To be scared of driving on motorways ?

Not all exits on the M25 that do that. Sitting in the left lane all the time isn't great for those trying to join so the OP should practice lane changing on the A roads she is ok on now. 100% agree with lessons and also...multi lane roundabouts are ok..trust and follow the signage and marking for the exit you want and check your blind spots when moving over.

I find that google maps is really helpful when planning any out-of-the ordinary journey. I look at it in advance using Street View to get a sense of the junctions, the lane that I will need to be in and any key landmarks e.g I will need to take exit 5, just after the Big Yellow storage. Don’t just rely on SatNav, try to get the route into your brain in a more organic way too.

Also to remember, it’s not just you - some junctions are difficult and were originally designed when traffic volumes were far, far lower. There is a fabulous old website called ‘Bad Junctions’ which analyses the layout at particularly tricky spots such as Handy Cross M40 or the Almondsbury M4/M5 Interchange near Bristol. It often concludes that road planners were trying to do too much at a single junction or allowing insufficient time and space for drivers to make particular manoeuvres. But a bit of forward planning and knowing what to expect can really help.

The more often you do it the easier it becomes. I have had jobs that included a commute on the motorway and find out of city driving, country lane driving and motorway driving that motorway driving is by far the easiest.

The suggestions to get some motorway driving lessons are very sensible.

I'm scared of motorways too, had a nightmare once that I took the wrong turning on a roundabout and ended up on the motorway! I'm scared of driving anywhere more urban than my small town too. I know this limits me so my plan is to get some city driving and motorway lessons at some point when I have the time (would have to take time off work, don't live close enough to either to do in an evening)

I am the same,! Been driving 31 years. I am feeling nervous about dual carriage way ,as had cancer and haven't driven far recently . My friend finds it easier though and DH as well.

I did my first motorway driving in Pass Plus and had 3x 2hour lessons (I had covered the other areas of the course in my lessons)

It was great to be talked through techniques for merging and lane changing and has left me with good confidence for motorways and NSL dual carriageways since.

Key tips:
Get to the speed of traffic while on the slip road, sight your gap and move in. You may need to tweak speed to match the gap.
Look ahead as far as you can see for planning, don't focus just on the vehicle in front.
Keep left unless overtaking
Keep using your mirrors. Rear view is best for forward planning. Wing mirrors for details.
Move left when the overtaken vehicle is visible in your rear view- this means you've given them enough space.
Follow gantry instructiond.
Don't suddenly slow down after moving left, you should be able to maintain your speed.
Generally you should have enough braking distance on exiting slip roads so shouldn't brake by default on the main carriageway (but be aware of slower vehicles or congestion)

There are instructors with motorway tips on youtube Ashley Neal and Conquer Driving are good.

Motorway driving is relatively simple, and mainly uses skills you should already have. While you need to be aware of what's behind and ahead, everything moves in the same direction with fewer random considerations like bikes, pedestrians, turning into drives, planning your lane now for a road layout in 3 junctions time etc so observing and reacting to the flow of traffic is simpler.

I passed my test at 17 but only got a car and started driving at 35! I hated driving and every journey ended in tears. I was like you - scared of motorways, big roundabouts, overtaking.

I just kept persevering, helped by the fact I HAVE to drive to see my ageing parents who are 3 hours away.

After about a year of chipping away at it - including pulling over safely to have a couple of panic attacks! - I became a really confident driver. 5 years later and I honestly LOVE driving. My husband works all over the UK and I drive to meet up with him, and will literally go anywhere - motorways, mountain passes - you name it.

Keep trying OP!

I used to be the same then I got a job that was a motorway drive away, and now I prefer motorways to other roads. Like others have said, book a few lessons on one.

Within a week of passing their test, my teen was driving themselves to college and back on a busy motorway daily.
I'd been on it with them once to show them the way.
We had, however, done a LOT of practise on busy A roads while learning.
What I said to them, was to just treat it like an A road. Still 70 mph, still all going in the same direction, there just may be an extra lane or two.

If you can do A roads, you can do motorways.
You got this.

I didn't drive for a good few years after initially passing my test. I booked a refresher driving course of 4 lessons. The last lesson was the motorway.

It was brilliant. I had to get on the motorway, get off at the services, get back on the motorway and off at the next junction. And repeated the same thing thing in reverse. The instructor gave me some great tips. Like, it is safe to move back into the left lane when you can see the whole vehicle you are overtaking in your rear view mirror. 20 odd years later I still remember that and find myself doing it!

