Why a Driver of 20 Years Still Fears Motorways — And What Experts Say Can Help

Mary McCarthy has been driving for nearly two decades, yet she has only ventured onto a motorway about ten times. Each attempt, she recalls, felt like a disaster. The speed, the noise and the pressure from other drivers leave her frozen in her lane, too afraid to overtake. Honking from impatient motorists only fuels her panic.

Her fear grew so overwhelming that she eventually avoided motorways altogether. Even as a passenger she cannot relax, describing the experience as similar to playing a high speed video game, with everything moving too fast to process. Her anxiety has affected her family as well, often making her husband tense when he is behind the wheel.

To manage long journeys, Mary now relies on her siblings or even her 80 year old father to drive her. Although grateful, she admits feeling embarrassed and frustrated that she cannot do something many find routine. Living in Brussels with her husband, four children and their dog has made the need for confidence on fast roads even more important.

Driving anxiety like Mary’s is far from rare. Diane Curtis Knight, a specialist driving instructor, says fear of motorways is one of the most common issues she encounters. According to her, the challenge is often not the motorway itself but underlying stress or life pressures that surface in high speed driving situations.

She encourages anxious drivers to reframe how they talk about their abilities, adding the word “yet” to statements like “I can’t drive on motorways”. This small shift, she says, helps the mind stay open to progress. Diane also suggests keeping a journal to track feelings before and after each drive, noting that people often imagine the experience will be worse than it is.

By gradually attempting more challenging routes and monitoring anxiety levels on a simple scale of one to ten, drivers can slowly build confidence. For Mary, acknowledging the fear is only the first step but she hopes that, in time, she may find herself ready to try again.