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?

A lot of those learners, were encouraged and have taken motorway lessons and made the effort to get out onto motorways so that they wouldn't become fearful. But yes I still stand by my point, if you cannot today, get on a motorway and drive, then you are not a competent driver.

I'm glad you made it.

This is the thing though, if you (general you) keep putting something off, your mind creates a much bigger thing out of it.

Well done!

Well done! Driving anxiety is awful but I promise it can be overcome with regular practice.

I used to hate the motorway and, even though I have had my licence for 10 years, it was only last year that I finally drove on the motorway in the dark as it turns out, it's now my favourite type of driving! It tends to be quieter, the oncoming headlights are much further away so they don't dazzle me, and I find a long, straight road in the dark much more relaxing than driving through towns.

I would have thought it was the over confident risk takers that are a greater danger on the roads

The road ahead was blocked and everyone was diverted onto the M25. It happens!!

I understand, but my question was what did the vehicles do that are not allowed on the motorway?

Sorry I don’t understand your question. If you only drive on A roads and they block you going ahead and force you to go o to the motorway you will have no choice but to drive on the motorway. If you are a panic driver that could be disastrous.

@pumpkinpillow Yes I do live in northern Scotland.

To the others saying I can't drive properly, as I've already said I'm perfectly competent at the driving I need to do. I never need to use motorways and have managed for 43 years without anybody questioning my competency because I've never driven on one.
So crack on and drive up and down motorways as much as you need to.

It would be very unusual to have a diversion only go to a motorway because not all drivers are allowed on them. I'd suggest there was another diversion that you missed.

🥳🥳🥳 good on you!

It’s a mixed bag though. The risk takers are clearly dangerous but people who are liable to panic are equally dangerous, strong chance of doing something completely unexpected that could cause chaos. There’s just likely more risk takers than panic drivers. Some people just aren’t meant to drive and my honest opinion is if you’re not capable to drive on all types of roads and journey types you probably shouldn’t be driving.

I mean vehicles that are forbidden to drive on the motorway e.g. learners (unless with an instructor with dual controls), tractors, little motorbikes.
There must have been provision for them.

Nice. A place I've wanted to visit.

Do people really spend lots of time driving in areas they don't need to drive, just to prove they can.
I cant fathom driving 200 miles away, when I dont need to, just to prove I could.
@Frowningprovidence you shouldn't need to drive 200 miles to prove you can drive on a mostly straight line. You really should just be able to do it. If you can't, you're not a competent driver. If you can't drive on a motorway, if hazard a guess that you couldn't really drive on a dual carriage way and if you can't drive on a dual carriage way, you probably can't drive on a single carriage way a road and so on and so on.

Ah I see! Yes if there is no other choice then they will be allowed. Same as when you have to go into a bus lane if there is an accident. I always make a note of this in case the camera catches you.

I think people are just having a very literal take on someone saying they can't drive on motorways.

You think they mean they don't have the skills to do so and they can't.

I assume they mean they have all the skills as they have passed the driving test and use all the same skills to do all thier other driving, but they have a bit of a psychological block about the speed/business, or don't have much experience as it's not something they do much as they don't need do. I assume they actually can but are worried about it.

In your way of thinking, then yes you shouldn't be driving if you don't have the skills to merge and drive in a straight line essentially.

In my way of thinking, I know they have the skills but recognise thet might not have had many chances to use them in that scenario, so might feel nervous about it.

They're not. You're also not allowed to pull over on a hard shoulder to swap drivers because one's too scared.

Funny, because I only drove on a motorway twice in the last three years but I clearly can and do drive every day on all other roads with zero issues whatsoever. Not a single speeding ticket, accident or a parking fine. So do you suggest I should send my license (yes, the license which says I can drive) back to DVLA?

I had no choice as my friend was having a panic attack. I would rather have the fine than be in an accident.

The driving license is issued after observing someone on a known route for 20 mins, so just because one has a license, doesn't mean they are a competent driver. You learn to drive after, on a variety of roads/conditions etc. Again the lack of accidents or speeding tickets doesn't mean you are more competent than someone who has gone 35 in a 30 at 6.15 am on a Sunday!

Then your friend should not ever be in charge of a car again!

Learners weren’t even allowed to drive on motorways until 2018 and now only in a dual-control car with a fully-qualified instructor and not your Dad (in the UK)

So the only criteria for driving competence in your opinion is being able to drive on a motorway?
In that case, why don't we juts dispose with the rest of the driving test and driving instructions for learners and juts take the buggers down the motorway so the only skills they would need is merging, changing lanes and driving in a straight line. Seems like enough skills to be able to negotiate city driving subsequently 🙄

I get what you're saying, best of two evils but that's why instructor cars with two controls are best in these situations if someone is so vulnerable that this is a likely outcome. This is not a natural reaction to driving and absolutely suggests someone who is not a competent driver and should probably be getting some help and assistance with solving it.

Saying this type of roadster is not a good driver does not take away from the other dangerous types of driving but we aren't talking about them here. One doesn't remove the risk of the other.