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

Trickiest bits IMO, once you're on, are moving in & out of the middle lane, because you have to be sure nobody is moving the opposite way to you in a blind spot.

To avoid a blind spot your door mirrors need to be adjusted, both sides, so that you can see vehicles at all times as they move past you, or you move past them, when they're not visible in the rear-view mirror or in your peripheral vision (& always do a quick head turn to make sure )

I can understand you wanting just to chug along in the inside lane & if you go at a quiet time you might be able to do that, but it would be good for you to move about a bit.

I learnt to drive nearly 50 years ago, when there weren't many motorways, or nearly so many cars as now. If I'd just passed now I would definitely have at least one motorway lesson.

Good luck

My only fear is trying to merge on and someone not letting me in

Don't worry. Most experienced drivers on motorways can spot someone a mile off who hasn't got a clue, and will avoid them like the proverbial Plague.

FWIW, OP, I wouldn't have driven any of my DC on a motorway when they were two, if I hadn't had years of experience beforehand. Even then, I was wary.

I thought instructors could take learners on the motorway now?

anyway i went on the morotway about a week after i pased -the m25- it wasnt as bad as i thought just like a fast moving a road

try and get some practise in befpre yur trip

Op my advice would be to virtually drive the route. Google earth street view is great (so longs as it's up to date). You can actually read the road signs. Look at the Lane layouts ect.
You say your coming from Bedfordshire so M1 to M25? If so once your on the m1 you should be ok. The m25 lane just filters off to the left and so longs as you remain in the left lane it looks like it just becomes part of the m25 adding a new lane to it. You don't have to merge with the traffic as such. (Ive just driven it on GM)
Use a sat nav have another adult with you to look after little one and to read out instructions to you. If you virtually drive it first you can note down which lane you need to be in ect.

Ok, I see the point re not always being practical to practice in motorway. But inwould argue that proper practice in a dual carriageway at least would be important.

OP, you dont sound competent to drive on the motorway. Like ALL driving, to do it safely you need to be aware of where you and other cars are, and where you are going at all times. That is more complicated on the motorway with multiple lanes, large numbers of cars, complicated exits etc. But if tih had learnt properly and gained confidence a trip on the motorway might be a bit nerve wracking but you wouldnt be questioning your abilities. And you dont seem to know how they work- staying in left lane travelling at 65 is so unrealistic it makes me wonder if you have even been a passenger on the motor way.

I am probably sounding harsh but I am a little surprised by all this. Certainly my children are v young but in the car we regularly chat about what drivers/me are doing and why that's good or bad. They need to understand rule sof road before they even begin to get behind the wheel.

I think if your instructor is saying this, you should listen. He or she knows how you drive, any sticking points you may have, and your potential anxiety levels, better than any of us will.

FWIW, when I first learnt I made a point of doing things on my own without kids in the car; never underestimate how much of a distraction young children can be. When I first drove motorways I did quick routes, going off and on slip roads ubtil I built up a confidence with that.

It's also important to remember that for many new drivers (I'm included here) long journeys, or tackling new or complex routes, can be mentally exhausting. Dont run before you can walk.

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

Perhaps he doesn't think you're ready? Maybe one or two lessons would make all the difference.

If you don't want to take special lessons, then I agree that you should do a short trip with someone else first, before attempting a long motorway trip. It is mostly quite ok, but busy traffic on the motorway can be confusing and scary to a new driver.

I think you'd be daft to do this really, particularly with your little one in the back. There's the distraction from her for a start. Then if you're lucky you have an easy journey and it's a great learning experience. If not, it won't be any fun at all, and you could find it pretty stressful. I think the things you are asking about make it obvious that you aren't clear about how to drive safely and correctly on the motorway. Why wouldn't you have a couple of lessons just so that you can get the answers you need and keep you and those around you safer?

Honestly, I don't think lessons are at all necessary. I passed age 17 and went straight onto motorways no problem, and as a 17 year old I was pretty dumb in general.

Having said that, based on your replies, OP, you do sound kind of clueless and very low on confidence. Probably not a good mix. So yeah, maybe you should have some motorway lessons.

You don’t need lessons but I’d definitely do a shorter trip with an experienced driver as a passenger and get them to tell you about potential hazards. I drove on a busy motorway for the first time after passing my test with my mum and almost killed both of us because I panicked in a difficult situation.

And you dont seem to know how they work- staying in left lane travelling at 65 is so unrealistic it makes me wonder if you have even been a passenger on the motor way.

Quite. I would expect someone who has passed both a theory and practical driving test to know:

A) HGVs are physically limited to travelling at no more than 56mph
B) HGVs are allowed to drive in all but the right-most lane in order to overtake
C) Motorways, particularly the M1 are full of HGVs

Therefore, it is practically impossible to stay in lane 1 at 60/65mph. The rest of OP's knowledge of how to drive safely on a motorway seems to be equally lacking.

I learnt 24 years ago and took one motorway lesson just to be safe.
Instructor was a love. If he saw me make any errors despite having passed my test he was very good about it! He got me onto the slip road for nearest motorway and just built my confidence up. We literally just practised going on, coming off for several slip roads and exits.
Not a waste of money for me, it really helped. Plus I had an extra chance to say thank you, goodbye, here's a pressie etc

All that said, I returned to driving recently having not driven for years outside the UK, and motorways were a wee bit scary at first but I was following someone who did not realise so ended up on a slip road squealing anyway on first drive. Forced myself to practise at night (quieter) and driving a long journey which meant 4 motorways in a row and I was fine.

I’d definitely do a shorter trip with an experienced driver as a passenger and get them to tell you about potential hazards.

I drove on a busy motorway for the first time after passing my test with my mum and almost killed both of us

Assuming you mum is an 'experienced driver', these two statements are entirely contradictory!

@DappledThings unfortunately the realities of motorway driving require you to take action like indicating that you need to move lanes or the middle lane hoggers will have you stuck in lane 1 behind slow moving vehicles for the entire journey. Clear indication of intent (or should I say, requirement) is far better for other drivers than sitting in lane one and ending up stuck in a feeder lane you shouldn't be in or having to take a bigger risk by pulling out in a smaller gap than you would like. Nearly all drivers will move over if they can to allow a car out that they think will need to switch lanes as it's much safer for everyone. Indicating makes it easier for everyone.

You're making it sound like you're getting a car and then hitting the M25. Don't do that. Do what someone else suggested. Go to your nearest motorway and practice getting on and getting off over and over again.

If it's a new car, you need to find out where your blind spots are, particularly if you're merging into traffic.

This video is good:

I'm glad you've decided not to do this.
Each time you posted more, it became more and more apparent this is not a good idea.

1. Driving your new car is going to be different from driving your instructor's car. Yes, experienced drivers take it in their stride, but a new driver needs a bit more time to get used to a different car.
2. It sounds like it will be some weeks from when you passed your test, until you drive again. Again, not an issue when you have lots of experience, but not great when you've just passed
3. You seem to be relying on a sat nav and yet don't know how it works / are relying on it to do more than it's job
4. You are unsure about how to enter a motorway
5. YOU WILL HAVE A 2 YR OLD IN THE BACK !!!!

No, not everyone "needs" motorway lessons, but it is a damned good idea to practice moving on to a motorway, and driving a short way with an experienced driver in the car, before you do it on your own, let a lone with a 2 yr old in the car.

Furthermore, OP.

My oldest is nearly 18 and is interested in learning to drive (he can't ATM, as I can't afford lessons).

However, he wants me to talk to him about what I'm doing while I'm driving. This has been quite interesting for me, as I do a lot of stuff unconsciously - and most of it is accumulated knowledge, gained from over 30 years of driving. And we are talking, here, about ordinary city centre driving, not motorway driving. I hadn't realised, until I told DS what I'm doing and why, that so much thought and experience goes into driving even a couple of miles at 20mph (can't exceed this, as it's a busy city, so no opportunity).

It was a very long time ago but I had a motorway lesson after I passed my test and it was probably the most valuable 2 hours of my life. I still use the strategies my instructor taught me.

When you overtake a lorry and are pulling back into the lane always make sure that you can see the whole of the front of it in your rearview..this will ensure that you are not in the lorries braking zone and you won’t piss off the lorry driver who should be able to stop before they plough into you in an emergency.

Another one, assume that everyone else on the road is a complete lunatic and never trust an indicator or a flash unless you’re absolutely sure they mean it.

Defensive driving is your friend.

@ItsGoingTibiaK I’ve already given advice on page 1 to the op. She needs advice on getting onto the M1 in Bedfordshire I can advise as I used drive the M1/M25 route for 15years, so know the route very well and could talk her through.
I didn’t take motorway lessons, not killed anyone yet after 25years driving 🤷🏼‍♀️

assume that everyone else on the road is a complete lunatic

This, in spades.

Motorway lessons weren’t a thing when I passed. I’d done dual carriageways so it wasn’t much different. That was the M25 as well. My friend’s daughter passed recently and drove from Wales to Scotland a week later for a holiday!

I was thinking you'd be fine, just try to go to a motorway without kids of a weekend and go down a junction or two, come back and you won't feel so nervous about motorways, you do stop at a slip road if there's NO way in but that wouldn't be usual for anyone. But then you said Does a SatNav not tell you what lane to move into? Which worries me a great deal. Throw your SatNav out the window (or turn it off if it's integrated). Learn how to drive, how to follow the signs, you won't notice signage saying '50' or to merge because of road closure or to slow down because of an accident if you're just staring at a SatNav and trusting it to tell you what to do! My DH was 2 cars behind a major accident, had to brake and use hazards at the same time to warn other drivers when I was a learner and that frightened me at the time. I hate motorway driving and I live in London so used to busy roads but you have to deal with it or you're not fit to drive. Please do not rely on SatNav, you are a driver in control of a car! You make the decisions, not a machine.

You absolutely should have a couple of motorway lessons. In my opinion.

It's a lot more complex than staying in the slow lane at 60. And merging is one of the trickiest bits. And what if you get behind something doing 50?

It's a totally different type of driving and you need some pointers. Take the lessons.

Omg just read about you being puzzled about changing lanes. There is a specific etiquette and you need to be shown and taught and to practise with supervision. Being uncertain, not judging speed properly, causing a hazard and possibly pulling out badly is all dangerous.

What the problem with having a lesson? Isn't it worth 50 quid or so to understand and be safe??

In the past we all had to drive on motorways blind as it were.

There are some crap/dangerous drivers on the motorway. My friend being one of them.

If she’d had a lesson or two, and if she’d listened, the area in and around her car might be a bit safer?

As it is the car has decided that she’s tailgating and put its brakes on itself every time Ive been out with her.

I spent some time with my daughter, post pass, on motorways.

I’d strongly consider a lesson or two, or go out with someone you trust.