To think I can drive 4 hours per day, 4 times a week as a newly qualified driver?

[Psych101B]

I am starting a university course in September and am unable to move closer to the university due to various reasons. The drive from my house is 2 hours each way. I passed my test in 2023 but haven’t driven much since (only short drives to local supermarkets etc) as I’ve been saving up to buy a car.

Am I being unrealistic in thinking that if I get a car in April and do intensive driving practice between then and September, that I will be confident and able to drive for 4 hours per day 4 times a week?

Is it definitely 2 hours at that time in the morning?

As pp have said the fuel costs will be high and your insurance costs will be high to if your driving 800 miles a week for 30 weeks that’s 240000 miles. Some insurance caps at 10000 a year or less so you’ll be paying more for doing so many miles.

Wear and tear on your car will be more too. Do you already have a car?

I think it will be exhausting and expensive. Could you not live nearer?

that much driving will cost you a fortune and be absolutely exhausting.

Thanks for all the responses. Just to address a few points:

• It is 90 miles each way.
• I would only be driving this much for the first year, and generally only during school term times.
• There is a park and ride that goes to my uni which is free to park and only a couple of pounds for the bus.
• I could potentially do 3 days a week driving and have one day (maybe midweek or end of the week?) where I get the train to make the driving more bearable?
• It will mostly be 4 days a week, with some occasional days at home.

The other drawback with the train is that it takes 45 minutes longer than driving, so I would have to be up and out of the house earlier, get home later, and spend more money, which is why I was leaning towards driving

It sounds like you’re driving in rush hour so the 2 hours in the morning could be a lot longer depending on location.

University students are expected to work on their course for about 40h a week, ie roughly the full working time. It’s not just lectures. Adding 16h of driving on top of that will be exhausting and will definitely impact on how much uni work you do and how focused your revision will be.

There are other advantages of being close to university - social life, less stress when going to early exams, feeling like a part of the community.

If you at all can, move closer, even if it means living in a small room and working 16h a week.

In terms of confidence and ability I expect you would be fine but it is a lot of driving for anyone

You say you can't move but, given how long you will spending out of the house each day anyway, would it be possible to stay over some nights? You would need to get organised and book Travelodges etc at their cheapest or might be able to find a B&B you could regularly book in advance. The savings in fuel and car maintenance would pay for themselves and you would be less tired and could just stay at the library studying or whatever so you would be using the time sensibly.

Your insurance to cover that many miles a week will be crazy expensive, and that price combined with petrol I’d be shocked if you’re spending less than £1000 a month on the travel in the car.

Also you need to think about your time overall, you will have work to do outside of uni, reading, coursework, presentations, at least with a train any work you have to do outside of uni can be done on the train on the way in/home. If you drive you’re adding 4 hours to you uni day before you even think about getting work done which will then eat into your time to look after yourself.

It's doable but you will be shattered at the end of each day/week.

But none of that answers the question OP asked?

There's no reason to think that you can't do that amount of driving, but as others have already pointed out - it probably isn't a good idea for various reasons.

Financial - it will cost you a lot in petrol, also maintenance and repair of the car.
Time - if you're on a train or bus you can get your reading done, work on essays etc, study for exams.
Tiredness - you'll be exhausted. That amount of time driving, 4 days a week, will feel relentless.

I have been driving for years and have a car that almost drives itself and I wouldn't do that.
It would be really tiring
Plus have you properly looked at costs? Your insurance may be very high as a newly qualified driver

You will be fine. The more you drive the more confident you will become.

Are you sure the train would take longer than driving even at rush hour?

Does the train involve a bus too or is the train a more direct route? I think driving then having to get a bus sounds much worse than sitting on a train for a couple of hours personally but maybe the train involves changes/busses too.

If you've got to pay a couple of quid each way for the bus as well, I'm not even sure it's more expensive.

Are you able to lodge somewhere, Mon to Fri, might work out cheaper and far less tiring.

24,000 miles not 240,000 miles. Is it 800 miles a week that's quite a fast average for 4 hours, presumably at least some of it on minor roads.

You will probably be able to do it but you will be shattered and remember you still have to fit in course work and preparation for classes.

Thanks for your response.

I won’t be working during the course - it is a doctorate and I will be paid a bursary.

The course I have applied to is extremely competitive with limited places in limited locations in the country, so it’s not really an option to find a uni closer to home or apply next year, as I may well not be lucky enough to gain a place in the future.

The train might be a good option for getting work done, however at the time I’d be travelling I’m worried that there would be no seats for me to get any work done

Have you looked into online options for this course?
Driving that much sounds utterly miserable. At least on the train, those could become your study hours.

It becomes less tiring the more you drive. I do not find four hours a date remotely tiring.

Many years ago I had a temp contract that involved an 80 mile journey each way - it was 6 weeks and for a full time stressful professional job - I timed it so it took 1.5 hours each way - I was shattered . I was early 30s at the time

There aren't any restrictions on your driving licence because you're a new driver there should be, but that's another conversation.

Why don't you try it and see how you get on. You'll probably get used to it very quickly - lots of people's commutes take that kind of time.

Also make sure you get great breakdown cover just incase

I travel a similar distance for my work where I need to be 2 days a week, but I stay in a travelodge or similar overnight as it is a similar cost to return fuel cost, less tiring too. With my railcard the cost by train is about the same, or slightly dearer than driving, but I do this some of the time too. Trains are cheaper if booked in advance and have seat reservations too. Sometimes I drive up and back in the same day. Don't underestimate how tiring that is. I think it's too much four times a week but if you have no alternative, for a year, it's doable. Honestly though, if you can find somewhere to stay over for 3 nights a week (there's a website for that, or advertise at your uni) you'd be far better.

I would not do this. It would be a minimum of four hours a day in the car. Once it gets dark and cold it will be longer.

It will be expensive, boring, stressful, take up loads of time and will affect your physical health unless you really get moving on the other three days.