Struggling to join the motorway

[BabbysYed]

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 !

I have been driving for 25 years and often on motorways, inc M6. I have been know to take inexperienced drivers on to the motorway as my passenger as I talk through what I’m looking for the moment I turn onto the slip road. I do a running commentary as to what gap I think I can slot into but if I can’t what is my plan b. Have you anyone who is experienced who could go out with you whilst you observe as a passenger? Motorway lessons are always useful, but I think there is a lot to be said for sitting with an experienced driver whilst they talk you through their thought process.

What's your car engine size ? You might have to accelerate in a lower gear than normal so you can get up to speed faster.

Definitely don't use the hard shoulder! Extract from Highway Code:-

Rule 259
Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway. You should

give priority to traffic already on the motorway
check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder
stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway
remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.

Acceleration can be increased in lower bhp cars by staying in a lower gear (eg 3rd or 4th).
For slip roads with a bend, as i come onto the straight i will lean forward slightly to learn forward slightly to see what the traffic behind me is looking like. From here i make my assessment as to how quickly to accelerate to speed, i aim to be doing 70 before I need to merge. I then either accelerate slightly to come in front or cruise with foot of accelerator to go in behind.
I have been known to sometimes pull across before the give way lines if the space looks like it wont appear which works

It really is practice though. Find longer slip roads, then go to bendy slips with longer runs, then shorter ones. Dual carriageways as well.

But fgs PLEASE dont become one of those who does 45mph and then brakes to a stop at the end of the slip - you will end up causing a crash!

I did a 3 hours motorway driving lesson after I passed my test, literally meant driving up and down the same stretch getting on the motorway, coming off at the next junction and back on the motorway and then did different junctions. It included coming off at the services and back onto the motorway.

My instructor said to floor it, aim to get up to 70mph and then adjust your speed when you can see the traffic, far easier to reduce speed by braking than trying to accelerate unless you have a powerful car.

My advice would be, pay for a hour or so with a driving instructor for this specific reason at this specific junction.

Disgrace will hopefully have some useful tips on this if he's around (being a HGV driver)

Highway Code is your friend

Ultimately, it is up to the vehicle joining the motorway to give way, if necessary, and filter on without causing any trouble. The Highway Code says that traffic joining the motorway should 'give priority to traffic already on the motorway' and 'adjust speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane'.

Do NOT presume the traffic on your right will move over to allow you to join the motorway

I have taken motorway lessons , and the instructor said afterwards I just need to get on with it myself now.
It’s practicing that will make a difference I knoe, and being able to do many things at once that I need to get used to - understanding what I’m seeing in my mirrors, adjusting speed etc , lifesaver checks etc. On longer slip roads with my instructor it was much easier, but these m6 ones seem bloody short in comparison

Know*

I have a mild panic attack every time I join the motorway. I find it so hard to judge the speed and distance.

I have no advice but I feel for you, the motorway next to my house you have to join in the fast lane and I HATE it

No hard shoulder. Get your indicator on, put your foot down and watch the traffic. You don't want a big speed differential between you and the motorway traffic. Nobody is obliged to let you in. Practising up on Cumbria M6 might help; no traffic and some hilly, short slip roads! I always move out for joiners but not everyone will.

I try not to rely on my mirrors when joining from a slip road - prefer to take a good look to the side of me and over my shoulder to see what is happening.

+1 for practicing on a decent junction with a good long slip road, clear view and relatively quiet.

You can practice matching your speed and and looking for a gap.

Go round and round between two unctions.

Then you can practice at busier times and on harder junctions.

Can I just say, that whilst I agree with pp that you should never slam your brakes on at the end of a slip road, I really really disagree with the pp saying don't stop at all!
OP - don't be afraid to stop at the end of one if you need to! (Albeit in a gradual manner)!
If it is a really busy time of day, sometimes the traffic on the left hand lane cannot move across (due to there being a car adjacent to them in the middle lane) - and in that situation, you should slow down and stop. Wait for a gap (with indicators on - hopefully, people will pull over) and then go for it!

Afternoon all.

First and foremost, it is ENTIRELY the joiner's responsibility to judge speed, distance, and timing. No one already on the motorway, or dual carriageway has any obligation to change speed or direction to let you on.

HGVs: our speed is between 50-55 mph. We're running on cruise most of the time, so we stay in the left lane. If there's room most of us will move over. If not, we won't. Nor will we slow down. A 10mph drop in speed needs a lot of diesel to make up at 40 tonnes. Get in front, slot in, and keep going. Do NOT lift off. If you do, and we hit the brakes, there's a better than even chance you'll be filmed. In my fleet, we use the Crimestopper rewards to build schools when Plod decides to prosecute. Also, airhorns will test your pelvic floor.

