Drive like a Pro on Motorways: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safe and Confident Driving.
Are you ready to tackle the UK motorways with confidence? Whether you're a new driver or just looking to improve your skills, this video is the perfect guide for mastering the art of motorway driving.
Starting with preparation before a motorway journey. It's important to be prepared, not only with your vehicle but also with your knowledge of the road ahead. This video will cover everything you need to know to drive safely on the motorway, including how to join and leave safely, what the signs and road markings mean, and how to plan for junctions.
You'll learn how to safely merging onto the motorway from a slip road, including understanding signs showing whether you have to merge into a lane or you have a dedicated lane. Once on the motorway, we'll cover the importance of adequate separation, known as the "2 second rule", lane changing, overtaking and planning ahead. We'll also cover the breakdown procedures for traditional motorways and the newer "SMART" Motorways, including the use of Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs).
Dealing with Motorway Junctions can be daunting, but with our guidance you'll learn how to plan and anticipate, identify drop lanes, and choose the correct lane to continue on the motorway at complex junctions. Leaving the motorway using a slip road and speed perception.
You’ll also learn about defensive driving and how to anticipate the actions of other drivers, giving you the space to react if they make a mistake. And don’t forget Motorway Services, which are a great way to break up a long journey, refresh and refuel; but bring challenges of their own.
This video is aimed at anybody who has never driven on a Motorway before or anybody with experience of Motorway Driving who wants to understand more about how Motorways work. So, whether you're a first-time motorway driver, or want to improve your confidence, this guide has you covered. Don't miss out on mastering the art of motorway driving - watch now!
Chapters.
00:00 Introduction / preparing to drive on Motorways
01:23 Joining Motorways from slip roads
09:45 Driving safely on Motorways / dealing with breakdowns
19:15 Dealing with Motorway junctions
27:16 Leaving the Motorway / motorway exits
29:08 Defensive driving on Motorways
35:00 Dealing with Motorway Services
Пікірлер: 242
I have just retired as a Grade A instructor after 21 years. Your videos, sir, are second to none. I am guessing that you must be ex-police or just a great deal smarter than most of us. I particularly liked your roundabout videos.
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words Colin! I was an ADI for 10 years, also Grade A. Glad you liked the roundabout videos as I do it differently from most instructors. But it worked for my pupils including the 15% who passed with 0 faults, so I must have done something right 😀 Thanks again for your comments, means a lot.
I've just recently passed my driving and have NO experience of driving on a motorway (above 50 m/p) at all. But this video tutorial has taught me a lot and I would still learn more from this video. I appreciate your kind efforts and salute to you Sir. Thank you.
Probably the most comprehensive tutorial on this complex topic. Especially the M25 terrifies me each time.
Motorways kinda scare me as they require fast thinking and unpredictable and often inconsiderate / dangerous people. Your calm voice and clear instruction is very helpful!
