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Learner Drivers on Motorways
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Wee Tinkers
31-12-2016
I think it's a good idea for learners to experience motorway driving with an instructor once a degree of competence has been reached of course.

I was very nervous on the motorway to begin with but now I love driving on the motorway. I know some that will avoid it altogether because they imagine it to be much worse than it is. I would have preferred to have got to grips with it with an instructor rather than my friends who just laughed at my sheer panic. Personally I feel safest driving on the motorway as opposed to minor roads.

Originally Posted by Shrike:
“I don't see the need for learners on motorways. One of the last lessons I had was to go on a busy dual carriageway - same speeds as a motorway so a good practice. I do wonder why so many people have this fear of motorways, did they never practice on the dual carriageway?”

That's true and it helped a little but unfortunately our dual carriageways aren't really comparable to motorways. They're very short, you don't really get the speeds you get on a motorway and you usually join and exit on roundabouts so I had no experience of joining using a slip road at speed. Incidentally my biggest bug bear is people tootling on the slip road which seems to be very common around here.
muggins14
31-12-2016
I've only started reading the thread, so apologies if I cover anything that's already been covered.

Originally Posted by Ovalteenie:
“They should instead make the Pass Plus compulsory for motorway instruction.

I do agree though that it seems incongruous that after passing the driving test which is just a basic test of competency (on the day!) in town centre driving, all of a sudden you are entitled to zoom down motorways.

I drove last week from Midlands to Glasgow up the A1(M) to Scotch Corner then across to Penrith and then the A74(M). This was my first long distance journey. Strangely it was less stressful than I thought. I was mostly doing about 70, overtaking at about 80 in places, but still being overtaken by cars doing about 90. But a lot less hazards than country roads with sharp twists and ditches on either side of a narrow road, avoiding cyclists and parked car obstructions etc.

Oh and no bus lanes fines ”

bib - I agree with you absolutely regarding the Pass Plus!

I learned to drive 12 years ago, at the age of 41, because of Jr's disability. It was pretty hard at that age, you just don't learn things as quickly as you do when you're younger.

The idea of driving on a motorway scared me shitless, even after passing my test - and I have yet to attempt it. I avoid motorways, always have done, always will do. I truly wish I'd done the Pass Plus, straight after passing my test, which would have given me the confidence and knowledge I needed.

Nobody is teaching people about motorway driving during regular driving lessons. Motorway driving is a completely different animal, even though some of the 'rules' of the road I hear are made-up legend by motorists like the existence of a 'fast lane' for example.
LostFool
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by Wee Tinkers:
“ Incidentally my biggest bug bear is people tootling on the slip road which seems to be very common around here.”

I had an ex-girlfriend who would creep down a slip road at 30mph then always stop, look right and left, before pulling out onto the motorway. She would then tootle along in the slow lane at 50-55 mph oblivious to the chaos she was causing behind her.

It would scare the life out of me as a passenger - and presumably other people on the road too.
bri160356
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by muggins14:
“I've only started reading the thread, so apologies if I cover anything that's already been covered.



bib - I agree with you absolutely regarding the Pass Plus!

I learned to drive 12 years ago, at the age of 41, because of Jr's disability. It was pretty hard at that age, you just don't learn things as quickly as you do when you're younger.

The idea of driving on a motorway scared me shitless, even after passing my test - and I have yet to attempt it. I avoid motorways, always have done, always will do. I truly wish I'd done the Pass Plus, straight after passing my test, which would have given me the confidence and knowledge I needed.

Nobody is teaching people about motorway driving during regular driving lessons. Motorway driving is a completely different animal, even though some of the 'rules' of the road I hear are made-up legend by motorists like the existence of a 'fast lane' for example.”

…have a quick read of the ‘P.S.’ at the end of my post #66 with regard to ‘Pass Plus’.

Forget not having the ‘Pass Plus’; …next time you see the m/way slip-road go for it!;

…I fully appreciate that it will take some courage though.
soap-lea
31-12-2016
I drove on the motorway the week after I passed my test as I had to drive my car home, I was on my own and really don't know why it scares people. Pretty much most of my driving is now on motorways esp my commute.

