First solo drive ...

[Lostinthewood]

Posting here for traffic .
At the grand old age of 34 I passed my driving test first time yesterday with 4minors and now today I get to do my first solo drive with absolutely no where to go , full of nerves that maybe I was passed by mistake , scared I will totally screw up, but knowing I have to get out there ...
Just looking for inspiration or stories of where you went on your own first solo drive ?

@Bellyfullofbiscuits i was very tempted to do that , a little private celebration. There is a very tempting bakery only a ten min or so drive away .
@welshladywhois40 every place I have been considering the car parks and streets next to them. As if you read my mind , I’ve planned in my head this evening or tomorrow evening when quiet to head to the local big tesco and get some practice in on the parking. Does anyone actually reverse bay park the way they were taught Cos I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do it with the three space gap and then reverse in .

And btw every first timer feels like you do. I found P plates helped me get over my nerves - because if I made a mistake I'd feel like at least the other drivers would know why 😆

I was 17. It was the day after I passed my test. My mum and her friend had gone shopping in the West End. She called me from the station and asked me to pick her up. It was raining, dark and rush hour in North London. I was terrified.

@thatwasMauijustmessingaround - my instructor warned me away from P plates warning that it made some drivers behave worse, did you find that?

@Spacie - again I’m in awe . Though I bet you felt great after

I found driving on my own much easier, because I wasn't constantly conscious of having someone watching every move.

But I practically never reverse park.

Well done - I was 40, so I remember being pretty nervous. I can't remember my first solo journey, but I know a lot of my first drives were giving a lift to rehearsals to the chap who'd given me lifts for the previous few years, and it was nice to have some ongoing encouragement and advice, especially as it got to dark evenings. Stick to journeys you know to start with.

When doing an unknown journey, Google street view is your friend - I've often looked at the route, or at least at the major junctions, which reduces the panic about being in the wrong lane or missing the turn.

Congratulations! I passed last year, came home called the insurance and drove to my mums. It's about 20 mins on roads that I know, that built my confidence and the next day I drove down the motorway I use for my commute now, so I could get used to it without rush hour traffic. You'll be great, I'd pick some roads I know and go for a wee scoot down to the shops or to get a coffee.

Just drive somewhere you know and have been before,make it a short journey. Tomorrow make it a bit longer and a bit further. Have some motorway lessons.

I went to pick up the Sunday papers from the chip shop in a village a few miles away.

Cautionary tale - I drove the car off the road. I had learnt to drive in the city centre, and I was unprepared for winding country roads. I had no idea you needed to deal with bends as well as all the things my instructor had categorised as either ‘junctions’ or ‘corners’. I had to walk across the fields to find a phone box. My dad sounded as if he had been basically waiting for the call since I left.

You'll be fine OP. I found my first solo drive much easier than all previous drives as there was no one there judging me and my driving and thinking I'm shit. I'm sure they weren't but in my head they were and it made me more nervous. I still feel that way now and love driving on my own.

It's scary but you can do it! My first solo drive was to work I think, less than 10 mins. I also used to drive to the supermarket. You'll be great OP, congratulations on passing your test!

I passed with 4 minors too. I went to the nearest train station and back, it took 10 mins. And I went on a Sunday morning at 7am to make sure I was the only car on the road - I'd recommend it! Good luck.

I passed in my 40's, for the first solo drive I went around the places I'd been with my driving instructor. Then I just went anywhere, I didn't want to be one of those drivers who stay local or who avoid motorways.

My first solo drive was along the m8 from Edinburgh to Glasgow. It was unexpected and I was shitting myself but got such a buzz once it was over, so glad I did it.

An hour's motorway drive between two cities. Can't recommend that approach! But I was starting a new job and it had to be done

Two days after I passed my test I went and bought a car with DP. My first solo drive was home up multiple dual carriages and round 4 lane roundabouts with no tax or insurance

Shame you never got caught. No insurance = 6 points, and within 2 years of passing, you go back to provisional. You don't deserve a bloody licence!!

My first solo drive i went to where i did my lessons and drove round there because the streets were most familiar

Loved my first solo drive! Suitably banging rock music, headed for the middle of nowhere and flew!

I think going out a drive yourself after passing your test is the best thing you can possibly do. There's no pressure of someone watching every move you make and your confidence will soar. You've passed the test and you deserve to be on the road, just like everyone else. Enjoy it!!

I didn't put P plates on, no need. Considered myself as much a driver as the next person from the minute I passed my test. It also stopped other arseholes drivers being impatient because they knew I was a new driver

I forgot to say 'congratulations' in my post.

Well done, OP!

I dropped DH off at the pub

Well done on passing your test.

Thanks all , really helped boost the confidence a bit to just do it. Just waiting in for a parcel then I’m off, I’m going to practice the routes my instructor had me on just to build up then I’ve set my mind on a few places I fancy that I’ve always had to rely on DP or the bus to get too. Some excitement is replacing the nerves now , so hopefully all goes well

I went straight out, I messed up lanes was absolutely petrified but I did it. I laugh about it now

Can’t remember mine. You will encounter some rude and arrogant arseholes on the roads - try to ignore them. You have as much right to be there as anyone (more than quite a few).

I drove with now-DH a few times getting used to his large old car rather than a new Corsa like the instructors had. Including on motorways at 4am, after which I booked a motorway lesson which was really helpful.

Then had to drive alone, which included failing to get the petrol cap open and begging for help at a petrol station (nice fatherly chap assisted), parking across two spaces in a supermarket car park because I couldn't line up the large car, and finding out later I'd also scraped DH's boss's new car on the way out from his office.

I've got a lot better since!