new driver 35 mile commute

[shouldhavelistenedtom0ther]

My 17 year old son has applied for a job in a rural setting 35 miles away. It is in a remote location, well away from public transport routes, and if he is successful in his application, he will work some unsocial hours (hospitality).

He can drive and has an old car. However, although he is very enthusiastic about the opportunity, I am really anxious about the prospect of him driving such a long way, down some pretty tricky roads, when he only passed his test in August.

The position is for an apprenticeship and would offer him the opportunity to train in an area in which he has an intense interest. However, AIBU to think the commute is too risky for a new, young driver?

He has to learn how to drive these types of roads sometimes.
Maybe book him a session on a skid pan for his Christmas - he'll love the experience and you'll have peace of mind knowing he can control a skid (rural roads can be awful for ice in winter)

I did a two hour drive alone the day after I passed my test in a snow storm on very icy roads. (Unfortunately, no choice as my mum needed to go and check on my grandfather who had fallen and was ill and then I needed to drive home for school the next day). It took about four hours in total, but was fine. I would routinely do that drive to visit family at that age. It's good experience and if he's responsible, he'll be fine.

As long as he is happy with it, I was nervous when I first passed my test and did loads of little journeys to build confidence; but a lot of my friends went straight in with driving fair distances etc- so all down to personal choice and what you are comfortable with. It sounds like the opportunity is worth it, good luck to him!

Good luck to your son with his job application. I would second getting him some driving lessons for night driving and hazards on rural roads, one of which are bike riders in dark clothing on unlit twisting roads with no pavements.

A former colleague passed his test at 17 as he had to go to college 15 mile's away and he had extra lessons. One advantage of these younger drivers needing cars for work can often be they are more responsible and gain experience quickly.

If you can get him to buy or lease a newer car as several of my colleagues did. You can get higher mpg and a lower rated vehicle for ins purposes. It can sometimes be more cost effective.

He's in an absolutely fantastic position having a car and a driving license at this age and should make the most of it, loads of people wouldn't be able to go for the apprenticeship because of this

YABU! He's passed his test, let him get on with it

Fantastic opportunity to develop some too driving skills. The route would be like second nature after driving it for a few weeks. He'll be fine! 35 miles is not very far. I drove 190 miles across the country and back every other weekend as soon as I passed my test and I'm a better driver for it. It'll actually make him safer imo :)

I was a little older when i passed (in my 30s and pregnant with my second child) and started a daily long commute straight away. It was brilliant, i quickly became a competent and confident driver used to other people doing stupid stuff in rush hour. My husband passed a few months after me and didn't drive daily- took him much longer to get used to driving and get confident enough to be really safe.

Thank you again.

There is a skid pan training offer close to where we live and this might be a brilliant Christmas present for him!

I do not drive. I used to commute a similar distance to work, on public transport and it took me two and a half hours each way, so I am glad my son has learnt this important skill when he is young.

I am anxious, but I have been very careful not to let my parental anxiety affect my son. It is extremely important that he remains positive and there are some excellent opportunities for progression in the potential post.

Thank you again for the reassurance and advice. Even if he is not successful with this application, at least he (and I ) will know that he can apply for opportunities that are not entirely local.

If he's anything like me at 17 he'll see the skid pan as a cool thing to do rather than an essential skill. I lived rurally where there's a lot of snow in the winter and my parents sent me on one - it's helped me avoid a few (lower speed) crashes. Personally I think it should be part of the driving test.

I completely understand your reluctance, I'm facing a similar situation myself but I think this is one of those things we have to take a deep breath and get on with.

If he does this journey regularly, he'll soon gain the experience and he needs to so that sometime. Id try and insist the car is well maintained and he has breakdown cover though.

I've driven 100s of 1000s of miles but have very little experience of rural driving and I have to admit it scares me when a tractor's coming tpwards me on a narrow lane.(which I only experience very rarely on holiday). I dont think it that unusal fot an experience driver not to be used to rural driving.

Oh - another thing I recommend him practicing if he is driving rurally is going to a road that's only a foot or two wider than he length of his car and turning it. It may take him 103 points rather than three but it's worth knowing how to do in case a road is blocked by a fallen tree etc.