Motorways - General Tips

All our Advanced Driving Instructors are experts in motorway training at an advanced level. During our advanced driving courses if you live within reasonable distance from a motorway, you will be able to receive expert training from them. This section, developed with their help outlines the type of issues you need to consider and the things we will teach you when out on the motorway network.

Motorways differ from ordinary roads in that they are designed to help traffic travel faster and in greater safety. This puts greater demand on the driver and vehicle.

Research has found that 15-20% of accidents on monotonous roads (like motorways) is caused by fatigue. Remember to take plenty of rest breaks and do not drive whilst tired.

What you expect can be one of the strongest deceptions which can occur in the mind. This is where the anticipation from the brain overrides the input from the senses, such as the eyes. The mind once again is looking for the easiest path and is trying to fit events in to its expectations. Motorway driving can be boring at times, and these problems can so easily arise on these types of roads.

Be aware of other vehicles blind spots and ensure you do not sit in them.

Book your advanced driving course

Motorway Driving – Advanced Hazard Awareness and Planning.

Other road users:

Check for movements of the head – indicating they may change lanes.

Driving Style – take a mental note of any erratic or poor display of driving skill of drivers around you.

Brake Lights – look way beyond the car in front, and keep an eye out for any brake lights appearing. Aim to plan and react well before the driver in front of you has.

If you are in the right lane position yourself slightly over to the right to enable a clearer view of the cars up the line – you will be able to anticipate a reduction in speed often long before the driver in front of you has seen any brake lights.

Safety Gap – Be aware of vehicles closing in on, or driving too close to the vehicle in front. They may pull out to overtake at the last minute.  If you have already moved out to overtake they could be a hazard to you.

Leaving the Motorway – Be aware some drivers may be unsure if they need to leave at a particular junction, and will sometimes make erratic moves at the last minute. Keep updating your mental notes on drivers around you and anticipate.

Joining the Motorway – Some drivers may not be aware that they have to give way to traffic on the motorway, some may be overly cautions. Make sure you are not in a drivers blind spot when they are joining a motorway. If they are hesitating, either check mirrors and move to lane two or check mirrors and slow down to let them in.

Tailgating – If someone is tailgating when you are in lanes two or three, move over as soon as it is safe. Whatever lane you are in, increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front to compensate for their poor judgement.

Tailgating should be avoided encase the driver in front of you brakes heavily. Also, by leaving a good gap means you have acceleration space available should you need to quickly speed up to avoid danger from behind.

Motorway - The Law

Vehicles which must not use a motorway:

1. Motorcycles under 50cc

2. Certain slow moving vehicles with oversized 

loads – except with

special permission.

3. Invalid carriages less than 254kg unladen 

weight.

4. Agricultural vehicles.

5. Drivers holding provisional driving licences are

not allowed to drive on a motorway.

You must not reverse on the central reservation.

You must not use the right-hand lane of the motorway which has 3 or more lanes if:

You are drawing a trailer.

A goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight

exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5

tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed

limiter.

A goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight 

exceeding 7.5 tonnes.

A passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver.

Remember - Never use a warning triangle if you breakdown on the motorway.