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Hi Shauni. Glad you found the video helpful 😀 If you think about it motorways are actually more predictable than driving around town! You have no pedestrians, cyclists, parked cars, children, rubbish bins, driveways, oncoming traffic, dogs, etc, etc to deal with. As a result, you can focus on scanning further ahead and behind which is why the traffic can travel at higher speeds. Yes, you are travelling faster than in town but so is everybody around you, so the RELATIVE speed of all the vehicles around you is actually very low. If you are travelling at 70 and overtaking a lorry travelling at 60 then the relative speed difference is only 10mph. As a result you actually have more time to react to changes in the lorry’s speed/position than if you were in town travelling at 30 and overtaking a cyclist travelling at 10mph. Around town you have to deal with oncoming traffic - you are travelling at 30, they are travelling at 30 - if they stray onto your side of the road your safety gap is disappearing at a closing speed of 60mph! On faster roads like motorways it is important to get into the habit of constantly scanning the road - close by, then middle distance, then far ahead, then behind - repeat constantly! What’s nearby you will need to react to in The next few seconds - is the car ahead slowing, are the vehicles beside you changing lanes or getting ready to (if they are catching the vehicle in front of them then they will probably want to change lanes to get past) What’s in the middle distance you will be dealing with in 15-20 seconds time - spot changes up ahead so you can plan and react and not be caught by surprise. If there is nothing to deal with in the near or middle distance then look as far ahead as you can - upcoming junctions? (You or others may need to change lanes - start planning for it now!) - hills ahead causing lorries to slow or speed up? (Think about how it/will affect you and whether it will help if you change lanes now - once you are up behind the lorry going slowly up the hill it’s too late, no one will let you out!) Then check behind - is anyone coming up fast in any of the lanes behind you - closing the gap and cutting off your opportunity to change lanes? Do you see any blue lights behind (as far as you can see) - if so, what can you start planning now to ease the proces of the emergency vehicle? (E.g. changing lanes or cancelling your plan to change lanes so as not to get in its way) This needs to be a constant cycle of scanning so that you always aware of what is going on and what you are likely to have to deal with BEFORE you have to deal with it. Remember that at 60mph you cover a mile every minute, so what is a mile ahead now you will have to deal with in 60 seconds time, 1/2 a mile ahead in 30 seconds time. Once you develop a good scanning routine then motorways are predictable rather than unpredictable. Don’t just look for brake lights on the vehicle ahead, look for brake lights much further ahead as well (you’ll be half a mile ahead in 30 seconds time - plan for it now). This may sound like a lot of information to be taking in, but remember you don’t have the nearby hazards of pedestrians, cyclists, etc to deal with so you can look further ahead.
@shaunig6716
Жыл бұрын
Wow, thank you very much! I will try to put all of your advise into practice. That was very kind and thoughtful
I got my license about 8 months ago,always was kind avoiding motorways 🛣️🙄because my car “what is actually normal” was feels unstable,and also I was always confused by the lanes , all what I knew it’s “lane 1 is for slow 😂and others is for overtaking “ Last 3 days I was exploring “motorways “ and signs and just side information about situations what could happen. 1.i checked pressure and find out that with very correct pressure in tyres 🛞 my car on motorway Is WAY more stable . 2.i TURN ON voice in GPS,so as usually I drive without it. 3.I started checking,big junctions before drive 😂😂😂 what really helped 😂 So nothing what has not been told by “highway code” but still 🤷♂️👌 And now when I watched the video,I understood much more ! And I gonna watch it again before next long drive on motorway 🛣️ Thank you very much
Very good teacher with clear knowledge of motorways in England 🏴 Love from Morocco 🇲🇦
Very helpful. I passed my test 3 days ago. Thank you.
This is AMAZING! I have looked on KZread for someone to just explain motorway driving and you sir have done a great job. I feel more confident after watching this video. Time to put it to the test. May God continue to let you create more videos
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for your kind comments. Glad you found the video helpful 👍
@Crazywunn
4 ай бұрын
I did and officially went on the mway today and yesterday (had my licence since 2018) and I couldn’t have been confident without this. Thank you once again 🙏
You're such a great teacher, very calm and clear in your explanations, you covered a wide range of things I was worried about. Thank you so much
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comments. Glad you found it useful.
Amazing video. Even the merging onto the junction is one of the best video section in the UK that I’ve seen. I have a ROSPA silver 2 years ago and I keep learning to improve every aspect of my driving.
@DrivingLessonsnet
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for your comments and glad you found it useful 😀 Continuous improvement is a great mindset to have 👍 I’ve been driving for over 40 years, but still every day is an opportunity to learn something new. The day you feel you know it all is the day to hang up your keys in my opinion.
Great job covering motorway quite comprehensively which is exactly what I need after just passing the driving test
@DrivingLessonsnet
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comments and congratulations on passing your test :)
@luciusgeorge938
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic . Job on.. explanation
from a dutch perpective: in the UK you have very very short merge lanes. in the Netherlands there is a minimum of 250 meters
*The definitive motorway driving video. Excellent learning material. Thank you*
Brilliant video/instruction .although i have been driving many years I think it is important to remind oneself of the correct ways to drive safely, and this video does just that............. many thanks .
