If you have just passed your practical driving test, some congratulations are in order! Now that you have the freedom to drive your car wherever you want, unsupervised, you will doubtless be itching to get behind the wheel and start building upon your newly-acquired driving skills.
Every new driver on Britain’s roads will, at some point, need to drive on one of the many motorways that snake throughout the United Kingdom. And if you are planning a trip to the continent at some point, you will probably have to negotiate the motorways and highways of Europe too.
Are you feeling a little nervous about your first motorway jaunt? If so, don’t worry – every new driver has the motorway jitters! The thing about Britain’s motorways is that you aren’t allowed to drive on them when you learn to drive.
With speeds of up to 70 mph on the motorway, it can obviously be potentially dangerous to let inexperienced learner drivers loose on such roads.
There are obviously advanced driving courses that you can take so that you can get to grips with driving on the motorway, but, for the most part, new drivers prefer to tackle their first experience with the motorway network themselves.
If you are one of those people, here are some top tips to make your experience a positive one!
Ensure your car is roadworthy
Before you even consider driving on the motorway, it is imperative that your car is roadworthy; by this, I mean that your car needs to be mechanically sound.
In Britain, cars that are older than 3 years of age must undergo an annual MOT test by law. Even though the car might pass its MOT test at the time of testing, a certificate in no way guarantees the car’s roadworthiness for the next 12 months.
Be sure to perform weekly maintenance checks on your car, and follow the car manufacturer’s guidelines for servicing and maintenance schedules.
Finally, don’t go on the motorway without ensuring that your car has enough petrol or diesel to make the journey to your destination and back! Whilst the motorway network is well-provisioned with service stations, in some parts of the UK you could go for dozens of miles before seeing a motorway service station!
Ensure you are well-prepared
Now that your car is ready for a journey on the motorway, the next step is to prepare yourself!
Follow these top tips to help you get prepared for your first motorway journey:
- Have a good night’s sleep in the evening before your journey;
- Make sure that your mobile phone is fully charged before setting off;
- Take some supplies with you, such as snacks, a bottle of water and other useful items in case your car breaks down on the motorway (unlikely, but it does happen).
When to travel
If you are feeling quite anxious about driving on the motorway, I recommend driving your car when there is going to be little traffic, such as early in the morning or late in the evening.
Certain times of the year are likely to experience higher than usual volumes of traffic, such as during bank holidays.
