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Original poster

Did anyone take motorway lessons after passing their driving test?

73 replies

Loka123 · 30/12/2018 11:18

I've had mixed opinions about this - some say that motorway driving is in fact a lot easier than normal driving (as no pedestrians, right turns, roundabouts, etc.) BUT obviously, accidents on the motorway can be much more severe, mainly due to the high speeds involved.

Is it mainly just getting onto the motorway from the slip road which is what needs practice? (I know overtaking requires moving into right lane and back with observations which is another thing but I guess at first, overtaking might not even be necessary, right?)

As a worst case scenario, what would happen if you get to the end of the slip road with no suitable gap in the motorway at all? Obviously, you can't merge if there's a lot of traffic coming up close behind so is it ever ok to stop at the end of the slip road if so and then join the motorway when a suitable gap appears and build up speed then? I know it'd be very difficult to match up speed quickly enough in that case and will need a bigger gap to join... Obviously, this is unlikely to happen but just imaging worst case scenario but has anyone ever needed to do this?

OP posts:
Littlechocola · 30/12/2018 19:55

I would love to do motorway lessons but can’t afford it

Fatted · 30/12/2018 20:00

Did you never drive on a dual carriageway when learning? It's the same thing. Just do that as lots of practice.

Motorway driving is definitely easier and I really don't understand people who are scared or afraid to drive on it. Although I practically grew up on the M6 traveling from England to Scotland. Everything is moving in the same direction. You don't have to overtake unless you want to and as long as you keep pace and don't unnecessarily hesitate, merging from a slip road and overtaking are both fine.

silentcrow · 30/12/2018 20:09

I did and they were more than worth it - at the time I did PassPlus which not only did motorways, but country lanes, night driving and bad weather lessons (all of which I needed within the first few months of passing!). I think it also reduced my insurance a bit.

There are some notoriously difficult junctions around here - places where people are merging on and coming off in the same half mile where there's always heavy traffic; places where you get cars joining from the left and right at the same time. Having some practice with an instructor was really helpful. I'm glad my kids will be able to do them as part of their learning now.

NotCitrus · 30/12/2018 21:17

I had to drive on motorways shortly after passing my test and it was terrifying as I found I couldn't tell what lane cars behind me were in (it was 4am, so few cars but they zoomed fast). So I had a motorway lesson and after a few laps of the M1/A1M/M25 triangle I felt a lot more confident. One lesson should do it though Pass Plus if it still exists is a good thing to do if you will drive a lot.

Wingbing · 30/12/2018 21:22

My friend failed her driving test for stopping on the slip road when trying to merge.

tinesltitties · 30/12/2018 21:30

My friend failed her driving test for stopping on the slip road when trying to merge.

Why did she stop? What was the fault recorded as? Undue hesitation is a major fault.

Greatorb · 30/12/2018 21:40

Don't use the hard shoulder is not shitty advice.

The amount of people in Mumsnet that think using the hard shoulder to either stop or continue if they run out off slip toad is shocking. Just merge. That's all.

Telling people to stop on a slip road is very shitty advice.

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 30/12/2018 21:59

Please don't think it's scary! I failed my first driving test for a shitty merge onto a dual carriageway. I passed my driving test 3rd go on a Saturday morning. On Sunday I picked up my mum and just did it. She was actually no help and she ended up having a nap! I now drive to and from work every day on 2 busy motorways. Don't get it worked up to be a big thing, so long as you have your wits about you you'll be fine. Just remember drive in the left lane unless you're overtaking and you'll be grand.

tinesltitties · 30/12/2018 21:59

The amount of people in Mumsnet that think using the hard shoulder to either stop or continue if they run out off slip toad is shocking. Just merge. That's all.

Telling people to stop on a slip road is very shitty advice.

You are right. It is. But it doesn't make the advice to stop on the hard shoulder any more legitimate.

The hard shoulder isn't an extension of the slip road.

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 30/12/2018 22:07

Also RE driving on a slip road, the DVSA says no so I probably wouldn't. I've never had a problem merging. Any decent driver will allow you to merge if they can.

Did anyone take motorway lessons after passing their driving test?
thesnapandfartisinfallible · 30/12/2018 22:28

You can do motorways in your normal lessons now and I actually think it should be required. It isn't difficult exactly but you need to know exactly what you're going to do and be decisive. You can't hesitate and faff with am I pulling out? Oh maybe, maybe not... Not at those speeds. It is absolutely nerve wracking the first time you join one so I would say have at least one lesson. I haven't passed yet but have clocked up about 6 hours on motorways and 4 lane carriageways and am just starting to feel confident of knowing where I need to be for which exit and whether to overtake or not.

SpoonBlender · 30/12/2018 22:29

Yes, I did - it was really just for the confidence, well worth another £20 or whatever it was 25 years ago.

Like you say, it's the slip roads that are the only really interesting thing, I went up and down between two junctions about three minutes apart, practicing. Plus lane/speed awareness, since I'd never driven over 60mph before.

Getting EXPERT ADVICE NOT WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS THREAD ahem will be a fine plan, well worth it.

BramRang · 31/12/2018 00:05

You can do motorways during normal lessons now. As of June 2018, I believe. I live in Shropshire and my instructor took me (in a 4 hour lesson) up the M54, all the way to the M6, down a few junctions and back again. Was great practice and not that scary (she wanted me to have experience on a bigger motorway than M54 - which I agreed with as M6 was a whole other ball game!!). I passed first time despite being a fairly nervous driver. I think the motorway experience helped.

