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Original poster

To want to scream 'We're all going to die!' when going on a motorway slip road

165 replies

housebuyingnewbie · 08/11/2018 12:15

I've been driving for three years and consider myself a fairly competent driver but the thought of going on a motorway slip road fills me with horror. I was cheerfully ignoring this and going the long way round anytime I needed to do a longer journey but dc1 has been invited to a party next week and my options are:
1 x junction on the motorway (15mins)
1 x single lane country road (30 mins)
1 x big A road (35 mins)
The motorway is a no brainer but how do I get over the fear and fast?!

OP posts:
TittyFahLaEtcetera · 08/11/2018 12:36

It's actually illegal to stop on the sliproad.

I wish someone had told that to the young woman in front of me this morning, who slammed on her brakes on the slip road (not even at the end, so no one could go round her) and waited patiently for a space to open up to join the motorway.

Joining the motorway is the worst part. After that it's a piece of piss.

Stripybeachbag · 08/11/2018 12:36

Does the car on the motorway pull into the inside lane or does the car approaching the motorway give way?

I learnt to drive in the UK but have spent most of my driving experience in Australia. My mother informed me that all drivers should move lanes to allow the car on the slip road to come in. I was happy with that until I met a lorry that was coming up behind me with no obvious intention of slowing down. Scared the fuck out of me. Now I am very apprehensive.

FreezerBird · 08/11/2018 12:38

It's honestly much much easier than you think. I remember saying to my instructor "but what if there's not a gap?" and he said there always will be - it's true really.

If the traffic is flowing quickly, that's because there's not too much of it and you will be able to fit in, and people will move over.

If there's loads and loads of traffic, it will be going more slowly and it will be easier to match your speed and move in when you can.

Honestly. It will be fine.

PJBanana · 08/11/2018 12:41

I used to be a bit scared of them. After 6 years of motorway commuting I’m fine with them now, and I’ve never got into a sticky situation on one either.

Please do not stop on a slip road though. Adjust your speed to the traffic in the adjoining lane, and if you really are struggling to join, continue on the hard shoulder until you can join. Never, ever stop on a slip road!!

Celebelly · 08/11/2018 12:41

The cars should move lanes to let you in, but you should also be using the slip road to get to the appropriate speed for the road you are joining. If you're trying to join the motorway at 30-40mph then that's incredibly dangerous – you should be generally matching the speed of the cars in the inside lane as you come to join (a lorry will be doing no more than 60mph in that lane so you either speed up to 70 to get ahead of it or you adjust your speed accordingly so that it passes and you can pull out as it passes - it shouldn't be thundering past you as you're trying to pull out unless you're going far too slowly to join the road), so you should be able to easily pull out without them having to brake.

Satsumaeater · 08/11/2018 12:43

Ignore the fact that there are multiple lanes. You don't need to think about anything except the lane you are going to join

I don't think this is true. You do need to be aware of whether there is space in lane two for the vehicle in lane one to move over to let you on. No good just coming on and expecting them to disappear. I can't move to let you on if there is no space and you shouldn't expect people to slam their brakes on, although they should, if watching the road, be able to take their foot off the gas to let you on as long as you match their speed.

I have stopped once on a sliproad but it was for an A road not a motorway.

I do think it's quite hard and that some people can be unduly aggressive. But that's the case on all roads.

Celebelly · 08/11/2018 12:43

And honestly, it doesn't really require the thought process that it takes to explain how to do it in writing. It's really just common sense when you're doing it –you get up to speed, you check your mirrors, if there's a car parallel to you in the inside lane that can't/won't move over, then reduce your speed slightly to slot in behind it. You shouldn't ever need to slam on brakes because you should be aware of what's going on in the inside lane when you join the slip road and have plenty of time to react.

BertieBotts · 08/11/2018 12:44

You NEVER stop on the sliproad unless the motorway is totally gridlocked! That's just going to make everything worse.

If it helps you to have a "back up plan" (this is what always freaks me out, the idea nobody might let me in and I'll be forced to drive into the verge or something) your back up should be to continue onto the hard shoulder. This should never realistically happen but it would be a much safer fallback than stopping.

GoodnightMooncup · 08/11/2018 12:45

I am always nervous about this too. In reality there is never a problem because the cars almost always move over into the middle lane. But I am always worried about what would happen if they don't. My local slip road is actually onto an A road and quite short and I'm not sure if I could actually stop in time if I had to...

Lewknor · 08/11/2018 12:45

I totally understand your feeling on this - as when I started to drive this is how I felt. Now I am a very confident driver and never think about it. The only thing I would say is practice is the answer to building confidence on this

Miscible · 08/11/2018 12:45

Once I was heading down the sliproad, just about to join the motorway, when the car in front of me stopped dead right at the very end. There was nothing I could do. I just had to swerve around them.

Your fault for being too close to the car in front.

