I'd say wear bright bright BRIGHT colors where they will see you and with time you get more comfortable being on the road. Here in the states ( where i live anyway) we have bike lanes. And in the event no bike lanes I'm in the normal car lane and they have to go slow because of me but i try to stay on the car in front of me rear bumper. And lastly its 1.5 miles thats so short just get some legs and for that 1.5 hammer down so you don't feel like you are slowing anyone down.