First Time on the Highway? 9 NY Driving Tips

By Amir

First Time on the Highway? 9 NY Driving Tips

For your first highway drive in New York, pick a quiet time, stay in the right lane, use the entrance ramp to reach traffic speed, then signal and look over your shoulder before you merge. Most expressways are 55 mph. If you have a learner permit, a supervising driver age 21 or older must be with you, and some parkways, bridges and tunnels are off-limits.

Reviewed by Michael, Professional Driving Instructor
Last updated: October 12, 2026

Feeling nervous? You are not alone. Start with the permit rules below, then work through the nine tips.

Table of Contents

First Time on the Highway? 9 NY Driving Tips

Before You Go: Highway Rules for Permit Holders

If you are still on a learner permit, plan the route before you leave. A supervising driver age 21 or older, licensed to drive the car, must be with you on every drive. New York does not allow permit holders on:

Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridges and tunnels
Any street inside a New York City park
The Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River and Taconic State parkways in Westchester County
DMV road test areas

Under 18 in New York City? You may drive only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a parent, guardian or driving instructor, in a car with dual brakes. Source: NY DMV, Learner Permit Restrictions. For the full picture, see our guide to permit rules in NYC.

9 Tips for Your First Highway Drive

1. Avoid Rush Hour

Plan your first highway trip carefully. Skip the weekday morning and evening rush, when traffic is heaviest and it is hard to learn and practice safely.

Choose a time with light traffic, and avoid bad weather such as heavy rain, which makes a first drive much harder.

2. Stick to the Right Lane

On your first highway drive, stay in the right lane. The left lane is for passing, and the right lane lets you settle in without faster cars pressing behind you. Most expressways in New York are 55 mph, so learn to read the speed limits and ramp signs before you go.

Be ready to change lanes if a crash, a stalled car or a merging lane forces you to.

3. Change Lanes Safely

You may still need to change lanes, so do it the same way every time:

Use your turn signal. In New York you must signal every lane change at least 100 feet ahead.
Check your rearview and side mirrors to make sure the lane is clear.
Check your blind spot with a quick look over your shoulder.
Leave a safe gap from other vehicles before you move.

Change lanes slowly and smoothly.

4. Avoid Distractions

Distractions are one of the biggest causes of highway crashes. Put your phone away or on do not disturb. In New York it is illegal to talk on a hand-held phone or text while driving. Junior and probationary drivers face a 120-day suspension for a first offense.

If you play music, keep it calm and at a moderate volume, and set it before you leave. If you have passengers, ask them to keep the conversation light so you can focus on the road.

5. Use Your Signals

New drivers often forget to signal on highways. Signal every time, even if no one seems to be nearby, and signal at least 100 feet before a turn, lane change or exit so other drivers have time to react.

6. Merge and Exit the DMV Way

Merging feels hard at first, but it gets easier with practice. Follow the steps in the NY Driver's Manual:

Unless the ramp has a STOP or YIELD sign or a traffic light, use the ramp to speed up to the speed of traffic.
Signal, then look over your shoulder for traffic already on the expressway, and merge into a gap.
If the ramp is too short to get up to speed, stop and wait for a large gap, then enter and speed up quickly.
Never back up on a ramp. If you miss your exit, stay on to the next one.
To leave, get into the exit lane early, signal at least 100 feet before the ramp, and slow down once you are on the exit ramp.

7. Check Your Surroundings

New drivers often look only straight ahead. Watch for brake lights well in front of you and check your mirrors often.

Use the two-second rule: when the car ahead passes a sign or overpass, count "one thousand one, one thousand two." If you reach it before you finish, you are too close. In bad weather or behind large trucks, count to three or four. When an emergency or hazard vehicle is stopped on the shoulder with its lights on, slow down, and on multi-lane parkways and interstates move out of the lane next to it when it is safe.

8. Get Comfortable

If you feel nervous, practice on quieter roads first until you feel ready. Remember that a permit holder must always have a supervising driver age 21 or older in the car. Even with a license, a lesson focused on highway driving is a great way to build confidence.

9. Stay Calm

Highways can be stressful, especially around aggressive drivers. Stay calm and do not take it personally. If someone is impatient or cuts you off, do not engage. Keep a safe distance and keep driving.

Final Thoughts

Your first highway drive gets easier with every on-ramp. Start in light traffic, keep a two-second cushion and plan your exit early. If you already have your license and want structured practice, a single 90-minute Highway Lesson is $150 in every NYC location, and the Highway Mastery Program starts at $649 for an evaluation lesson plus three highway lessons. Still on a permit? Ask your instructor to add highway time to your driving package, or call the Drive Rite CSR team for help choosing.

Choose your borough:

Ready for the expressway? See the Highway Mastery Program

See the Highway Program

Highway Basic: $649. Highway Confidence: $999. Single 90-minute Highway Lesson: $150.

About the author

Amir writes for Drive Rite Academy, a driving school serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.

Reviewed by

Michael, Professional Driving Instructor at Drive Rite Academy.

How we made this guide

We checked every rule in this guide on the official New York DMV and New York City pages listed below on October 12, 2026. Prices come from Drive Rite's current price list. Rules can change, so check the linked pages before you go. If you spot something out of date, let us know and we will fix it.

Sources: NY DMV, Learner Permit Restrictions; NY DMV, Driver's Manual Chapter 8: Defensive Driving; NY DMV, Driver's Manual Chapter 10: Special Driving Conditions.

First Time on the Highway? 9 NY Driving Tips