To be petrified driving on motorways

You're not driving if you go on the same route every time and cannot cope with deviation!

I go around the same routes within 20 miles because that's all I need to do in my daily life. It doesn't mean I'm a bad driver. I'm perfectly competent coping with the traffic lights and roundabouts I encounter. i live hundreds of miles from a dual carriageway or motorway so never have to deal with them,

No it's you missing the point. Avoiding, in this case, motorways, is not the same as "only ever going on the same route" and not being able to cope with deviation.

There are many drivers who almost never deviate from motorways and A roads, and are completely thrown when a deviation takes them on to a B road, or (horror of horrors) a road with no central white line.

There are many drivers who can't cope with roundabouts, and stop dead when there's plenty of room to filter.

Lots of people who won't drive in central London.

It'd solve a lot of problems if you took everyone like this off te road - you'd end up with traffic levels of 20 if not 40 years ago. And maybe even some better public transport.

There's a difference between dealing with something when you have to, and putting yourself into a situation you don't like for no real reason, though.

There are roads round here I will avoid at all costs unless I don't have a choice - I'm still more than capable of using them, but I'm not going to force myself to drive on them when I don't have to - what would be the point?

I am in the same boat OP. I passed my test 3 years ago, but have not driven on a motorway yet. I don't need a car for getting to work, so I don't tend to drive that regularly, maybe once or twice a month.

The actual motorway driving doesn't scare me, but it's merging and the massive confusing roundabouts you tend to have to navigate when getting off a motorway.

I find it a bit bizarre that you're expected to be able to magically do this with zero motorway practice after passing your test.

When I am no longer being bled dry by nursery fees I am probably going to pay for an institute of advanced driving course to get comfortable on motorways.

Yeah it's people who go 40/50 on them that cause the most accidents. If this is you don't do it. Other Drivers get frustrated and like i said that's how accidents happen. I'm not saying you will do this but I always thought to myself if you can't drive the motorway then you shouldn't go on it at all. If you do 40/50 on one then you shouldn't be driving. Mph

You're missing the point! As a driver you should be able to deal with what is thrown at you! You're not driving if you go on the same route every time and cannot cope with deviation!

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I haven't yet seen a diversion that takes you off an A road onto a motorway (and there couldn't be, because not all the traffic on the A-road is allowed on the motorway).

It's likely these arrogant twats are the most dangerous drivers anyway.

Gosh there are some rotten, superior twats on here. Who are you to say people shouldn't be driving if they are nervous of a certain type of road? I've been driving for 20 years and managed perfectly fine. I just didn't like motorways because of the speed and the fear of missing a junction. It was more a phobia than anything and just something I was nervous to do. Luckily I beat the fear and am now ok but I'm still anxious about long or unfamiliar routes.

Telling people how much more competent you are than them and how they shouldn't be doing things unless they are totally 100% confident is not a good look.

I do often brake when a car comes towards me on the narrow A roads (dark, fading or no road markings, no cats eyes) because of the new dazzling lights

I think this is normal/sensible. I regularly drive on a very bendy and hilly, relatively narrow, unlit and poorly-marked road in the dark and reduce my speed when cars are approaching from the opposite direction. I despise the LED lights. It's especially awful if it's raining or drizzling, and made worse if there are cars waiting to come out of side roads so you've got glare from several directions. Occasionally an older car with halogen bulbs will pass and I'm reminded of how much easier night driving used to be.

It's worth making sure both the inside and outside of your windscreen are spotless as that can really help to reduce the glare. I used to think the inside of my windscreen was clean but actually there were still streaks, so I started going back over it again and again until it was truly spotless which helped a lot. I also clean my windscreen wipers at the same time so that they don't smear dirt across the glass.

Because motorways have a lot more traffic, you have more than one lane, the speeds, you bump into many more drivers (some who are dangerous/stupid) etc. Doesn't take a genius to work out the difference why some people might get nervous on some roads more than others.
Driving is still driving. Just because I mainly only drive to the same places, I wouldn't say I'm a non-driver, because that would be false.

Yes, I hate motorway driving and avoid it as much as I can. It's fine. I am happy doing any other driving. For motorways, I either take a longer route, take a train, or go with another driver. I do sometimes have no other option. Then I drive on a motorway and find it very stressful and it never gets better.
It's fine. We are all good at different things. Motorway driving isn't something we have to do. It is a dangerous activity. Some people don't drive at all, and that is fine too.

Before I passed my test I was terrified of driving on motorways. I paid for Pass Plus and it really helped me. I still don't like it now all these years later but I prefer some motorways to others. The M6 toll road is a dream because it's quiet. I drove alot for work years ago and I was a little more confident then.

What I do is stick to the slow lane and only drive at 60. It takes me ages but I leave in plenty of time. If my nerves feel shot I go to a service station for a coffee and a calm down. My DF used to say "you get there when you get there" which helps me when I panic.

A nervous driver doesn't make me feel aggressive and the need to make a dodgy move. I'm amazed at brhw number of posters that's seem to justify drivers becoming impatient and doing a risky manoeuvre.

This is spot on.Nervous or hesitant drivers are annoying, but not dangerous. I actually feel uncomfortable with people on phones, driving too fast, driving too close to me to intimidate me to go faster when I'm driving at the appropriate speed.
The amount of drivers I see going through red lights too. Not as they are changing, when they are on red.

I don't agree being nervous is the same as hesitant or incompetent. People get nerves before they go on stage or do exams and it can actually help you perform better. Make you a bit more alert and process things quicker. It's the point of the adrenaline.

Same as my mum! She won't even drive to my new house because it's a 'new' route.

You have to force yourself.

Motorways are easy!

I'm the same. But it's entirely because of other shit drivers and not really liking driving fast. I'm very confident around the city . It doesn't stop me driving on them but I stay on the inside lane, drive within the speed limit and leave a good distance between me and the car in front.

I come across arse hole over confident drivers far far more. Nervous drivers following th Highway Code do not need to stop driving. Arrogant over confident arseholes with zero fear who speed , tailgate, don’t drive with driving conditions in mind( yes if weather is shit you will need to slow down), needlessly nip in and out, don’t indicate…..( the list is endless) do.

I wouldn't say I'm a nervous driver (though I have said upthread that due to 2 recent accident that weren't my fault I'm working on feeling anxious).

I don't hesitate e.g. start to move then stop, but I do take my time to double check (so many cyclists w/o any lights or high viz in Cambridge), I've only ever been in the wrong lane when I'm new to an area and road markings aren't clear. I think that happens to everyone now and again.

I do often brake when a car comes towards me on the narrow A roads (dark, fading or no road markings, no cats eyes) because of the new dazzling lights. I read a news article from an optician who said 8/10 of her clients say they struggle with those lights and that the AA or RAC have a campaign. If the car behind is to close that me slowing is going to cause them to brake sharply then they are too close. If a car had been close behind me for both of the accidents they would have gone straight into me for sure. I may try those tinted glasses.

Then why cannot people go from a normal road to a motorway without panicking and writing thread about it?

No. What happens if your route gets changes due to a diversion? Or you meet an unexpected obstacle? You can’t just expect to only be able to manage your car in certain situations. If you can’t manage it in any possible situation then you need to get further lessons or stop driving.