I am going on motorway for the first time tomorrow and am terrified!?

Question

Hey,
i am going on the motorway tomorrow for the first time, the journey should take about an hour but i am dreading it. I hate it when u enter a motorway.. any confidence boosters would be a great help, i am going on M40 junction 1 and than getting on M25 Junction 16, than continuing on M25 and exiting on Junction 21a to enter M1 because i need to go to milton keynes. I know i have to get off at junction 14 but still am nervous.
I know i sound crazy. Please whatever u think off me i need your help. I have been driving for 3 years and have been a good driver no accidents touch wood. I am going on the motorway on my own tomorrow because on saturday will have to take family there so im practising on my own.

Thank u

Answer 1

Don't be, your much more likely to have an accident on the normal roads. That's a fact.

Answer 2

I've done that trip myself and it's not too bad. Make sure you know the exact route before you travel as you won't want to be worrying about the junctions as well as being new to the driving style.

If you've never been on a motorway before I would strongly suggest you take someone with you, even if they can't drive themselves. When you're driving on a motorway, especially when you're new to it all, you're unlikely to want to distract yourself to get a bottle of water or change radio stations and having a calm passenger can make all the difference.

Make sure you stop regularly, especially if you get even a little bit tired - motorway driving takes a lot more concentration than town driving (well, a different sort anyway) because you're going faster.

In my experience, none of the roads you'll be on will be particularly fast (the M5 to the West can be a bit crazy, so get a bit more practice in before trying that one!). The M25 can be 'orrible in rush hour though, so I'd avoid any time before about 12 for your dummy run if I were you.

Just a few other things to remember that are a bit different on a motorway:

The steering will have more response as you're going faster, so don't oversteer.

Make sure you ALWAYS know exactly what vehicles are approaching you and around you at any time - you may need to make allowances for other people being darn stoopid. This will mean using ALL of your mirrors more often than you would in town - be aware.

ALWAYS check your blind spot before changing lanes. Odds are that noone'll be there (or you can just not change lanes at all) but it's possible to be moving into the same space as someone else simultaneously, so be careful. In fact, unless you're stuck behind a crawling oil tanker or road sweeper, stick in the slow lane, it's much less stressful!

When you pass junctions be extra vigilant about nutters coming up behind you, overtaking, then nipping in front of you just before the chevrons start on the slip road - this is usually souped up fiestas! ;) Likewise, if there's a queue on the slip road, be wary of people getting bored and trying to get off it back onto the main carriageway without looking properly.

If someone drives up your butt, slow down a bit, you'll need to take their stopping distance into account too if they're tailgating. Try not to go below 50mph, it's safer to be keeping up with the rest of the traffic.

Very useful too is the mantra 'only a fool breaks the two-second rule'. You MUST be at least two seconds away from the car in front (measure it by saying that rhyme, marking it between the cat's eyes or lamp posts), you'll need to leave double that if it's wet.

Personally, if I was going to MK from London, I'd get the Silverlink!
Good luck, you'll be fine. If you've the road sense to stay safe for three years, all you need is a bit of practice and you'll be sorted!

:)

Answer 3

You don't sound crazy, joining a motorway is a nervewracking experience when you haven't done it much. I hated it when I first passed.

My advice is: Get plenty of speed up on the sliproad. You don't want to be going too slowly, or all the cars will be racing by. I'd recommend about 60. When you can see the lane on the motorway, look to find a gap between two cars you can fit into. Slow down or speed up accordingly so you line up with it. Indicate and move out. Cars have to let you out when everyone's travelling at 60+ and a lane is going to disappear, as otherwise there will be an accident.

It's the sort of thing which only gets better with practice. Good luck.

Answer 4

Relax stay calm and you will be fine. Try to stay in the left hand lane as much as you can and plan any lane changes carefully, mirror signal manoeuvre. If you are not sure you can carry out the manoeuvre then don't. If you don't feel confident enough to drive on the motorway then don't, find an alternative non-motorway route. Don't risk your life your family's life or anyone else's if you are not up to it. Try going on the motorway at off peak times or book some motorway driving lessons. I know how you feel I felt the same way.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

You will be fine.

