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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that motorway driving should be taught to learners before they pass their driving tests?

93 replies

NeonMuffin · 07/04/2014 09:58

I've been driving for over ten years now and I've never driven on a motorway. I'm quite a confident driver otherwise, but the idea of driving on a motorway absolutely terrifies me. I'm not sure why as I'm aware that they are statistically the safest roads to use, I think maybe it's because there a three lanes instead of two and I know there are certain rules about undertaking etc that I don't really understand.

It's holding me back and I want to change it, I'm going to book a refresher course to boost my confidence. But it's made me think, why is motorway driving not taught as standard to learner drivers? Am I correct in saying that the UK is the only country in Europe where motorway driving is not part of the driving test? Why is this? Surely it's something that all drivers should learn?

AIBU? Surely this would make our roads safer?

OP posts:
Original poster
NeonMuffin · 07/04/2014 10:46

Quite honestly it's your issue if there's not an motorway close by. My nearest motorway is about 30 mins drive from here, but I'm prepared to pay to get some lessons to get me used to using it.

OP posts:
TallyGrenshall · 07/04/2014 10:49

When you're paying £40 per hour for a lesson, there is a vast difference between 30 mins to a motorway and 2 hours.

Would you really expect learners to pay £200 for a single lesson, lasting 5 hours, just so they can drive on a motorway for an hour?!

pointythings · 07/04/2014 10:50

I agree that if you can handle a dual carriage way, you can handle a motorway and I do think learners should spend a set amount of time on dual carriageway driving - that way there should not be an issue - speed, traffic levels and rules on overtaking are the same. Not getting that training means you haven't learned everything you need to know...

In Holland there isn't really a distinction between dual carriageways and motorways.

specialsubject · 07/04/2014 10:52

learners not allowed to exceed the speed limits

actually nobody is. It is called the law.

gordyslovesheep · 07/04/2014 10:55

What do you think you need to learn? Motorways are easy to drive on. Learners should have experience of multi lane driving but it doesn't need to be a motorway

SelectAUserName · 07/04/2014 10:57

You obviously don't live in Cornwall, East Anglia or parts of Scotland, OP!

And how can it be "your issue" if you're 17 and learning to drive? Unlikely that you were the one who made the decision to live two hours from a motorway.

The cost of a single lesson to take one person on a four-hour-plus round trip to spend an hour on a motorway would be prohibitive, and also a good driving instructor is so much in demand that they would struggle to find time in their diaries to devote half a working day to one pupil. It might just about be feasible to offer it as an option to someone who booked an intensive course but to make it mandatory is unworkable.

Mitchy1nge · 07/04/2014 11:00

obviously I learned to drive a very very very long time ago but I think that a learner driver might find that is just too long to be behind the wheel - driving is tiring when you are learning and you are driving to an exacting sort of standard, rather than on autopilot

it's just not workable in this country I don't think

MackerelOfFact · 07/04/2014 11:03

There isn't much difference between a dual carriageway and a motorway - some dual carriageways have three lanes, and some motorways only have two lanes in places.

It does just depend where you learn though, as with any road situation. If you lean somewhere with loads of crossroads or roundabouts, you'll be used to them - if you don't, you won't.

Lj8893 · 07/04/2014 11:06

My issue that I don't live near to a motorway??

Well, it's "your issue" that you don't feel confident driving on motorways. I'm perfectly fine with them.

ConcreteElephant · 07/04/2014 11:08

If you're going to insist on motorway lessons then I'm going to insist on 'driving safely down narrow country lane' lessons ;)

I took my test in Cornwall (grew up on Devon/Cornwall border and needed a 2 hour lesson just to get a good run at a bit of dual carriageway. Having done dual carriageway I was fine on the motorway but that's because I had (hopefully!) been well taught to drive safely and with care and attention in any environment. The skills should be transferable between road types, night/day, quiet/busy roads etc surely? It's about quiet confidence I think - a very nervous or over-confident driver will be a danger in a 30 limit in town as much as on a motorway.

Mitchy1nge · 07/04/2014 11:12

yes, country roads, night driving, driving in Europe/The States, driving in snow and on ice, in fog and on a very bright day

there are lots of areas of proficiency that one would ideally start their driving life with a high degree of but most people pick it up as they go along don't they?

Lj8893 · 07/04/2014 11:13

Exactly mitchy

It's quite true that you learn to pass your test, you learn to drive once you have actually passed.

whatever5 · 07/04/2014 11:14

DH had a couple of motorway lessons straight after passing his test (about 13 years ago). Seems like a sensible idea to me and I'm sure that a lot of driving instructors will do that.

