First time motorway advice

[andanotherproblem]

I passed my test 6 weeks ago, live in a place where there’s no motorways local so didn’t have any lessons on them at all. Does anyone have any advice/tips for me for when I feel confident enough to try?

Yes, my advice is to take a few motorway lessons. Most driving instructors do them even if they don’t specifically advertise them. If you ask 9 out of 10 will say yes and charge a standard driving lesson fee per lesson.

Yes go with an instructor. You risk being a danger to yourself and others if you don't.

Which motorway are you thinking of going on first?
It's not difficult and depending on the motorway it can be pretty much the same as a dual carriageway but with an extra lane.

Closest to me is m25, in a few months I am also considering a trip which would involve the m27

Could you plan a route where you drive from one junction to another one?
I don't remember my first motorway journey but it was a long time ago.
Is there a driver you can trust to accompany you?

You'll be fine. M25 has speed limits. Keep an eye on those.

If you’ve driven on a dual carriageway then you can drive on a Motorway, just take your time.

Yes a lot of dual carriageways around here, no need to meteorite onto them though or have others merging I think this is what scares me

Do you have any dual carriageways near you to boost confidence? A motorway is no different, just wider.

Yes I do go on them daily, to get anywhere from my home I have to go on at least one, I think my issue is merging onto the motorway and then other traffic merging from other junctions

Meteorite?

Merge!

Sorry merge

I got a very kind pal to take me on my first motorway trip (not that long ago), with the plan that I could exit at the first junction if I was spooked. Tbh I found it a breeze compared with other types of driving and made it to my destination (75 miles away).
best of luck!

I took a motorway lesson a while after passing, I didn’t have any dual carriageway near me either and hadn’t driven on one, so it all felt very new, if it’s something that makes you nervous, it would be worth it, it was so so helpful to me in terms of learning to merge etc

I had a 3 hour motorway lesson just after I passed my test, constant on and off slip roads and half way through went to a service station.

I think motorways are busier than a dual carriageway so personally I would want to experience it under instruction.

Otherwise youtube and watching driving instructors give advice on motorway driving.

However you do it, don't leave it too long. Motorway driving is often built up to be a huge deal and nervous drivers make it dangerous for others. Stay on the left unless you're overtaking, leave plenty of space, don't speed but don't go too slow either. It's the same as non-motorway driving.

Honestly it’s not difficult, if it were there would be a test for it. It’s just a bigger dual carriageway, try not to build it up in your mind to be more.

I assume you’ve been a passenger in a car on motorways, so you know merging is the same as dual carriageways.

If you're confident/experienced in dual carriageways, then motorways shouldn't be a big problem. Best thing would be to "try it out" when you know the motorway would be quieter, i.e. avoid weekends and "rush hours", Friday pm and Monday am. That way, you'll have more "space" and "time" to gain your own experience on the motorway and then you'd have the confidence for busier motorways when you need to do a longer journey somewhere new.

I’m a bit dirtied about this with my son. Any motorway is a ferry trip away so not really possible to have a lesson on one.
I actually do find the M25 can be nerve racking as so many lanes and big trucks and as I often go by Heathrow the traffic can be intense and sometimes two left lanes will split off so you have to be aware. Just be vigilant in checking mirrors and blind spots.
I learned in London but only drove in lessons and my first solo drive I had to tackle Marble Arch and Hammersmith roundabouts - baptism by fire!

Just get in the middle lane at 60 and stay there til your exit. Pretty simple really.

Ha! Love it!

Hahaha! To be fair that's what most people seem to do (idiots).

Honestly, if you’re this stressed about it you really shouldn’t be driving. Merging onto a motorway is no different to a dual carriageway. I find it so depressing that so many women are scared of doing normal everyday things. Either put your big girl pants on and get on with it or book yourself a motorway lesson.

Which bit of the M25 are you doing? Much of it is fine and can be quite quiet at times. The bit from
about Heathrow to Wisley can get very congested and there is a lot
going on with lanes with the left lane being the exit lane for the next junction and therefore the lane next to it effectively being the left lane proper of the motorway.