To think I won't kill someone if I drive like this without lessons?

[RealPill]

I passed my test. When I get my car in a few weeks, the first major trip I want to take is from Bedfordshire to Essex. AIBU to think I won't kill someone if I drive on the motorway without any lessons?

My instructor said I should really think carefully before attempting a motorway on my own, and has strongly advised some motorway lessons.

I thought the only tricky thing would be merging on from a slip road... Otherwise should be fine, just follow the SatNav and road signs, and stay in the first lane at 60/65mph.

Maybe I am bonkers... I've spoke to a few friends and they said they just drove on motorways without any lessons for them. But they all passed years ago so maybe things were different

Never had a motorway lesson in my life, but drove on them straight away after passing. However, I encouraged my son to have a couple of motorway lesson when he passed his test.
I think they should be compulsory part of a test and driving in multi storey car parks!

Seriously, you do NOT sound like someone who is competent to drive on a motorway. You don't know the basics of how to safely use a slip road, it sounds like you've never driven above 60mph, you're planning on just staying in lane 1 at 65mph because you don't have the confidence or the abilities to use the motorway properly. And you're planning on having your 2-year-old in the back when you do this? Absolute madness.

On the M25 people are less likely to let you in because drivers there are a bit more 'every man for himself'. That means you will need to be decisive and confident about merging safely - hence everyone's recommendation for some practise motorways first.

Why the M25 in particular? Is there a type of driver more inclined to use the M25?

I'd also make sure you have some practice before undertaking a major trip with a child. Concentrating on a satnav at a junction with an upset child, heavy traffic etc is stressful, especially if it's the first time you do it.
What I find useful for motorway driving is monitoring the traffic flow in the far and middle distance, both ahead and behind, to anticipate changes in speed, slow vehicles, fast vehicles etc.
To be honest travelling behind a lorry in the inside lane is quite scary as you can't really see the road ahead clearly, might be hidden from the lorry itself, might have to contend with rain spray, might get caught up in people leaving the motorway...
For the least stressful and most efficient motorway driving you need to be confident with using all the lanes for their intended purposes.

Motorways are easy and I’m a shit anxious driver. When I passed my test I drive to another town the next day and set the sat nav to avoid motorways. It took me down terrifying dark bendy roads ! I changed it to motorways and it was sooo much better. Straight, well lit roads - easy.

Yes. You stop. You don't have the right of way, the traffic already on the motorway does. If it isn't safe then don't just pull out into moving traffic.

Most people will pull into the second and third lanes when they're coming up to a slip road so as to allow people to come on and so as not to get stuck behind slower traffic so just pay lots of attention to your mirrors to work out where the gaps are and slow down and speed up accordingly.

The M25 is ruthless. London driving is ruthless.

The main thing you will find is drivers are less forgiving when you don't have L plates. Maybe worth getting your green P plates so drivers are aware you may make mistakes.

Reading your messages, it sounds like you NEED a motorway lesson, so you understand how they work. I never had one, and within weeks of passing was driving from Berkshire to Glasgow for uni, but that was 30 years ago now. But, I did go out with an experienced driver on shorter motorway trips first, up a couple of junctions, off a slip road, round the roundabout and back on again. And without the distraction of a 2 year old in the back.

I think a few years back, they were going to introduce a motorway bit to the driving exam but stuffed it for some reason

They've introduced it already I think...off to Google.

The first time I ever drove my first car (other than the test drive I took it on with a friend) was also the first time I’d ever driven on my own, or on a motorway. I drove from Wales to Cambridge being followed by my Dad (in case I went the wrong way) and I hadn’t even noticed when we joined the motorway as it just looked the same as an A road to me. It was absolutely fine and I didn’t really get the big deal, I just remember it being nice to have the radio on!

BUT if you don’t feel confident then have some lessons, just don’t let your money hungry instructor worry you if you don’t actually feel worried about it.

yep the M25 can be an interesting experience and not one that you can easily take doing 60 mph in one lane without actually changing lanes (unless its busy and it tells you too).

