To be petrified driving on motorways

[mollyfolk]

Anyone else scared of driving on motorways? I'm driving years but mostly within 20km of where I live. I avoid motorways or long distances as much as possible. I have to make a 3 hour journey now on Monday, mostly motorway, and I am already feeling sick about it.

I do breathing exercises to stay calm when driving like this. Has anyone overcome a phobia like this?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

That's exactly what I was thinking.

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!

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

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.

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?

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.

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,

@TaylorBrown

No, I go 100km which is a bit slow but not accident causing slow. The limit is 120km.

But there are loads of people with horse boxes, trailers etc.. going slow. I don't think they are causing accidents. As long as they are in the left hand lane, how are they causing an issue?

But anyway it is more entry and exit- the merging and making sure you are in the right lane all at high speeds that get to me rather than the driving in a straight line.

I'm surprised that so many people have the same problem. I always feel a bit silly.

After dealing with this drive tomorrow, I'll definitely get some advanced driving lessons and keep up the motorway driving.

Remember drive the speed limit. Accidents happen. Even in the slow lane.

Where I am from horseboxes and trailers are limited to 10mph under the limit. That won't cause accidents. But doing 40/50 is incredibly frustrating for other road users and yes even in the slow lane if you drive that speed on a motorway you should not be on it. What if a low sun and someone doesn't realise how slow your going and goes right into the back of you? Road rage is also a big cause of accidents.

It’s just practice. Unfortunately you can’t buy it but you will get there and then you will wonder what you were worried about! Xx

Shame.

I'm happy as a clam on a motorway. If I'm in no hurry, I just pottle along in the slow lane and I get there when I get there.

Driving in towns and cities is, I think, much harder.

I used to be the same! After a year and a half of driving while avoiding motorways, I had to go to the airport to pick my sister and used the motorway. This was 10 mins max. Then after that I did the same route a few times. After a few months I drove one hour to a different city to meet a friend. Now I feel more confident and I agree with everyone saying that motorways are easier. So my recommendation is to try a short segment of a motorway close to you, either go by yourself or with someone who you trust and would like to be with you. Then try to repeat the same segment a few times until you become more motorway confident and you’ll be able to drive longer distances. A small step at a time.

Make sure you keep in your lane and if you need to change you use your indicators and really check your mirrors and blind spots.

Good luck!

Ooh is this specific hypnosis for motorway driving or anxiety generally?

I was the same until my late husband couldn’t drive anymore. So I had to get on with it. He died 6 years ago and I’ll drive anywhere. It’s all a question of practice and gaining confidence. I would certainly have a lesson or two with someone as I don’t think it’s safe for someone who is not motorway confident to be driving on them.

I get anxious on the motorway too and I'm so annoyed with myself because I used to be fine!

I don't like when others are joining. My heart jumps in my throat. I also don't like the HGV's.

It's not that I don't know how to drive on the motorway, it's other drivers driving like dickheads.

Planning to have refresher lessons in the NY and may look into hypnosis as mentioned by previous poster.

When I passed my test I had a motorway lesson. Maybe this is something you could look into.

Often fear comes from the unknown and/or an overblown assumption of risk and is frequently irrational. The reality is motorways are the safest roads and you are more at risk of a serious/fatal accident using single carriageway roads as an alternative. Motorways are much easier to use as the rules are simple (keep left unless overtaking), the junctions are most often grade separated (all that is needed is a bit of negotiation and anticipation at merge points), and there are no right turns across traffic. If the speed bothers you stick to lane 1, the traffic won't be going faster than the HGV's doing 56 mph.

Ultimately the way to overcome fear is to face it repeatedly until experience teaches you the fear is unfounded.