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

I am actually wondering if this whole thing is a spoof thread, esp re its title.
in v bad taste, if so.

Jesus, just do your pass plus lessons. You don't sound confident at all about motorway driving so please just do them! Before you bloody kill someone or yourself.

@PyongyangKipperbang the arseholes on the road are the reason why motorway driving lessons will become compulsary and part of your test eventually. Because so many fucking idiots are 'confident' drivers when really they're just lucky.

@RealPill Depends on where you're travelling to?

I'm interested to know what a journey from Bedfordshire to Essex is like without a motorway. It's very possible and only 25 mins longer - Do you just go around loads of side roads?!

Why don't you look at a map?

You already put it into a routeplanner to get the journey time, so you could just see the route there.

And about the satnav - it tells you which lane to go in for taking the correct route, but not for just driving along and you need to change lane.

Lane changing instructions are a v expensive option on some luxury cars.

Re merging, I've no experience if the M25 but I'm general people will let you in-however you can't take it for granted. If the traffic is moving at motorway speeds then you shouldn't have too much difficulty in finding a space between vehicles. If you are coming down the sliproad and are neck and neck with another car, just back off the gas enough to nip in behind it.

The only times where I haven't been able to merge safely and have had to stop have been when traffic is at a standstill.

Has it crossed your mind that your instructor might be assessing your driving and based on what he/she has seen, is recommending a few lessons in motorway driving (rather than just trying to make money off you). No-one is giving the expert (the instructor) any creedance in this discussion and maybe they are concerned that you're totally competent yet despite passing your test.
Not trying to offend, just looking at it from the instructors viewpoint.

Take the motorway lessons.
Then take advanced driving in a year or two.
Everyone benefits from further driving lessons. Cheaper than having an accident.

"Not killing anyone" is a pretty low bar. Yes it's very unlikely you'd kill anyone. But it's fairly likely you'd find it stressful and /or challenging and that you'd annoy or inconvenience other drivers.

Yes, motorways are often easy and straightforward. But with experience you learn that it doesn't take much to make them really tiring and challenging - a lane closure, heavy rain, busy traffic, lots of lorries... what was an easy drive one day becomes hard work another day.

You’ll be fine. Just remember keep left if not overtaking.

I would add that my DDs instructor took her on the Motorway a couple of times during lessons as was easiest way to get where they needed to be. As a learner you can go on a motorway now whilst learning in an instructors car

Enjoy your trip.

I didn't have extra lessons but my DM came with me on the motorway a few times to help. Started at quieter times - early morning Sunday, late evening weekdays and gradually built up to busier times. Only a short stretch of the M5 near to where we lived. It was really helpful though and I was much more confident when I then had to do a longer trip alone that included motorways. I'd get someone to do a few practices with you - just an experienced driver, doesn't need to be lessons.

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

So you stop and wait. No one has to let you in. The same once you are on the motorway, you don't need to let other people in.

It might be worth getting some 'P' plates to warn other drivers.

When I was learning (in the dark ages) my instructor took me on the local dual carriageway to 'teach' motorway driving.

Actually reading more, get some motorway lessons AND read the highway code.

Around most of the M25 Lane 1 has become an on/off lane, ie you don't need to merge immediately, the slip lane will turn into a proper lane. But you will have to move over at some point unless you want the next junction, as Lane 1 will shortly turn into a dedicated off-lane. But it gives you a little breathing space to adjust your speeds and employ extra-super-sharp observation before moving into Lane 2. Probably best to use Lane 2 until your junction is the next one. On the M25 this wouldn't be noted as lane-hogging and its highly unlikely anyone behind will be flashing you to move over.
SatNav will give you plenty of notice and tell you which lane to be in....where there's time. Sometimes the junctions can come up rather swiftly so don't ignore the gantry signs.
Score you start, zoom in on Google maps on the two junctions you'll be using and you will be able to see the Lane layout.
The problem with putting things off is that you might find yourself putting it off next time, then again. Everything has a first time. And we are not in Outer Mongolia, if you are too stressed then come off, find a Costa and regroup. In the two counties mentioned, you are hardly likely not to find a coffee shop.