Traffic does indeed go fast and it can also go very slowly and sometimes it can be heavy traffic when you join

Looking at your later posts I am now scared on your behalf. No you cannot rely on a satnav to tell you what lane you need to be on. It will tell you when you need to come off only. You need to have your wits about you, be able to read the signs, decide what lane you need to be in, drive for other people, ie you need to be aware what others are doing or are likely to do

You also have to be prepared that you won’t be able to filter on. Whilst most try to move over sometimes it’s dimply not possible as cars are in all lanes. Therefore you have to be prepared to stop at the end of the slip road and join from a stop position.

I think you should take lessons

I went straight on the motorway-literally the day after I passed my test (just five months ago-I'm a late starter!)
. It was terrifying but I reasoned the more I thought about it, the worse the build up would be.
Merging right is no bother. Left-just be careful to actually check your blind spot and for cars running parallel to you.
It's fine!

I don’t think you need a motorway lesson but I think you should do it first with someone else in the car. Can your DH take you?

I drove home from my driving test on the motorway, I thought I might as well get it over and done with. My DCs had a motorway lesson or two which they wanted to do.

It's possible to drive the trip without joining the M25.

Yep,you've been able to have lessons on the motorway since 2018.

OP I would have a short run to start with with someone experienced. The M25 can be challenging.

I did it! I joined it without even realising. It's scary until you do it

See if you can get an experienced friend to come for a drive on a small bit of motorway a few times. Motorway driving is easy in theory but we do rely on other drivers being courteous and moving over to let us in etc. Practicing will help you out in learning what's best to do if and when other drivers don't comply. And do pay close attention to the over lane signs (gantry signs I believe someone called them?) they will give you a much better idea of what lane you need to be in. Sat navs can steer you wrong unintentionally. Mine told us just today to stay left to continue to XX place but having done the journey plenty of times I knew Sat Nav meant stay left on the right hand three lanes, not the left hand two lanes that were becoming feeder lanes to another motorway. It's stupid but at least the over lane signs were clear well in advance.

I got my driving license in another country so please excuse my ignorance but.... surely you cant pass your test without having ever driven on the motorway?! I dont understand - either you can drive, everywhere, anytime, or you cant?!

Is it optional to practice driving on motorway? Why would you NOT do this as part of learning to drive?

Can I do the trip without using a motorway? Not fussed if it takes twice as long

I think I will get a lesson on a motorway, anyway.

For the person asking, yes you can take lessons on a motorway as a learner without a pass, but they aren't necessary for learning to drive and aren't featured in the driving test is what I was trying to say

Longdistance M1!

It sounds like you need a motorway driving lesson, because you're coming across as not being fully aware of the requirements of motorway driving. Also, busy motorways are likely to contain other drivers who won't make any allowances for nerves or indecision, and you'll be travelling at speeds where your lack of experience in making allowances for other road users gives you less response time.

We can all give tips, but that's no substitute for you driving with a professional to advise.

One lesson should be enough though.

I learned to drive in a small village in Northern Ireland and never really drove on a motor way until I moved to London (twice to belfast and once to Dublin usually dp now dh drove) and I’ve never had a lesson on how to drive on one.

With a young child, I would definitely be wanting a couple of practice runs with a person, who is highly proficient in motorway - either a seasoned, sensible driver or instructor.

Someone upthread said it’s easier than driving in town. I do not agree... unless you’re on the M69 or M20 etc in off peak hours. Motorway driving deserves a lot of skill and intense concentration far in excess of pootling round town at 30mph.

I have been driving for many years. However, I learnt a lot from observing my dh’s driving on the motorway. I was proficient on the motorway. But he is an excellent driver and with the increase of traffic over the decades, driving on motorways are increasingly hazardous and I am glad to have benefited from his expertise.

You have a number of basic questions yet to be answered and little to no knowledge of how a motorway operates. For the sake of a few pounds, especially because you have a young child with you, I’d pay for a couple of lessons - unless you know a very proficient motorway driver. You would never forgive yourself if something happened and you’d not had the lessons.