How long did it take you to drive big distances after you passed your test?

[Evenodd]

I've just passed my test, hooray! As in, just a couple of days ago, so it's still very new. It just so happens that in the next week I have 2 things on which would be considerably quicker to get to now that I have the ability to drive there. But they're both quite far - not hugely so but around 30-40 miles each way and involving motorway driving, one at night. I'm torn between just giving it a go or thinking it's a bit too soon. My instructor was very adamant that P plates make things worse rather than better and advises all his students against it but now I'm not so sure.

How long did it take you to do bigger journeys once you'd passed and did you build up your confidence slowly? It probably is too soon considering I've never driven on a motorway but it feels a bit sad to take double the time to get there when I could be driving!

Congratulations!

I did one junction on a motorway the same day I passed in my own car - with my mum next to me

Then I did another 2 junctions the next day and after a week or so I felt fine to do a 50 minutes journey on the motorway with my friend sat next to me.

I prefer night driving as it's normally quieter on motorways - but it depends on how confident you are as a new driver really

I drove to Cornwall two weeks after passing, which was around 4/5 hour journey . I was used to dual carrage ways and figured that the motorway only had an extra lane!

I forgot to mention, both drives would be on my own - I think I'd be ok to do it with someone else but on my own feels quite daunting! But I also want to try and challenge myself and gain confidence as I feel the longer you leave it the scarier it can feel.

I passed my test on a Wednesday and then on the Friday drove all my family 2 1/2 hours to see my grandparents. I drove our main family car and it was about 2 hours on the motorway in Friday rush hour traffic. I was terrified...but it was fine. I say go for it.

Straight away! Spent the weekend driving, rural roads, motorways and inner city.

I had my dh (then just bfor, we were 20) with me. He'd been driving for 3 years at that point and I felt comfortable with him.

You're best to just do it. I know people that pass and barely do any real driving and get scared of motorways or parking in town etc. It's weird. I'll tell anyone to go for their 'big drive' as soon as they pass.

I drove 250 miles on the motorway a couple of weeks after passing my test. Looking back (it was over 30 years ago) I'm surprised I was brave enough, but I was young & felt invincible & it was a necessary journey.

OP can you get someone to sit in with you for your first foray into motorway driving? It might help build up your confidence.

I drove 7 hours to Scotland the day after passing my test. It was fine. I'd say just go for it.

The more you drive now the better your confidence will be. The fact that you are even questioning it, would tell me that you aren't going to be an overconfident driver and that's a good thing not bad!

I passed on the monday and drove 160 miles up the motorway on the friday, alone! then the return trip a week later. Definitely do it OP it will be great for your confidence. I had P plates that came off somewhere on the drive and I never bothered replacing them!!

My niece passed her test on the Thursday and drove her and her 2 children from the North East coast to the middle of Germany on the Ferry and everything. You can drive do you can go as far as you want, have confidence in yourself and go for it.

I spent a year driving around town, then drove from Sheffield to Blackpool & back. I worked in the city centre, so was used to heavy traffic, I could probably have done it sooner but didn't get chance.

I passed on a Friday morning. On the Monday I drove about 40 miles to work, including the M1 and a busy fast A road too.
Think I had to peel my finger off the steering wheel by the time I got there.
I needed to do it though as I'd been getting a long winded lift for the first half term whilst waiting for the test date to come through.

I got a car mid week (so first time of driving after passing test) and had to drive 50+ miles alone on a December evening on the Friday on various motorways and using one tunnel. It was definitely a bit scary but I'd say do it sooner rather than later. Taught me the importance of checking my blind spot when joining a motorway very quickly.

I passed my test and the next week I drove my parents to the airport then drove on to visit my boyfriend 100 miles away! It was great learning.

Seems like the votes are very much in favour of doing it! My main worry is changing lanes at speed on the motorway as I haven't done that before. I wonder if P plates might make people more forgiving or if it'll make things worse as my instructor seemed to be convinced

I had a Motorway lesson (as I passed many years ago when there was no dual carriageway driving required...I’m right that it is now, aren’t I?). Then drove lots...my DM insisted I drove everywhere for the family. First solo Motorway was a few weeks later. Never looked back.

Day after i passed I drove from Derby - Skegness took about 3.5 hours and i got lost. Was totally out of my depth but taught me alot very quickly

I did my passplus after passing, so had some motorway experience. Got a car once I'd passed that, and drove from London to Manchester 4 days later.
On my own.
My mum had kittens at the thought of it (I was 20) but it was fine and really helped my confidence.

Can you book a motorway lesson?

I passed ten months ago and furthest I've driven has been about 10/15 miles distance but purely because I've no need to have driven further.
Of course when I do have reason to drive further it'll probably be a huge stressing thing cause I've left it so long 🙈

I haven't read the whole thread but would booking an extra lesson and going on the motorway with your instructor be an option?

I did this and it really helped my confidence

After a week I drove an hour and half on the motorway to visit family.
I was really worried about changing Lane at speed etc but I actually found it ok, everyone is going more or less the same speed in the same direction. Before I even knew it I was overtaking without a second thought. Good luck!

There's no time to take a lesson since it'd be in a couple of days. I just worry someone might get annoyed at me and I'll get flustered. But I'd allow plenty of extra time and still considering the P plates because at least then people might understand if I'm slightly hesitant!

I did an hours drive the following day BUT I knew the route inside out. I don't think I would've been able to do an unfamiliar journey/follow a SatNav independently.

The next day.

Never really have did two hour when learning as dh used to drive with me in my own car but dh has the longer journey car and prefers to drive