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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

First solo drive ...

64 replies

Lostinthewood · 13/12/2019 07:59

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 ?

OP posts:

Jumpi · 13/12/2019 11:24

I drove to the hairdressers to treat myself for passing. Felt great driving home with new hair

As for the feeling like you shouldn’t have passed, 12 years later and I still get those twinges. Especially when I see learner drivers or have to pass the test centre, I half expect someone to stop me and say there’s been a mistake.

doxxed · 13/12/2019 11:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

yellowallpaper · 13/12/2019 13:56

I did my first solo drive like a rabbit in the headlights. Drove into town with the windows open because they were steaming up, in January, in the bitter cold. Didn't know how to defrost using the heater!

PawPawNoodle · 13/12/2019 13:59

First thing I did was bomb it down the motorway in my little 1.2 corsa.

Mulledwineinajug · 13/12/2019 13:59

I went to Asda. I was terrified. The maiden voyage was definitely the hardest!

DiaryofWimpyMumm · 13/12/2019 14:03

I took my dog out with me the first few times, which wouldn't be legal nowadays. Not sitting in the front seat anyway.

Youll be fine OP just stay local to begin with

DarlingCoffee · 13/12/2019 14:43

Congratulations! I found it helpful to learn routes to start feeling confident driving to certain useful places such as home to the shops, home to the leisure centre, and went from there. Good luck, you can do it.

ShinyGiratina · 13/12/2019 14:52

I think my first was moving out and a 40 mile drive up dual carriageways to my new home a couple of months after I passed! I remember the feeling of terror pulling off my mum's driveway onto a busy main road which is never a pretty manouver.

I then had to get used to driving in a new county, city driving and rural driving very quickly. I had a fair idea of key routes in the area, but there was a lot of finding my way too, and it was before Sat Navs really became mainstream.

I liked not having an audience to my mistakes and there's not many cringeworthy memorable moments.

NeedAnExpert · 13/12/2019 14:55

Drove to a local car park and perfected every sort of reverse parking scenario. Absolutely priceless.

And then 10 days later I drove 400 miles to Scotland.

SerenDippitty · 13/12/2019 14:56

Well done OP.
I passed age 26 after many attempts. That evening I borrowed my mum’s car and drove into the city centre to a concert.

Besidesthepoint · 13/12/2019 14:58

My instructor told me to stay local for the first few drives because it is easier to handle the nerves together with the driving if you know the area well. I didn't listen and went to a shop 90 minutes away. I almost shat myself a few times. So I'd advise to drive whatever you already know.

ShinyRuby · 13/12/2019 16:17

I drove all of a mile to my sister's & got tooted at because I was so slow going round a corner. First longer drive was to Asda & I forgot to put my headlights on for part of the journey home!
I have improved since then & you definitely learn so much after passing your test but I STILL, 25 years later, have days where I feel like I can't drive.
Congratulations on your pass!

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 13/12/2019 16:19

@FormerlyFrikadela01 did your instructor give you many motorway lessons ?

I didnt have any motorway lessons. It was the opposite direction if the test centre and all the test routes. Driving isnt something I actually wanted to do, it's of course made life easier but I dont particularly enjoy it. I havent actively avoided the motorway, just havent needed to go on it. I might give it a bash this weekend now though.

Hope your first drive out went well.

Fifthtimelucky · 13/12/2019 20:01

I was living in a London suburb when I passed my test and didn't have a car or access to one. Two years later, a friend and I decided to go on holiday in Scotland. She couldn't drive and I didn't have a car, so we decided to get a train to Edinburgh and hire a car there.

I hadn't driven since my test and when we picked up the hire car I was obviously very out of practice. Edinburgh is very hilly and I must have stalled 10 times driving to our B&B. Fortunately, I got the hang of it and the rest of the driving was fine. I drove over 1000 miles during the holiday, including things I thought were quite brave like driving onto the ferry to Skye (no bridge in those days).

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