to find this really quite...well, pathetic.

[BritFish]

my son has just got a new girlfriend, who lives the next town over but goes to the same college. she is lovely, and she was telling me today about how her and 3 friends are getting the train to a theme park as a birthday thing. the train station is a good 30 minute walk to the theme park, which isnt a problem, except they dont know the area.
i asked her if noone could give her a lift and she said he dad was working and her mum doesnt drive on motorways.
i immediately thought shed had an accident on one and that made her nervous, i asked in a roundabout way and DS's girlfriend said that everyone always assumes that but her mum just refuses to drive on motorways as they are 'too much stress'
she sighed and just said they [her and her dad] had given up trying to talk sense into her, and that its caused massive fallouts and problems in the past.

AIBU in thinking this woman is deeply unreasonable and frankly worrying?
fair enough to dislike motorways, im not keen myself, but its got to be done sometimes!
surely to be safe on the road you need to be comfortable with different roads etc?
i still cant believe they dont do motorway driving in driving tests though...

How would you feel if her mother couldn't drive at all? Would she be more or less selfish?

Hey, BritFish, if you're that bothered, why don't you take them?!

I think its very safe and sensible to know your limits and stick within them. I don't mind the motorway but I hate the autobahn and it terrifies me to the point where I don't think my decision making can be very effective. I believe its safer for everyone if I don't drive on the autobahn. If drivers are nervous and indecisive they cause accidents - this woman should be respected for her concientiousness.

traceytbath i know, i need to get it sorted, keep meaning to go to docs for referral but i am too chicken i can drive, and join the motorways etc, but it makes me sooo anxsiou, it is not the practical side that bothers me, so not sure motorway lessons would ehlp, but thanks x

YABU, nervous drivers on motorways make dreadfully dangerous drivers. (although admittedly so do overly arrogant drivers)

what is wrong with walking 30 minutes to get somewhere? it will be good for them to be independent, as teenagers me and my friends got trains / buses/ walked to wherever we wanted to go to.

Motorway driving should have an additional test IMO it's terrifying at first and something you need to practice without some idiot up your arse flashing you even in the slow lane, I was doing 40 admittedly but even so.

YABU to call anyone pathetic if they have a genuine fear but I do wonder how safe and competent a driver can actually be if one aspect of driving causes such immense stress ? I appreciate how scary motorway driving CAN be, but I've found situations at fast moving roundabouts, high speed dual carriageways EQUALLY as challenging so I wonder how motorway phobic drivers cope with those. Would be interesting to find stats on teh number of accidents which occur on motorways as opposed to other roads. FWIW, I think that people should be forced to retake a driving test every 10 years or so in order to keep a valid license. My grandad was a scary driver but because he had 60 years experience, he thought he was invincible and it was ll the other 'idiots' on the road who caused accidents

My Aunt is 60 and won't drive outside of her local area, never has, never will.
She gets the train if she needs to go further and has travelled all over the world.

I don't see why anyone should go on a Motorway if they don't want to.

motorway driving is so much easier though!? Weird.

YABU and so is your son's girlfriend and her dad.

What's your weakness BritFish?

YABU - she's not going to overcome this unless she HAD to drive on the motorway all the time. It's not something you can easily fix.

I used to hate driving on motorways but the more I did, the easier it gets.

After reading of all the nervous motorway drivers on here, I now feel quite smug that I'm happy to bomb down the motorway in the fast lane........

I do agree that people DO need to be taught how to drive on motorways though. The 'middle lane owners club' was enjoying a bank holiday outing on the M40 yesterday .......move over if you're not overtaking anything aaaaaarrrggg! My pet hate!

Sassybeast, as I've said, it doesn't mean you're an unsafe driver, it just means your mind won't let you. A driver who doesn't want to drive on a motorway, but did, would probably be safer and better than the driver who does it every day without thinking.

I'm quite happy for someone who is a very nervous motorway driver to stay off them. Nervous drivers could cause accidents.
Tracybath... I had a boyfriend who did that!

I know loads of people who wont drive on motorways.

I find it easier myself but it seems to be a common fear.

It took me ages to learn to drive because I was so nervous so totally understand why people dont like doing certain things.

I was thrown into the deep end a few weeks after I passed my test (aged 36) as my DD was dx with cancer. I had no choice but to drive here there and everywhere at all times of night and day and in all weathers. I think if I hadnt I would still be avoiding driving anywhere, let alone on high speed roads.

Just as the confident, bomb down the motorway types are equally as likely to cause an accident.

My friends Mum has a fear of turning right so avoids right turns at all costs.
My dsis hates motorways but more bizarrely will not drive somewhere she hasn't driven before. and will not drive a new car she hasn't driven before, a nightmare for her dp as he gets a new one every 3 years.

I do think these fears regarding driving are a female thing. My friends dad thinks I am a bloke in disguise as I love driving anywhere and am always looking to drive different cars and aim to drive a bus oneday.

However YABU a little bit as you don't know the full reason behind her fear.

I will only drive on motorways when with DP. I think I am a good driver but motorways panic me and have become a real obstacle for me.

I think you are being very judgemental and unkind... plus I feel a 30 minute walk is hardly a big deal!

There's a big difference between confidently driving on the motorway, at speed, and driving like a complete arse - up people's backsides, in the pouring rain..........

I think the nervous drivers, who sit in the middle lane (because they either have no awareness of what is going on around them or because they are too scared to change lanes) are far more dangerous, That just my opinion of course.

Point taken mango.
As I am neither, I am happy for both sorts to stay off them.

I have never driven on a motorway and I fully intend not to do so.
In fact I never drive in any area I don't know.
That's what husbands are for.

If she did go on the motorway it sounds like she'd be one of those bloody irritating 60mph in the middle lane types...best she sticks to the B roads!

Middle lane hoggers are the pits! (is there a pun there somewhere?!)

I don't think it's bizarre to worry about driving in a new place either. Bizarre to think it's bizarre maybe.

Debs75 I think I'm a bloke in disguise because I'd love to have a go at rally driving.

My job, for the last 15 years, has meant that I have to drive to all sorts of unfamilar places so it made me overcome any fears I had. It's only necessity that will make anyone overcome these fears.

Are you one of those bloody irritating flashing up the arse, get outta my way types when you drive on the motorway, Nancy66?!