28.27 Trust your speedo....It is something I do every time I dive into a pool in summer weather. Good video and great instruction for the often fraught with difficulties motorways of our islands.
Thank you for this superb video! I am relatively new to motorways in the UK and I view this video regularly to remind me of the basic rules. I highly recommend it for everyone.
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for your kind comments 😀 Glad it helps.
Best learning from this. I love the part whe he says it is a real shock to the system going from car park driving to street driving and then onto motorway driving. They are 3 different driving styles. This is vitally important and has nearly cost me cars, penalties or injuries in my 45 year driving career. Do not make the mistakes I have made. I was lucky in that these mistakes only cost me a bollocking from my late but valued father, some Police and some fellow drivers. Lessons learned. Every day on the road is a learning experience, hopefully for the better.
I got off M25 unintentionally twice yesterday and added almost a good extra hour to my trip. The things taught in this clip are entirely missing from both theory test and whatever practical training for the road test. This video helped a real lot and is a must see!
about to drive to gatwick (4 hour drive) this will be my first long distance driver over 50 miles and this video has helped a lot and given me a huge confidence boost thankyou so much!
@blueberrycupcake6999
4 жыл бұрын
How did it go ??? Pls let us know
If lanes 2 and 3 ar doing under the speed limit and with lane 1 clear ahead you can overtake in lane 1. You can also move to a lane on your left to undertake.
Very helpful video. I get nervous when I drive on motorway.
great content. lots here, thanks so much for the time you put into this.
@DrivingLessonsnet
6 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful :)
I started driving again after a 25 year gap and this video really helped me getting onto a motorway again for the first time. Many thanks.
The best motorway driving instruction for uk new driver.
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks :)
The best tutorial so far.
Thanks for this I’ve driven once in three years on the motorway really because I never need to use them but this has given me some good knowledge Thankyou this is the best I have come across on KZread brilliant
I’m a driving instructor and have been looking for a motorway KZread video to recommend to my learners. Looks like I’ve found it. This is excellent and I’ve subscribed for more from this guy. 👍
@DrivingLessonsnet
7 ай бұрын
Many thanks for your kind comments 😀 I try to cover the bits which other videos don’t!
I am a new driver in the UK and your video has an answer for each and every practical question that I had in mind about driving in the UK motorways. Hats off to the way you have done the video sir, thanks a lot for the effort!!!
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your kind comments! Glad you found it helpful.
Absolutely brilliant - the best I have seen. My anxiety is joining motorways and dual carriageways so any further videos on motorway/dual carriageway driving would be great. And thank you so much for including how other drivers can create a hazardous and a dangerous situation on the motorway by their lane changing errors, that was so helpful (and scary!) This video is superb, it really felt like you were driving the car and made it seem very real. Pure quality, thank you!
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, I really appreciate your comment! Glad you found it helpful. I make these videos with the aim of making a difference to people, so comments like yours are a real joy to read 😀
Excellent video also great advice I have learned alto from your video
This is the best instruction I've seen for this
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😀
Very very good explanation. Honestly, I overprepared for my first motorway drive and could not be happier. This video is definitely at the top of my favourites for motorway guidance. Thank you.
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind comments. Glad it helped - that’s why I make these videos, to make a difference 😀
First I salute you Sir. Many. Thanks. Your motor way driving. Video is outstanding and awesome. You are No. 1.
I havent been on the motor way yet im a new driver and your videos are really helpful all of them thanks. Hope to see more
this is such a useful video, thanks so much! going on a motorway for the first time tomorrow with an instructor!
@DrivingLessonsnet
Ай бұрын
Well done for doing your prep work👍 Glad you found it useful. Your instructor will support you tomorrow, and once you get started you’ll see how easy it is 😀
I have learnt so much! Thank you for easy helpful information
Complecated made easy. Thanks a lot.
