LEARNER ON THE MOTORWAY

[markymarkthree]

DIL had her 2nd driving lesson today (she had a few 10 years ago) and drove on the M5 southbound from J19 to J20. My first thoughts were WTF that's illegal but google and Mrs Marky tell me its ok. How the frig did i miss this change in the law.
https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/lear...

[sleepezy]

yup - so long as it's a dual controlled car with instructor - was in my daughters car for one of her lessons and i think it's fair to say most people don't know about the change in the law, the looks on some peoples faces while she was driving down the M11 was priceless!

Good idea if you ask me (although maybe not on the 2nd lesson) - they have to learn somehow

[Alex_225]

Yep legal now, couple of years or so I think. I saw a learner on the M4 a little while back. Keeping to lane 1 and hopefully being taught that's the lane to stick to (unlike multiple other drivers).

I think it's a great idea. 20 years ago the only reason I was taught to use a motorway was through Pass Plus 3-4 months after I passed my test.

[Janesy B]

I had no idea, but this is a good thing.

[98elise]

sleepezy said:

yup - so long as it's a dual controlled car with instructor - was in my daughters car for one of her lessons and i think it's fair to say most people don't know about the change in the law, the looks on some peoples faces while she was driving down the M11 was priceless!

Good idea if you ask me (although maybe not on the 2nd lesson) - they have to learn somehow

It's definitely a good thing to get some instruction on a motorway if you can.

Both my son and daughter were taken on the local motorway during a normal lessons. As it's not part of the test they only did it a couple of times.

By conincide my son passed his test yesterday and I'm planning to take him out on the motorway tomorrow to get him used to our local junctions. It's good to know it's not entirely alien to him.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Been legal for about 4 years. It was pretty well publicised at the time, I wasn't aware people didn't know.

[georgeyboy12345]

I must admit I had completely forgotten they had legalised it, this did jog my memory though

[MightyBadger]

I had a motorway lesson on the way home after passing my test in 91.

[NoBrakesWC]

I passed last year, then did driving lessons on motorway and helps alot to understand how it works as a new driver.

[Gareth79]

Many dual carriageways and their associated junctions are far more dangerous than motorways, so it was always a bit of a silly rule.

[LordFlathead]

MightyBadger said:

I had a motorway lesson on the way home after passing my test in 91.

Good for you I wish my instructor had the hindsight. I passed my test first out on test day (my 17th birthday after a cancellation!), then dad said I could use the car to go to college. I zoomed up the slip-road of the M4 only to find stationary traffic so had to use the hard-shoulder to stop

Stuff all these dumb-arsed cameras, spend more focus on driver training (ongoing) and we will be in a much better place.

[Pica-Pica]

Pistonheads - the site where the members do not keep up with the laws surrounding their interest. Strange, but true.

[PH User]

Pica-Pica said:

Pistonheads - the site where the members do not keep up with the laws surrounding their interest. Strange, but true.

Laws around what learners can and can't do doesn't really interest me. Strange, but true.

[2Btoo]

LordFlathead said:

MightyBadger said:

I had a motorway lesson on the way home after passing my test in 91.

Good for you I wish my instructor had the hindsight. I passed my test first out on test day (my 17th birthday after a cancellation!), then dad said I could use the car to go to college. I zoomed up the slip-road of the M4 only to find stationary traffic so had to use the hard-shoulder to stop

Stuff all these dumb-arsed cameras, spend more focus on driver training (ongoing) and we will be in a much better place.

Many people will have a story like this.

I went onto a motorway out of curiosity the day after I passed my test. I couldn't really see what the fuss was all about; they are just like large dual-carriageways, and I did enough of those when learning to drive.

[seyre1972]

MightyBadger said:

I had a motorway lesson on the way home after passing my test in 91.

Same for me - Carr gate test centre Wakefield 1989, Passed, came out and directed to J41 of the M1, came off at J39.

[bigothunter]

LordFlathead said:

Stuff all these dumb-arsed cameras, spend more focus on driver training (ongoing) and we will be in a much better place.

Absolutely

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Gareth79 said:

Many dual carriageways and their associated junctions are far more dangerous than motorways, so it was always a bit of a silly rule.

Nearly all roads are more dangerous than motorways, if you look at KSI accidents per mile.

[Truckosaurus]

Hopefully it will lead to improved lane discipline in the future.

Not much use to those of use who learned in counties with no motorways.

[Got4wheels]

This is a very good change to the law. The standard of lane discipline is appalling in the UK.

Michael

[minky monkey]

A good addition to training, you've only got to look at some people who haven't got a clue when it comes to motorways. I was fortunate that in 1992, I lived very close to the A3 at Esher, which meant I could be taught motorway skills as a learner but in a legal manner.

First thing I did after passing was take my dads Maestro van down the M25..

Edited by minky monkey on Tuesday 29th March 21:35