What scares me is the knob heads who slow down to 40mph for no reason or just because it is dark! Then those that go down to that speed a mile or so b4 the exit they want to take. I could understand them doing it if the slip roads were short but they tend to be quite long and uphill round here. Oh with light controls at the top.

In addition to this, I quite often have to merge between the m1 and m62, you can stay at 70 and easily merge if you look ahead and use your mirrors. I have witnessed drivers go down to 30/40mph not realising the drivers merging from the other side are still going 70!

I started to learn to drive in a small town with loads of country lanes but moved before I passed my test and so finished learning to drive in a city. Have to say I really feel the benegit of this. A few friends are a bit like posters on here won't drive on the motorways or drive in a city centre, particularly ones with ring roads. For me as long as you use your mirrors, look at the signs in front of you there is no problem
Ovalteenie
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by muggins14:
“I've only started reading the thread, so apologies if I cover anything that's already been covered.



bib - I agree with you absolutely regarding the Pass Plus!

I learned to drive 12 years ago, at the age of 41, because of Jr's disability. It was pretty hard at that age, you just don't learn things as quickly as you do when you're younger.

The idea of driving on a motorway scared me shitless, even after passing my test - and I have yet to attempt it. I avoid motorways, always have done, always will do. I truly wish I'd done the Pass Plus, straight after passing my test, which would have given me the confidence and knowledge I needed.

Nobody is teaching people about motorway driving during regular driving lessons. Motorway driving is a completely different animal, even though some of the 'rules' of the road I hear are made-up legend by motorists like the existence of a 'fast lane' for example.”

I think if you go with an instructor in your own car, it would give you confidence. Or choose very quiet times to go on a short stretch and exit at the next junction. I didn't go on a motorway by myself then bit the bullet. I'm driving from Glasgow back down to England tomorrow about a 300 mile journey but hopefully it should be quiet on New Years Day as people will be nursing a hangover

Also if you unintentionally find yourself down a slip road to a motorway then you have no choice as you can't turnaround.
soap-lea
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by Ovalteenie:
“I think if you go with an instructor in your own car, it would give you confidence. Or choose very quiet times to go on a short stretch and exit at the next junction. I didn't go on a motorway by myself then bit the bullet. I'm driving from Glasgow back down to England tomorrow about a 300 mile journey but hopefully it should be quiet on New Years Day as people will be nursing a hangover

Also if you unintentionally find yourself down a slip road to a motorway then you have no choice as you can't turnaround.”

You can if you are benbenalen or whatever his name is
jeffiner1892
31-12-2016
I was driving for 5 years before I was even near a motorway, most of my driving at that time was within a 5 mile radius and the nearest motorway is 30 miles away so I learned a lot of the country roads long before I drove on a motorway. Mind you I only live about 6 miles from the border in Ireland and never crossed the border as a driver until last year, 12 years after passing my test!

I'm okay on motorways, it's the country roads that still scare me sometimes.
tealady
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by soap-lea:
“You can if you are benbenalen or whatever his name is ”

Exactly !!
And then go round the roundabout at the top the wrong way!
Ovalteenie
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by jeffiner1892:
“I was driving for 5 years before I was even near a motorway, most of my driving at that time was within a 5 mile radius and the nearest motorway is 30 miles away so I learned a lot of the country roads long before I drove on a motorway. Mind you I only live about 6 miles from the border in Ireland and never crossed the border as a driver until last year, 12 years after passing my test!

I'm okay on motorways, it's the country roads that still scare me sometimes.”

I hate country roads too, they are narrow and twisty and if you skid or take a corner too fast you end up in a ditch
Ovalteenie
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by soap-lea:
“You can if you are benbenalen or whatever his name is ”

Oh yeah I hope he's ok as everyone came down on him like a ton of bricks
tealady
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by Ovalteenie:
“Oh yeah I hope he's ok as everyone came down on him like a ton of bricks”

Not really bus lane league was it.
Ovalteenie
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by tealady:
“Not really bus lane league was it.”

I feel a bit better about it now
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
What, so driving on motorways currently ISN'T required to pass your test? That's mad.

I had to do a certain number of driving lessons, including motorways and icy conditions, before I was even allowed to take my test, and the test itself involved a short bit of motorway as well.