Just passed my full A licence in march (motorcycle). Thank you for video. Just gives more confidence on the motor way riding/ driving
Thanks for the video. I just got my full ☘️ license and it’s helpful for us as well 🥰
Dear Teacher... I thank you very much on behalf of others as well as myself for this wonderfully precise & concise educational video. It has helped me a lot, boosting my confidence to take on the motorways. YOU ARE A VERY GOOD TEACHER... I thank you once again.
I’ve just passed my driving test and this is such a great video explaining all the important details about the motorway. Thanks very much
Very useful! I’ve just passed my driving test and I don’t have any motorway experience yet, so this will be very helpful to me
Thank you so much for the amazing video, this should be recommended to all pupils and new drivers by instructors
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Glad you found it helpful 😀 Thank you for your kind comments.
I am learning a lot and it makes it simpler and easier with out lots of worry
Great teacher. Learnt a lot from this thankyou. Top instructor
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your feedback, glad you found it useful 😀
Good vid really helpfull pls could u do some more like this.
Its very good and comprehensive. Great help for a new driver like me. Thanks much.
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for your kind comments. Glad the video helped 😀
I am planning to drive on motorway and your video has brought in a little confidence a# a new motorway driver. Thanks for your video
One of the best trainers. Huge respect sir.
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comment 😀 I’m glad you find my videos helpful.
Brilliant video... With excellent theory & content ... Thank you for sharing!
very helpful , thank you indeed
Thanks useful video. This happens to be the same section of motorway ill be driving on soon. (M3/M25)
Echoing what others have said, great video. A lot of guides or other videos just state to build speed and join in a gap, but you've gone so much deeper into the topic and explained how to create gaps for yourself which is massively helpful. Thank you!
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comments. Glad you found it useful James.
Very informative.. I have driven for many years but I have picked up so many useful tips! thanks
Very Good Video and helpful. Appreciate if you could do more videos similar with the samples.
Very clear instructions and information about motorway, sleep road and many more. Thanks again
the best video ever on the motorway!!!!
35.51 is a nightmare. I had similar happen to me in Wicklow Ireland on the newly built M11. High speed traffic following me into a dead stopped car in a services car park. You need to trade forward space with backward space slowing down well ahead of the danger. Unfortunately a faster car over took me and nearly ploughed into the stopped car, waking up in the nick of time to realise why I had stopped. There is not much you can do in such situations.
Thank you so much for this video. It is very informative. I learnt a lot especially about road signs, drop signs, defensive driving and how to behave at the junctions.
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video…just what I need after passing my test…..all the very best for you…..many thanks…
Great video and lesson on motorway driving. Absolutely love it. Thanks 👍
Brilliant thank you. But in real life it’s much busier with traffic swerving from the middle lane to the first lane just when you need to access it.
great content, very helpful, i'm going to be driving on a motorway in a couple of weeks, im a new-ish driver, having passed my test last year. thankfully hopefully my partner will be with me and he's had lots of experience on motorways, thanks for the upload
This is a really helpful video and has answered a lot of my questions about driving, road markings, and joining and leaving motorways. II will see this video again even though I have seen many parts of it by going back again. Well done!
Thank you!
Brilliant video. Thank you
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
As a new driver and planning to drive on motorway, your video really helped me a lot, thanks for taking time to prepare this, great content 👍 👍 👍
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 жыл бұрын
Srinivas Pithani glad you found it useful 😀
I have been driving for 56 years and I found all of your courses and excellent professional revision course, alerting me to a number of misconceptions that I have acquired along the way. Thank you so much for your most professional videos.
@lukekelly9616
4 жыл бұрын
One misconception is the law on overtaking on left. There is no law that says it's an offence.
@DrivingLessonsnet
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you Kit! Glad you found them helpful.
@billyporter1389
3 жыл бұрын
Do you remember pre '72 when it was an offence to pass on inside?
