As someone who does thousands of miles of motorway driving each year and has done for the past 40+ years, it’s second nature to me and I never give it a thought.
Apparently though, there are a large number of motorists who avoid motorway driving according to the RAC and it can be daunting for drivers who have recently passed their test.
The AA sees motorway driving as the Achilles heel of learner drivers.
From next year learner drivers will be allowed to have lessons on motorways in a dual-control car, with an experienced driving instructor.
Not sure about this. Maybe once a learner has passed their test, they should then go on to have lessons on the motorway.
Thoughts?
Already common happens in Germany and has been for many years. Not quite sure at what stage of the learning process it is carried out but seem to remember they went on the autobahn immediately after passing their normal road test (?).
Personally I think they should have just made the pass plus a mandatory thing, so once you've passed your test you have to do you 6 hours (or whatever it is) of motorway driving with an instructor because it's bizarre to me that people that have just passed their test can be set loose on the motorway with no experience of how to drive on it. It might also help in cutting out the numpties that hog the middle lane.
I think there should be two categories on your licence with the second part permitting use of motorways. As above, I think it's crazy that you are free to go on a motorway without any training.
Agreed - Got my first good "proper" job in 1976, at 18 years-old with Rank Hovis as a sales Rep covering West London.....went to the job interview in Bristol having just passed my driving test the week before....I got the job, and the Manager handed me the keys to a brand-new Ford Escort 1.3 estate, and told me to follow him to the induction training centre....in Reading!!
I didn't tell him that I'd never been on a Motorway, though I'm sure he guessed....he kept dropping back to check I was OK. It took me an age, seemingly to get up to 55, then 60...65 etc.....my hands were shaking, everyone seemed to be flying past me at what looked like suicidal speeds....those were the days.