Driving struggling big roads

powerspowers

Driving is a skill and needs practice- go out on a Sunday morning and practice the big roundabout near you from each approach. I also used to do one or 2 junctions on the motorway to build my confidence. The more you stress and panic, the less info your brain processes. If you can get over the fear it will feel easier and like you’ve got more time to make decisions. 

Marvel1

The roundabout you say go to your cousins of late and quieter, not an issue, so can you go tontjat roundabout and memorize when to move/follow the lane.

Sat nav will only say what exit, not lane position on the road to follow.

Done it many times myself, realising I need to move over, end up going around again (inside/right), judging when to move over and also indicating and the driver behind let's me in (hopefully).

Car_54

Grumpy_chap said:

It looks like the OP could benefit from some refresher lessons to boost their skills and confidence.  Actually, most of us could, but most of us won't admit it.

The refresher lessons could also include some motorway driving tuition.  Even if the OP does not need to use motorways (or, presumably, trunk A-roads which are essentially the same) frequently, they are imposing uneccessary restrictions on themselves.  Plus, main roads are statistically safer for the experienced driver.

The driving instructor could take the OP to the specific locations that are a concern presently.

Apart from the single carriageways, lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and horses they are almost identical!

Carrot007

Car_54 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

It looks like the OP could benefit from some refresher lessons to boost their skills and confidence.  Actually, most of us could, but most of us won't admit it.

The refresher lessons could also include some motorway driving tuition.  Even if the OP does not need to use motorways (or, presumably, trunk A-roads which are essentially the same) frequently, they are imposing uneccessary restrictions on themselves.  Plus, main roads are statistically safer for the experienced driver.

The driving instructor could take the OP to the specific locations that are a concern presently.

Apart from the single carriageways, lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and horses they are almost identical!

?

Many A roads are motorway standard around here. Even the A66 is for most of it, with plans to make it mostly on the horizon.

Grumpy_chap

Car_54 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

It looks like the OP could benefit from some refresher lessons to boost their skills and confidence.  Actually, most of us could, but most of us won't admit it.

The refresher lessons could also include some motorway driving tuition.  Even if the OP does not need to use motorways (or, presumably, trunk A-roads which are essentially the same) frequently, they are imposing uneccessary restrictions on themselves.  Plus, main roads are statistically safer for the experienced driver.

The driving instructor could take the OP to the specific locations that are a concern presently.

Apart from the single carriageways, lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and horses they are almost identical!

I specifically wrote "trunk A-roads" which predominantly have slipway entry and exit, central reservation, dual-lane in each carriageway and quite often 70 mph speed limit.  Not many of any of those things you mention.  We are talking majority sections of the A1, not the A6001 through Biggleswade.

In fact, these trunk A-roads are possibly more difficult than the motorways because of the variance in speed limits, 40 - 50 - 60 - 70 requiring adaption plus often no hard shoulder and only two lanes in each carriageway so the likelihood of encountering bunched slow moving vehicles with marginal overtaking is probably greater.  I accept not all motorways have three lanes, but the propensity of two-lane carriageways would be greater on trunk A-roads than motorways.

Still very few single carriageways, lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

venomx

Definitely get some lessons booked, and plan the route in advance on Google Maps - that's what I do and it helps a lot

Car_54

Grumpy_chap said:

Car_54 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

It looks like the OP could benefit from some refresher lessons to boost their skills and confidence.  Actually, most of us could, but most of us won't admit it.

The refresher lessons could also include some motorway driving tuition.  Even if the OP does not need to use motorways (or, presumably, trunk A-roads which are essentially the same) frequently, they are imposing uneccessary restrictions on themselves.  Plus, main roads are statistically safer for the experienced driver.

The driving instructor could take the OP to the specific locations that are a concern presently.

Apart from the single carriageways, lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and horses they are almost identical!

I specifically wrote "trunk A-roads" which predominantly have slipway entry and exit, central reservation, dual-lane in each carriageway and quite often 70 mph speed limit.  Not many of any of those things you mention.  We are talking majority sections of the A1, not the A6001 through Biggleswade.

"Apart from the 1,845 miles of motorway, about 60% of the roads managed by the Highways Agency (motorways and trunk roads) in England are dual carriageway.", so 40% of non-M'way trunk roads are still single carriageway

That is from a parliamentary report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmtran/505/50506.htm#a2

Admittedly that is from 2010, but it won't have changed dramatically since then.

You're spoiled in the North - you have the A1, here we have the South Circular!

Grumpy_chap

Car_54 said:

You're spoiled in the North - you have the A1, here we have the South Circular!

South circular is never a trunk road.  Primary route, yes, but not a trunk road.

Grey_Critic

The Sat Nav is a handy tool but how many tales do you read of vehicles getting stuck.

My first Sat Nav I let it pick the route to my sisters one day - whilst I knew the route via the motorway I told it to avoid them. We had a great day out - never getting anywhere near my sisters but it did try to get me to cross a river without a bridge.

They are simply a tool to assist but as others have said book a few lessons. You already can drive so it is not the terror of those early days but a means of improving your skills.

My Granddaughter has not driven for some time being busy getting her PHd so is booking some lessons to get back into things.

You never know once you get some confidence you might actually enjoy it.

Ectophile

Grumpy_chap said:

Car_54 said:

You're spoiled in the North - you have the A1, here we have the South Circular!

South circular is never a trunk road.  Primary route, yes, but not a trunk road.

I take it you've never driven on the A259.  It's officially a trunk road.  But in many places, it's an old country lane, that's been widened to A road width.  It has level crossings and hairpin bends.  It's almost entirely single carriageway.

And there's a stretch of the A21 at Hurst Green, where the speed limit is 20MPH during school hours.  That's another trunk road.