GruciusMalfoy · 08/11/2018 12:46

The more you do it the easier it'll get. I passed my test at the start of the year, waited until I was comfortable with my own car, then went on the motorway about a week or so after I passed, when I was alone without the kids there. I went on and off a few times over a couple of days, it really does become second nature, and will make your journeys much easier.

hikikomore · 08/11/2018 12:46

As pps have said, there will be a gap. When I'm going down a sliproad I just choose which vehicle I'm going to merge in behind and aim for the space. In four years of driving I've only had one occasion where the vehicle behind my target vehicle didn't leave a big enough gap, so I just slowed down a bit and got in behind that one instead.

FinallyHere · 08/11/2018 12:46
  • You just need to keep doing it. It will get better.

This ^

Pebblesandfriends · 08/11/2018 12:47

Keep a constant speed and don't be afraid to use the whole length of the slip road if you need to the people who cause accidents coming off a slip road try to barge into the oncoming traffic expecting them to move. A lot of people will make space for you but it's not a given and it's their right of way so try and judge their speed and go for a gap.

Mookatron · 08/11/2018 12:49

Pretend the inside lane of the motorway is joining your lane instead of the other way round. Then you're assertive about your right to be there. I did this by mistake once at a big junction on the m1. Was nervous until I realised it's the same thing.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 08/11/2018 12:52

If you're that fearful then you'll be a menace. Please get some motorway lessons. Sorry, I'm not going to jolly you along on your thread. Hesitant drivers are dangerous and incompetent - and they put everybody on the road at risk.

You never know when you might need to drive on the motorway and have no choice about it so, you've realised, now become competent.

janisposh · 08/11/2018 12:54

You do need to be aware of whether there is space in lane two for the vehicle in lane one to move over to let you on. No good just coming on and expecting them to disappear.

No you don't. That just adds confusion to nerves. They will either move or not, you don't need to second guess. If they move fine, go into the space, if they don't move, go on behind them or find an alternative gap.

Checking your speed, distance what's around you and what's in lane one is enough.

SevenStones · 08/11/2018 12:54

Get out there at 8am on a Sunday morning and do some practising! It's rare to not be able to pull out smoothly, either people will pull over or be aware you're there and you can slip in front of them keeping up speed. If traffic is slow then someone will make a space for you. Just don't be like some drivers I've experienced who treat it like a junction and slow down hoping all the traffic will miraculously disappear before they attempt to pull out at 20 mph.

I've never had a fear of motorways, but roundabouts used to scare the shit out of me, and there's a few roundabouts that I still find really intimidating despite using them regularly and insist on total silence in the car so I can concentrate on going round them.

I used to know a man who was scared of turning right out of a junction and drove the most convoluted journeys you can imagine in order to avoid it.

ileclerc · 08/11/2018 12:57

I'm the same op I HATE it. In fact I've been in the motorway twice even though I've been driving for twenty years. It's completely irrational.

I'll drive quite happily on the motorways in Europe but here no way. Doesn't help that our nearest junction is a particularly huge always busy one.

Original poster
housebuyingnewbie · 08/11/2018 13:02

I know once I've done it I'll wonder what on earth I was scared off. It's a massive slip road too with two lanes so loads of time to assess and space myself, not like the piddly slip road I sometimes use to get on an A road.

I am not a hesitant driver in general, I have no problems turning right or roundabouts (although I hated them when learning to drive but can't go anywhere where I live without using two big ones so I have come to love them!) I just have a mental block when it comes to this blinking motorway slip road!!!

OP posts:
holidayingsoon · 08/11/2018 13:04

I am the exact same OP, I've been driving 10
Years but haven't been on a motorway 🛣, I'm a good driver otherwise and have to problems.

Whatcanisayexceptyourewelcome · 08/11/2018 13:05

Just don't shout it at your MIL from the back seat when you irrationally think she's driving the wrong way on to a dual carriageway (she wasn't).

MyBrexitIsIll · 08/11/2018 13:07

Tbh I’m finding joining motorways easy in the uk. People usually let you merge in by slowing down or moving to the other lane.

In France...
This is another matter as you are supposed to give way to people who are already be on the motorway and people will not move or slow down for you to join in. So you also need to adjust your speed to be able to find the right slot iyswim.

You’ll be fine OP. And the more you do it, the easier it will be (and a weekend with a quieter road is a very way to start too)

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 08/11/2018 13:08

It’s very easy, OP honestly. Accelerate to match the speed of the cars in the lane you’re joining. Then just slot in behind the car that passes you as you join the motorway. It is very rare that there wouldn’t be enough space for you to comfortable do that, unless the following vehicle is seriously tailgating. Once tucked in you can GENTLY decelerate (do not brake!) if need be to allow the gap in front of you to grow to one you feel comfortable with. The vehicle behind will do likewise.

Have a practice if you can, you’ll find it’s easier than you think.

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