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.

In 15 years Ive only had problems a few times. Lorries can be bastards because they dont want to slow down. I think the main thing is to get your speed up. Try it out on a long slip road. Pass plus is a really good idea.

Get your indicator on early, check over your shoulder and hopefully a space will come up. If it doesn't, or it's a short slip, slow gown, but you will get on eventually. On most motorways slips though people just move out almost automatically. It's like ripping off a plaster OP, you just need to do it, decisively. You'll be fine.

You need to practise and not be scared. Start off practising as quiet times. Look ahead at what's on the road you are joining. Move confidently. Do not slow down to 30 as PP suggested unless the traffic on the motorway is almost static or you want to cause a crash.

Do you not use dual carriageways either?

Look at the traffic as early as you can. Lorries tend to travel at a constant speed so work on accelerating to get in front of them.
For cars you should accelerate to match them and decide to speed up to get in front or slightly slow to get in behind. You do have to get used to flicking between the road in front of you and your wing mirror.

I always mix up the inside and outside lane too! If you take a bird's eye view of a motorway, the so-called inside lane is on the outside and the outside lane is on the inside!

Thanks everyone.

I do use some dual carriage ways, but most of the ones near me seem to come from roundabouts?

Are you able to approach a roundabout and go around it without stopping when there is a vehicle approaching but you have space? If you can it's not that different.

There's already been useful advice on the thread so I won't repeat, but my tip would be to use the full length of the slip to merge where possible. This gives drivers on the road enough time to adjust to let you in (which most people will do, even if it means flashing you in to a gap rather than changing lanes), and also prevents people behind you on the slip getting bunched up which can cause accidents.

Ok well clearly my 30mph advice us not helpful, I was just thinking of the slip road to the M1 that I use most often, where you certainly can't do 60mph (not time, it's off a roundabout and not v long) but luckily as the M1 is a car park there you don't need to.

AgeLikeWine gives a very good description of how to join.

The worse thing you can do is to not match your speed as trying to join when you are travelling at 30mph onto a free flowing motorway is madness and I see it too often.

Echoing what many people have said (and I used to be a driving instructor): get your speed to the same as the traffic in the left hand lane: it might be fast, it might be slow. Signal as you approach, so that people are more likely to change lanes. Choose a gap (preferably a big one) to slot into, and line up your car with the middle of that gap. At first, this gap might be smaller than one would normally be driving in. It is very rare indeed to have to stop on a slip road (except in very heavy traffic), and can be very dangerous. After you have joined and your place is established, you can then think about regaining a safe stopping distance from the car in front, if necessary moving to the next lane, if the left lane is full of slow lorries.

The above applies to motorway slip roads, which are usually very long. With some dual carriageways, even 70mph ones, "slip roads" can be very short, and you might have to treat those like "give way" instead.

Thank you for posting this. Watching with interest. I made a right mess of the last time I used a slip road and nearly ended up on the embankment!

(there wasn't a gap but a very kind SUV let me in)

If it makes you feel better, I and most drivers, when driving on the inside lane and approaching a slip road are keeping an eye on it in order to move over if a car is looking to join.

Please just book a one off driving lesson! It's too dangerous to just "give it a go" if you can't see how it's going to work. An hour going on an off the motorway at various junctions will be plenty

And, unless you're matching your speed to a gridlocked motorway, please don't crawl on at 40 to "be safe". Everyone else on the road is expecting you too be matching their speed. Stopping at the slip road lines is very dangerous as you will then have to accelerate 0-70 on a road where there may not be sufficient space for that between cars and the cars on the motorway are expecting you to already be matching their speed.

I do use some dual carriage ways, but most of the ones near me seem to come from roundabouts?

I don't understand what you mean by this? Ive never seen a roundabout that leads straight into a 2 lane duel carriageway. I've seen them lead into the slip road....

I have always found lorry drivers helpful at making a space for me, (unless they are in convoy and slip streaming each other) they're professionals and smooth flowing traffic is a good thing.

There's one particular slip road I go on that I adore, it is just right to accelerate on, makes me feel like that moment when a pilot pulls forward for take off!! Happy times.

Used to enjoy the challenge of the Coventry ring road too.

Grey sparkles - A55 North Wales has two

@Greysparkles have a look at the A43 from the M40 to Brackley - it’s roundabouts all along a dual carriageway.

I really worry that drivers come away from their test not understanding how a slip road works given most dual carriageways and ring roads have them.

You will find that either you get to the same speed as those on he motorway and you can slide in in a suitable gap, or people will move over for you.

If neither of those things happen you have to stop and indicate ad wait for a big gap as you will be entering at a v slow speed do need lots of time to accelerate.

If you try first somewhere with long slip roads, that won't happen.

I have a VERY short slip road near to me on a busy motorway and unfortunately cars often have to stop and wait.

Just don't panic and don't worry if you need to stop.

The biggest problem isn't so much people on the motorway but other people on the slip road who get impatient, overtake you, join and then won't let you on.

But in practice most motorways are easy to join if you keep an eye on the signs, as often one slip road has to join, but the other becomes a lane. You may need to move over if it is also an exit lane, but you'll have plenty of time to find a gap and move over.

I have once had to come to a complete stop (joining a dual carriageway in Bracknell). It wasn't funny. But that's once I can remember since I passed my test in 1990!

Ive never seen a roundabout that leads straight into a 2 lane duel carriageway

There are loads of them. Off the top of my head I can think of: A31 Farnham and Alton, A3 north of Petersfield, several on the A303 (occasionally with traffic lights, but mostly without) and before the Penn Inn flyover and Kingskerswell bypass were built, the end of the A303 in Newton Abbot (also with traffic lights, but now there is a slip road onto the flyover).

Someone will nearly always move over to create a gap for you if they can. Once you see a gap you match speed and get onto it. If there is no gap then yu would have to stop at the end of the slip road. This is very rare, maybe once every 15 years

It's the same principle as driving on a dual carriageway and joining.

Get up to speed so you can merge with the traffic flow, indicate clearly and merge into a gap. Often people will leave a suitable gap or move over when they see people on a slip road.

If you're not sure then you can always book a lesson on motorway driving with your driving instructor. Better that than become one of those people who drives at 30/40mph on slip roads, doesn't enter at an appropriate speed and causes everyone else to enter at a dangerously slow speed.

1. Drivers already on the motorway should be aware that they are approaching a slip road and that there will be vehicles joining. They should be preparing to move over to Lane 2 if needed. People in Lane 2 and 3 should be aware of vehicles moving over and should accommodate them.

2. Get up to 60mph and spot your gap that you are aiming for.

3. Keep going and indicating, aiming all the time for your gap.

4. Join the motorway.