Is it weird to stay off the motorways?

[chessica]

I will preface this and say I’m a relatively experienced driver and often use the car to pop to the supermarket, local shopping centre, train station etc

I don’t like motorways, haven’t used them as a driver in about 12 months possibly longer. We do live 5 minutes from several, but I can also take A/B roads to get to where I need to be usually only takes 10 minutes or so longer.

I am put off them as we have a lot of smart motorways nearby, and as a passenger when DH is driving I have noticed some awful driving around us. People on their mobiles doing 60, people texting in motorway traffic, people merging and then failing to accelerate and those who change their minds at the last minute and cut across two lanes of traffic at speed so they don’t miss their exit junction. Seems like fewer and fewer drivers leave the correct gap, you see them all up ahead following so closely & worse when there’s spray and rainy conditions. I know statistically they are safer, but surely not when everyone’s doing 60-80mph and many people not paying attention or leaving themselves enough space

Does anyone else avoid motorways altogether?

I fucking hate motorways. The standard of driving has fallen dramatically over the last few years. I drive a lot for work so do use them but will use an a/b road if not much time difference.

It's not fear but pure intolerance of other people. I think one day I will burst into flames with anger. When I used to have a single place of work I would drive j15-13 on the m1 in lane one and two flying past all the pricks lane hogging. There are so many people on their phones or not paying attention.

Last week I saw a lorry lane change and hit a car. The car carried on driving. What would possess them to do that apart from driving illegally?

@TakeMyStrongHand
I think you should reconsider driving if you are getting angry behind the wheel. Driving angry is extremely dangerous.

I'll combust because I don't take the anger out on other drivers. I'm incredibly safe as certified by regular driver training. Surely people should improve their standard of driving (to the basic standard) rather than me giving up my job? But thanks for your condescending "advice"

It's not a fast lane it's an overtaking lane and the speed limit is 70 no matter what all the other idiots are doing.

@Brightonhome there are no "slow" and "fast" lanes on the motorway. It is lane 1, 2 and 3 (and 4 sometimes). Or inside, middle and outside lane. They all have the same speed limit. You should be in lane 1 (yes, with the lorries) unless you are actually overtaking something. Not cruising in lane 3 and fucking it up for everyone else.

No. I might avoid them if there's going to be tailbacks but otherwise I'm confident in my driving abilities to cope

I avoid them too.

However, according to some past MN threads, I am a dangerous maniac who should not be on the roads at all, because what happens if I am out and about one day and my only option is to go on the motorway?

That has happened once, about 20 years ago, when I was at complex junction and ended up on the M3 for 12 miles. I just sat in the inside lane at 60mph until I could leave again, than than overtaking a couple of lorries.

Secondly, are those people really saying that because of that one incident about 20 years ago, I shouldn't have done any driving since? I do go on motorways but very infrequently.

It's fine to use other roads and it's better to avoid situations that make you nervous where possible.

Speed limits on motorways need to be much more strictly enforced as well. 70 is plenty.

Last weekend I was on the M25 and M1 and there was no doubt in my mind that lorries were doing over 60 to the extent that I was wondering if they still have speed limiters. One said it was limited to 56mph, it was doing way over that.

If I had to rate roads motorways would be my favourite.

My mum refused to drive on motorways as she doesn’t like them and finds merging scary, so as a result a lot of A roads are also out of the question. It did however make her realise she isn’t a safe driver when a road closure and diversion meant she was directed into an A road that you merged on to. She came to a complete stop, panicked and had to be help to park her car on the hatched area to the left as she couldn’t merg. She knew she had two options, quit driving, or take lessons to see if she could gain the confidence to become a safe driver. She ended up having about eight lessons, did her pass plus and she is now confident merging and from when I’ve been in the car with her she drives well on motorways.

I drive on mainly country roads but yesterday was on a motorway. I saw people speeding at about 100mph, another crossing two lanes at that speed to take the exit, people tailgating (even with signs saying to keep two chevrons apart).

I really do feel that driving on motorways should be a part of driving assessment for a licence.

One said it was limited to 56mph, it was doing way over that.

It's more likely your speedo is off.

Threads like this really get to me for some reason. Could you imagine many men saying the same?

i have to agree with PPs that if you can’t drive on motorways you probably shouldn’t be driving.

If you took your test before motorway driving was part of learning then you should take some more lessons to learn how to drive on them. It will do your driving confidence overall no end of good.

I took my test in Germany in the 80s and motorway driving was part of the test. I will drive anywhere and tow, too. DH and I take it in turns to drive, including abroad.

I did read somewhere that if you start not wanting to drive where you used to, it can be an early sign of dementia.

Did you read it tho? It's not skill. It's because of the bad driving on there and it being a real pain in the arse. And why the random comment at the end? Are you genuinely concerned about OPs risk of dementia or did you just want to be mean?

I avoid them. I used to commute on one every day and the amount of accidents I saw on them was shocking. Also they are so, so much busier than they used to be I find them very scary.