Passed my test a month ago - motorway?

Sarduk

Sarduk

Sarduk

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I passed my test a month ago. Since then I have been on the motorway (Msomething and M1) a couple of times with my dad, who taught me the usual stuff. I have also had some practice route planning and venturing off by myself on some fairly nasty A roads that we have going out of Leeds.

I need to go to Bristol on Friday, a route which usually involves M62 (hellish drivers, mighty crosswinds on the top) to Manchester and then M6 to Birmingham and M5 into Bristol.

My dad says I'll only learn by going out and doing it, but wonders if it is a good idea to juggle learning how to manage a fairly long route at the same time as learning the motorways.

Should my first journey be such a big one?
 
If you go in there worrying about 'hellish drivers' and 'mighty crosswinds' you'll never get further than the shops down the road.

Just go out and do it :) - If your tired just stop in a services and take a break, don't hold anyone up and just keep with the flow of traffic. You passed your test didn't you? ;)
 
Just dont think about it too much. You know how to drive, its just another road going for A to B. Just stick to your training and you'll be fine...
 
The motorway for some people can be a demanding experience. MAinly due to the fact you're the only person who has any sense of lane discipline.

Length of journey isn't a big deal. I did something similar myself but then I've never been bothered about driving whatsoever. It can be tiring mentally and physically if you're on a busy route so plan regular stops along the way just to break it up a little bit and along the wya its up to you if you do so.
 
Motorways are the easiest roads to drive on. Just look ahead of the car infront and you'll be fine. Also don't sit in the middle or outside lane unless your overtaking as everyone hates that :)

Enjoy it as much as you can as one day it'll become very boring!
 
Dup said:
The motorway for some people can be a demanding experience. MAinly due to the fact you're the only person who has any sense of lane discipline.
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Totally agree, my sister has never been on one, and has been driving for years, and most of the family tell her not to, simply because whilst she can drive, she's a muppet and a motorway isn't all that good an idea.

Dup said:
Length of journey isn't a big deal. I did something similar myself but then I've never been bothered about driving whatsoever. It can be tiring mentally and physically if you're on a busy route so plan regular stops along the way just to break it up a little bit and along the way its up to you if you do so.
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Again, I agree. I love driving, so the road doesn't bother me at all, I drove all over the place once I'd passed.
My first long trip for me was from Launceston to Southampton, and I planned the route and a few stops, but made a few more along the way to make sure I didn't get tired.
Nowadays though I'll plan a route without the breaks and just take regular breaks when I see somewhere I'd like to stop, or feel tired, but I'm a lot more used to long trips now, having done lots. :)

InvG
 
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It really depends how confident you are with your general driving.

Its a while since I passed my test, so can't rember too well, but I don't recall ever being that bothered about having to drive long distances, or going on motorways for the first time. Motorway driving isn't really that different to driving on most dual carriageways, which you should have had some experience of, I would imagine.

Everyone's standard of driving is different, and passing your test is similar to driving within the speed limit - you need to do it to drive legally, but just because you've done it doesn't make you a good/safe driver. It really all comes down to whether you feel comfortable doing it or not. If you don't feel comfortable driving that far, on roads that you're not familiar with, then its probably not a good idea.
 
My first proper motorway journey was Edinburgh to Liverpool on my own. If you feel happy enough driving that distance on your own then go for it, your dad is right. Learn by doing. :)
 
My first time onto the motorway was a trip from Manchester to Bristol in the pooring rain and gale force winds, I was slightly bricking it as can be expected. But once I got used to how things worked I was fine.

Oh and 106 wipers don't work too well past 70mph FWIW. :D
 
I have not been driving long either and find them fine, the first couple of times was a bit scary, getting used to the lanes and what not but it is like anything, scary changes to boring fast.

My problem is getting lost, you can't turn round as easily on mortorways, no reversing if you miss a junction!
 
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