights, corners, pedestrians, bikes etc.
You literally drive in a straight line at a speed you are comfortable with.

A relative of mine refuses point blank to drive on the M25. She'll happily drive on the M2, the M20 etc. but if you suggest going anywhere involving the M25 she immediately shuts it down as an option. It's not that different and mostly slow moving because of all the speed controls in place. It gets in the way of doing things with her though which is very frustrating.

Can you drive on a dual carriageway? If yes, then driving on a motorway is even easier.

Everyone is going the same way, you’re not avoiding parked cars or turning into oncoming traffic, slip roads are long with lots of visibility.

Shortly after I passed my test I had to drive round the M25 and I found it way easier than the busy A roads I had learnt on! Bring a nice drink, put a podcast on, chill in the left lane for 3 hours.

I used to love driving on motorways and I did over 20k miles per year as part of my job.
I hate it now, not because I'm nervous but as a PP said, the level of incompetence of other drivers is startling. Middle lane hoggers being mobile roadblocks which cause people to undertake. Idiots that think they can police the road by driving at 70 without anything in the left lane, they're more dangerous than anyone and should update themselves on the Highway Code.
I was pleased to see a few 'keep left unless overtaking' signs on the M1 recently but clearly people don't read them which is a problem in itself!

I’m terrified of joining. Once on the motorway, I am absolutely fine. I took myself on a solo trip 4 weeks after passing my driving test and the motorway was the easiest part. Once I came off onto windy country roads, that’s where I appreciated how straightforward motorways are. I don’t really ever need to go on them now and I feel as though I must find an excuse to use them because the fear is keeping in more the longer I don’t use them.

I did a speed awareness course recently. Motorways are far safer than A roads.

Not sure that's fair. I avoid motorways, I'm a very competent driver. It's other people I'm not so sure about!

Edit: Sorry, meant to quote @masterbeth

"If you're petrified driving on motorways, you shouldn't be driving at all."

It’s a frightening thought that such incompetent drivers are actually on the motorway.

You are safer on the MW than driving in the city. No kids not looking where they are going, dogs, buggies to look out for, people suddenly crossing roads, cyclists dressed in all black…. the list is endless.

Britain has some of the safest MWs in Europe.

In hindsight, you would have booked a few hours with an instructor to up your confidence but truly, honestly, if you can drive on the dual carriageway you can drive on the motorway.

Fears grow and grow the more we let them. Conquer it on Monday and tick it off the list. Done! Xx

Its really not

This nails the situation, really. The more you drive on motorways and dual carriageways, the more confident you will be. I used to be scared of them till I realised that actually they are much easier to drive on than normal roads given that you don't have to deal with junctions, lights, cyclists, pedestrians etc.

True, it’s just another level entirely on motorways

I think it depends on the motorway too. Some aren't really any different to a dual carriageway. Others like the M25 are a different matter altogether! You can't just sit in the LH lane, as they usually turn into the exit lane at junctions so you have to move out if you don't need the exit. It can have 5/6 lanes each way in places. And HGVs everywhere!