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Original poster

Struggling to join the motorway

94 replies

BabbysYed · 10/10/2018 16:38

Be gentle with me as I’m new to ‘propet’ driving !
Passed test 3 years ago but only drove parents car occasionally as I didn’t need to. I’m 33. Took a couple of advanced lessons but instructor said just go and do it. Now have my own car and trying to build up experience.
Today my dad offered to sit with me whilst we did a couple of motorway junctions. (m6 motorway so pretty busy )
Whilst driving on the slip road on two occasions ,I accelerated, and tried to gage what was happening on the carriageway, but before I know it im over 50% along the slip and I’m directly alongside a lorry each time and quickly running out of slip road. I ended up slotting in behind the lorries each time but it was tight.
What I thought would help would be to see better as I’m coming down the slip, but find my vision restricted until I’m fairly far down it due to the grass verge etc.
People talk about finding their gap well in advance - how can you do this unless your car is super powerful ? I was going at around 55mph on the slip road.
Just looking for any helpful tips really as I’m already put off going on them now !

OP posts:
Original poster
BabbysYed · 10/10/2018 16:38

That should say ‘Proper’ not propet!

OP posts:
InterstellarSleepingElla · 10/10/2018 16:40

I have no advice as I am only just learning now but watching with interest! I am terrified about motorway driving (well getting into the motorway not so much being on it iyswim).

ThereIsIron · 10/10/2018 16:41

Keep practicing until you can match your speed to the traffic in lane 1. If you run out of slip road just continue on the hard shoulder until you can slot in. Never stop on the slip road.

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Driving & parking
ShatnersBassoon · 10/10/2018 16:43

You're not reaching optimum speed quickly enough if you don't have enough slip lane left to get in front of a lorry. 55mph is a bit slower than the average HGV will be going, so you'd have to accept slipping in behind them.

MustDust · 10/10/2018 16:45

Practice. Find a junction with a good run up and view, some of the m6 Junctions my way are tight on view so I can imagine they could be daunting. You need to be gauging the speed of the traffic on approach and considering how fast you need to be to join them, it's not about putting your foot down to get to 70 ASAP. Indicate early and use the full length of the slip road if need be, very few people are actually twatty about stopping people getting on the mway as they don't want a crash so they should be anticipating joining traffic. Good luck.

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 10/10/2018 16:52

you have to be clear and positive that you are coming out, so other cars pay more attention and let you out, don't haver about or no bugger will move.

Get on the slip road, get your winkers on (my mother always says that and it makes me laugh) and go for it

You do need to be observant enough to know that the car you want to pull out in front of either is at a speed that means you are not going to force them to brake, or that they have space to pull over into and are not going to run themselves under a lorry, so to sum up it's all about confidence and observation! ...don't just watch your space, watch alllll the spaces.

Invisimamma · 10/10/2018 16:58

I've been driving for 9 years and still hate joining the motorway.

Match your speed
Indicate
Look for a gap

I always find the gap/speed/distance hard to judge.

Remember when you're on the motorway to move over to let other cars join from the slip too and hope people do the same for you.

PurpleOctober · 10/10/2018 17:03

I can't see myself ever driving on the motorway for this reason. The thought terrifies me

dillite · 10/10/2018 17:38

Is there a dual carriage way you can practice on? The one that I use has a slip road but isn't as busy as a motorway and is used all the time by learner drivers.

Doortalks · 10/10/2018 17:45

As a PP has said, try to match the speed of the cars already on the motorway. Honestly though, a lot of it is practise and will come with confidence.

Whatever you do, don't stop on the slip road! If you run out of space, carry on accelerating on the hard shoulder.

Few years ago, a lorry already on the motorway held back and flashed so I accelerated to join. The car in front of me however slammed his breaks on full force (he braked so hard he actually skidded). I then crashed into the back of him. I was then arrested and charged with driving without due care and attention and driving with no consideration for others in the road. That 'criminal record' still debilitates my life now, decades later Angry

Sorry, derailment there! But whatever you do, don't break!

cranberryx · 10/10/2018 17:51

Agree with PP's, do not brake. It's dangerous.

Match the speed of the motorway as soon as you can see the cars. If you see a lorry and aren't confident on trying to get in front, slow down and plan to slot in behind.

It's all about practice.

PickleSarnie · 10/10/2018 17:51

No advice I'm afraid. Just here to say you're not alone in hating slip roads.