Just take it easy and try to plan in advance - raad the signs and figure out what you are going to do as much in advance as possible.

Try to keep your eyes on the horizon for a bit to ensure that you can see hazards coming up.

The most important thing about slip roads onto the motorway is to get a little bit of speed up as that makes it much easier to get onto the motorway as going really slow and stopping on the slip road is a big no no.

When you are on the motorway try and stay in the left hand lane to get some confidence and remember Mirror Signal Manouvre is very important on motorways too.

Also, plan in advance of where you are going on and coming off so at least you have an idea of where you are going in a little detail.

Use this advice and I am sure you will be fine.

Answer 6

All I can say is it may be wise to travel down in advance with someone with you.
If my mother-in-law has to go somewhere and she needs to use the motorway I normally go with her the day before just so she feels better and I also write some easy directions i.e which lanes to be in especially if the slow lane goes left and the rest of the motorway carries straight ahead.
I prefer motorway driving but I`m petrified of going Through London.

Last time I crossed tower bridge 7 times as I got completely lost.

Motorway driving is easier and you don`t need to rush to use it, just go at a casual speed, but not to slow.

I know that didn`t help one bit but its my experience of motorway driving



LOL

Answer 7

Don't worry, if you can handle 'A' and 'B' roads you can handle motorway. Keep to a speed you are happy with and be aware of whats around you, as normal and you will be fine. Accidents far less likely on motorways than on the roads you have been driving on for last 3 years. Good luck.

Answer 8

I wouldn't worry.
Just be prepared for traffic. The north side of the M25 is notorious for that.

It'll just be like going on a slow journey. However you may be lucky. Try and stay well outside peak hours to avoid congestion.

Motorways are a breeze. Once you've driven on them the worries will go away. In fact, you'll start moaning about them. Lol.

Answer 9

First off DON'T panic,everyone is going the same way so just keep up with the flow,in the first lane this is less than 60mph(coz thats what lorries are goverend to)so this is a good lane to be in at first,things tend to happen alot slower and you only have to watch cars moving over from the right hand side.just cruise along till you feel ready to move into the middle lane.
Remember to use your mirrors and signal in plenty of time so others know you are moving lanes etc and you'll be fine and signing along happily to the radio in no time!
good luck

Answer 10

Start by staying on the inside lane, driving at a speed you feel comfortable with - until the person in front is p*ssing you off SO much that you just HAVE to overtake them..do the normal overtaking procedure - Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre - pass offending vehicle - Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre - and you end up back in the inside lane.

Next time you overtake you may not want to pull in to inside lane as it is full of caravans - so just gently accelerate to pass them - now you're in the middle lane and stuck behind a lorry that is struggling to overtake one of those caravans - so you do your M.S.M. routine and there is nothing in the outside lane, you pull in to the outside lane - pass the lorry - indicate and move back in to the middle lane and find you've passed all the caravans; so you indicate and pull into the inside lane.

There you are!

All vehicles passed and you're in the inside lane and still in one piece!

If you don't find yourself SO frustrated that you just HAVE to pull out to overtake - then don't!

Just pootle along at your own speed and let people overtake you.

You'll still get there in one piece.

Stop panicking and enjoy your drive.

PLEASE try to do this now; my sister-in-law has been driving for over 30 years and has NEVER driven outside of our own (small) town...she didn't do it for SO long that it became a HUGE issue.......don't make the same mistake.

I wish you the very best of luck!

Answer 11

Don't be afraid, we all have to start somewhere, just treat it as a normal road, stay in your left hand lane till you become adjusted to the amount of traffic, other drivers can overtake so it's not like your holding anyone up, driving for 3 years it's not like you have just passed, why don't you take someone with you for the company or put on the radio, just stay calm and you will be fine, happy driving.