Wish me luck - motorway driving lesson

[Wishimaywishimight]

I know there have been a number of threads recently in relation to driving - women who are afraid of learning, who have a licence but have let their skills lapse (me), women afraid of motorway driving (me again!). Well, I have had to bite the bullet and get back to driving lately. So far I have done short trips (in my local area) alone, a couple of longer trips (on dual carriageway) with DH but not yet faced the motorway. DH is not a great passenger so I am not willing to do that with him.

Later this morning I have a motorway lesson. I am nervous definitely but I know I can drive (I got my licence in 2008), it's not the mechanics of driving that un-nerve me, it's the usual motorway fears - joining the motorway, knowing what lane to be in, knowing when I need to change lanes to get to the exit I need etc etc.

Anyways, please wish me luck and that I get home safely and don't terrify the instructor!!

Good luck OP. Motorway driving lessons are very useful.
Keep a calm head and listen to your instructor. In terms of which lane you should be in once you join the motorway? Always stay in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking. Then after you've overtaken move back in to the left hand lane.
Let us know how you get on.

@HowDOyouspellIt Thank you! I have put this off for so long it's ridiculous so, while I'm nervous, I am also really glad I finally got around to doing something about it. Will definitely report back afterwards.

Good luck OP, hope it’s less stressful than you expect! Personally, I often find motorways less scary than city centres - at least everyone’s going in the same direction…

@Sunbird24 Thank you - hopefully I will feel the same!!

Good luck OP. I was quite afraid of driving until recently. I hadn't been on the motorway until about two years ago - once I got there I realised it is really the most simple way to drive!

Don't stress about it. Everyone is travelling in the same direction, at similar speeds (especially within your own lane). Maintain a consistent and appropriate distance between the car in front and yourself, allow people to change lanes and don't get caught up worrying what other people are thinking and you'll be absolutely fine.

It sounds like you have a dp problem if you can't drive with him as a passenger.

What is he doing? Criticising you? He needs to get a grip and stop being a prick.

Learn what junctions near you are the easiest to get on. Long run ons are easier because you don't need to accelerate so much. If you drive a small car it is hard to accelerate on short run ons, that's the car, not your driving ability!

Always stay left unless overtaking. Leave plenty of space. Read the signs and when they say your junction is coming up (usually one mile notice) stay left.

It sounds like your DP is the kind of bad/ dangerous driver who doesn't follow these rules properly.

If my dh was a rubbish passenger he’d be walking. He needs to keep his trap shut! I hope he’s not the reason why your confidence in driving is knocked.

@ClaudiaWankleman - many thanks for those tips, much appreciated.

@felulageller and @Longdistance - honestly he's brilliant in every respect, other than the fact he is a nervous passenger. Not just with me but with anyone, even the most experienced driver. I can sense him pressing the brake before I do, the sharp intake of breath etc, rather than being in any way verbally critical, I am just aware of him being uneasy. He is a very competent careful driver himself and loves driving. He would rather be in the drivers seat than the passenger seat but he's going to have to get used to it as I am not letting my skills slide again.

Thanks all for the tips, I am reading them as I wait for my lesson!

I had a big gap between passing my test and having a car so did a course of refresher lessons as you're doing. It's a great idea and helped me so much with the anxiety that had built up.
Your instructor will be there if you're about to make a mistake. Once you've got used to gauging speeds and gaps etc, you'll find motorway driving really easy.
As pp said, just leave a good distance between you and car in front and I'd add to check your mirrors regularly so you're aware of the traffic behind you should anything unexpected happen.
Build up your confidence without your DH in the car and enjoy your new driving independence

@bettybadger Thank you so much, these tips are really helping to get me in the proper frame of mind for today's drive. I need to do another drive this afternoon on my own (not on the motorway this time) so I will be getting plenty of practice. Hopefully it won't be long before I can go on the motorway alone too, quite excited to be honest, it will make a good difference to life at the moment.

Good luck. I want to do Motorway lessons as well as I'm really nervous about going on them. I can do A roads fine, but seem to have a fear around motorways. I think it's the speed and joining/exiting.

The instructor never turned up - turns out there was a mix-up. I had cancelled a lesson the previous week and he forgot that I had rescheduled! Have booked again for Sunday morning so will update further then!

Oh what a pain! Well it's tipping it down here so maybe the weather is a bit bleak where you are. Sunday is the day! It'll be quieter on the roads too hopefully.

@Lexjo Good point, the traffic will definitely be quieter at that time on a Sunday.

I am doing a 30 minute non-motorway drive (not long I know but the longest I have done alone) this afternoon so am simultaneously nervous and excited to do that. I have been doing this trip by bus a couple of times a week over the past few weeks and it takes 25/35 mins by car (depending on traffic) but a little over an hour by bus so it will be great once I get in the swing of it!

I did the opposite. I passed my test and had been talking to my dad about motorway driving. He told me to use the slip road to match the traffic speed I'm joining and to stay in the 1st lane unless I am overtaking, to keep my distance, so I can see what is happening ahead of me, and to constantly use my mirrors to see what is going on around me.
Two weeks after passing my test, on my birthday, I had drove to a retail park with my mum (non driver) and on the way home, I was on the roundabout with a slip road to the motorway. On the spur of the moment, I went down the slip road, doing everything that my dad had told me to do. My mum I think was stunned into silence. I went for 2 junctions, then left at the next junction. I just went with it. I went round the roundabout and went back on the motorway back to where I started.
When I got home, my mum told my dad what I did and it turns out he did exactly the same as me when he passed too.
Now I have been driving for 20 years and I drive everywhere on the motorway. It has never phased me.
Just be vigilant to everything around you and you will be fine.

@Primrosefields - talk about a baptism of fire! Well done you though, I really should have pushed myself to do this a long time ago. However it's never too late to learn/develop a new skill and I am determined to keep at it this time.

I plan to rope in my sister to do a few practice runs with me next week once I have had the lesson, she has already offered and is a very calming presence so that will help a lot. Sooo looking forward to not standing about at a bus stop today!

You will be OK when you have done it a couple of times. I was just impulsive qnd the motorway was quiet. I would hate my children doing the same when they are older though.

Keep us posted with the Sunday session. You have inspired me and I'll will also book some motorway driving lessons for a Sunday in a couple of months time. I used to be able to drive on the motorway, but had a boyfriend for eight years who insisted on doing all driving and over time I lost confidence 😔 i really want to be able to do it though, it sounds quite good - all going in one direction, no roundabouts etc, but it's the constant 70 mph speed that scares me - even though I can do that on an A road. Crazy how the mind works. Anyway, good luck and let us know how you get on xx

How dd you get on, @Wishimaywishimight? I really need to do the same but my nearest motorway is 100 miles away so not easy to organise.