To find four lane motorways very stressful

[stressedout677]

I was driving into London the other day and found myself on a four lane motorway. I'm not the most confident of drivers (and don't drive very often either) and found it really difficult keeping an eye on four lanes of traffic rather than the usual three. I was really relieved when it dropped down to three lanes. Does anyone else find this or is it just me?

Try the M8 through Glasgow where some of the exits are on the right hand side.

Four or 5 lanes don't bother me, but I hate the approach to the Dartford Tunnel. It's as wide as a car park, but with vehicles travelling at speed and I find it very intimidating.

I’m just going to say that the more you drive the more confident you’ll be. I used to be a bit scared of the M25 (first time I used it I panicked and drove back onto the slip road when entering!) but it’s actually no scarier than any other motorway. Stick to the left lane (or if there’s a filter, Lane 2) until you’re sure that pulling out to overtake is safe, and signal your intentions in plenty of time.

My hate is when the M25 is slow due to sheer weight of traffic, everyone is doing 50-60 but there’s everyone wedged together. You can barely change lane as everyone is so close, lorries go everywhere and box you.
I don’t mind much, but I feel like crying after that. You’re trapped but still at a reasonable speed, constant breaking and accelerating to compensate for people so close to you, it’s tiring.

Oh yes, Dartford too- crazy amount of lanes. I once saw someone grind to a halt broken down in the 4th lane, it was busy and bloody hard to avoid them! Everyone was diving either side as they suddenly became visible as the one in front moved, it was so wide though the traffic flow didn’t slow.

@Ellpellwood

I don't mind them until you have to start splitting off into a certain lane for a certain direction. The M4/M5 junction has 5 lanes and you have to be in the middle one to go north as the right lanes go across to Wales. I'm always getting cut off by people at the last second.

I live near this one and it's all kinds of fun. You can always spot the drivers that aren't used to it.

I quite like 4 lane motorways. It feels like there's more space and we're not all crammed together.

I don't mind 4 lane motorways, but do mind people who don't drive appropriately for a motorway.
This includes: middle lane hoggers; idiots who drive wherever they feel based on whether they think of themselves as a slow or fast vehicle rather tham actual speed in relation to traffic; people who pay no attention to well-signed junctions and expect to cut across 2 or 3 lanes of traffic at the last minute; people who appear ignorant of other road users (looking at you, drivers who seem oblivious that other drivers need need get in lane when motorways merge or split).

I find the A1 worse.
Same speed limit as motorway. Same entitled drivers. Plus lay-bys, tractors, footpaths down the side and lorries can legally do a right turn across it. And no hard shoulder.

Quite happy with four lanes but find ‘ middle lane ‘ hoggers annoying where there’s space galore on the inside lane and no imminent influx from a junction . No hard shoulder is a danger in my view and on the M4 have seen emergency vehicles held up .

Four-lane motorways I can handle (I stick in Lane 1/2 and don't worry too much about Lane 4). But two-lane motorways are a nightmare. Like the stretch of the M11 north of Stansted which is uphill and two-lane, so if there's a lorry overtaking another you get stuck for ages behind a rolling roadblock. And if you overtake a lorry at 70mph you'll get an Audi driver right up your backside for the whole manoeuvre.

I can't understand why a motorway with 4 or 5 lanes is any more difficult to drive on than one with just three. All the same principles apply! In fact, I find that it's often more pleasant with more lanes because people can spread out more.
If this causes you so much anxiety, perhaps you should consider a few lessons to get your confidence up. Driving shouldn't be that stressful.

They might then quickly switch to lane 2 just as you’re pulling in from lane 1.
Well only if they aren't looking at where they are going.
You, moving lanes would be indicating - if I can't see you indicating then I'm in front of you - so no probs with the move. If I see you indicating I won't move into your space.

No one wants carnage - everyone is watching out for you same as you are watching for them.

OP I am completely with you.... there is a bit after you go through the toll booths on the M6 toll which has about 8 lanes and it turns me to jelly every time.

But you don't need to keep an eye on all 4 lanes...just yours plus the ones either side of you if you're in lane 2 or 3.

So just the same 2 or 3 as if you were on a normal 3 lane motorway.

@Oilpyii

Oh yes, Dartford too- crazy amount of lanes. I once saw someone grind to a halt broken down in the 4th lane, it was busy and bloody hard to avoid them! Everyone was diving either side as they suddenly became visible as the one in front moved, it was so wide though the traffic flow didn’t slow.

Yes, this is it, it takes so much concentration, the constant slow down, speed up, no gaps, mental white BMW drivers doing crazy stuff, and then lorries too.

The sections I drive are 5 and 6 lanes. Hate it.

Give me the 2 lane M11 any day, or even the A1 (unless it's one of those hideous no slip road junctions)

I love 4 lane motorway driving more than any other driving.
Maybe a refresher course to improve your confidence?

@TeenMinusTests

Raspberry If you stay left on the M25 you'll be filtered off at the next junction. And there always is a next junction quite soon.

Similar on the M8 round Glasgow. But when the road filters off there is a solid line separating the lanes. And overhead signage telling you what is going on.

The best junction onto the M8 is J17 (?) where you join in the right hand "fast" lane. That's fun.

But as with everything it's practice. If you can't cope with more than three lanes then it's quite worrying.

I don't drive on motorways- they feel dangerous to me.
I am a very experienced driver ( including motorways) but I just don't find them pleasant places.
I avoid.

In fact, I find that it's often more pleasant with more lanes because people can spread out more.

Driving into London on a very busy four lane motorway is not my idea of a pleasant experience!

Yes this - I’m a very confident driver but knowing if your car conks out on a smart motorway you could die very easily is a huge new worry in driving
I made the mistake of watching a dispatches or panorama documentary about smart motorways. My main take away from it was that the vast majority of the cameras on the network aren't actually being watched, so despite claims that smart motorways can quickly close lanes, they're only able to close quickly once someone notices. More often than not it is reports from motorists that flag a breakdown.

My first time on the M42 near Birmingham made me feel a little twitchy after that.

I can’t believe that removing the hard shoulder from a motorway could ever be deemed a good idea. I don’t care what the data or the experts say - common sense tells me it’s madness!

OP, you'd love the bit of the M25 by Heathrow where it goes to 6 lanes.

When I was driving around California a couple of years ago you had to go all the way over to the left to get to the HOV lane (which was usually significantly faster) but then if you were exiting you had to cross back over 6 lanes of traffic to the exit on the right. I found it best to start moving out of the HOV lane at least 2 miles before the exit. Bit intimidating... and I've been driving for 34 years, half of them in the US :-)

@VeryQuaintIrene

Atlanta, GA has 14 and more lane highways - absolutely horrific. I did it once at rush hour and never again.

I also recall the US roads around Miami where the exit you want could be from either side, having to cut across four lanes because your exit if on the left was a bit hairy.