Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to try and stop DD driving mammoth journey?

206 replies

sunnyday2025 · 13/03/2025 17:54

DD 17 passed her driving test last month. She has a small old car and is driving herself to school and back.

She has just announced that she is going to drive 7 hours (each way) to pick her brother and his mates up from university for Easter.

The journey is pretty much motorway the whole way there and I am terrified. We don’t know anyone she she can stay with either to break the journey up.

Her plan is to drive down one day, stay over and come back next day. Nothing I can say will sway her from doing it.

So many things worrying me
her car is old
never driven a lengthy journey or driven on a motorway for more than an hour
her brother and mates distracting her

If she is insistent on doing it how can I ensure her journey is as safe as possible?

OP posts:
Breakitdownplease · 13/03/2025 18:13

I would be terrified too. I think the UK are looking to bring in laws similar to Australia whereby new young drivers can only carry a limited number of passengers over the age of 21. For good reason and I for one am on board with that.
I used to drive up and down from south of England to Scotland a lot and it's exhausting, I'd try to talk sense into her. They can get a bus or a train.

CurbsideProphet · 13/03/2025 18:12

Has she done any motorway lessons? I did 3 proper motorway lessons in my early 20s when I got a new job which meant I would need to drive on motorways regularly.

NiceProblems · 13/03/2025 18:12

I wouldn’t fancy that journey as an experienced driver never mind brand new.

Break down cover is absolutely essential. I am not surprised you are worried OP I think it’s a crazy idea. I don’t think you can stop her though.

waltzingparrot · 13/03/2025 18:09

Can you book her on a motorway driving lesson?

Butterflysunshine01 · 13/03/2025 18:08

That’s a bloody long journey for a new inexperienced driver, I’d be worried too. Can you take her out on as many practice motorway drives before? Also make sure tyres are completely fine, correct amount of tread etc, especially if car is old.

PsychoSyd · 13/03/2025 18:06

You can’t. She has been assessed as being a competent (if not yet experienced driver) and so she is perfectly legally allowed to do this. The only think I’d make sure is that she has a well charged phone (turned to silent for the journey so as not to distract) and that she has comprehensive breakdown cover.

Swipe left for the next trending thread