A new driver driving to Big Bear. Good idea?

Question

I'm planning on driving to Big Bear from LA with some friends and I have never drove in the mountains before. I just got my license two months ago so I've only experienced driving on the streets and have limited highway experience. Also, I have never drove for more than an hour before. Do you think its a good idea for me to drive up there? Or should I wait until I become a more experienced driver because I don't know how mountain driving is.

Answer 1

I think you answered you own question! Something like that takes experience, so your best bet is to get more compfortable behind the wheel and drive for longer distances before attempting to go all the way to Big Bear :) Maybe have a more experienced driver drive you and your friends up!

Answer 2

You and all on the road will be safer to wait until you get more experience. Mountains are hard to drive up and down on. Thank you for being so considerate that you will wait a while. We need more drivers like you.

Answer 3

wait for a better driver..

Answer 4

Driving up curves to continue up windy curvy mountainous areas.          You take your foot off the gas on the curves versus braking and accelerating all the time.

Driving at night if  you cant see you can turn your high beams on to better see the road but you change to low beams to avoid blinding the oncoming driver

If you find yourself being blinded you look to the  the right side of the road to stay on the road

By law if you have five cars tailing you because your going to slow your obligated to pull over at the next turn out

but if even two cars are on your tail you may wish to pull over

The same rule for letting your foot of the gas going downhill applys, except u would use the brakes more often even using   the gears 1srt and second to slow your descent

Same applys toward going uphill you may want to use overdrive to use more engine power to ascend , even second gear if your car isnt performing in  Drive

Thats all I can think of as far as tips on mountain driving go except we are headed toward winter, and if it does snow

They will put up sighns chains required

and if you dont have any You will be forced to turn around

I never have had experience with driving with chains but I imagine it is very slow going but they supposedly keep you on the road

Have a nice trip its a good quick getaway but I dont recall it being overly Green Like say Tahoe or the seqouias, although its been many years

Your only talking about an couple of hours plus drive

With these tips inmind I say go for it

But dont be afraid of going just the speed limit dont feel pressured to go faster, drive while alert of course and pullover and rest if you feel fatigued,but its such a short drive i dont see that as being a problem

Get a DMV pamphlet  to assure your doing the right thing on mountain driving Have a fun experience

Answer 5

I've driven up and down this road and many like it. If you are a good driver, you should be OK, and the only way you are ever going to learn how to drive mountain roads is to drive mountain roads. The road to Big Bear is not that difficult. There are other much more treacherous roads, such as the road to Idyllwild,  and the Ortega Highway. Just don't try to learn with a carload of people. You need to learn something like this with no distractions, as driving mountain roads takes 100 percent concentration. If you can, plan your trip so you are not driving at night, in fog, rain, or snow. The weather on that mountain can turn evil in a short time. I have gotten up there in beautiful sunny weather and within two hours it turned foggy and raining, on the verge of snowing. You absolutely must not drive like an idiot on a mountain road. The same small mistakes you make on the street in front of your house can get you killed on a mountain road. If you are the least bit nervous driving, you should by all means practice more and wait before you try anything like this. But if you feel confident, go ahead. Maybe you could let someone more experienced drive up there, then you could practice a bit while you are there. There is no substitute for experience.

Answer 6

it might safe for you to find a friend who has done this before

and maybe share driving (plus its december and it could be snowing up there as well)

or you could alsl use transit to get there MATS  have regular service from San Bernadino to Big Bear

Answer 7

Please Don't do this ! I don't want to sound like your mother but i doubt your ready for that long drive.And there's a lot more to driving mountain roads then following the road.