Practice, practice, practice.

OP: which M6 junction is it? I can give you tips from J1 as far as J25.

All bikers are told to do the 'lifesaver' check over their right should before lane changing (inc joining m/way, etc). Oddly, I was nearly failed for doing it during my car test in Canterbury, it was only the curiosity of the tester and the resulting chat that got him to drop it to a minor. I digress....

Joining traffic at speed means you need to be able to divert more attention to forward planning. As you head down the slip, you need to be looking at the traffic flow on the road you are joining to work out if you need to join fast (70mph) or are looking to slot into a gap in slower flowing traffic. You also need to be looking at the closeness of those road users; again to judge if you will just flow in, or need to negotiate yourself a spot.
To spend your attention in this manner, you need to be practiced enough in getting car upto speed without thinking about it - revving the engine higher / longer than normal, shifting thru gears without too much thought. That's just an experience thing.

Traffic on the M'way already do hold right of way, and are not obligated to move over for you (though many do if they can). However, timidity is not a friend here either. be confident in owning your space and taking that spot when it becomes viable for you

May I ask where along the M6? Not all junctions were created equally. Junction 7 deserves its own special prize. The Preston area is antiquated and doesn't meet modern standards as it was the first section in the UK. J15 is also awkward with a slow, tight bend and fairly short slip road to build up to speed in thick but free moving traffic (can't remember if it's been improved now).

My car doesn't have much omph so I have to plan and use lower gears to get the engine revs up to maximise acceleration. Assuming no congestion, lorries will be moving around 55-60 mph (according to your speedo) so you need to be able to match up to them at least. If lane 1 is going much faster than that, it should be well spaced anyway.

Practice on a more generous slip road which will give you more time to spot your gap and match it, and go for a quiet time of day. Going up from a junction under the motorway is harder on the acceleration. Motorways can be better than dual carrigeways for this as design standards are higher.

I did 6 hours of motorway driving on pass plus which was fantastic for building confidence. Spaghetti Junction ✅ Motorways are faster than normal roads, but everything is going in the one direction so there is less random stuff in the surroundings to process which is why they are the safest category of road. Skills take time and practise to develop.

I always aim to slip in behind my target vehicle. It's a case of practicing. And keeping the speed up once on the motorway.

I also make sure I've looked over my shoulder, I know there's a blind spot that I can cover by looking over. And keep looking around all the time, some drivers come from all angles.

As for the OP whose DH drives across into lane 2, that's not an indication of skill. I have a commute that takes me onto a motorway daily, and see this all the time, from both competent drivers and wazzocks. I'm just grateful my car hasn't yet been taken out by the wazzocks.

The junctions I’m referring to are 31 at Preston and north and south of there- I’ve been practicing between Wigan and Preston mostly.
Today we did it again with my dad while I’m off work and I joined going faster this time - around 60/65mph. I was looking earlier too. It was extremely busy and I ended up slotting in behind a van and in front of a large lorry. The the space was small though- but I really don’t think I could have done it differently. I worry I annoyed the lorry but I really could not have got in front of the van. Ugh.

Don't worry about annoying the lorry by getting closer than you like, he or she didn't hoot or flash.

No the lorry didn’t hoot or anything, it did change lanes within a few seconds of me joining though so it probably was too close. At the time of joining though that was my gap - between the van and him. There was joining traffic in front and behind me which Meant I had less flexibility.
It’s like an art trying to perfect this !

You'd know if you annoyed the lorry, believe me. Lorry drivers are usually the most polite drivers on the road ; it's the white van men and BMW/Audi twats you have to keep an eye on.

I was just going to ask which bit of the M6 you were on but I see you say Preston/Wigan. If you can, get to the M58 it is such a short quiet motorway and great to practise on. If you can, head down it to J3, come off, go around the roundabout and rejoin going back the opposite way. If you have someone to take with you, even better. It helps teach you the theory and build your confidence without the pressure. The M6 can tricky to join for even the most experienced drivers as sometimes there literally seems to be no gap between the lorries.

No one already on the motorway, or dual carriageway has any obligation to change speed or direction to let you on.

But they should.

When you are joining from a slip road you have limited time to blend into the traffic. I do a lot of motorway driving and have only once found one person who tried not to let me join as they should have.

Most people are considerate and move into the middle land to allow traffic to join in advance as they are aware of the road and move accordingly.