How to Gain Confidence Driving on Motorways

If you’re a newly qualified driver or simply learning to drive for the first time, a motorway can present a daunting and even overwhelming challenge. Experienced drivers may also find this particular stretch of road a difficult and stressful task. With drivers of every level in mind, let’s set about conquering those fears and ensuring a smooth and safe journey on Ireland’s motorways. 

Who is Allowed to Drive on the Motorway?

Thousands of people use the motorways in Ireland every single day. 

If you’re starting out, you may have a few questions. Can learner drivers drive on motorways in Ireland? Can you drive with L plates on the motorway? Can you drive a smart car on the motorway? When can you drive on the motorway? 

Due to strict safety reasons, there are many restrictions when it comes to precisely how to drive on the motorway in Ireland. In terms of who is allowed, only fully licensed drivers may use the motorway. 

According to the Road Safety Authority of Ireland (RSA), you are not allowed on a motorway if: 

• You are a learner driver 
• You do not hold a full licence for the vehicle you are operating 
• Your vehicle cannot travel or maintain speed of at least 50 kilometres per hour 
• Your vehicle does not use inflated tyres 
• You are operating a motorised wheelchair
• You are not operating a vehicle at all, and are instead walking or cycling 

Understanding Your Motorway Fear

As noted, the very idea of driving on a motorway can provoke some anxiety, as can the experience itself. If you have a fear of motorway driving, don’t worry, it’s a totally natural reaction for many drivers, especially those who are new to the road. 

Motorway phobia is a legitimate problem for many people and can be a complex one.

Once you acknowledge the difficulty, you can look at how to overcome your fear of driving on motorways, and how to gain confidence in the process.

Motorways are safe, but they are not completely free from risk. Ireland has also seen an alarming rise in road deaths across the country, with a 15% year-on-year rise as of 2024. All the more reason to ensure that you are 100% up on the rules of the road before you approach a motorway. 

For newly-qualified drivers, the RSA encourages additional practice on motorway driving alongside a driving instructor. Many driving schools in Ireland offer lessons specifically geared towards learning how to drive on a motorway, so this might be an option worth pursuing before taking on the actual stretch by yourself. You should also familiarise yourself with safe driving techniques in advance. 

Preparing for Your First Motorway Drive

Chance favours the prepared mind, as they say. However, you’ll leave nothing to chance as you prepare to set out on the motorway for the first time. 

Vehicle Check

It may sound basic, but failure to check your vehicle is motorway-worthy could lead to severe consequences, so let’s not fall down at the very first hurdle. Before you glimpse a motorway on the horizon, be certain that your car: 

• Is generally road-worthy and has passed its most recent National Car Test
• Is capable of reaching and maintaining motorway speeds - 120 km/h is the maximum speed limit, and you need to be able to maintain at least 50 km/h
• Has the correct tyre pressure 
• Has enough oil and coolant 
• Has enough fuel to either travel the entire length of the motorway or enough to get you to the nearest service station if required 
• Has enough battery charge to go the distance, if it’s a smart vehicle 

Speaking of smart vehicles, it’s best to be aware of available charging stations when planning a long journey - check out the official ESB charge point map of Ireland here. 

Tip: Check our basic car maintenance checklist  for details and tips to keep your car in top condition.

Planning Your Route 

Smart car or otherwise, take the stress out of motorway travel by planning your route carefully ahead of time, including where you may be able to take a break if necessary. 

You can go old-school with a printed map, or avail of onboard interactive options like Google Maps or an alternative online route planner. 

Mental Preparation

It’s worth noting that it’s not just your vehicle that needs to be in tip-top condition before taking the road - you do, too.  You don’t need to have driven on a motorway before to know that things move very, very quickly there. As such, any lapse in concentration could spell disaster - it’s vital that you keep your focus at all times and be mindful of your fast-paced surroundings. 

Avoid overstimulating yourself with too much caffeine beforehand. Don’t invite distractions like loud music and unnecessarily / unsafely checking your phone, either. If you’re still feeling a sense of panic, perhaps try some deep breathing techniques in a bid to dial down the anxiety - the 4-7-8 technique, for example, may prove helpful.

Essential Motorway Driving Techniques

You’re in the zone and ready to face the motorway. What are the most vital techniques to adopt once you’re there, though? 

Joining the Motorway

Simply merging onto the motorway in the first place can be pretty intimidating, given the constant flow of traffic and the different experience levels - not to mention individual personalities - of other road users. 

As a general rule, always be careful when joining a motorway, paying close attention to everything around, behind, and in front of you. Slowly build up speed as you approach the motorway lane and signal clearly in advance to other drivers that you intend to join the flow of motorway traffic. 

Check your mirrors and your blind spot for a safe spot in which to merge, and give way to existing traffic already on the motorway. Stay in the left-hand lane as you join the motorway and gradually adjust to the speed limits. 

Maintaining Speed and Safe Distance

Now that you’ve safely merged, first of all - don’t panic! Now it’s time to maintain a safe and legal speed that doesn’t interfere with the overall flow of motorway traffic. 

It should go without saying but let’s underline it anyway - you must follow the flow of traffic on the motorway. You cannot turn around or reverse. 

