Welcome to Motorway Driving. I hope this blog will dispel many myths about driving on the motorways of Britain. And reduce the levels of anxiety and fear experienced by many.

The RAC Foundation reckons that in excess of 10 million drivers suffer from M - A - D. Motorway Anxiety Disorder. It is real. It does affect too many people. Why?

Very simple. No training. No practice. So no awareness of how to go about it.

Or how to deal with various aspects of it. It's not surprising. The System has let us all down over the years. It's not the driver's fault.

So, how has the System let us down?

Very simply, it didn't train us to the next level of driving after passing the Test. It's called the Driving Test but in reality it has never altered from it's beginnings in 1935. We do half-an-hour of proving we can use the pedals and levers and make the thing move forwards, turn in the road and a few other manoeuvres at under 30 mph. And few are really competent at that whether they pass first time or not. How competent and confident were you when you took the Test? Be honest!

What happened to the next level of training. Taking us out on the roads and getting us to real speeds. Learning to read bends and corners, use our eyes effectively, getting used to giving ourselves more room at higher speeds, overtaking. And of course: driving on motorways.

By the way, I think it's criminal. Everyone deserves more than the System offers. Without further training we are left to out own devices. Basically, the blind shall follow the blind. And shall they both get most of it wrong. A sad but real fact.

Most drivers do not know what they don't know. So they cobble things together as best they can and even after a lifetime's driving never discover that there really is a better way!

Habit sets in early based only on Learner Driving Skills. Those habits simply become hardened and unconscious as the miles pass by. And it's the 'comfort' of those habits, ineffective and often inappropriate, that gives us the feeling of being a good driver.

Even the worst drivers feel comfortable with the way they drive. It's everybody who's bad. Not them!

But then, we go onto the motorways. Now something else can set in. Discomfort. Anxiety. F E A R. And it's totally understandable. You're not alone.

Most men won't admit to it. Except some older guys. And a few really honest youngsters. However, women don't have the same hang ups as men.

Over 8 million women have issues with motorway driving. At least 1 in 20 won't even venture on to a motorway. This is a despicable state of affairs. And with your indulgence I'll try my best to help make your motorway driving experience more enjoyable if poss. and certainly safer.

I'm going to give you the key secrets of effective driving on to, along and off them. Why me?

Good question! Firstly, why not? That's how I looked at it. I've had some of "the finest civilian driver training in the world" - AA Book of Driving. I'm part of a specialist driving team and very importantly, perhaps for motorways, I drive trucks, 44 tonners as a paid hobby as well. The 'view from the cab' gives a fantastic appreciation of motorway problems. Including the trucks!

You'll find I'm not biased. There's good and bad with all.

So let's give it go. What's to loose? And for you? I hope, lots to gain.

So, let's - Join the Motorway...

PS If you're unfortunate to have developed a phobia about motorways, check out this forum. 

Motorway News from the BBC check before you drive.