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?

Honestly it’s easier. I was a very nervous driver and I completely empathise with the fear.

However, where I live there are motorways to get everywhere, even short journeys and it’s honestly fine, a lot easier than ‘normal’ roads

Get up to speed, don’t hesitate with joining / lane changes and it’s fine.

It's never too late to have a crack at sorting these things. Tell her about exposure therapy rather than the defeating oh mum's got a small world. Early 60's is too young to be talking about someone like they're a doddery failure.

OP I have the same problem. I don’t know why and wish I could do it!

38 years of "driving" and you haven't been on a motorway

Are you actually driving or just going through the motions going on the same roads?

I'm the same! I wouldn't even do the drive so you are braver than me! My mum is the same so I've got my driving anxiety from her. I only drive locally. I would push myself if my husband wanted me to do more of the driving, but he prefers to be the driver (gets passenger sickness) so I don't.

Driving is driving🫤

I used to be exactly the same. I also did breathing exercises to stop the panic setting in (for no reason)

I didn’t want to give into my fear and anxiety. So I just kept going on the motorway when I needed to and not avoiding it.

it does get easier. Now I don’t get the panic feeling, I take it all in my stride. I actually prefer it now as it’s just driving in the same direction as all the other cars, no turns, roundabouts or lights. Much easier!

Don’t give up. Keep going and it will get easier. If I can do it honestly anyone can I was terrible.

I don't drive on motorways. My nearest in the M25 and I HATE it. Had a bad experience and it has stayed with me.

Happy enough to drive on the motorways in other countries but can't get past the mind block. I just drive the long way round.

@lanzerotelady
I don't need to with the job I do and I've no plans to ever 🤣

I'd much rather go the long way round too

Yes, I just won't do it end of.

I've never driven on the motorway and I passed my test nearly 10 years ago.

We don't have any nearby (the nearest is over an hour away) and when we do long journeys, DH drives as we take his (bigger) car so it's just never came up. I do drive daily on loads of narrow country lanes that most people hate though!

I've never driven on a motorway either - just don't need to. I don't live anywhere near one and I can get where I need to go on A-roads, which I much prefer anyway.

Why do you think someone has to go on the motorway to drive properly?

NRTFT - One tip I would give to you.... speed up on the slip road. I see so many nervous drivers treating it like a give way/stop junction. The slip is designed for you to get up to the speed of the traffic on the motorway so that you can merge into a gap. So get up to 60/70mph and be indicating so that a driver knows you are going to pull out into their lane and you are going fast enough you aren't causing them to break.

If you slow down or stop, this is very dangerous for the other cars joining the motorway behind you, dangerous for you as you risk not accelerating fast enough and also a lot harder for you to get out onto the motorway if it's busy!

Definitely book advanced driving lessons to give you practice and confidence going forwards.

Motorway lessons sound like the answer.

I live 3 motorways including the M25 from my family and have done since I was 19 years old, now ds1 lives the other way round the M25 so I’m very used to motorway driving and don’t have an issue thankfully….apart from the traffic, middle lane drivers and all that of course!

Driving in central London, that got me, I was scared! Wasn’t as bad as I anticipated but the lane changes, confusing road layouts and traffic were hard work!

I would take more lessons if I was struggling as I do think not feeling confident to drive on motorways would be limiting.

Motorway driving is so much easier than city or country road driving (which can be bloody awful). It's literally just going straight. There's nothing to it.

I know it's weird but it is possible to get about without using motorways. There was a time they didn't exist so you can get pretty much anywhere you need to go on non motorway roads.

I personally find them easier and more relaxing on long journeys.

I would take more lessons if I was struggling as I do think not feeling confident to drive on motorways would be limiting.

I guess it depends where you live or need to go, but I've never struggled to get anywhere without the motorway. I quite like country driving though and going down rural lanes!

Rural lanes especially in the dark (and with incoming drivers blinding you) are so much more dangerous than just going in a straight line on a well-lit motorway

Your examiner thought you were competent enough to drive on motorways, otherwise he/she wouldn't have allowed you to pass your driving test.
In fact I find it simpler in some ways driving on the motorway. Everything is heading in the same direction as you. The stuff coming towards you is on the far side of a crash barrier.
I've also ridden pillion on motorcycles and to be honest I've felt safer on the motorway than in the city where drivers pull out of side roads without checking properly.

Could this be the result of the bright LED headlights?
They are a nightmare especially in the rain.

In my 50 years of driving I would suggest that long journeys on A roads are far more stressful than on Motorways, due to the constantly changing road and traffic conditions.

But you're assuming I avoid motorways because of the danger - I don't - I've just never needed to use one.

The M6 is our closest but it's still over an hour away - so all my day-to-day driving is on A-roads and country lanes by default. If we do go further afield, DH drives as his car is bigger and more comfortable, and he much prefers driving. I'm quite happy being a passenger whereas he gets bored, so it's just what we do.

I'd be quite happy to drive on one if I had to, it's just never come up!

Different people find different things stressful, though. It also depends on where you live and what you're used to.

I learned to drive on rural country roads and lanes - they're my "normal", but many people absolutely hate them. Similarly, lots of people hate driving in cities whereas a local probably wouldn't think twice. My mum hates driving to me as there are lots of single track roads with passing places whereas I don't think twice as I do it everyday.

To be fair, I think that although driving on the motorway is easier as you have more time to think, the test has no motorway component and unless you learn on fast duel carriageways you're not that prepared, as a few people on here have said they passed their test but don't drive or are terrified of motorways.

It's a bit of a shortcoming of the test of you ask me. Having said that, most people manage.