driving in Manchester

[96terrano]

Hi guys, well after a recent photoshoot 'the weird one you might of seen' :lol:augie, I've been invited to a convention next year as an official photographer. And its in Manchester.

Now, next year I'll of passed my test I'm just wondering what sort of traffic you get in Manchester, is it as busy as London? I know it's a long way off just now but as I remembered, I'd thought I'd ask you all. The vehicle ill be taking will be my terrano.

Thought I'll also add, it's over a weekend I think so I won't be driving down and back in the same day, I'm never going to drive tired. And crash:augie :nono:

Cheers:thumbs

 

[wildbri]

Hi, no its nowhere as busy as London and ofcourse not so big, you should have no trouble driving in and out and the weekends I'll be quieter. If you are going into the city centre its motorway all the way from Carlisle with just the last couple of miles urban roads. Good luck with your test and drive carfully. Regards. Bri.

 

[solarman216]

official photographer! well done, you sound like me when I was a lad, well experienced with motors before you are allowed to drive, that's good cos you only need to concentrate on the test requirements and not on how to handle the bloody motor, you will go far, keep at it, and once again well done, Rick

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

official photographer! well done, you sound like me when I was a lad, well experienced with motors before you are allowed to drive, that's good cos you only need to concentrate on the test requirements and not on how to handle the bloody motor, you will go far, keep at it, and once again well done, Rick

well said Rick :thumb2

 

[96terrano]

Hi, no its nowhere as busy as London and ofcourse not so big, you should have no trouble driving in and out and the weekends I'll be quieter. If you are going into the city centre its motorway all the way from Carlisle with just the last couple of miles urban roads. Good luck with your test and drive carfully. Regards. Bri.

Cheers, I was told by my dad that it'll be really hard for me to drive in Manchester and I couldn't do it and wouldn't of passed my test, so I thought I'd ask you guy's:lol:lol cheers, I'll be ok with motorways and urban roads to be honest. I've driven over 100 miles already

 

[96terrano]

official photographer! well done, you sound like me when I was a lad, well experienced with motors before you are allowed to drive, that's good cos you only need to concentrate on the test requirements and not on how to handle the bloody motor, you will go far, keep at it, and once again well done, Rick

Cheers rick:bow yeah, I'm not a normal teenager. 4x4s are what do it for me

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

a tip: start saving for the diesel now! :thumb2

 

[briggie]

a tip: start saving for the diesel now! :thumb2

and insurance

 

[supergnome]

Manchester is a big place. what area are you going to?? David.

 

[clivvy]

I'll tell you now matey, driving in Manchester can be a bastard for new drivers. Especially if you're a new driver, but its well signed, and generally you can't go too wong. I rate it as one if the easier cities to drive in, easier than Leeds and Bradford anyway. Like most cities, its just sprawling, with a huge central road complex but its not all one way loops so fairly straight forward.

 

[rustic]

If you have a newish sat nav, it will help.

I don't think driving in Manchester is any different to any other city.
However there are quite a few nice new open roads around the district.

I regularly drive in Birmingham, and basically if you see a gap you go for it, the problem with inexperienced drivers is that they hesitate, then other drivers get irritated.

The biggest problem in Brum is drivers going through lights well after they have changed to red, we often count three, so if you anticipate your lights changing to green as you roll up to them, then there is a risk that other drivers are still entering the junction.

So drive defensively, ie what is the worst thing that the other driver can do, and have a contingency plan. Hover with one thumb over the horn, and don't expect people to indicate. Don't give offensive hand signals, and a single hand in the air wave as a or as an oops sorry... defuses many situations.

You wil be fine, but as you say, don't drive tired, and take a break, don't drive for more than an hour and a half without a break, even if it's just to have a drink of water and a short walk. I never exceed the speed limit by more than 10% saves stress looking for cameras or hidden speed traps.
However... In my early days I was just lucky I guess. Driving is different now.


Best regards,
Rustic

 

[96terrano]

Manchester is a big place. what area are you going to?? David.

Manchester's international convention centre :clap

 

[96terrano]

I go,

If you have a newish sat nav, it will help.

I don't think driving in Manchester is any different to any other city.
However there are quite a few nice new open roads around the district.

I regularly drive in Birmingham, and basically if you see a gap you go for it, the problem with inexperienced drivers is that they hesitate, then other drivers get irritated.

The biggest problem in Brum is drivers going through lights well after they have changed to red, we often count three, so if you anticipate your lights changing to green as you roll up to them, then there is a risk that other drivers are still entering the junction.

So drive defensively, ie what is the worst thing that the other driver can do, and have a contingency plan. Hover with one thumb over the horn, and don't expect people to indicate. Don't give offensive hand signals, and a single hand in the air wave as a or as an oops sorry... defuses many situations.

You wil be fine, but as you say, don't drive tired, and take a break, don't drive for more than an hour and a half without a break, even if it's just to have a drink of water and a short walk. I never exceed the speed limit by more than 10% saves stress looking for cameras or hidden speed traps.
However... In my early days I was just lucky I guess. Driving is different now.


Best regards,
Rustic

Cheers mate, that's some very good info, if I go, I'll keep my whitts about me and not get into any argument. The other good thing is ill be in a 4x4 so people are les likely to argue and its easier to see over traffic:thumb2

 

[andys 4x4]

when you get to manchester go with the flow, dont rush you`ll only make mistakes, if anyone behind you is in a hurry they`ll go round you, if you`re in your 4x4 you`ll be sitting higher up than most others so they`ll think twice about cutting you up.
plan your journey well in advance if you hav`nt got a satnav write down your route from m6 in, in large print so its easily visable look for landmarks they come in handy when you`re on youre way home, you know you`re going the right way, use AA route map or streetmap, it will calculate you`re route and tell you the milage, and you can print it off maps and directions, all the best with your test, happy motoring :thumb2 Andy

 

[supergnome]

Is that GMEX ?? the old railway station.

 

[clivvy]

to be honest, ive never had any issues driving in Manchester, which is why i rate it as one of the better cities to drive in. Rustics advice is wise-Manchester isnt quite as bad as London or Birmingham, in terms of driving definsively, but yes, take that approach without driving like a dick, because if you drive like a learner, youl just end up in trouble or stuck behind a bus.

Let the chavs over take you if they want, take yoru time to get used to all that traffic and noise. Know your route, use that sat nav and you will piss it. I find the roads pretty good around the city, and of course Manchester is bang on in the middle of the motorway network so very easy to get yourself back on track when you leave (I assume youll be jumping on the M6?)

Just be aware of the police, who are very keen on the Manc ring road, and dont go messing with the white van man, they will just nick your wheels if you piss em off.:thumbs

 

[96terrano]

thanks everyone, great advice:thumb2 i might just drive then, i thought i'd add, diesel costs will be split between everyone, insurance...i think i'm going on parents