Slip Roads: how can I get the hang of them?

[GlitterToast]

I passed my driving test a few months ago, but I still haven't been on a motorway. I just don't get how slip roads work? I've watched every Youtube video, but I'm still confused!

Specific issues I have:

1. What if there isn't a gap for you to merge into by the end of the slip?

1. How can I gauge the gap between cars when everything is moving so fast? I'm worried I'm going to mis-calculate and hit someone.

I’m in the same boat so watching with interest.

I passed two years ago (blush).

Can you do the pass plus? Does that exist?

I accelerate to about 50mph depending on traffic in the outside lane. I keep looking and judge my speed on that - if there's no room I slow down appropriately until people move over.

Can you get a specific motorway driving lesson? That should cover slip roads.

it took me years. It was a case of just keep doing it and remembering that cars have brakes!
I now indicate and keep my speed up, most times the other trafic moves over, if not I slow down.(i also make sure I move over when I can, when coming up to slip roads)

Do you have any particularly long slip roads near you that you can try, or any that go on to quieter dual carriageways perhaps? I drove at night quite a bit after passing my test so found that eased me in a bit. The only advice I can really offer is don't go too fast or two slow, and remember that noone is aiming to crash so oncoming cars are also going to want to avoid you!

I passed years ago but avoided the motorway like the plague, recently took motorway lessons (5) and now I’m happy to go on it for familiar journeys & I’m building my confidence for unfamiliar ones. I’d definitely recommend it if you can afford it.

I accelerate to about 50mph depending on traffic in the outside lane. I keep looking and judge my speed on that - if there's no room I slow down appropriately until people move over.

Fucking hell. Please stop driving if this is how you think you should join a motorway.

(You join the inside lane.)

OP, it’s not an issue. In 30 odd years of a LOT of driving I’ve never seen somebody not be able to join a motorway from a slip road. Drivers are generally considerate and move over, if not, you break enough until you can slip in. Try doing it late at night to practice but it’s really not a big deal. Equally, be aware of upcoming slips and move away if busy!

Practise! Get a driving instructor to take you out somewhere junctions are fairly close together and spend an hour going on at one junction then off and back on again at the next.

I meant the inside lane!

Someone told me to go on the motorway for the first time when it was really busy and it was actually really good advice. The slip road and motorway were nose to tail so everybody was crawling along and speed wasn't an issue. After that I tried at night, when it was quiet, and practised going fast.

People are generally considerate of drivers joining from slip roads.

I've also got to know the slip roads I prefer and ones that I avoid if possible.

I’m a very (old) experienced driver, and I drive on the motorways every day. My slip-road tips:

1, Accelerate to 60mph on the slip road. This is the speed at which traffic in lane 1 generally travels. Don’t drive slower than 60 unless you see evidence that the traffic in lane 1 is moving slower than normal.

2, Depending on your car’s performance, don’t change into top gear yet. A lower gear will give you better acceleration if you need it.

3, Signal your intentions clearly to other road users well before you change lanes.

4, Check over your right shoulder to ensure you are aware of any vehicles in your blind spot.

5, identify a suitable gap in the traffic in lane 1 and adjust your speed as necessary to position yourself before you change lanes.

6, Making sure you have signalled before you move, do one last check of your mirrors and over your shoulder, then move decisively into the traffic and onto the motorway.

Easy!

Everything isn't moving really fast OP. Most people move over when they see people trying to get on. Honestly it isn't bad, and I'd recommend just getting out and doing it for the first time soon, and at a quiet time of day. Then try when it's busier.

Op you can stop on a slip road. In fact if there isn't a safe way on to the road you should stop, the broken line is for you (like at a give way).

On motorways tbh you don't usually need to stop, you slow down, maybe to about 30, use your mirrors and pull out into a gap. You have maybe used a slip road on a slower dual carriageway like a ring road? Motorway is the same really.

I meant the inside lane

I knew what you meant

Op you can stop on a slip road

Please for the love of Jebus, don't start that argument off...

OP 9/10 people move over for you. Even if both lanes are busy. Just bite the bullet.

Yes always look over your shoulder, don't just rely on the mirror.

On motorways tbh you don't usually need to stop, you slow down, maybe to about 30, use your mirrors and pull out into a gap.

And then the lorry doing 59mph squashes your car into a pancake and you never have to worry about joining a motorway again.

Well let's hope not, eh. Fair enough, drive up at 60. If you can't pull on, no worries, just keep going.

The (really annoying) mistake a lot of people make is not going fast enough. The point of a slip road is to accelerate to the speed of the traffic already on the motorway. Once you've done that, everything isn't moving so fast as, relative to you, there's very little difference in speed, which makes identifying your gap and slotting in very easy.

And you should be using the whole of the slip road to observe lane 1 and identify that gap. So many people get to the give way lines and then seem very surprised that there are other cars and they now have to do something about it!

The nuclear option is to move to Coventry for a while and spend some time driving on the notorious Coventry ring road, where each junction is both and entry and an exit - after this, standard motorways are no problem!

Tibiak I moved out of cov 10+ years ago. You are so right - that ring road is insane. It does seem to keep moving better than most cities though.

My dad's best tip for me was to remember that the people on the road you're joining can can see you better than you can see them (usually) and want to avoid you just as much so they will make way if possible which, as someone else said, is 90% of the time. This stopped me from panicking. If there's lots of traffic then they likely won't be flying and you can approach more slowly, someone will slow down to let you out. Always, always check your blind spot. On my test the examiner was poised to grab the wheel if I didn't do my check as there was a bike alongside me I wouldn't have seen. At the next slip road someone else was trying to join but I didn't have time to let them out so moved a bit faster so that they didn't have to come to a stop before the person behind me let them out. It sounds complicated but if you keep practising it just clicks and makes sense. Sod's law I have an accident on a slip road tomorrow..

In 30 odd years of a LOT of driving I’ve never seen somebody not be able to join a motorway from a slip road.

Happened to me this year, for the first time ever - albeit joining an A road, not a motorway. I had to drive onto pavement; luckily there were no pedestrians, and a garage just after the slip road into which I could turn. Fucking terrifying.

Which isn't very helpful, is it, OP - sorry. Just get up to the speed of the road you want to join, and you'll be fine - honest!

One thing you forget is that as slip roads are generally elevated, you can often see down onto the motorway from a fair way ahead and gauge where the gaps are way before you need to merge. You’re worried that you get to the end of the slip road then decide what to do, but really the decision is made a good few seconds before and you can easily adapt your speed to fit into that gap. Yes you’re going fast and so are they hit as you’re all at the same speed it’s relative and you have more thinking time than you think you will. I’ve never ever had to stop at a slip road and very rarely ever had to slow down. There is the very odd hairy moment usually with lorries but remember at the end of the day you can accelerate faster than them and they’re speed limited so if you get in front no matter how small the gap and whack your foot down you’re away from them in a couple of seconds in an emergency.

You can't avoid just in case - I have been driving for 20+ years and only twice have I have the issue where people don't let you in - the reality is you just adjust! If you aim for 60ish mph you'll most likely be able to fit. Motorways sound scary but if you've ever driven on a dual carriageway it's the same

I've had to stop on a slip road once in 25 years. You match your speed to the speed of traffic and merge. Most people are not arseholes and will make a bit of room for you to join. If you really, really can't join you have to stop but it's very, very unusual.