Just remember to use the motorway properly - move right to over take then back over to the left. Don't be a middle lane hogger

It always worries me when new or nervous drivers decide that they will be fine 'pootling' along at 60 on the motorway - it's far more dangerous to not be moving with the flow of traffic. Please take a lesson

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

I have only ever had to indicate on a motorway when my way wasnt clear, i.e. on the hope that someone else will let me in out of kindness when there has been an unexpected sudden lane closure due to an accident. Otherwise you should be able to judge your speed appropriately to create a gap to move into.

@RealPill people will let you on! This was my main fear when I first tackled a motor way. I’ve never in 5 years driving not been let onto a motor way (be aware you may have to slow down)

I would take someone experienced with you on your first motorway drive to advise you. I had my dad with me, I think it helped a lot (My instinct was to change lanes too quickly apparently!). With joining from the slip road if people don't let you in you can't go, occasionally you do just have to stop but usually even when busy people so make space. There are less things likely to go wrong on a motorway then in city driving but it helps to be aware of what to watch out for as an accident on the motorway is much more likely to be very serious. I'd say check blind spots as sometimes people sit there, make sure people really do let you in before commuting to the turn, keep left unless overtaking and although it isn't a rule I would also move over near junctions so people can merge. Allow a good stopping distance because it's at speed mostly, try to look ahead of car in front for signs of sudden stopping. Good luck :)

I live in an area of the country that doesn't have any motorways. I had been driving for 4 years before I needed to go fast enough to use one. In that time I had used big A roads, that are v similar to smaller motorways.

The first time I had to use the motorway, my boot popped open on it. I had to pull into the hard shoulder, close it and set off from a stop...and then finish my journey round the M25 and the toll road. It was really scary. I had been driving for several years, so it was okay, but the M25 is a pretty grim road. I still don't enjoy driving on it now, and I have been driving for a decade and driven tens of thousands of miles for work and leisure, including all across the country and down Europe. I am mainly an appropriately confident driver, but things like on the M25 if you get a really bad rainstorm while you're on there, the way the rain bounces off the road and sheets makes it hard to see where the traffic in front is, and so you have to slow right down because visibility is so poor, but you're also acutely aware that if you're struggling to see, so is everyone else and it only takes one person still driving fast to miss you and go into the back of you and you'll have been in a high speed crash.

I definitely think your decision to not.make a long trip, including the M25, with a two year old as your first motorway trip is a good one.

Has it crossed your mind that your instructor might be assessing your driving and based on what he/she has seen, is recommending a few lessons in motorway driving (rather than just trying to make money off you). No-one is giving the expert (the instructor) any creedance in this discussion and maybe they are concerned that you're totally competent yet despite passing your test.

My instructor was always tell me what a great driver I am, never really commenting on any mistakes at all once I was test ready.

I took the driving test 6 times before passing... It confused and frustrated both myself and my instructor! Each time was just down to the pressure of passing - I would muck up my manoeuvre and fail because of that

So that's why I was a bit skeptical when she suggested motorway lessons

I'd do an extra lesson.

Years ago when I learned we didn't have motorway lessons. Just do it. You'll be fine.

Merging on to a motorway is probably trickiest part of motorway driving and it is definitely something that has to be done confidently. If you hesitate or slow down due to nerves/ fear you will not be able to merge into fast movi g traffic and neither will the cars behind you. This is the part of motorway driving that worries you, so get the extra lesson. At least you'll be more confident.

So you're going to be on the M1 then the M25? They are both really busy bits of motorway. There are roadworks all down the M1 at the moment and parts of it are 'smart' motorway - where the hard shoulder is used to drive on, not to stop on if you break down. Lots of lorries on both motorways, very busy.

There have been bad accidents on there recently, some people say because of the smart motorway - two lorry drivers were killed by Junction 14 the other weekend - and a student was killed when his car broken down on a bit of smart motorway - see www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1230537/smart-motorways-crash-m1-investigation

I'd book a motorway driving lesson because of this, and also if you're really unsure about changing lanes and passing people. I'd definitely do a shorter practice run with another driver or by yourself - not with your dc - too.

Honestly, it seems like there is a serious accident on the M1 between Hemel and Northants almost every day at the moment, so the more confident you are before driving on there, the better.