How soon after passing test did you drive on motorway?

[ISavedTheBee]

Just wondering how long it took you to have the courage to drive on the motorway.

I've been driving 18 months now and still too scared to do it

As soon as I got my first car. Then not long after that I had a short stint of doing the M1 during the rush hour 😬

Book a lesson op, it’s honestly not as bad as you think it will be!

A couple of weeks, I had a uni interview that I needed to pass my test to get to!

Same day. At a quiet time, not rush hour.

And then again after dark the same day.

BF was with me both times to make sure I would be ok and get my confidence, in daylight and darkness.

Best thing I ever did.
My pal took months to pluck up courage. I went with her. Agreed once she’s done it that it wasn’t as bad as she’s feared.

A few days after. I drove from Surrey to London and regularly drove long distances as soon as I passed my test. Getting on motorways is the only tricky bit. If you go wrong, all you can do is go on to the next junction and turn back.

I went the next day, on my own. I knew that I'd panic more if I had someone with me, because I hate being watched.

I went on a route I knew, where the M4 joins the M5. My Mum was a late driver and I'd guided her through that junction a few times, so was fairly confident about what I needed to do.

As others have said, if you've driven on a dual carriageway, you'll be fine on a motorway. Bite the bullet and go for it :)

The next day. My then fiancé (now DH) was a police officer in Kent and I lived in Essex. It was during the miners strike and literally the only way I would see him was if I went to Kent to see him for a few hours. I had already failed 2 tests but this gave me the push I needed. I passed on the Thursday and was bombing up the M20 in my little Mini on the Friday.

About a week. No different to a dual carriageway - probably easier especially if it's the M4 and like a car park

Same day - there is nothing like sitting on the M6 in a traffic jam to make you realise just how much fun driving is going to be.

I did a motorway driving lesson with my instructor about a week after I passed my test It really gave me confidence.

I passed my test, got my first car a week later (old style Ford Fiesta!) and drove 3 1/2 hours to Wales, stopped for lunch and then drove 3 1/2 hours back again! The reason being, I passed my test in the summer holidays and wanted to take a car back to uni with me for my third year and my parents were a little worried about the distance! So I did the trip in one day with my dad sat next to me in case I had any issues!

I remember now that I used to always drive the national express bus route as that's the journey I knew from taking the bus home from uni so many times!

I barely drove for about 7 years after I passed, as I went away to uni and couldn't afford to run a car. I did sometimes drive when I went back home, but rural Dorset doesn't have any motorways, though there are dome dual carriageways.

When I finally got a car, I had a refresher lesson and a motorway lesson, during which the instructor went on about how much more dangerous A-roads were, so we went our on a motorway, and back on the A-road. A few years later, I had a job where part of the commute was on the motorway, and that really improved my confidence.

It was a surprise to meet people who found driving round rural lanes with high banks or dry stone walls scary - that was second nature to me , as most of my early driving was in west Dorset and the Brecon Beacons.

Get a motorway lesson.

I had to drive on the motorway around 3am a couple weeks after my test, having driving bf's old banger once - long complicated story. He was plastered and told me I'd be fine. I was, on the M20, but the M25 and Dartford Crossing was terrifying!

Called my old instructor and had a lesson a few days later. I'd never mastered looking in the mirror and telling what lane cars were in from that - after practicing following cars in the mirror and where they went, and 2 hours going round the M1/M25/A1M triangle, I'd cracked it.

3 months. I did amotorway lesson with my instructor. As soon as I was on the mway I couldnt understand what the fuss was about. It really is like being on a dual carriageway.

I always did, I had to to get to work. But I learned and passed very quickly.

When I think about it probably a few years actually because I don’t live near any, but the A roads near me are no different to motorways!

2 months - I live 2hrs from the nearest motorway. I did that pass plus thing a few months later. The late that month I went solo

A few days. I went out early one Sunday morning with DH and came on and off the motorway at junction 25/26 of the M1 just to practice on and off.

Then, I used to take myself home from work once a week down the motorway to keep my hand in otherwise it would have been a big once a year event that would have been built up into a horrible experience.

Now I have a commute that involves going 3 junctions south on the M1 and I did my first stint last Wednesday.

The worst part about longer motorway drives is cross winds that can make you feel like your about to be blown off the motorway. Other than that it's fairly boring

I dont know, it was quite a long time but this wasnt due to fear, it was just I didnt need to go on one. Did plenty of dual carriageways

Never - I have no motorway near me.

Straight away. I love motorway driving! I'd drive on motorways every day over local roads if I could :)

Half an hour later, it was my instructor's idea and he was sitting with me, and gave me a motorway driving lesson foc, bless him.

19 years and inly because by husband left and he did all the driving.

Personally I think motorways are some of the easier roads to drive on. There are a few sections of motorway that are more difficult but the majority of motorway driving is just sitting there - its just being aware of the other drivers and occasional lane change but thats no different to on a dual carriageway.

I did kent to West Wales as my first motorway drive, I said I will just stay at 60 in the slow lane, I wont change lanes. About 5 minutes in, stuck at 50 behind a lorry I decided that I couldnt be bothered to do that and then I realised that I was just driving normally. I was scared of the M25 but actually the M25 is fine.

The first day I drove alone when I bought my car, which was about 2 weeks after I passed. Where I bought it from was a short motorway drive away from home and it's a small quiet motorway, so I went for it. The day after that I did a 3 hour drive including the M62 in the snow, so I kind of threw myself in the deep end haha.

The third day. Dbro said to follow him to mutual family friend but he decided to get a cake first! I just followed him into the motorway and got off the first exit. He bought the cake and off we went to our destination.