Amazing teacher and motorway footage.... I drove the M50 in Ireland for the first time last Friday..it was hard.... I have LEARNT do much from this video.. Bless you Tommy the South of Ireland
Dear Mike, thank you so much for your video-lessons!
The best way I could thank you is by subscribing to your channel and liking this video. I have been looking for days on youtube for a realistic mindset approach to drive on motorways and your video perfectly does that. The time and effort you put in to educate us and feel confident are highly appreciated. videos like this save lives and teach people like me to drive safely on roads - Many Thanks again for all the effort and keep up the good work.
@DrivingLessonsnet
5 жыл бұрын
Glad it helped. Thanks for the kind comments - they make the effort worthwhile:) I haven’t made any videos for a while but hopefully will add some more soon.
@lukekelly9616
4 жыл бұрын
@@DrivingLessonsnet like your video and very educational. However why haven't you dealt with overtaking on left? People seem to be confused and do not understand the wording of the Highway Code, even though they think they do.
Amazing video I don't normally subscribe but I will do it because of this video
Thank you for your work
Excellent.
Hands down the best information i've seen on here, this is first class.
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comment. Glad you found it useful 😀
Thankyou for your feedback. i will keep watching ur video’s.
Information is very clean, thanks for the video.
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
I found this very useful. Thank you for the time and effort making these videos. I have recently passed my test and haven't yet ventured onto the motorways. This is a great first step towards that. All the best. Liked and subscribed.
Really helpful - thanks
Very well explained...provided a lot of clarity...thanks a lot...
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
You're most welcome
What a great video, thank you. I passed my test a few weeks ago and preparing to drive on the motorway for the first time. This helped a lot.
This is such an amazing video, thanks a lot!
Drivers changing lanes where different lanes are dedicated for various destinations. Lane changes are going to be more likely just after the gantry giving the information. Drivers are going to make much more dangerous lane changes at the point where they completely miss their route. Did anyone notice at 22.40 that lane 1 for the A322 Woking and Bracknell was also a suitable lane for following a Temporary Road Diversion indicated by Black Diamond with the standard Yellow Background Roadworks Colour (other shapes are available).
Good video, but why is there not a mention about undertaking???
Thankyou it was very helpful ....cheers...
Great excellent video for motorway driving Thank you clar understanding
I have just found your videos. These are fantastic and very informative. Simple to understand and to the point. Perfect.
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Glad you found them helpful. Thanks for the comment 😀
Excellent video, very helpful thank you.
Planning to hire a car during my upcoming Visit to the UK , what an excellent tutorial from you . keep up the great work
Excellent videos! Thanks so much. Super helpful
This is really a wonderful video. I have just seen a video from a guy who just simply speak speak and annoying but this is edited with atmost dedication to explain the details
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
Thanks. Glad you found it helpful 😀
I'm glad I watched that. Very informative.
18:07 funny that, once after having to stop in one of those emergency lay-bys and tried to leave, we called them saying the sign said we had to and the person was like “why are you calling, now we have to stop the traffic cause you called” 🤦♀️
@dukenukem5768
4 жыл бұрын
I'd say it depends on the level of traffic.
This video is top tier and extremely helpful for a new driver like myself! very informative! Thank you!!!👍🏽👏🏾
@DrivingLessonsnet
Жыл бұрын
You’re welcome. Thank you for your comment, I’m glad you found it helpful.
If you can see a vehicle by looking out of the drivers window then surely it's not a blind spot.
the best motorway tutorial out there ..kudos to you :)
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks 😀
This is an extremely well done video, very helpful, the best I've found for guidance thank you.
@DrivingLessonsnet
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Glad it helped 😀
Like to add to defensive driving, pay attention to HGV with non UK reg plates.and don't drive beside them.wait till is safe to pass clear.
Very informative and useful.
@DrivingLessonsnet
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful
Thank understand more better prepare take my tests soom