Motorway Safety

General Driving Advice

Driving on a motorway is in many ways the safest form of driving, but accidents can and do happen, and driving on a motorway can be an intimidating experience for newly qualified and younger drivers. The basics are reasonably obvious: make sure your vehicle is absolutely roadworthy and plan your journey before starting out. Keep left except when overtaking. If you are overtaking more than one vehicle it is best to stay in the middle or outer lane until you have completed your manoeuvre, returning to the left hand lane when you have finished.

Many accidents occur in adverse weather conditions. Whilst you should always keep a safe distance from the car in front, it is important to leave a far greater gap than you normally would in poor conditions. Wet and icy roads will almost invariably mean less grip on tyres. The dazzle from a low winter sun is also dangerous so use sunglasses.

Driving in Fog on the Motorway

If you come across fog, reduce your speed and use dipped headlights or fog lights if visibility is less than 100–metres. When visibility improves don’t forget to switch them off again. Never ever use the tail lights of the vehicle in front as a guide when in fog: you will almost certainly be far too close. If the fog clears suddenly, resist the temptation to immediately speed up as fog often occurs in patches. In dense fog, use your windscreen wipers and consider putting your window down to allow yourself to hear other cars as this can be surprisingly helpful in foggy conditions.

Wind can be disconcerting, for example on exposed sections of road such as the viaduct on the M40 near High Wycombe. Keep your speed down and add further distance between your car and other vehicles, allowing other drivers space if the wind blows them a little out of lane.

Different Vehicles Have Different Speed Restrictions

In Britain, the maximum speed limit for cars is 70mph. It is 60mph for articulated goods vehicles, buses and coaches over 12–metres in length, heavy goods vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers or caravans. These types of vehicles are not permitted in lane 3 (the outside lane). Motorcycle learners, mopeds, motorcycles under 50cc, bicycles and some disabled vehicles are not permitted on motorways at all. All of these restrictions are in place for good reason.

The UK motorway network now benefits from extensive electronic signage. A red flashing light means you must not continue in that lane. A yellow flashing light with a speed limit indicates an advisory limit. Whilst there may sometimes appear to be no visible reason for the restriction, it is an offence to exceed the prescribed limit and there is almost invariably a very good reason indeed for the temporary restriction.

Always Stop to Read a Map or Use Your Mobile Phone

Using a mobile phone or reading a map is not permitted when driving anywhere and on a motorway, these acts are absolutely reckless and you may be prosecuted or – worse – cause a serious accident. It is also important to remember that you are not permitted to pull onto the hard shoulder for these purposes. If you’re not sure how to find Buckingham, pull into the next services or off the motorway at the next exit to check!

If you hear emergency vehicles with sirens or blue lights approaching behind you, check their location and decide whether or not you will need to pull into another lane in order to allow them through. Stay calm and make the change when it is safe to do so: by far the majority of delays caused to emergency vehicles are by drivers reacting hastily or incorrectly.

Motorways Have Taken Pressure Off Towns

Many areas still suffer from crowded roads. The home counties around London are particularly busy. Almost 200,000 vehicles have been counted in a single day on the M25. Buckinghamshire to the north west of London has the M40 and the M1 running through it, but many major towns in the county remain congested. Aylesbury suffers from serious traffic problems during rush hour periods although High Wycombe, Amersham and Milton Keynes have benefited from the motorway network taking away heavy traffic.

There are motorway driving courses and these can significantly improve your safety and confidence, particularly as a new or younger driver. In addition to scouring the ads for used cars for sale, it is well worth considering investing in your own safety via an appropriate course.

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This page was last updated
Wednesday, 02-Feb-2011

Motorway Driving – Driver Training