I passed my test in zone 3 London so had never gone above 40mph or used 5th gear. I certainly hadn't attempted a slip road.

Moved to very far outside London shortly after passing my test and my first car was an ancient Honda Jazz that couldn't pull the skin off custard so my only option was slotting in behind. Now I drive an big automatic with loads of oomph so I can at least put my foot down. Still hate it though.

PickleSarnie · 10/10/2018 17:53

But agree with PP that cars already on the motorway don't want a crash so will be, or at least should, preempting those joining the motorway and reacting accordingly

Nothisispatrick · 10/10/2018 17:56

Just keep practicing. I was always terrified of slip roads before I was driving properly, but they just seem to work, I don’t know how, but they do.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2018 17:57

I was told on a thread about this very subject not long ago that it is entirely the person joining the motorway's responsibility to slot in safely.

It was apparently unreasonable to suggest anyone already on the motorway should move into the middle lane or make any allowances whatsoever for people trying to join. Especially lorries.

sproutsplease · 10/10/2018 18:01

As a car driver I will often move lanes if a wave of drivers are pulling in from the slip road, I would not expect a lorry to do so. OP you are driving to too slowly at present but the more you practice the easier to will get.

randomsabreuse · 10/10/2018 18:05

In most cars it's much easier to slow down quickly than to accelerate - so as soon as the slip is straight enough get up to at least 60/65. Then find your gap, and match speeds with it being ready to do slow.

If someone in front looks very hesitant don't accelerate until you have worked out wtf they are doing, hopefully most people will be competent. Much better to.wait near the top of the slip than try to do 0-70!!! Assume the car in front is a numpty and make sure you stay aware of what they are doing!

Joining behind a lorry is my least favourite bit. I have also enjoyed motorway joins a lot more since I moved on from Corsas to more powerful (or torquey) cars - being able to accelerate quickly gives more options.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2018 18:05

Lorries are usually too busy having long races with each other neck and neck for miles. Grin

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 10/10/2018 18:06

You could take a couple of motorway lessons to boost your confidence?

You can't rely on drivers to move out for you, especially as you can't really see what's going on in the lane to their right. But hopefully the better drivers already on the motorway will anticipate the slip road joining, and be preparing.
Indicators on, get up to speed, use your side mirror to check up the road, practice.

ivykaty44 · 10/10/2018 18:10

Pick a car or lorry and gauge your speed to drop in behind that vehicle

KatyaZamolodchikova · 10/10/2018 18:15

Remember you can join at any point on the slip road. You don’t have to wait till the end to merge. I agree with PPs, wap your indicator on as soon as reasonable and start looking for a gap and move into it as soon as safe & possible. Good luck!

Kidssendingmenuts · 10/10/2018 18:18

You need to match the speed of the motorway or your going to really struggle getting on and essentially annoy everyone behind you. As soon as you get onto the slip road you need to accelerate. I'm not saying race but you need to pick up speed faster to be able to slot into the traffic easier x

AtticaRose · 10/10/2018 18:23

I'm terrified at the advice you're getting about using the hard shoulder! That is not ok, and is very dangerous. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

The Highway Code states that the traffic on the motorway has priority - in theory, you could have to stop at the end of the slip road if there really was no gap.

HOWEVER I think lots of us can tell you that's very rare. It's really just practice that helps you match speed, see gaps etc - and people on the motorway will almost always try to make space for you (though they are not required to). As PPs said, they don't want to crash either. You will feel better with practice. Maybe pick some less busy times to practice to get your confidence up.

I have a very clear memory of joining a space I thought was too small - still freaks me out a bit, years later. But people did make enough room, and it was ok. That was the only time I've ever had an issue, and I do an awful lot of motorway driving.

Ollivander84 · 10/10/2018 18:25

Yes in theory you would have to stop at the end of the slip road. However it's happened to me once, and that was a car towing a caravan that deliberately blocked me from joining. I matched speed, he blocked me, so I dropped back to go behind him, he sped up Angry

Bootsuit · 10/10/2018 18:37

I think you need to find a dual carriageway and practice joining that. Not as daunting as a motorway but the principle is the same, go at the same speed or faster as you're joining. I think people get it into their heads that joining motorways is scary when I bet you join dual carriageways all the time and don't think about it. Have confidence.