The instructor made sure I overtook, used all of the lanes, and could use the slip lanes properly (services ones tend to be shorter and trickier). Well worth the money.

Just to help the OP, you can't always stick to the left hand lane until you want to come off. On some motorways, like the M25, the left hand lane becomes the exit lane, ie if you're driving in it, you will be taken off the motorway. If driving on the motorway, you do need to feel confident switching lanes - you can't rely on being able to stay in the left hand lane.

Why are service stations a challenge?

One thing I like is you can use Google maps to look up routes and pick a junction that looks ok, can even follow it for a while with the street view to help plan and prepare

I'm not a fan of motorway driving with kids, plus it always takes longer than getting a long distance train and I'm usually tired. I think it depends where you are, some places have lovely quiet motorways with simple entries, some, like my local one are nicknamed 'death junction' even though I don't think that is true but it always amazes me how everyone ends up in a different direction in one piece. I have to use 3 motorways and the M42 to see my family, it's not fun but I've never had any trouble and there is a feeling of relief when I'm on! Most people are sensible on the motorway, no-one wants an accident.

I was exactly like this. I don’t need to drive on motorways and left them. Then, inevitably- I had to and had a panic attack. It was horrible. HOWEVER. Nothing bad happened. I didn’t pass out or lose control or lose my exit. I had to do it again a few months later and forced myself. It’s not driving that’s the problem- it’s fear. You can drive. Driving on a dual carriageway is almost exactly like driving on a motorway. It’s just driving. You’re fearing fear itself and not being able to escape. I drove the second time and it went really well and I haven’t thought about it since and have driven on motorways loads of times. What I do know is that had i had left it, I would’ve built it up and up in my head making my life smaller and more inconvenient and not being able to take my kids to nice places.

Motorways are way easier than driving in a city centre.

To be fair, I think that anyone driving well outside their ‘normal’ roads may - or rather should - be nervous and thoughtful about what their specific hazards are.

Very good motorway drivers may drive very poorly on minor country lanes (whether they think they do so or not); urban drivers may take some time to adjust to major motorways; country drivers may not drive as well as urban drivers in city centres.

Ideally, every test should incorporate all types of driving, and be re-taken at regular intervals. As this is impractical, it seems entirely possible that thoughtful, safety conscious drivers may be concerned about the challenges of very different roads - for someone to say this is the sign of a ‘bad’ driver may indicate a — misplaced—arrogance.

It does also depend on the type of car you drive. I drive an economical, small car ideal for town and country driving. Its lack of acceleration is exposed in joining motorways, and its lack of size makes multiple lanes of HGVs somewhat intimidating to join. On the other hand someone driving a large SUV would struggle in the tiny streets and parking spaces my car navigates with ease.

If it helps reassure you, I deliberately programme my sat nav to take me on motorway routes, even if it's slightly quicker not to use them.

Motorway driving is so easy that I can just join and sit on 'auto pilot' until I get to my junction.

Sorry, cross-posted.

You could always contact a local driving school and ask if they would give you a few hours motorway tuition.

Definitely book a couple of motorway lessons - I found them really useful when I passed as the instructor pointed out things like how to anticipate behaviour, like someone in front moving to the middle lane to let someone in off the slip road.

I’m a confident driver but I booked a couple of refresher lessons after living in London for 8 years without a car - apparently it’s pretty common when people haven’t driven for a while.

Motorway driving is a breeze compared to city driving! No bends, no pedestrians running out, no cars suddenly turning, no bloody cyclists etc...

Just remember to use BOTH mirrors when changing lanes, and constantly check mirrors to see what traffic is doing.

I do think there are motorways and motorways. Many are very simple to navigate and very similar to A roads - M50 or M54 for example. Others are faster but still navigationally simple - M11; M40.

There are a few - M25; whatever that one is through Glasgow; occasional bits of the M6 and M5 - where frequent division into lanes going in different directions, then merger, make consistent lane driving and navigation tricky. I’d work up to those gradually!

Motorway driving is so easy - you just need to filter on and then you can stick to the inside lane til you want to come off. Seriously, it is the easiest place to drive. I drive regularly from London to Scotland - I love motorway driving! Service stations are the main challenge imo - the motorway bit is fine. Good luck.

I hate driving on motorways too. I avoid them if I can, although I have to say that it's become easier over the years and I don't get that awful panic anymore if I have to use one. I've been driving since 1990! 😄