Blimey, I'm now quite scared to go out there knowing there will be newly passed and nervous drivers attempting a motorway for the first time ever with no supervision from a driving instructor!
soap-lea
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by HeavySaurus:
“What, so driving on motorways currently ISN'T required to pass your test? That's mad.

I had to do a certain number of driving lessons, including motorways and icy conditions, before I was even allowed to take my test, and the test itself involved a short bit of motorway as well.

Blimey, I'm now quite scared to go out there knowing there will be newly passed and nervous drivers attempting a motorway for the first time ever with no supervision from a driving instructor! ”

Have you not read the thread? It seems a large percentage are too scared to try

You have nothing to fear
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by soap-lea:
“Have you not read the thread? It seems a large percentage are too scared to try

You have nothing to fear”

PHEW!

Sounds pretty obvious then that this absolutely should be part of it. Anything that you are likely to encounter as a driver should be practiced before you take your test. And preferrably tested on all the essential bits as well, or at least having an instructor sign off on your competence if the driving test itself is too time constrained to include everything.
Avidian
31-12-2016
Delete
bri160356
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by HeavySaurus:
“What, so driving on motorways currently ISN'T required to pass your test? That's mad.

I had to do a certain number of driving lessons, including motorways and icy conditions, before I was even allowed to take my test, and the test itself involved a short bit of motorway as well.

Blimey, I'm now quite scared to go out there knowing there will be newly passed and nervous drivers attempting a motorway for the first time ever with no supervision from a driving instructor! ”

...just curious but where was your test?
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by bri160356:
“...just curious but where was your test?”

Finland.
bri160356
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by HeavySaurus:
“Finland.”

...this will scare you even more;....studded tyres are illegal in the UK.
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by bri160356:
“...this will scare you even more;....studded tyres are illegal in the UK. ”

I can understand that, as roads aren't as realiably icy as they are back home and they would damage the roads. It is scary though. How many drivers would you guess use winter tyres here (non-studded)? As far as I know it's not mandatory and you're perfectly allowed to skid along in your summer tyres year-round.
bri160356
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by HeavySaurus:
“I can understand that, as roads aren't as realiably icy as they are back home and they would damage the roads. It is scary though. How many drivers would you guess use winter tyres here (non-studded)? As far as I know it's not mandatory and you're perfectly allowed to skid along in your summer tyres year-round.”

I once did a 60 mile bus trip in northern Norway (in January) and the vehicle had studded tyres.

At the start of the journey I was quite alarmed at the speed at which we were travelling.

The driver was absolutely bowling along and hardly slowed down for bends; we were travelling through a blizzard on a road that was basically a long narrow ice-rink stuck on the side of a mountain!

However, the locals seemed completely at ease with the weather conditions. In conversation one of them told me about the coach having ‘studded tyres’.

When I got off the bus I made a point of looking at the tyres; I was expecting rather large studs of some kind but I was surprised to see how small they actually were, and so few of them!

It's hardly surprising that you Scandinavians are the best rally drivers.
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
One of my favourite driving lessons was going on an ice rink and trying to get the car to spin! The instructors would first have us drive down at a low speed and take a sharp turn, then faster, and faster, and teaching us to control the breaking and control the spin. It was like a rollercoaster ride, but also shows you how easily you can lose control.

I still hated driving in the winter. Even with studded tyres it's pretty nervy when you know what happens if you lose it.
bri160356
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by HeavySaurus:
“One of my favourite driving lessons was going on an ice rink and trying to get the car to spin! The instructors would first have us drive down at a low speed and take a sharp turn, then faster, and faster, and teaching us to control the breaking and control the spin. It was like a rollercoaster ride, but also shows you how easily you can lose control.

I still hated driving in the winter. Even with studded tyres it's pretty nervy when you know what happens if you lose it.”

…I never knew Finnish driving lessons were so much fun;…a 3-point turn is about as exciting as it gets for us.
HeavySaurus
31-12-2016
Originally Posted by bri160356:
“…I never knew Finnish driving lessons were so much fun;…a 3-point turn is about as exciting as it gets for us. ”

When winter lasts for 6 months you want to make sure anyone operating fast and heavy machinery capable of killing themselves and several others would know what they're doing
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