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?

Motorways are easy. No pedestrians, no cyclists, no speed bumps, no traffic lights, everyone going in the same direction and very clear rules.

Get some motorway lessons, it really is so much easier once you build up confidence with merging, mirrors and lane changes.

I don't know where all these people are living that A-road journeys are quicker than motorways. They definitely aren't. My 2.5 hour journey on the motorway to parents is 4.5 hours on A-roads.

I don't know where all these people are living that A-road journeys are quicker than motorways. They definitely aren't. My 2.5 hour journey on the motorway to parents is 4.5 hours on A-roads.

Where I am, there just isn't a choice. There's no motorway within an hour of my house, so your choices are A-roads or A-roads, lol.

I think it depends on your journey though and the time of day. When we've gone on holiday, the motorways often have closed lanes or accidents causing tailbacks, whereas the A-roads are mostly clear and free.

It's the speed I think. Using slip roads and passing people out is the worst bit.

I use dual carriageways all the time.

This articulates exactly my own terror about motorways. I'm glad it's not just me and that maybe one day I will be able to overcome it like you.

Where I live the M25 is pretty much unavoidable if you want to go north any distance. I once got confused on a roundabout and took the wrong exit, which meant having to travel miles in the wrong direction with a pissed off passenger and I ended up a nervous wreck. I'm ok once I'm on the motorway and don't have too much of an issue joining others, but the M25 makes me very anxious.

It's the arrogant, over confident, over entitled drivers you want to worry about, not the timid, cautious ones,

Thanks everyone.

I'm not incompetent, I just don't do it enough so I'm not used to it. It's the speed.

I live in a city and do drives that other people would fine hellish all the time with bikes and people running out on the road and busy traffic etc... but the speed limit in the city is 50km and driving 100km/hr just feels so out of my comfort zone.

I find motorways less stressful than busy city/town driving. I find it crazy we get no mandatory lessons on motorway driving in this country included before taking the test. Plan your route in advance, honestly getting on and off is fine, just stay at a speed you are comfortable with and make sure you are always checking your mirrors and blind spot before manoeuvres. Go out early on a Sunday morning for a bit of practice while it’s quiet, to build your confidence. And maybe take someone who is a good driver and calm, to sit next to you, and give advice, to make you feel more at ease? I was scared at first but after a few journeys felt a lot more confident

You get used to it during the journey, @mollyfolk

You don't need to go super fast -'to be honest, on UK motorways you might be lucky to do a constant 60 as traffic slows so often.

But dual carriageways are 70 limit as well? They're literally dual carriageways with an extra lane if you think about it. Even joining/ merging is exactly the same.

I'm not in the UK - the speed limit is 120km/hr here. I usually go around 100km/hr, I feel like you are more of a danger going too slow. If I could go 80 I'd feel much more comfortable.

I didn't realise the speed limit is only 70km/hr in the UK. That would be fine!

it's 70mph which is about 113km/hr.

You're all totally right.

It helped a lot telling that it is safer.

I've changed my plan slightly so I will be driving to a friend's for an hour and then she'll drive the rest of the way. This means I can leave in the early morning when it is quiet.

I'll drive from where I live to York (about a 70 mile drive). Occasionally I'll go to Meadowhall on it. Honestly though, I'll only drive on it super early or after about 18:30. It's easy once you're on, but I have significant anxiety over merging.

I also won't drive in new city centres.

I don't find it especially limiting. I'm not a city person, and honestly driving to them is so much hassle that I'd rather go on the train.

It depends whether it bothers and limits you. It doesn't mean as I've got no real need to access them regularly. I would if I really had to.

You don't have to go on them.

I got like a driving anxiety on the motorway and took me ages to get over it. You just have to go at the speed you're comfortable with. I can never overtake. But I can do short journeys.

The idea of driving on a motorway terrifies me so I've not attempted it yet. I only learnt to drive a bit over a year ago and I only drive in my town and to my work in a town 20km away along a quiet country road (which is scary enough because the speed limit is 80km/h, and most people drive about 100, even in the 60 zones)

I'm considering booking some lessons with an instructor next summer, to practice city driving and motorway driving.

Just a lot of idiot lorry drivers. Tbh I hate motorway driving with a passion because of mainly overtaking lorry drivers but I do it because I have to. I also find them so monotonous for example I’d prefer the A1 to M1 because to me it’s a more interesting drive.

I have never driven on the motorway. Tbf I've only been driving a few years. Decided to learn late.
I found the whole experience horrible and sometimes wish I'd never bothered.
I have considered motorway lessons as I am limited. But then in other ways I've accepted it and look at it from a different angle.
I live in a big city where I don't even technically need to drive. UK holidays DH drives(his choice) and I never have and never do rely on anyone to take me anywhere.
I don't ever really go far on a day to day basis and if I had to(unlikely) then I would use A roads.
Weekends and city breaks with friends we get the train.
I use dual carriageways fine . I work in a very dodgy area so driving around there is tricky and stressful. I don't drive through the city centre as its complicated and always roadworks etc.
It's easier to get public transport.
I've kind of accepted I probably won't ever go on a motorway. They are not the same as a dual carriageway. The speed is greater. I don't even like being a passenger on one
Much prefer it when we come of onto A roads.

I'm pretty surprised at how many drivers never drive on a motorway due to nerves.
Has it restricted what you do?

I used imagine passing my test and driving to the seaside or the countryside.And I've never done that. But I suppose I really only do those things with DH and DC and like I said he drives. I have no need to go on a motorway in my everyday life at all.

@Iusedtobecarmen

I use dual carriageways fine
...
I've kind of accepted I probably won't ever go on a motorway. They are not the same as a dual carriageway. The speed is greater. I don't even like being a passenger on one
Much prefer it when we come of onto A roads.

The speed on a dual carriageway and motorway is exactly the same. 70 mph.

Motorways are basically dual carriageways with an extra lane, as a PP said! Also have people overtaking too. Honestly can't see how people can drive on a dual carriageway but not a motorway.

You said in your PP that you never rely on anyone to drive you anywhere. Clearly you are relying on your DH.

Honestly, find a way to practice these things - more lessons if that helps - because you're restricting yourself. Then you can drive half the time with DH to stay in practice.

One day DH might need you to drive, if nothing else.

I say this as someone who had to really keep pushing myself once I'd passed my test in my late 30s. It IS worth it.

I disagree they are not the same. Most dual carriageways I go on are 50mph. 2 lanes, no slip roads. No massive Hgv's.

When I'm a passenger on motorways I see all sorts of dangerous drivers. Twats speeding and weaving between lanes.
Yes they may be statiscally safer, but if you are involved in an accident you are likely to bed.
Lots of dangerous driving on normal roads too, where I work is shocking but you are likely to survive a 30mph crash.
Like I said its not just me driving, I don't like motorways as a passenger either.

I'm the same. People say motorways are the safest roads but not for me.

I never have either. Was talking to someone the other day who described them as a dual carriageway but with an extra lane. But I'm still too scared.