Speed Limits

national speed limit sign matrix sign

On motorways the legal speed limit is 70mph for cars and 60mph for trucks. Occasionaly overhead matrix signs will either advise or demand a lower speed limit.

Note: If a red circle surrounds the matrix sign then the speed limit is legally enforceable.

Joining

slip lane sign joiner lane

Unless you join a motorway from its very beginning, entering and exiting is always with use of a slip lane, or entry/exit ramp. Entering motorways requires you to be fully alert. You will need to match your speed to the speed of the traffic in lane 1. A sense of urgency is required.

Occasionally you will find that you do not need to merge at the end of the slip lane, because the lanes do not immediately merge. Look carefully at the road signs, and read the road markings to predict the required behaviour.

Changing Lane

Changing lane requires a plan. Your thought process might go something like this:

“I need to overtake the truck which is slowing on the hill ahead. There is a red car overtaking me. When the red car passes me there will be a space. I will indicate after the red car has passed, and accelerate slightly into lane 2. ”

The road will change quickly. Your plan might also need to change. Keep alert, think ahead but DO NOT DECIDE AHEAD! You should always be prepared to change your mind about a certain course of action if the situation becomes dangerous.

Leaving a motorway

end of motorway Identify your exit and (if you are not already) get into the left lane in good time (usually between the 1 mile marker and the half mile marker). Signal to help other drivers predict your intentions.

If you are moving onto local roads, take note of the new speed limit and check your speedometer. You may find that the new speed limit feels much slower because of the time spent at higher speeds. Remember that 30mph is still 45 feet per second!

Motorways

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motorway image

Motorways are Super-dual carriageways. They are generally safer than non-motorway dual carriageways because they have had many of the features which make dual carriageways dangerous removed.

For example on motorways you will generally find that the following have been removed:

right turns
sharp left turns
sharp bends
slow moving traffic (e.g. tractors)
provisional licence holders (e.g. learner drivers)
pedestrians and cyclists

Rules

You should keep to lane 1 (the left lane) on motorways unless you are overtaking even if there are 4 lanes!!. It is illegal to overtake on the left, unless you are in a queue.

Also, most sections of motorway will have a hard shoulder on the left, which allows broken down vehicles to keep out of the main flow of traffic. You may not use the hard shoulder unless in an emergency, or unless the matrix signs permit it.

Fatigue

Driving long distances can be very tiring. You should plan to take a break of at least 15 minutes every 2 hours.

motorway distance

More about slip lanes and dual carriageways