Would you drive this far if you had passed your driving test a month ago?

[lalallola]

I passed my test two weeks ago and my friend wants to book a caravan holiday an hour and a half away in a few weeks time. Initially I was up for this before I passed but now I have and driving alone I’ve realised there’s so much more to driving then passing your test! I’ve been to the supermarket, to family’s, etc and to a park 20 minutes away but I feel like it would be reckless to go away so soon. Just wondering if other people thought this was the right decision too? Just to add I have 2 under 2 so obviously instant pressure as I will have the most precious little people in my car at all times. Thanks.

Just do it! I was on the motorway within a couple of hours of passing my test.

My first boyfriend did 1000 miles in the first week after his test (yes, petrol was significantly cheaper in the 90s). But he wasn't doing it for the benefit of somebody else, he wanted to do it and there weren't any children to think about.

Go if you want to! I drove some friends to McDonald's with a couple of hours of passing my test, including party on a dual carriageway. Then about a week later I drove 2 hours to Sheffield on the motorway in the dark.

Do plenty of driving in the meantime to build up some more confidence. You've got two weeks!

If your friend doesn't drive be careful she's not lining you up to be her personal taxi in the near future

If you can squeeze it in, and assuming it's relevant for this trip, how about having a lesson specifically on motorway driving? It was the first thing I did after passing my test, and was invaluable in explaining the differences and getting used to the higher speeds, noise, big lorries etc. Also it lasted two hours instead of one, which was a good way of just driving more, and gave me the confidence to drive from Swindon to Portsmouth soon after. And once you've had the lesson, do some practice by yourself!

You mentioned your friend wants a caravan holiday... Is she expecting you to tow a caravan or is it a static one?
If it's a static one I'd go for it. If she wants you to tow then no way.

Either you can drive or you can't. If you can drive then you can drive for 90 mins!

I did a 180 mile round trip 6 days after I passed my test last year, which included the Dartford crossing both ways and one of the shittiest A roads in England.

I say the sooner you get into it, the better- otherwise you’ll end up like my best friend who passed her test nearly 3 years ago and still won’t drive more than half an hour from home because she’s not confident enough.

This was my thought. Fine if it’s just a car, but towing needs experience.

Just take your time, take breaks when you want to, and don’t let your friend blast music/ chatter all the way, or in any way distract you.

I drove down to cornwall a couple of weeks after passing. It was fine!

But I didn’t have any DC in the car (I was 17 and it was just me and my older brother)

I drove from Bognor Regis to Southampton docks in the rush hour a week after passing mine for a job interview. There were roadworks on the motorway with narrowed lanes, I was so proud of myself when I got there safely.

Dd drove us for an hour and a half up the motorway within a month of passing her test. I took over when she got tired, I recommended regular breaks.

I drove about that at 18 the day after I passed my test in a snow storm. Don’t ask - my mum asked me to drive her to my grandad’s 1.5 hours away to collect his car because he wasn’t meant to be driving and he kept going out driving so we needed to get the car before the snow came. It took about 4 hours in near whiteout conditions to make it home. I wouldn’t recommend that but I am now an excellent driver in snow and ice!

Personally, yes, I’d be fine with that, but if you’re questioning it, then no reason you need to be comfortable with it if you aren’t. Just say no or another time.

Yes I was also wondering this. I wouldn't tow a caravan now! It's a completely different skillset.

I drove two and a half hours on a motorway within a month of passing my test in a county with no motorways at all.

I did and I am not a confident driver. I didn’t go on the motorway though.

I went from Berkshire to Kent and back, which was 90% on the M25 within a month of passing - but I’m not you, OP. If you want to build up your confidence slower, it’s up to you. But I do agree with the PP who said not to leave it too long or you might end up like those people who don’t drive on the motorway or in roads they don’t know…

Some of my friends were happy driving here there and everywhere straightaway. I wasn't and was pressured into making a similar length trip by non driving friend and it was very stressful. Do it on your own timetable. As a pp said you won't get more confident if you don't drive but you shouldn't feel pressured to do it at a certain time with certain people and be driving stressed.You can also have more lessons now you have passed or even advance or defensive driving lessons.

I drove 90 miles to York about two weeks after passing my test.

Took a lot longer to have passengers though.

I drove from Essex to Kent, driving on a motorway for the first time, the day after my driving test. I then drove back home in the dark late on the Sunday evening. But what was right for me may not be right for you. You have to feel confident!

Yes. I would and did drive that far when I'd just passed my test. Please... just do it! Stop putting barriers in your way. Honestly, you'll laugh at your fear of this drive in just a few short months... but only if you get out there and do it.

I'm sad to see how many women on MN just don't have confidence to DO ordinary stuff. Your kids will love the caravan park and you'll be so glad you went. Go go GO!

I was wondering this too.

No way would I agree to be towing a caravan for an hour and a half just two weeks after passing my driving test.

Yes.
I drove from the south to Birmingham 5 days after passing.
About 6 weeks maybe 8 after i drove from south to Edinburgh.. I love it though everyone's different my cousin won't even go on motorway a year afyer passing

I’m all for getting out on the roads with confidence and getting the miles in until it becomes second nature. But when you’re so recently passed it still takes an immense amount of concentration to drive.

Having two babies in the car is very different from all the tales of 18 year olds going on long adventures. One (or two!) possibly upset or crying under 2s in the car is a huge distraction, no matter how hard you try to ignore it. I found it hard enough when mine were that age and I’d been driving for over 10 years at that point.

Maybe they are good friends and OP passing her test means they can all go on holiday further afield or more remote. Why assume friend wants to use OP as a taxi?