Driving in the UK
UK Motorway Sign
I’ve been living in the UK for 4 years now. I’ve been driving in the UK for 4 years now. I’ve never driven on the motorways save the wee ones around Peterborough in the 4 years I have been driving in the UK. I’m frightened you see.
Mind you, in the US, I became a qualified driver at the age of 16…on the first attempt and everything! I drove successfully in the US for 18 years with only 1 or 2 speeding tickets (everyone has at least 1!). I didn’t drive initially when I moved to the UK in June of 2005 because we couldn’t find a company to insure me until I had a UK driving license. Non-UK residents are permitted to drive on their foreign license for up to a year before being legally obligated to take the UK driving test. We did eventually find an insurance company to cover me before getting that illusive UK driving license and my hubby got me a gorgeous 1991 Mini for me to putter about in. It was a lovely car…
My Glorious Mini
I killed it! In a sleep deprived, brain addled state after a brilliant holiday to Malaga in 2007, I left work and on a tight bend off a roundabout I clipped an oncoming car, careened into the dirt and throughly killed my Mini. Gone…in a flash. Sob! That spring, forced to ride the bus to work, I began preparing to become a licensed driver in the UK. We had a friend who was a driving instructor and after 7 lessons, I felt I was ready to attempt one of the hardest driving tests in the world. And on that first attempt in May 2007, I passed! With flying colours. Woo hoo. Part of my driving test was driving on the motorway around Peterborough. That’s about as far as I have come since then. The A1 runs around Peterborough and I’ve been on it a few times but mainly only to skirt around Peterborough to Stamford and vice versa. My hubby is a brilliant driver and when we go places together or as a family, he almost always drives. And you’ll never catch me driving into London! God no! That’s what public transport is for!
One of my Mummy Blogger friends, Claire of Being A Mummy, invited Little Miss and I to a Mummy Blogger Tea last week. I decided that the time had come. It was time to tackle the motorway. Let me explain my fear to you:
I’m used to driving in the US on highways that are very straight, very wide and very well marked. You get mileage signs telling you how many miles to the next destination, highways are North, South, East and West and very obviouly signposted. It’s a bit hard to get lost as there’s on and off…THERE ARE NO ROUNDABOUTS!!! Now that’s not entirely true as some roundabouts have made their way into the American Motor System which is actually brilliant…American’s just don’t understand them! The challenge I have with the UK Motorways is the markings…why are all the markings ON THE ROAD…how are you supposed to see that properly?? I know it’s more about knowing where you want to go and watching for the sign on the approach to a roundabout to know which lane to be in but still…I keep wondering every time, “WHY ARE WE IN THAT LANE??” Hubby isn’t brilliant at explaining that…he just drives and I watch.
A UK Roundabout
So, Little Miss and I braved the A1 on our adventure and guess what? WE SURVIVED! In fact, even though I got a bit muddled after exiting the A1 for St. Albans, I managed to use my brain, read signs and negotiate St. Albans to get to my final destination. I was so proud of myself. Now, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to tackle London but I managed to get from one point to another all on my own and live to tell the tale. Maybe we’ll try another adventure some other day? If you’re a “foreigner” in the UK, what do you feel about the motorways, roundabouts and driving? If you’re a British Citizen, do you ever struggle with driving in the UK? Share your HORROR STORIES…I’m hoping we won’t have any to add!
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Motorways scare me silly and I only drive on them if I HAVE to
I’m fine with roundabouts but there is one ginormous one in London called the Hanger Lane Gyratory which brings me out in a cold sweat. It is a free for all and nobody seems to know what lane they should be in!
What a shame about your lovely mini – were you ok?
US motorways way more terrifying! You guys don’t indicate before you change lanes!
I’m really not keen on those big roundabouts where the lanes are poorly marked and you have no idea which direction (other than the general clockwise) you should be going to get out of the damned thing. Mainly it’s more a frustration thing with me, I’m the same with poorly marked lanes in one way systems. I’m pretty fearless when it comes to driving (much to the husband’s disgust) but then you have to be living in London. You’d never get anywhere otherwise.
OK…now you’ve started it!
Let’s talk about indicating and lane management in the UK! OMG…if anyone, besides learner drivers could keep to the actual lane they’re meant to be in on a roundabout and actually indicate where they plan on going, I would be shocked! US drivers are by no means perfect but I have to say that UK drivers could use a lesson in using their indicators as well. Thanks for commenting! 
Thanks for asking…Mini totalled…me, fine! I was more upset about the Mini!
Yes, I think we’ll probably subscribe to this viewpoint but needs must sometimes. It is strangely empowering to succeed at the Motorway, though.
I feel for you! I first, and very unsuccessfully, had driving lessons in Devon, where I was brought up. After university I moved to London, where not knowing how to drive wasn’t too much of a problem. Eventually, the lure of the open road proved too much, so I had to learn in London, Hyde Park corner and all. I’m now an extremely slow (you never really go much about 30mph in London, after all) and impatient driver, and horrify relatives in Devon with my pushy-at-junctions attitude!
In only learned to drive when pregnant with MiniMad, but we lived just off juction 11 of the M4, so really had no option to drive on the motorway.
The thing that transformed driving for me was my Sat Nav I got for Christmas that year. It is wonderful, she makes everything so easy and relaxed
I hate driving in London and I drove there for 3 years
You did a great job getting to Claire’s and it was lovely to meet you both
Well done you for conquering the Beast that is London.
I’ve become a different, more careful driver, I think, since driving my daughter around. Thanks for commenting 
Sat Nav would really help me, I think. Hubby doesn’t believe in them but I do! Hello, Santa??
Thanks Mrs! We did do alright, didn’t we? Thanks for commenting!
Once you have navigated through St Albans you can drive anywhere….
Im glad you made the effort x
I used to be such a nervous driver that I stopped for 5 years and had to take a refresher course of lessons before I started again. I knew so many people in the same situation that I pitched a feature about nervous driving and how to overcome it to a national magazine aznd the editor (presumably a supremely confident dirver herself) replied, “I don’t think that’s a problem that affects enough of our readers.” Yeah, right. They’re quite happy to run a feature about women who find out their husbands are having an affair with another man. Does that really affect more people or does voyeurims sell?
Just found your post, hope you don’t mind me joining the chat?
I learned to drive in Peterborough. I had tried to learn in London but it was all too stressful and I never seemed to get out of 3rd gear. When I moved to Peterborough I passed first time, thanks also to the fact that it is so flat I didn’t have to do a hill start!
I’m glad you gave me the challenge!
That would be VOYEURISM! I think we both know that stories that REALLY matter are not notorious and thus not saleable! But hey ho…well done for trying!
Welcome to Cafe Bebe! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Yes, Peterborough is delightfully flat!:) Congrats on passing on the first time as well!
Hi,
My wife is American and has been in the UK since September 2009. She obviously wants to drive a car and get around on her own now and I want to get her a car. I have also experienced problems getting her insurance due to the US lisence issue and my insureres would only insure her for 49 days!!!
Could you recommend an insurance company that would insure my wife on her American lisence prior to her completing the UK test?
Any advice would be most appreciated.
Many thanks
Darren