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?

You would need to book in advance and book a seat as well - this is usually no extra charge.

The cost of petrol and trains, not to mention time and brain space, may mean it’s more practical to lodge with someone Monday to Thursday.

That’s certainly the kind of thing I would do (and regularly did) when I was a new driver.

Just remember that driving is significantly more tiring for a new driver than an experienced driver as you still need for everything to become autonomous and instinctual. New drivers are still having to think about gear changes and coming off the clutch, the muscle memory isn’t completely there yet so that in itself uses more brain power therefore will be more tiring.

With that many miles though it should reasonably quickly become more automatic and the muscle memory will develop pretty quickly so although it might be very tiring at first it will likely get better fairly quick as you get ‘driving fit’.

@Psych101B So, you're second-guessing yourself because of your parents' opinions? Perhaps you might like to remind them that it's a parent's job to boost your confidence and self-esteem, not bring you down.
I remember when I passed my driving test (first time, age 24) and drove my husband's car over to my parents - my mum's first comment was "Oh dear, fancy you driving a car that big!" 🙄(It was an average 4-door saloon.)
Honestly OP, I would plan to drive every day - it will massively increase your experience and confidence on the road (you may even meet someone on the course who's coming from the same direction as you that you could feasibly do a car-share with). If you think that catching the train would be beneficial (maybe you have some work you could do on the train, or you just want a break from the driving for a day) then do so, but I would make this the exception rather than the rule.

I wouldn’t. You’ll be shattered. Plus the petrol costs will be hundreds per week. Is that financially viable for you?

Their previous post that you quoted did though. You corrected them saying OP had passed their test. They weren't saying that OP needed to pass their test, but that the best way to learn if it's going to be a struggle is to get on and do it and get as much practice in as possible.

You should be okay. Break the journey in half with a stop for a walk/coffee.

work out the fuel costs.

any public transport for part of the journey?

I don't really think it does actually.

@Psych101B You will get very good at driving that route very quickly.

Why would you get a season ticket for the train rather than day tickets? Depending on the route, you could get advance tickets, and being a student you can get a Railcard?

If it's just mainly for the first year then I think you'd be OK. It would be a lot of driving but you could cope with it. During my nursing degree I had to do a lot of driving to various placements, a couple were around 90 mins each way. It was tough but for the sake of getting through my degree, I did it. Travelodge sometimes do £20 a night deals, possibly could work out the same or cheaper than petrol? Depending on what part of the country you're in of course.

I would say 50/50.
4 hours a day is a lot of driving. As a newer driver you will be concentrating more than someone with 30 years experience. You'll be tired after your day of studying.
But you are YOUNG (I think!?) and I think for one academic year, term time only you could do it.
Congratulations on securing a place.

It’s fine. Until I started reading Mumsnet I didn’t think people made such a hoopla about driving, but people seem to think it’s akin to performing multiple organ transplants with one hand tied behind your back.

Just use your brain and stop for a wee and get a snack on the way back if you need it.

Don’t do it

I think if you can’t move and it’s for a limited period as you describe then driving is the best option; it’s will be cheaper and more time efficient, and the practice
will be good for you.

I’d probably look into spending the odd night or two in a cheap hotel or Air bnb room to give you a break every so often. I’m sure the year will fly by.

And well done on getting into this. Sounds competitive!

Sounds like a helluva lot of driving in 1 day to me. I think you're being unrealistic as an inexperienced driver about the toll it will take. I've driven 90 minutes a day over the last 4 days to visit my Mum in hospital and that almost feels too much. I've had a constant headache from the extra concentration and now got a cricked neck too, checking over my shoulder hasn't been pleasant today!

You're overstating things a little. People are just saying driving is tiring, especially several times a week and on top of a hard day studying. I don't know the route, but if some of it is dual carriageway and/or motorway, that can be very tired because it's so boring. And quite dangerous as it's easy to drift off mentally.

I think it’s too much driving on top of a days worth of work which is what you will be doing. Over and over.

I drive 40,000 miles a year, and I’ve had my licence for 21 years now. It’s doable, but it’s going to be miserable and you are going to be tired. It will also be expensive. You will be caught in traffic jams massively adding to your journey times. I’ve spent countless hours sat on the motorway, engine off, waiting for a car fire to be extinguished 3 miles away. Unless you’ve actually driven the route you are intending to take, it’s going to be difficult for you to picture it.

Is there local cheap accommodation you can use to stay over? Travelodge or hostel?

I'm staying in London, the trip is £50 for train and a female-only 4 bed dorm room (quiet as the grave in my experience!).

You can always mix and match as far as you're able. I would book what you can in terms of cheap travel and accommodation and avoid doing 4x4h driving days a week if you can.

Personally, having done 3 hour round trip (by train) 3 days a week, I would find driving this and more exhausting. Driving is dead time. At least on the train you can work so although it might be longer, that’s 2.5 hours extra study time each way to yourself.

It’s not just fuel and insurance costs. That’s a lot more wear on your cars main components which will then need servicing and replacing more. Where are you travelling to and from if you don’t mind sharing?

Why don’t you just lodge? Is there a reason you don’t want to move? It really seems that it would be much more sensible to just lodge for the academic year. It’ll only be 9 months or so.

The driving is possible, there is no issue around being a new driver. Your parents are being a bit odd if thats their worry. The actual issue is that it will be exhausting, you’ll come to hate it and it might be a struggle to get in the car and go after a couple months of it.

I’ve been driving for 16 years but don’t do long journeys on a regular basis. I’d feel pretty tired after a day at university followed by a two hour drive. It would be ok for a bit but I wouldn’t like to do it day in, day out. And if it’s motorway or dual carriageway it’s incredibly boring.

Have you accounted for traffic?

I think you’ll be fine. I had a 90 minutes each way drive to work when I had a very busy life- three kids in primary school - and it really was no problem (although I only did three/four days a week).

Once it starts to get a bit much you’ll get the break of holidays and if it’s only a year it’ll soon fly by.

And huge Congratulations!

It’s possible, but you’ll be absolutely knackered.

Would staying in a Travelodge or similar one night a week be an option?