Driving in unfamiliar areas

panda mama

Hi folks

I passed my driving test about a month ago (at long last!) and am looking for advice around improving my driving skills and knowledge of routes/ motorways etc. I have a car but don't use it for driving to work. I am going to do a motorway driving lesson shortly but have people any other tips to build confidence in driving in unfamiliar areas? Can you recommend a good road map for Ireland or would you recommend getting a sat nav?

Thanks for your advice

MascotDec85

panda mama wrote: »

Hi folks

I passed my driving test about a month ago (at long last!) and am looking for advice around improving my driving skills and knowledge of routes/ motorways etc. I have a car but don't use it for driving to work. I am going to do a motorway driving lesson shortly but have people any other tips to build confidence in driving in unfamiliar areas? Can you recommend a good road map for Ireland or would you recommend getting a sat nav?

Thanks for your advice

Collins or AA roadmaps are best.
Satnav won't help you plan your journey. Best way is to look at a map and have the general route in your head, then follow road signs. Doing this will have you looking further ahead for the signs but you need to be very aware of other road users around you for when you have to change direction or lanes.

A good sense of direction also helps

spurious

I like the sat nav for giving me an idea of how far ahead a turn is, but especially when driving on country roads, where you approach a corner and have no idea if it's a gentle curve or going to come back on itself - all with a 'local' in a 4x4 up your backside doing 80.

AntiVirus

Bin the maps and get your self a cheap Nokia Lumia 520, you'll get free Sat Nav for Ireland and the UK. Its far easier to use than trying to remember a route from a map in your head.

The Sat Nav will also know exactly when the speed limit changes and will beep to warn you that you are going to fast, it will let you know well in advance of what turn to take etc...

Don't panic if you miss a turn, just keep driving the Sat Nav will quickly recalculate a route to get you to where you want to go.

AntiVirus

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Collins or AA roadmaps are best.
Satnav won't help you plan your journey. Best way is to look at a map and have the general route in your head, then follow road signs. Doing this will have you looking further ahead for the signs but you need to be very aware of other road users around you for when you have to change direction or lanes.

A good sense of direction also helps

Some of the worst advice I've seen on boards!

"Satnav won't help you plan your journey"

"then follow road signs"

Witcher

Usually if I'm planning a journey I use Google maps and Streetview, the latter is handy to pinpoint landmarks for turns etc. I just keep a mental image of a house, tree, drystone wall or whatever in my head so I know the turn to take.

AntiVirus

Blay wrote: »

Usually if I'm planning a journey I use Google maps and Streetview, the latter is handy to pinpoint landmarks for turns etc. I just keep a mental image of a house, tree, drystone wall or whatever in my head so I know the turn to take.

That's why you'll always get lost. Google street view is over 5 years old!! LOL

You would be much better off just pulling over and asking someone for directions or if you don't know how to use Sat Nav ask someone to show you.

MascotDec85

AntiVirus wrote: »

Some of the worst advice I've seen on boards!

"Satnav won't help you plan your journey"

"then follow road signs"

Read the post again.
Look at a map of your route, plan it properly. If you're busy looking at a satnav you'll be less inclined to be aware of the traffic around you.

Too much over reliance on satnavs

_Brian

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Collins or AA roadmaps are best.
Satnav won't help you plan your journey. Best way is to look at a map and have the general route in your head, then follow road signs. Doing this will have you looking further ahead for the signs but you need to be very aware of other road users around you for when you have to change direction or lanes.

A good sense of direction also helps

Ordinamce Survey do a fantastic map of Ireland. Nice detail, spiral bound and for those unfamiliar with motorways is has a drawing of each major motorway with all junctions listed in order and where the turnoff is for.
While we have a satnav we find a decent map is essential and I'd advise OP to start with a map before say nav.

Witcher

AntiVirus wrote: »

That's why you'll always get lost. Google street view is over 5 years old!! LOL

You would be much better off just pulling over and asking someone for directions or if you don't know how to use Sat Nav ask someone to show you.

I've never gotten lost, roads haven't disappeared in the last 5 years:pac:

AntiVirus

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Read the post again.
Look at a map of your route, plan it properly. If you're busy looking at a satnav you'll be less inclined to be aware of the traffic around you.

Too much over reliance on satnavs

Incase you've been living under a large stone Sat Nav speaks to you, a map doesn't. You will have to look at the map when you've realised you've missed a turn and you certainly won't be aware of the traffic around you doing that! 😠lol

AntiVirus

Blay wrote: »

I've never gotten lost, roads haven't disappeared in the last 5 years:pac:

Plenty of new roads and different landmarks add and changed.

I say you've been lost a number if times, using your method of planing a route from A-B is more likely to take you from A-C-D-A-C-B

panda mama

Thanks for the advice folks. Brian - I think I've seen that Ordnance Survey map you mentioned, I must invest! Will do a bit of research into the sat navs too.

AntiVirus

panda mama wrote: »

Thanks for the advice folks. Brian - I think I've seen that Ordnance Survey map you mentioned, I must invest! Will do a bit of research into the sat navs too.

A cheap option for an excellent Sat Nav would be the Nokia Lumia 520 phone, about €70. You will get free updates to Ireland and the UK and you can add extra maps to any country in the world.

As soon as the speed limit changes on the road the Sat Nav will pick it up and alert you if you are over the new speed limit. I've used mine all over the UK, Spain and Lazarote. Any missed turns are quickly re-routed

panda mama

Thanks AntiVirus, will have a look!

username123

Blay wrote: »

Usually if I'm planning a journey I use Google maps and Streetview, the latter is handy to pinpoint landmarks for turns etc. I just keep a mental image of a house, tree, drystone wall or whatever in my head so I know the turn to take.

I do this too. By far the best method for me. I can recall landmarks that I've seen in a photo far more easily than map data.

I prefer google streetview to most things, then I use a navigation app on my phone when I'm actually driving, to help. Still need your wits about you for correct lanes etc but that's it really
I think a while after I passed I discovered groupon and bought vouchers for stuff all around the place and then made myself drive to them... was a bit nervous but was good to force myself to get out there and get used to it

Witcher

AntiVirus wrote: »

Plenty of new roads and different landmarks add and changed.

I say you've been lost a number if times, using your method of planing a route from A-B is more likely to take you from A-C-D-A-C-B

I haven't but sure if you want to believe that go on ahead:pac: