hey im scared of going on the motorway today please help me...?

Question

Hi i am really scared to go on the motorway for the second time. I have passed my test three years ago and am a good driver locally and even drove for the first time last week on a motorway. The journey was over one hour and i got there fine but on way back took wrong exit. I have big lorries as they frighten me i stayed mostly on the left lane but when someone joined the sliproad to get onto motorway i went into middle lane. For some bizarre reason i can`t speed more than 50 i know its slow but does anyone know how i can feel confident. Thing is im scared too go fast because i am scared someone might break suddenly and i won`t be able to stop in time little things like this annoy me. I had a sleepless night i even took kalms last night to calm me down and allow me to have a good nights sleep but i have been tossing and turning all night. Please say something to cheer me up or something that will make me feel better. I am leaving at 11 ish.
thank u xx

Answer 1

just keep your speed where you feel comfortable

Answer 2

Before you go, check your route so that you know when your exit is and can pull over to the correct lane if you've ventured out of the left one. Also is there a practical alternative route? there usually is.
Also, don't panic. It can be scary as people drive very fast and will overtake you without a second's thought. You don't say which motorway you're driving on: some are always going to be busier than others.
If you feel you need to drive only in the left lane then do that. If you don't feel confident to overtake a slower driver, then don't. Keep the correct distance from the car in front and if they do have to brake suddenly (and contrary to some people's posts here it happens all the time on my local motorway - the M1 between Nottingham and Sheffield which is really busy) then you will have loads of time to brake as well. Also check your mirrors frequently (some people can undertake which they shouldn't) and never forget to signal before the manouvre which allows others to get out of your way. Just remember, you don't have to join the mad dash. You know all this after all...
Make sure your tyres are at the correct pressure as well. Try to keep to about 60 minimum but if you can't, well, don't worry. I had to drive back from London on the M1 at fifty to conserve fuel once (the car would never have restarted if I'd refuelled...) and had no trouble. I just got used to the trucks overtaking me.
It's normal to move over when someone joins the motorway and then you can go back. Staying in the middle lane is not a great idea as people behind get impatient with you (regret to say I'm one of them...).
For the future, do go back to driving school and get them to give you some motorway driving lessons.
Good luck and if things really get to you, pull into a service station and have a break, consult the map and see where you can get off and go onto other roads. You may be later than planned but that's better than completely traumatising yourself.

Answer 3

Driving on the motorway is the easiest possible place to drive on UK roads. No roundabouts, no sharp bends and wider lanes mean you're basically just driving in a straight line. A lot of newly passed drivers have a fear of it, because learners are for some retarded reason I never understood prohibited from driving on them. Try and view it the other way around - breathe a sigh of relief when you get on the motorway, because now you're at the easy bit. And remember, the fact that there are more cars about doesn't make the actual driving any harder - I normally adjust my seat back and pop some music on when I reach the motorway, because now I don't have to do any real driving. And though ideally you should be going along 10-15mph quicker, and doing so will avoid having big lorries overtaking you, if you're freaked out by it it's no big deal, there are plenty lanes for other people to pass you in if they want to. You'll be fine :)

Answer 4

Try again but remember GO FASTER THAN 50mph as the lorries are able to do 60mph so they will be coming up behind you and wanting to overtake and it can be scary with one of those charging past you.
Cruise at 65-70mph and dont worry, why will somone brake suddenly for no reason? they wont. keep a sensible distance, about 2 seconds, away from the car in front, so you will be able to stop.
Look at the map before you leave and make a note of the motorway Exit number on the back of your hand so you dont get lost.
But remember stay calm and stay at a reasnable speed 65- 70mph, if you are going slow the police may pull you over as they may think that somthing is wrong with you, (eg drunk).
It will be easier this time as you have done it before and nothing horrible happened, so go do it again to build your confidence up.
You will be OK.

Answer 5

Why not seek advice from a driving school. Most offer motorway driving lessons, so they should be able to help.
You could gain experience in motorway driving by driving on a less busy motorway. The M180, just north of lincoln, is not too busy.

Answer 6

stay off the motorway if you're not confidant to drive at 70. there's always a way on b roads, slow drivers on the motorway can be more dangerous than speeders.

Answer 7

just take it easy, stay in the slow left hand lane, dont worry about other vehicles, if they dont like the way you drive, then they will over take you and always remember to relax and to enjoy your driving. i used to be like you but just by following these simple tips you slowly start to gain confidence in yourself and your driving skills now i love the open road of the motorways. good luck and take care.

Answer 8

I cant help because Im exactly the same.I thought I would let you know you are not alone.A lot of people have said take a friend with you but I am so worried that I might be the cause of them being in a car crash,I wont do it,but it might work for you.

Answer 9

do like i do stick to 70 stay in the middle lane keep your eyes shut tight just have a quick look every 30 seconds to make sure you are still on track and your hair is ok

Answer 10

motorways are easier to drive on than local streets...all u have to do is drive straight and get off at the right junction.
hope it went well.

Answer 11

earlier you pass, examine your direction so as which you recognize while your go out is and would pull over to the final lane in case you have ventured out of the left one. is likewise there a pragmatic selection direction? there frequently is. additionally, do no longer panic. it rather is frightening as peoplecontinual very quickly and could overtake you without a 2nd's theory. you do no longer say which highway you're using on: some are continually going to be busier than others. in case you sense you may want tocontinual in basic terms interior the left lane then try this. in case you do no longer sense advantageous to overhaul a slower motive force, then do no longer. keep the final distance from the vehicle in front and in the event that they do could brake without warning (and opposite to a pair human beings's posts right here it happens each and all of the time on my community highway - the M1 between Nottingham and Sheffield that's extremely busy) then you certainly have rather some time to brake besides. additionally examine your mirrors many times (some human beings can undertake which they shouldn't) and on no account forget approximately to sign earlier the manouvre which permits others to get out of your way. in basic terms keep in mind, you do no longer could connect the mad sprint. you recognize all this in spite of everything... determine your tyres are on the final stress besides. attempt to maintain to approximately 60 minimum yet once you could no longer, nicely, do no longer concern. I needed tocontinual lower back from London on the M1 at fifty to look after gasoline as quickly as (the vehicle will possibly on no account have restarted if i might refuelled...) and had no difficulty. I in basic terms have been given used to the autos overtaking me. it rather is common to go over while somebody joins the highway after which you will pass lower back. Staying interior the middle lane isn't a super theory as human beings at the back of get impatient with you (remorseful approximately to declare i'm one in each and every of them...). For the destiny, do pass lower back to using college and get them to grant you some highway using training. sturdy luck and if issues rather get to you, pull right into a service station and characteristic a wreck, seek for suggestion from the map and notice the place you will get off and pass onto different roads. you're later than planned yet it rather is greater clever than thoroughly traumatising your self.