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

The same day. I’ve always found motorways to be the easiest driving.

Same day. Had to drive myself to work.

The weekend after I passed my test. We lived a few miles from a M1 junction, so I got up early on the Sunday morning and headed for the motorway. It was quiet, and I drove faster than 70!

12 years. only because i had a holiday booked and my husband didn't end up coming. i actually enjoyed it

Within a week.

Definitely do a motorway lesson if you feel nervous

Couple of weeks later I went to London from south east England and back then there were no internet phones or navigation so I had my mum at the front with me reading the map upside down, we did make it to London in the end!

Took and passed a long time ago . The first time I went on a motorway which was very soon after passing 70mph felt insanely fast .
Some driving schools do motorway lessons - is that something you can do .
There are a lot more cars on the roads nowadays and lorries and of course more insane drivers - your wing mirrors are your friends . Good luck .

Passed early July. Didn't have a car until September. Did Pass Plus in the August and spent 6 hours driving all around the West Mids' motorways including Spaghetti Junction (which is easy enough to actually flow through, there's not that many choices. Great confidence boost for a novice though!) The interesting one is M6 j7 where the slip road is inside the roundabout...

After that, I'm not sure. I had to use a busy dual carriageway to get to university so the motorway skills were great for that. There is a motorway nearby and I don't remember doing it solo as it was a non-event.

It was rural driving that I had to get used to having learned in an urban environment and moving promptly after. I'd never learned good overtaking for things like tractors and did have some very dodgy first attempts, not helped by the car not being very powerful and having to learn the knack of gearing down in anticipation to maximise acceleration at a good opportunity.

Motorways are straightforward. Literally Match your speed to the traffic on the main carriageway, spot your gap, indicate, mege in. Keep left when not passing. Allow enough space ahead of you (2 second rule) when pulling in, if you can see the overtaken vehicle in your mirrors, you have given it its stopping distance. Don't pull in and brake and slow the traffic behind. Most motorway grade sliproads mean that you shouldn't need to brake prior to turning off the main carriageway. Keep a regular eye on your mirrors and concentrate ahead to anticipate changes (e.g. lorry coming into lane 2 3 cars ahead and likely to slow your lane). Take breaks on longer journeys to stay fresh.

The week after and I was all by myself. I'd travelled to my then boyfriend's and went the back way on country lanes and through a forest. Bloody huge deer run out in front of me and I hit it. Luckily there was minimal damage to my car.
On the way home I though sod that I'm going on the motorway, I had driven on dual carriageways loads of times and it's no different to that.

The next day, in a mates car with no insurance 😬

It was a long time ago (in the 70s) but I am sure I remember my instructor taking me home via the motorway on the way back from passing my test.

Same day
I was only 17 though, it was just a two junction drive & it was fine 🙂
Think I'd feel differently though if I passed my test when I was older.

Picked up my car in another town far away meaning I had to use dual carriageways and city bypasses all the way home during rush hour. I was petrified and shaking like a leaf by the time I got home, was driving everywhere in no time after that. Motorways are not so different to dual carriageways imo. Just do it and come off at the next junction, rinse and repeat.

Meant to say a week after passing my test picked up new car, so as soon as I had a car I was on all kinds of roads to get home.

I did the Pass Plus which (if it’s still a thing) I would recommend you do. It gave me some confidence in city driving, country lanes and motorway driving - and also gave me a small discount on my insurance.

I did drive on the motorway pretty soon after as it was the only way to visit my boyfriend!

That day. Straight out onto the M6. I couldn't wait to test my skills out and I have always enjoyed motorway driving.