Can I drive this myself?

[TaighNamGastaOrt]

I've been invited to my best friend's husband wake. He died during lockdown, nobody was able to attend the funeral so in Sept there's a memorial service for him.
I really want to go, and take DH, DS and SD. However, we would need to kennel dogs and not sure we'd manage to go due to cost and other things. DH graciously suggested that I go on my own. Not sure I could go away without my family, but thats not what I'm worried about.

Its driving 200 miles myself. The journey involves motorways (I live in rural scotland so nothing like that round here). theres also a ferry journey involved. I passed my test 2 years ago, and my advanced test last year. I drive locally with kids, to the nearest big town and am fairly confident though I park very carefully!

I know the route very well but have never driven it. I understand motorways but have never driven them. I know the area I'm going to very well as I used to live there.

Do you think i should attempt to drive it? I know it would be hard but I have to attempt motorways sometime! If it all goes tits up, I could pull over, regroup and find my way again.

What do you think? stupid idea?
thanks.

Motorways aren't that different to some of the big A roads in Scotland, and in a lot of ways they are safer (than the A9 for example). If you are a confident driver and happy to take your time I wouldn't be too worried about driving yourself.

Yes. Definitely. It's out of your comfort zone but that's OK. Any chance of some practise driving longer distances before you leave? Or is there a place halfway you can stop?

I would. You can always allow extra time and stay in the left hand lane if you aren't confident at overtaking.

Yes, go for it.

It is actually kind of enjoyable to do a long drive alone IMO, get a good radio station and feel the freedom!

Motorways are way easier than country roads... straight, wide, no unexpected junctions or pedestrians...

Ah, the A9 is definitely involved! I've spent my life going up and down that road, so I think I'll manage that ok. Though slowly and carefully and with cruise control! its the M8 and multi-laned roads I'm scared of!

Of course you can.

If you can cope with the A9 you'll be fine on motorways.

Thanks, I really thought I was being stupid! Its going to be long and tiring but I will be stopping at the luig for some grub!
I'm quite excited at driving by myself, seeing my best friend (I just want to hug her) but I always think I can't do it.
Sad at 40, I finally feel like a grown up who can do this by myself!

You will be fine. Take it steady, have regular breaks.
If I can drive on my own from the midlands to central France- having never driven round London, or onto a ferry, or on a French motorway, you will be fine!

I was incredibly nervous of motorways but actually I prefer them to town driving now as they’re much more straightforward. If you can do dual carriageways then motorways aren’t that different

You definitely can! My friend's brother needed collecting from hospital in Germany last year. I'd driven in France before, she'd never driven outside the UK & was very nervous. I got her to add me to her insurance & we shared it, but I got her to drive off the train & just start, she was absolutely fine. I can't see why you wouldn't be, especially if you're used to the A9! Take some good music or an audiobook, take breaks as you need to, enjoy!

In fact the only person who had any trouble was me, the confident one. I got stuck in a lane going to Brussels (who fine you if you haven't got a pollution certificate for your car...) & it took me ages to get off the slow slip road & back on the fast motorway! Nervous friend had no such troubles!

Although a sad occasion, it's a good time to try this sort of trip.
It will be daylight, hopefully dry and no chance of ice.
Good luck OP.

thats really helpful, thanks! I know the A9, but have never driven it. I've driven a few short dual carriageways but thats it!
Can't imagine driving abroad! well done to the pp who did! I would be going slow and steady, stopping for regular breaks and using the slow lane or middle lane at motorway junctions!

Practise and see how your confidence improves. Then you will be able to say Yes.

Go driving for a couple of hours on the A9 or whatever big road is nearest. Turn off at a big town with a slip to rejoin again in the opposite direction and come back. Watch the speed limits very carefully. The average speed cameras monitor your whole journey between them so drive sensibly.

Getting onto and off a ferry isn’t as scary as it seems. Just do what the staff point to you to do. They do like you right up next to the car in front. You could practice this manoeuvre with your DH waving you forward and then making the stop hand signal and see if you can do it.

Your main problem will be getting a ferry. All the holidaymakers will be booking them. Go on the website and see if you can book. The sooner the better. Slots will be filling up now as people book staycations.

Of course you can do it op. I am a bit surprised though that an advanced test doesn't include motorway driving!

Some areas don't have any motorways.

The M8 is easy it's barely a motorway! If you drive the A9, you can easily do the M8, I'm not a very confident driver and have commuted the M8 for years

Why don’t you do a trip in between now and then? Soon - otherwise you’ll build it up to be a big deal when in reality its fine. Take yourself off for an afternoon, pick a place you’ve fancied going to but would be no fun with kids and go there.

Up to me getting divorced I hadn't driven regularly on motorways, my new partner lived 25 miles away, within a month I was driving up & down the motorway 3-4 times a week. They don't worry me any more, I've driven on nearly all the major motorways in the UK including the M25 & M6 round Birmingham which to me are the worst ones. Get yourself a good Sat nav if you don't have one, preferably one that shows you which lane you need to be in if motorways split, practice setting it up before you go, look at google maps & read the route to have an idea of where you are going & on most sat navs you can choose if you want all motorway, A roads etc. Allow plenty of time so you don't need to be rushing or driving at peak traffic times, make sure you have filled up with fuel before you go.

Motorways are easy, just remember to keep up with other traffic even in the left lane (no such thing as slow and fast lanes) just stay to the left when not overtaking and always check at least twice before you switch lanes. You'd cause more of a hazard dawdling along at 50 when other traffic is moving faster. You will manage fine, they're just like big A roads, same rules apply. Also watch out for lorries with foreign number plates. They tend to undertake and randomly move into your lane with no warning. You may also wish to expand your vocabulary to other languages as you will likely run out of swear words in 200 miles. Fucking lorries...

I sometimes look at google street view for any complex junctions / roundabouts I haven’t done before - just so I know how many lanes and which one I need (hard to do when there’s a queue of traffic sitting on the writing on the road). Would that give you a bit more confidence?

It doesn’t really matter, as if you go wrong the way nav will just work out a new route, but it may help your nerves.

Yes of course you can. Make sure you plan your route and give yourself plenty of time to get there and you'll be fine.

How old are your dc?
Do they know / are they friends with the family you are going to support ?

I'm thinking, if your ds were - say 12 - then it might be helpful to take him - someone to chat to when your concentration might drift....someone to pass you the sweets or a snack.....someone to change the CD or plug the phone into the charger etc etc.
Obviously, no help if your ds is 2