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Learner drivers and tunnels

frost105

14

Does anyone know if learner drivers can drive through tunnels legally? In particular the mersey tunnel?

Reply 1

El Stevo

11

erm. is there a reason suggesting they can't? i drove through tunnels when i was learnding...

Reply 2

Trousers

11

As far as I know, as long as you're not on a motorway you can go anywhere.

Reply 3

x-lolly-x

6

im sure they can

Reply 4

Chris.

1

No motorways is the only rule.

Reply 5

saz_1989

2

Yes, you can. And you can drive thru the mersey tunnel as well. If you go thru the Queensway, I'd advise driving in the left hand lane (so you are not next to oncoming traffic). Kingsway is better to start with though. It's really easy, it's very straight, just keep at 40mph cos the tunnel police are a bit over-enthusiastic about speeding, and you'll annoy people if you go slow as they can't overtake. Get your money ready before you go thru as well - it's £1.30 now.

Reply 6

frost105

OP

14

Am too use to the tunnel. Was stopped the other night by the tunnel police cause I had my boyf and his friends in the car at 2am all acting daft. Was fuming with them all-I gor breathalysed and everything!

Reply 7

saz_1989

2

frost105

Am too use to the tunnel. Was stopped the other night by the tunnel police cause I had my boyf and his friends in the car at 2am all acting daft. Was fuming with them all-I gor breathalysed and everything!

I don't think they have anything better to do. I'd be pure offended at that.

My friend got stopped for doing 40 as she went into the tunnel. Apparently it's 30 til where the tunnel starts (in the Kingsway). The woman pointed to about 10m down the road and said "that's where 40 starts" and started shouting at my friend.

Reply 8

4Ed

15

Learner drivers are only banned from driving on the motorway, as far as I know.

But they're fine to drive at exactly the same speed on A-roads for some reason? :confused:

Reply 9

frost105

OP

14

Lauren

I don't think they have anything better to do. I'd be pure offended at that.

My friend got stopped for doing 40 as she went into the tunnel. Apparently it's 30 til where the tunnel starts (in the Kingsway). The woman pointed to about 10m down the road and said "that's where 40 starts" and started shouting at my friend.

Yeah you can do 40 in the Wallasey tunnel but only 30 in the Birkenhead!

Reply 10

Apricot Fairy

16

Driving at 70 isn't dangerous in the right conditions. But getting onto the motorway can be pretty dangerous, which is, I think, why learners aren't allowed. You have to have good judgement to get onto the motorway otherwise it's very easy to have an accident.

Reply 11

saz_1989

2

frost105

Yeah you can do 40 in the Wallasey tunnel but only 30 in the Birkenhead!

I was sure it's 40. Has it changed recently? I'm normally away at uni and I'm scared of the Queensway anyway! Lol.

Reply 12

MorbidAngel

11

susiemakemeblue

Driving at 70 isn't dangerous in the right conditions. But getting onto the motorway can be pretty dangerous, which is, I think, why learners aren't allowed. You have to have good judgement to get onto the motorway otherwise it's very easy to have an accident.

but the problem is there are loads of dual carriageways which could easily be motorway conditions

Reply 13

Apricot Fairy

16

MorbidAngel

but the problem is there are loads of dual carriageways which could easily be motorway conditions

It's much easier to get onto a dual carriageway than a motorway. You get onto most dual carriageways from roundabouts, where cars are going fairly slowly and there is a definite "give way to the right" rule. Getting onto the motorway from the slip road is much, much more difficult. You have to use your judgement to find a safe gap, whilst already travelling at 50 or 60 mph. If there is no safe gap and you have to stop, you're basically screwed, because even when there is a gap, you won't be able to accelerate fast enough once you get moving. You also sometimes have to rely on other drivers to let you in. Responsible drivers will move over into the middle lane to let people join the motorway, but not everyone does. The other day I was trying to get onto the M3 and this complete idiot was driving alongside me in the outside lane, at a speed which prevented me from either getting in front of him or slowing down enough to get safely behind him. The middle and inside lane were completely clear. He could have moved over, but he didn't. I had to slow down to about 35mph and the lorry coming along behind him nearly went straight into the back of me. :frown:

Reply 14

kikzen

14

withoyut a doubt thats the hardest part of motorway driving

alsso when dual carriageways merge like that its hard.

if you misjudge how fast people are coming and where theyre gonna end up then youre pretty screwed!