New driver, first BIG drive - sweating a bit

[HairsprayBabe]

I finally passed my driving test in March at the grand old age of 33 after a very long and protracted journey of learning to drive. I have had my car since January and I have been driving it around happily (with supervision obviously before I passed) doing all the little daily errands, local jollies and I've done some motorway driving with my mum and dad too since passing,.

Me and DH (non driver) have a weekend away this weekend - first since dd3 was born! The penny just dropped that this is my first BIG drive e.g more than 30mins since passing my test - we are going two hours away and I am excited obvs but also a bit on the nervy side.

The best route is A roads not motorway which makes things easier!

But the nerves are mounting, I know two hours is nothing for some people but what are your tips for long drives, or just any sage driving wisdom for a newly passed driver or funny driving stories to make me feel better.

If you can drive for 30mins, you can drive for 45mins, as you can do 45mins, you can do 60 mins... etc etc.

Just break it down into segments.... remember your pre test nerves and how you over came them!

After an hour or whenever you need it, stop, have a walk around and congratulate yourself on how well you re doing.

Suggest you aim to stop briefly half way there. 5 min fresh air or a coffee. Will make it more manageable.

Just know you can do this, it is just 30 minutes x 4.

Look at your route on Google Maps today, I prefer to look on a laptop rather than a phone. Zoom into any roundabouts or anything that looks like a big junction. Have this route ready to go for when you actually drive in case there are any road closures and it reroutes you. We went down a road that had been closed for a police incident of a hit and run and Google maps just re-routed us when we were forced to turn left. We have also had motorways close on us and we have been re-routed off.

My top tip would be get in the car asap do a quick toot round with your Google maps loaded now to a supermarket or whatever and have the volume on so you know how this is all going to sound with the whole in a quarter of a mile take the B whatever to wherever.

Get your Dh to also look at the route, familiarise yourselves with Google Maps app and honestly you will realise that driving is a brilliant freedom.

Yes we have scheduled in a stop - its funny how a 2hr diving lesson was fine but the second I'm driving 2 hours away on my own its terrifying!

I think I'll crack out the rescue remedy again, I wish I had learned younger, the youthful me was totally fearless but I wanted to spend money on partying not anything remotely sensible!

Have been religiously checking the route all week - good idea re the tricky junctions etc

A big drive is just lots of little drives strung together. You won't be doing a single thing on it that you haven't done hundreds of times before.

If it helps, bring up the route on google maps beforehand and have a nose at any junctions that look a bit confusing, means you'll be familiar with them when you rock up to them for real.

Unless you’re going through Milton Keynes or Swindon with their magic roundabouts!

@AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti route could go through MK but I have very much gone the longer way!

Ok so if I was you I’d plan my breaks in, perhaps every 45 minutes . I think on Apple Maps or Google you can search for service stations along the route. You will be fine, might be tired after though! It will do you good to do it otherwise you will never leave your safe space. Perhaps keep the P plates on to encourage everyone to
leave you alone x

Also I did learn at 18 but then had massive confidence drop in my 30s. I have had to really work hard to get over it so it doesn’t limit what I do. Honestly you have to do this and it will be amazing for you, you will feel so proud x

I'd echo the advice about checking tricky junctions on Google maps. I have been driving 30 years but still do this sometimes if I am not 100% sure where I am going.

@thismummydrinksgin I found the P plates made people meaner, more aggressive overtaking etc. I know - in theory - I am a good driver I got a clean sheet in my test. It's a mix of being "far" and also not knowing the roads as well.

We have a family holiday coming up in a few weeks that's a 4hr drive so I am hoping this will get me over the fear of a "BIG" drive

Also yes to the tiredness factor - thankfully we are staying at a spa not doing anything strenuous so I will definitely chill out on arrival!

I'll tell you the story of my first 'big drive', hopefully yours will be much easier!
It was before the days of Google maps/satnav so I had my trusty big atlas on the passenger seat (I'd started with Post It notes in the centre of the steering wheel but when I pulled the top one off they all came off!). I'd got my first mobile phone a couple of days before (really showing my age here 👵🏻) so felt all prepared. Except when I broke down I found it didn't bloody work..
Found a pub (very much local pub for local people) to call the breakdown service. Who nearly didn't find me because I was pronouncing the name of the road/village how it was spelt on the sign (one of those places with names designed to trap non-locals ). Towed to the garage, fixed and on my jolly way again, except where the garage was had very much not been on my planned route so I had no idea where I was going.
Made it though, and told myself if I could get though that I could get through anything!

That’s useful to know about the P plates for when my DD passes ! People are pigs aren’t they. Enjoy the spa - will be well earned x

Use a website called “what’s halfway”. If you put in your start and finish point, the site will find rest stops, food, points of interest as close to halfway as possible. Then you could search again between halfway and the end or the start for another “halfway”.

As others have said, a big journey is lots of little ones. You got this.

Don't rush it, or panic, on roundabouts. There is no shame in going around twice if you miss the correct exit the first time around. And go at your own speed, don't let other drivers dictate the road. If it takes two and a half hours then - fine! Good luck.