Nancy66 · 07/04/2014 11:19

even though it's been over 20 years I still remember my terror the first time on the motorway. It's not the motorway itself it's more the getting onto to it via the slip road that frightened me.

I do think that after passing a test you have to make yourself do it very quickly or, like the OP, you never will.

diaimchlo · 07/04/2014 11:19

Motorways are definitely not the place for inexperienced drivers, even if they have passed their test.

I passed my test 2nd time, but can honestly say I did not learn to drive until approx 12 months later. Driving is not just operating a car safely it is being able to read the road and that honestly does not come easily, it comes with experience....

I have driven 100s of miles on the motorway and find it easier than A and B roads, I can usually predict if a car in front is going to move lanes before they indicate etc......

New drivers should not be allowed to attempt motorway driving until they have been driving at least 12 months.

If you are going to try OP try and find a slip road that goes straight into the slow lane so you do not have to filter across, I did this on J32 on M6 and start building your confidence.

Raxacoricofallapatorius · 07/04/2014 11:26

The whole system needs overhauling. Currently, you learn to pass a test. My driving test was in an area with a maximum 40 mph limit, no duals and little traffic. That examiner had no idea whether I had half the competencies mastered. It's also too easy for a competent driver to struggle under test conditions and fail through nerves while her friend scrapes through the short test because of over confidence and isn't actually safe. Would be better for an instructor to build up a portfolio on you, ongoing assessment and sign you off as competent. Perhaps do a probationary year and then sit a test when you've mastered RL driving in a competent way.

Nancy66 · 07/04/2014 11:27

I definitely think people should be retested every 10 years or so. It terrifies me that people like my mother are on the road

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/04/2014 11:28

4am on the M25 ain't quiet Grin - we had a 6am Gatwick flight last year and I was gobsmacked how busy it was.

On the M1 yesterday a lady was pootling along at 35 mph, I was wondering why there was a huge tailback, until I got to her.

NotNewButNameChanged · 07/04/2014 11:37

I passed my test in September 1992 and got my first car in November 1992. The first Saturday morning after I got my car, I drove to the nearest motorway junction, got on, drove two junctions up, came off, then drove two junctions back. Still think it was the best move, to get on and just do it.

I agree with other posters that motorway driving is actually pretty easy as long as you're comfortable driving at 70mph which you can do on dual carriageways anyway.

Anotheronebitthedust · 07/04/2014 11:45

Mitchy1nge
'learners probably not allowed to exceed the speed limits' Um no, learners are DEFINITELY not allowed to exceed the speed limits. NOBODY is allowed to exceed the speed limits, that is why they are LIMITS and not recommendations.

If it takes you 40 mins to do a journey that should take 1hr 15 then you must be going at an insanely fast speed. You say you learned to drive a 'very very very long time ago' - I think it's probably time you took a refresher course or something if 'rules don't apply to me' is your attitude to driving.

It's people like you that make learners/newly passed people afraid to drive on motorways.

EverythingsDozy · 07/04/2014 11:50

Anotherone - she did say "in current traffic". It could just be a busy time around her area, in normal traffic it may well only take 40 mins

sashh · 07/04/2014 11:51

I think maybe it's because there a three lanes instead of two and I know there are certain rules about undertaking etc that I don't really understand.

And you say you are a confident driver?

Some motorways only have 2 lanes, some duel carriageways have more than two.

The rules about overtaking are the same as on any other road. Read a copy of the highway code.

YABU that you have not driven on a motorway so you think that all learners should.

I have only driven abroad once, in a British car, should learning include left and right had drive just on case someone wants to drive on the right ans it terrified?

pointythings · 07/04/2014 11:53

Raxacoricofallapatorius you are right, and actually that applies elsewhere too. I learned to drive in Holland where you do learn motorway driving, but lots of other things aren't compulsory. My driving instructor made sure I booked my lessons across a range of time points so that I did night driving, rush hour driving, school let out time driving and so on. Because I was learning in winter and it was a harsh one, my instructor also took me to an iced-over factory car park he had access to and spent time teaching me to deal with skidding. He went above and beyond, but these are all skills people should have access too, perhaps by making advanced courses more accessible and affordable.

Nancy66 · 07/04/2014 11:54

isn't there a section of the M1 that has 5 lanes now?

Mitchy1nge · 07/04/2014 11:57

people like me? what are you chuntering on about? google's estimate is way off, that's all Hmm

but I like the idea of menacing the rest of the road in my grotty little Ka that takes about 5 weeks to overtake a lorry Grin