As you maintain both speed and direction, ensure you are keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. If you are driving in adverse weather conditions, consider leaving a bigger gap than usual to avoid potential sudden accidents. 

Overtaking Safely and Confidently

First up, do not attempt to overtake another vehicle before you have reached and maintained the speed of the overall traffic flow. 

There are designated lanes on a motorway to be aware of - Lane 1 is where you will have initially joined the motorway. If you aren’t planning on overtaking, it’s best to just remain in this lane throughout. 

On a two-lane motorway, you should only use the second lane for the purpose of safely overtaking another vehicle, before returning to the first lane afterwards. If there are three or more lanes on the motorway, you should only move between two at a time. 

You must only overtake on the right side and be sure to indicate properly before overtaking another vehicle. Beforehand, check your mirrors, your blind spots, and your general surroundings before clearly signalling your intention to overtake. 

Exiting the Motorway

We’re nearly there now. Leaving a motorway is just as important as joining it, so let’s exit accordingly. 

Usually, you will exit a motorway via a slip road to your left in a similar manner to how you first merged onto it. Keep an eye on the signs illustrating the upcoming exit - three white lines for 300 metres, two white lines for 200 metres, and finally one white line for 100 metres - think of these as your countdown. 

Before you reach this point, you will likely have adjusted to a high speed but it’s time to slow down now. Be warned - some slip roads come with sharp bends, so lower your speed gradually and safely as you prepare to leave the motorway. 

Should you miss your desired exit, remain calm - there’s another one on the way. Remember, you cannot brake suddenly, turn around, or reverse - so stay on the motorway until the next available exit presents itself. 

Handling Common Motorway Challenges

The motorway can present several different challenges for drivers of all experience levels, given its rapid and heavily-populated nature, and the possibility of unique factors that add an extra level of difficulty to overcome. Such as…

Breakdowns: Staying Safe and Getting Help

Let’s be honest, a breakdown is never enjoyable, no matter how and where it happens. A breakdown on a motorway, though? Well, that’s a genuine living nightmare. 

The first thing to do is to try and calm the situation down as much as possible before trying to fix it. Remember those breathing techniques from earlier, should you need them. If you’re in a car with other people - including children - offer some reassurance and do your best to keep the volume down and your focus alert. 

Look for designated parking areas and try to move your vehicle to the hard shoulder, parking as close to the left-hand side as possible. If your car is completely out of commission and you’re stuck in the middle of the motorway, warn other drivers as best as you can. Use your hazard lights, for instance. 

Try to remain in the vehicle, and don’t complicate the situation by placing any kind of marker on the road or attempting repairs by yourself on the hard shoulder - it’s too dangerous. Keep seatbelts on at all times. 

Next, you’ll need to make contact with the Motorway Traffic Control Centre to report the incident. You can reach their Motorway Incident Line on 0818-715-100 or contact them via email at info@mtcc.ie.

Existing AIG customers can benefit from our 24/7 breakdown assistance, and contact us on 01-804-4328 in the Republic of Ireland, or on 084-560-379-91 in Northern Ireland.

Heavy Traffic and Congestion

A classic case of ‘comes with the territory’, this one. It’s a motorway, so you can indeed expect heavy traffic and congestion along the way. 

Patience and understanding are key, here. Nobody likes to be stuck in traffic for too long, but it’s not an uncommon occurrence when using a motorway. 

Allow for the possibility of a slow-down, perhaps make use of your radio or a podcast to pass the time (while keeping your chief focus on the road, of course), and remember that accidents happen and can result in a highly congested knock-on effect. 

Adverse Weather Conditions

Inclement, traffic-disrupting weather is also always a possibility, no matter the season. This is Ireland, after all. Heavy rain, ice, fog, thunder and lightning, the occasional outbreak of snow… any and all could occur at a given moment, so you’d best be prepared. Met Éireann routinely issues colour-coded weather warnings - more common in autumn and winter months, admittedly - so keep an eye on those when planning your journey. 

Keep safety in mind if you’re hit by bad weather and stay at least four seconds behind the vehicle in front of you on the motorway if such conditions strike.

Night Driving on the Motorway

It can be more difficult to judge your surroundings when driving at night, so be extra careful with regards to your environment and the speed at which you’re travelling. 

Ensure that all of your vehicle’s lights are in proper working order and that you are using them correctly while on the motorway. 

The road may well be quieter in comparison to daytime, but don’t drop your guard - maintain the appropriate speed and distance at all times. 

Building Your Motorway Confidence

Hopefully, the tips contained within this article have gone some way to alleviating your concerns about driving on the motorway, with the aim to completely eliminate your fear in time. 

As noted, it all begins with understanding your fears and taking realistic steps to overcome them. Mental preparation and training are hugely beneficial, as are using practical methods like physically planning out your route and overall approach. 

Remember, additional help is available if you need it - you don’t need to rush this, nor should you. Once on the motorway, there are rules and regulations that all motorists follow - you’re all in it together and you’re all moving at the same pace.

Don’t forget, not every single thing goes according to plan. Prepare as best you can, but expect the unexpected - that way you can solve the problem with a clear head. 

And last but not least, we’re here for you, too. At AIG, we have a range of car insurance options to support drivers of every skill level and experience, including custom-made policies for young drivers, and added peace of mind with our comprehensive option.