Joining, lane discipline, smart motorways and safe exits, made routine.
Motorways feel intimidating to new drivers, but they are among the safest roads in the country once you know the routine. Learners can now take motorway lessons with an approved instructor, and a little structure removes most of the fear.
Use the slip road to build your speed so you are matching the traffic already on the motorway. Check your mirrors and blind spot, find a gap, and merge smoothly. Avoid stopping on the slip road unless you genuinely have to, the aim is to join at the speed of the flow rather than crawling on.
Keep to the left lane unless you are overtaking, then move back to the left once you have passed. The lanes are not "slow, middle and fast", they are running lanes and overtaking lanes. Sitting in the middle lane with the left lane clear is middle-lane hogging, which is an offence as well as a nuisance.
Leave at least a two-second gap to the car in front, and double it in rain or poor visibility. Match the flow of traffic within the limit, and watch for variable speed limits shown on overhead gantries.
On smart motorways the speed limit can change, shown on the gantries, and sometimes the hard shoulder is used as a running lane. A red X above a lane means it is closed, never drive in a lane under a red X, as there may be a broken-down vehicle ahead.
Get into the left lane in good time, use the countdown markers to judge your exit, signal, and do your slowing down on the slip road, not the motorway itself. It is easy to misjudge your speed after a long stretch at 70, so check your speedometer as you come off.
Want to build motorway confidence with an instructor beside you? Our refresher lessons are ideal for it, and beginner lessons can include motorway work once you are ready.
DVSA approved instructors, dual-control cars, and pick-up across West and Southwest London.
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