New Driver Tips — Preparing for Your First Long Car Journey

Your first long drive — the quick answer

The secret to a calm first long drive is preparation, not bravery: plan the route and fuel stops beforehand, break every two hours, and set off early while the roads are quiet. Set your mirrors and sat-nav before you move, never on the move, and leave a bigger gap than feels necessary. The full first-journey checklist is below.

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The good news is that with proper preparation — both of yourself and your vehicle — a long drive is straightforward and enjoyable. This guide covers everything a new driver needs to know, from vehicle checks to motorway driving, fatigue management, and what to do when things do not go to plan.

Vehicle Preparation

The Essential Pre-Trip Check

Before any journey over 100 km, check the following:

Tyres:

• Pressure: Check when cold using a gauge. The correct pressure is on a sticker inside the driver’s door frame or in the owner’s manual. See our tyre pressure guide.
• Tread depth: Legal minimum is 1.6 mm in most countries, but aim for 3 mm+. Use a tread depth gauge or the 20p/EUR coin test.
• Condition: Look for bulges, cracks, or embedded objects (nails, screws).
• Spare: Check that your spare tyre is inflated, or that your tyre repair kit is present and not expired.

Fluids:

• Engine oil (check the dipstick — should be between min and max)
• Coolant (visible in the expansion tank — should be between min and max)
• Windscreen washer fluid (fill to the top)
• Brake fluid (visible through the reservoir — should be near max)

Lights:

• Walk around the vehicle and check all lights: headlights (dipped and full beam), indicators, brake lights, tail lights, reverse lights, and fog lights. Ask someone to check brake lights while you press the pedal.

Wipers:

• Ensure they clear the windscreen without streaking. Replace if they leave smears — poor visibility is dangerous, especially in rain.

Fuel

Start your journey with a full tank. This gives you flexibility and avoids the stress of searching for a petrol station on an unfamiliar route.

Route Planning

Before You Go

1. Plan your route using Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze. Save it offline in case of signal loss.
2. Identify rest stops every 1-2 hours along the route. Motorway service stations, petrol stations with cafes, or scenic lay-bys work well.
3. Check for roadworks or closures that may affect your route.
4. Know the speed limits for every road type on your route. Use our country driving guides for specific limits.
5. Allow extra time. A 4-hour journey should be planned as a 5-hour trip with breaks. Arriving late is far better than arriving exhausted.

Navigation Tips

• Set your sat-nav or phone before you start driving. Never programme it while moving.
• Use audio instructions so you can keep your eyes on the road.
• If you miss a turn, do not panic — the navigation will recalculate.
• Have a general idea of the route in your head (major motorways, key junctions) so you are not entirely dependent on the device.

Motorway Driving

For many new drivers, the motorway is the most intimidating part of a long journey. In reality, motorways are the safest road type per kilometre driven. Here is how to master them.

Joining the Motorway

1. Use the slip road to accelerate to match the speed of motorway traffic.
2. Check your mirrors and blind spot.
3. Signal right (in right-hand traffic countries) and merge smoothly.
4. Do not stop at the end of the slip road unless absolutely necessary — merging at speed is much safer than trying to enter from a standstill.

Lane Discipline

• Right lane (in right-hand traffic): Normal driving lane. Stay here unless overtaking.
• Middle lane: For overtaking slower vehicles.
• Left lane: For overtaking vehicles in the middle lane. Return to the middle or right lane after overtaking.

Poor lane discipline is one of the most common errors new drivers make on motorways. Always return to the driving lane after overtaking.

Maintaining a Safe Following Distance

The two-second rule: pick a fixed point (a bridge, a sign). When the vehicle ahead passes it, count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two.” If you pass the point before finishing, you are too close.

In rain, double this to four seconds. In fog, ice, or snow, increase further. See our bad weather driving guide for more detail.

Exiting the Motorway

1. Move to the left lane (in right-hand traffic) in good time.
2. Signal left.
3. Enter the slip road and begin to decelerate. Do not brake on the motorway itself.
4. Check your speedometer — after driving at motorway speed, your sense of speed is distorted, and you may be going faster than you think.

Fatigue Management

Fatigue is the single biggest risk on long journeys, particularly for new drivers. Your brain is working harder than an experienced driver’s because everything requires conscious processing.

Warning Signs of Fatigue

• Yawning repeatedly
• Heavy eyelids or difficulty focusing
• Drifting within your lane
• Missing signs or turnings
• Difficulty remembering the last few kilometres
• Increased irritability

How to Manage Fatigue

1. Get a good night’s sleep before the journey. Aim for 7-8 hours.
2. Take breaks every 1-2 hours. Get out of the car, walk around, get fresh air.
3. Stay hydrated. Dehydration worsens fatigue.
4. Avoid heavy meals before or during the drive — they cause drowsiness.
5. Caffeine helps but is a temporary fix. A strong coffee provides 20-30 minutes of alertness.
6. If you feel drowsy, stop immediately. A 20-minute power nap in a safe location is far better than pushing through.
7. Do not drive between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM if you can avoid it — your body’s circadian rhythm is at its lowest.

For more on this topic, see our driving fatigue prevention guide.

Passenger Management

If you are driving with passengers:

• Set expectations. Let them know you need to concentrate, especially on unfamiliar roads.
• Ask for help. A passenger can navigate, manage the music, and look out for signs.
• Do not let passengers distract you. Animated conversations, arguments, or children demanding attention are all distractions.
• Distribute luggage evenly. Heavy items in the boot, not on the rear parcel shelf where they become projectiles in an emergency stop.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Breakdown

1. If possible, pull off the road onto the hard shoulder or into a lay-by.
2. Turn on hazard lights.
3. Put on your high-visibility vest before exiting.
4. Get everyone out of the vehicle and behind the barrier (on motorways).
5. Call your breakdown service.

See our car breakdown abroad guide for international travel.

Wrong Turn

Do not panic. Continue safely and find a place to turn around. On motorways, take the next exit. Never reverse on a road or attempt a U-turn where it is not safe or legal.

Puncture

If you get a flat tyre on the motorway, do not attempt to change it on the hard shoulder — it is too dangerous. Call your breakdown service. On quieter roads, use a safe, flat area to change the wheel or apply tyre sealant. See our tyre puncture guide.

The Packing List

Conclusion

Your first long car journey is a learning experience that builds confidence with every kilometre. The key is preparation: a well-checked vehicle, a planned route with rest stops, and the self-awareness to stop when you are tired.

With each journey, the skills that require conscious effort — motorway merging, lane discipline, night driving — become increasingly automatic. Before you know it, a 500 km drive will feel routine.

For driving rules in any country, explore our country driving guides. For tyre maintenance advice, see our tyre pressure guide and tyre rotation guide.