Craft1905 · 31/12/2018 00:07

You are right. It is. But it doesn't make the advice to stop on the hard shoulder any more legitimate.

No one has said stop on the hard shoulder. You should merge from the slip road onto the motorway. But if you get to the end of the slip road and you've fucked up and haven't merged, carry on driving onto the hard shoulder and merge and a decent speed from there. DO NOT STOP AT THE END OF THE SLIP ROAD.

Klobluchar · 31/12/2018 00:08

Motorway driving is the easiest kind of driving there is once you get used to the speed. You don’t need extra lessons, first time you go on one just make sure you’re with an experienced driver who can advise when to overtake etc.

tinesltitties · 31/12/2018 00:10

No one has said stop on the hard shoulder.

Yes they have...

If you really can't join the carriageway, then you go onto the hard shoulder. and wait for a big enough gap to join it from a standing start.

You should merge from the slip road onto the motorway.

Indeed

But if you get to the end of the slip road and you've fucked up and haven't merged, carry on driving onto the hard shoulder and merge and a decent speed from there.

Absolutely not. Never.

DO NOT STOP AT THE END OF THE SLIP ROAD

DO NOT DRIVE ALONG THE HARD SHOULDER.

megletthesecond · 31/12/2018 00:10

Yes, it was 20 yrs ago too. Just the one session with my instructor to boost my confidence.

Craft1905 · 31/12/2018 11:06

But if you get to the end of the slip road and you've fucked up and haven't merged, carry on driving onto the hard shoulder and merge and a decent speed from there.

Absolutely not. Never.

DO NOT STOP AT THE END OF THE SLIP ROAD

DO NOT DRIVE ALONG THE HARD SHOULDER

If you've driven down the slip road, and you've made a hash of it and are now at the end of the slip road and can't merge, you have to do one or the other. Unless you are suggesting you just drive into the side of a car already in L1 of the motorway.

In those circumstances, entering the hard shoulder and merging from there at speed is the thing to do, not stopping at the end of the slip road.

2019rubberband · 31/12/2018 11:20

In those circumstances, entering the hard shoulder and merging from there at speed is the thing to do, not stopping at the end of the slip road.

Says who?

I would love to see where the advice to drive along the hard shoulder if you run out of slip road is given.

gamerchick · 31/12/2018 12:01

I would love to see where the advice to drive along the hard shoulder if you run out of slip road is given

So would I. I've not seen anywhere apart from this thread that it's illegal to stop on a slip road and the hard shoulder should be used instead. Not one place. Where does it say that?

Tony2 · 31/12/2018 12:32

This is breathtaking. You do not, do not, drive on the hard shoulder ( unless an emergency vehicle or as directed on a managed motorway) . No ifs, no buts. A moment's logical thought confirms this. You stop on slip road, move onto hard shoulder. Presumably the same advice is given to the inevitably stationary vehicle behind you. Whoopee, hard shoulder now a new lane. Whilst you are bowling along the hard shoulder because of your mistake, a genuine emergency occurs with a vehicle in the nearside lane, which pulls over rapidly, and well done sunshine, you smash into them killing everyone. Tinseltits is bang on.

Badbadbunny · 31/12/2018 14:39

You make sure you've merged by the end of the lane. You shouldn't stop on the lane because you've fouled it up. But if you end up in that position, it;s far better to pull up on the hard shoulder than just stop on the slip road as you're going to be rear ended. Neither should happen, but if you get into that situation, it's got to be the hard shoulder.

SwedishEdith · 31/12/2018 14:45

I wish I'd had one as had to drive on one within days of getting a car and driving alone. However, I'm fastidious about checking my blind spot now when joining and changing lanes after that first solo trip Shock

Craft1905 · 31/12/2018 15:25

The hard shoulder exists for emergencies, to get yourself out of danger. If you're driving along the motorway and start to lose power, you get yourself on to the hard shoulder and stop there. You don't stop on the motorway. It's dangerous to be on the hard shoulder, but not as dangerous as stopping on the motorway.

Stopping at the end of the slip road is extremely dangerous, and the chances of being hit are very high. The hard should is there to lessen that danger. It's not great to drive on the hard shoulder, but it is legal in order to avoid danger. Therefore, is you're daft enough to run out of slip road, don't stop....use the hard shoulder and merge at speed asap.

NothingOnTellyAgain · 31/12/2018 15:34

I didn;t have them but it's not a bad idea OP esp if you live near / will use busier motorways.
Less busy motorways are less interesting - as others say not different from a dual carriageway really.

My local motorway is M25 and driving on there can be a bit hairier as it's so busy and speeding is the norm for most people with very small gaps so if that's what you're near it might be a good idea from a confidence POV.

This slip road stuff is odd. My understanding is driving on the hard shoulder is a total no-no unless emergency (flat tyre / crashed / car broken down etc) or there are signs saying you should (seems to be happening more and more).

I have never ever seen someone driving down the hard shoulder after the slip road! Why would you do that?
If the traffic is flowing freely or freeish you merge
If the traffic is slow you slow down accordingly and merge (someone will let you in)
If there is a queue then you sit in the queue down the slip road and do takey-turns (hopefully) when you finally get to the point where you can get onto the actual road

I've never even heard of anyone saying to drive up the hard shoulder before so this is a total first for me! And never seen anyone doing it either in these circs.