We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Motorway driving advice
Comments
-
Dont just look at the rear lights of the car ahead. Keep checking the lights of the 20 cars in front off it...
Not Again0 -
There isn't always a way back onto the motorway - as you're approaching the lane off, you can look on the other side and see if you can see cars joining on that side. Often a junction that is an "a" junction (e.g. Junction 10A, 12A, 34A) is off only.mandyboops1973 wrote: »hi guys
i have been driving for 4 years and i have never been on the motor way! im really scared to go on but i would like to visit my faminly in london and i live in birmingham. today i went o a little test drive. i had a good look on google maps and decided to try the motor way! i got onto the m6 drove around 20 miles to a service station and the headed back.. i was really proud of my self it wasnt so bad! i had a friend in the car with my which helped i would still be very nervous on my own.
im scared i will miss a turning and get lost! if you take the wrong turning is there always and island you come to that you can use to get back onto the motor way? also if you miss a turning can you come off the next one and turn around at the next island?
im thinking about getting a satnav are they easy to use and understand?
I went the wrong direction on a motorway once, about midnight, and I was almost out of petrol ... it was damned well 25 miles to the next turnoff ... and there all I could do was drive back 25 miles - I was going really carefully so I didn't run out
Today I had to go somewhere I was unfamiliar with, rush hour traffic, peculiar roundabout configuration, no idea (no signs) which lane to get into to go West ... ended up going East... just went 2 miles and came off/got back on the right way. Whatever you do, just never try to change lanes - if you make a mistake my mum always said: "it's better to be too late in this world than too early in the next".0 -
That is easily said if you've got a powerful car, but with an engine of just 1.2 if the road is clear and I am overtaking 2-3 cars at 70mph then I don't always go back in between them because sod's law will say I'll get trapped in that inside lane as you don't have the engine power to pull out quickly in the gaps again - and sometimes the 3rd lane is completely empty and it just makes sense to drive more safely by being in the middle lane to overtake 2-3 cars. Not sure if I explained that, but certainly I'd never have a car behind me if I were doing that, just when others (speeding) can overtake and I am trying to get past a series of cars/lorries doing 65mph.1 of the main things to remember about motorway driving is that the 2 & 3 lanes are overtaking lanes only, don't be a middle lane hogger.0 -
Generally you can get back on if you come off early - but not always! It will depend ont he junction.
My motorway driving tip when going somewhere I don't know is to make the directions as easy as possible. I write in big letters on a piece of paper what road I'm on, what junction number I'll be coming off at and what road I'll be joining.
Rock on! Top post! Indeed simple common sense can make it all very easy. read the map beforehand too so you have reference points along the way. Where does the road before the one you want go to for instance. As you will see the sign then obviously you're next.
also know your compass points. The number of people I know who can't figure out NSEW is unbelievable. Travelling south on M1 and want to reach the east coast then bloody obvious that at some point, whatever the road layout, you want to end up turning left. The number of mates i know who can't figure that astounds me.
-
Asfor the slagging of London, I have always disagreed. Different it certainly is but not in a bad way if you go with the flow. the higher volume can be frustrating. Don't get clever and try and find an alternative route because patience will get you there quicker. DON'T push in or push your nose out of side turnings. Unlike elsewhere, everyone knows it is busy and someone will always let you out pretty quickly. Opposite elsewhere IME. In fact I ended up in a row in a small town in Beds when I gestured to allow someone to join a main road from a side turning and they just refused????? I dunno what they thought I was gonna do but of course the bloke behind them went ape when they didn't accept the offer. Hilarious.
Little tip to get everywhere quicker at the right times of day. READ the bus lane signs and use them when all the numpties don't. Guarantee you'll gain 6 odd spaces between every junction legitimately. Not for novices maybe.
-
One more thing. DO NOT stop on bus stops, red routes when operational, double yellows for more than 30 seconds, etc. We have virtually 100% CCTV coverage and feeling ill or needing to read the map will land you in the parking fines forum, LOL.0 -
Exact reasons why motorway should be part of the test...
Give us a shout when you intend going 0 -
PasturesNew wrote: »That is easily said if you've got a powerful car, but with an engine of just 1.2 if the road is clear and I am overtaking 2-3 cars at 70mph then I don't always go back in between them because sod's law will say I'll get trapped in that inside lane as you don't have the engine power to pull out quickly in the gaps again - and sometimes the 3rd lane is completely empty and it just makes sense to drive more safely by being in the middle lane to overtake 2-3 cars. Not sure if I explained that, but certainly I'd never have a car behind me if I were doing that, just when others (speeding) can overtake and I am trying to get past a series of cars/lorries doing 65mph.
Sorry to say thats nothing to do with engine capacity, I would say poor observation, as if you are using your mirrors correctly you will see any vehicles approaching from behind and make a decision to change lanes or stay in the 1st lane therefore not getting "trapped"ANURADHA KOIRALA ??? go on throw it in google.0 -
-
The main suggestion I can give is DON'T be afraid of missing the junction/exit. You're always going to be able to find a way to get back, but it might take a while. Not the end of the world though! Don't let the fuel gauge get much below 1/4 until you really start getting more confidence. Otherwise the fear of running out of fuel will make it worse.
And don't be afraid to floor it when coming down the slip road (unless there's a lorry that wouldn't be safe to accelerate in front of). The most dangerous situation is the nervous driver who is too afraid to accelerate fast enough and has to come to a stop at the end of the slip road.
Motorway driving is the easiest though seriously. Try driving through Brixton on a busy Saturday with double decker buses on the left, right, front and rear of the car. That was stressful for me even as a fairly confident driver 0 -
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.3K Spending & Discounts
- 245.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.5K Life & Family
- 259K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards