To ask- top tips for motorway driving

[AnxietyForever]

Not really a regular user of the Motorway but have used occasionally in the past however tomorrow we have a 3/4 hour journey.
Any top tips??

If you are overtaking continuously, you can stay in the middle lane. Tbat isn't middle lane hogging. ML hogging is staying in an overtaking lane when there's nothing to overtake. Clue: there's cars trying to hitch a ride in your boot.

Check your blind spots before pulling out

Check your route. My sat nav doesn't know the A14 has moved for example..

Some really great advice, thank you!
Setting off soon, feeling nervous but I'm sticking to the left hand lane! Unless I need to overtake.

Look at your route and see if there are places where the motorways merge so you know which lane to be in.
Street view the junctions as sometimes the signs are confusing and it can take ages to get back to where you want to be.

I second knowing the motorway you are travelling on by Google maps or other means
Staying in the left hand lane for instance at the bottom end of the M5 Exeter will send you in a direction you probably don't want to go watch early warnings on overhead gantries

@MakeMineALarge1

If you're asking how to drive on a motorway. Then maybe motorway driving isn't for you

Don't be daft. She's done it before, just not that often. Asking for advice is sensible.

Plan ahead look ahead and try to anticipate what people will do - I make a little game of it in my head it’s quite fun to be proved right

Do not sit in any lane except the inside one unless you’re overtaking.

Ignore Lemonswan

If you are feeling a bit tired/ like your mind is wandering don’t be afraid to take a break. Factor it in as a bit of nice unwind time. I often travel 4 hours and whilst everyone is different I find the monotony and concentration too draining without a break. I stop at a halfway point and grab a coffee/ read a book for 15 mins. On days where I slept poorly I will occasionally stop briefly for a second time to stretch my legs. It can be tempting to plough on to get the journey finished as quickly as possible, but tiredness abs lack of concentration can kill, especially at high speeds. Having said that, it’s pretty safe and I don’t mind motorways so try not to worry too much

Which motorways it?

Most of these suggestions make it sound like you're going on some kind of expedition to the back of beyond

I drove on motorways a lot and since covid there's very little traffic most of the time, assuming you have a normal skill level and good observation just drive

You might need a 2nd mortgage if you need to buy food or petrol from a service station, that's the most likely shocker

Love motorway driving. Agree that knowing which exit you are getting off at, settles the mind, before you even set off.

Drive with your HEADLIGHTS ON, ALL THE TIME......not so that you can see, but so that people are more aware of you. This is pretty much standard practise now, anyway.

Modern cars never have their headlights off.

Great thread. I’m glad you started it. Lots of good reminders here.
Can I also second/third using an sat nav or sat nav app on your phone mounted on the dashboard, because at a glance it shows you visually what you need to be doing turnings-wise. Also tells you when traffic’s coming up. Helps me focus on the road and what’s happening in front of me not trying to navigate.

If you are not a confident driver, stick to the lorry lane and keep your distance.
As others said - indicate. 45 mins is not a lot so you should be fine.
Avoid any middle or fast lane if you are a hogger. Annoying.

Build up speed when getting on slip road and don’t indicate changing lanes immediately at ridiculous low speed. Don’t hog lanes keep to left , indicate plenty of time and be respectful to other drivers. If you want to drive at 50, 60 mph fine but keep left as other drivers may want to drive at 70mph.

@letmethinkaboutitfornow

If you are not a confident driver, stick to the lorry lane and keep your distance. As others said - indicate. 45 mins is not a lot so you should be fine. Avoid any middle or fast lane if you are a hogger. Annoying.

I assumed the OP meant 3-4 hrs, rather than three quarters.

The officer leading my Speed Awareness Course said the main way to avoid accidents is to increase your following distance behind the vehicle in front of you.

That gives you extra time to react if something happens ahead, and an escape route if something happens near you. If another vehicle shunts into you, it won't push you into the vehicle in front.

You probably know the "two second rule" - well, it's even safer if you allow three seconds. If driving conditions are bad, e.g. heavy rain, allow an even greater distance.

Just be aware that joining a motorway from a slip road at 60 isn't always possible. Many of the slip roads going the M25 have variable speed limits on them, often down to 40, and there won't be a gap in the motorway traffic so you have to stop. Some even have traffic lights.

It's not always possible to keep a 2 second gap because some idiot will force their way into it.

On 4 or 5 lane motorways the first 2 lanes will be full of lorries leapfrogging each other so be ready well in advance if you need to exit the motorway as lorries don't always allow you into their lane.

On motorways like the M25 you can't stay left as that lane is the exit lane at most junctions (rather than actually turning off the mway).

The less busy mways are great to drive on.

Don't sit in the middle lane!

Use phone sat nav and checkout alternative A and B roads if there are long traffic jams or if you just want a break from the motorway. Quite a few motorways have almost empty A roads running parallel to them. can be fun to come off for a few junctions and use them instead.

If travelling with DC, having a good children's audiobook makes the journey pass more quickly. (Not Horrid Henry - that causes car fights. Something more fantastical and heroic or gentle and fun.)
Not too much sugar but plenty of small snacks and easy favourite foods.

Check where services are to ensure you aren't miles from one when DC suddenly need the loo. Anticipate the need for a stop and don't drink more than one coffee before you set off

If you have DC with you

It's not always possible to keep a 2 second gap because some idiot will force their way into it.

But it's always possible to ease off the accelerator to open up the gap again.

@ErrolTheDragon

It's not always possible to keep a 2 second gap because some idiot will force their way into it.

But it's always possible to ease off the accelerator to open up the gap again.

Exactly that. It’s incredibly annoying to have to keep creating that gap but it’s always possible.

MN will tell you to live in the left hand lane because middle lane hoggers cause problems to those overtaking.

This is not something made up by MN. The highway code tells you to do this.

@AtticusHoysAnus

Don't sit in the outside lane at 70

Unless of course the inside and middle lanes are full.

@MurielSpriggs

MN will tell you to live in the left hand lane because middle lane hoggers cause problems to those overtaking.

This is not something made up by MN. The highway code tells you to do this.

Yes it does, but it/the DVSA driving manual also tells you not to weave, not to pull out at the last minute and to make your manoeuvres in plenty of time. All factors that MNers like to ignore when they are hysterically going on about middle lane sitters. A middle lane sitter is someone that sits there when the inside lane is empty. not someone who pulls out in plenty of time to overtake and then stays a while to overtake subsequent lorries before going back in.