Motorway driving advice

mandyboops1973

thanks for all the replys some helpfull advice so far and i feel a lot better about it now. i dont think i will venture as far as london yet but i will plan a few trips to other cities not too far away to build up experiance. could anyone recomend me a good easy to understand satnav for around £150?

mchale

google: navigon 2210

chocdonuty

Just a thought, if you want to visit london from brum you can get tickets from moor st to central london for £5 each way, I can drive no probs but for that price you may as well go by rail!
A quick tip if your on your own and have no sat nav is to write just the major roads down on a piece of white paper backwards (just trace from the back) then pop it on the dashboard, it will reflect onto the windscreen therefore stopping you looking away from the road if you need to check your journey

mrcow

mchale wrote: »

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"

Actually that's a very good tip.

Poor observation and planning whilst driving on a motorway will often get you in a pickle. The most important part of motorway driving is keeping alert and aware of what is going on around you. Be aware of what's coming up in neighbouring lanes and how fast they are travelling, what junctions are coming up and what type of junctions they are and any notices of forthcoming roadworks etc.

This will help prevent you getting into difficult or frustrating or even dangerous situations.

Hintza

You'll be fine. My only tip would be just get upto speed (normally +/-60mph) on the slip road before you join the motorway then you should be able to join effortlessly. Too slowly and you can cause chaos behind you, or end up stationary on the slip road which is never a good idea.

Caveat:- make sure the cars on motorway are travelling at that speed of course

Premier_2

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. ...

It's not just the driving on the motorway to be worried about, but the driving in London when you arrive! :eek:
A whole new experience to the uninitiated.

epninety

Just to second what Hintza said, joining the traffic flow properly is a skill I wish more people had.

Hate being stuck behind someone who does 35mph all the way up the slip, then floors it at the last minute, leaving no room for those of us with slower vehicles to reach motorway speeds.

A lot of newer dual carraigeways are almost indistinguishable from motorways, except for more frequent junctions and often lower traffic levels. Might be a good way to get your confidence up. If you can drive those without problems, join and leave without causing chaos etc. then you'll be absolutely fine.

With these fine light summer evenings, get out there and practice in the light traffic until you get your confidence up.:T

davetrousers

Hintza wrote: »

My only tip would be just get upto speed (normally +/-60mph)

I wouldn't recommend trying to reverse along a motorway at 60 mph!

Neil_B

Following on from the comments re lane changing and observation.

I find it easy to just decide what speed I want to go and drive accordingly. Then being aware of cars ahead and coming up behind you change lane when necessary.

when I've been a passenger in a friends car he seems to allow all the other traffic to dictate to him and is constantly slowing down and speeding up like a yo-yo. Deciding my speed and manouvering accordingly I find i minimise throttle changes, have a smooth ride and save fuel!

You have to keep this reasonable though. If travelling just a fraction faster then a vehicle in front make a decision whether to slow or accelerate - but just enough to accommodate. Re comments about the overtaking lanes. Nothing more annoying than someone creeping up on your off-side and taking a mile to pass you! having driven commercial vehicles in the past I often found this happening. Car drivers don't seem to appreciate that most vans, etc are driving flat out due to load, i.e cannot accelaerate. there always seemed an expectation from a very slowly overtaking vehicle that vans should slow down? hardly fair since it then takes a while to get back up to speed whereas most cars have the benefit of greater control through acceleration and lighter load.

Same when on a quiet MW and a single car comes down the slip road. -- Make up your mind mate, behind or infront cos I'm not changing my speed or changing lanes to make room for you when it isn't necessary!
Then of course, you'll get the little Nissan Micra join and slot in behind but within 10 seconds they're overtaking you based on apparent psychology (you're a van so I must be going faster). As soon as passed you, stay in middle lane and slow down!!!!! GGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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Oh and the last one for now. How many times have I been in the driving lane, steady 65, at the 200yd marker for an off-slip I won't be using and there's a plonker sitting on my off-side indicating left!!! and was indicating left from some 30 metres behind me!!
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molby73

Neil_B wrote: »

Then of course, you'll get the little Nissan Micra join and slot in behind but within 10 seconds they're overtaking you based on apparent psychology (you're a van so I must be going faster). As soon as passed you, stay in middle lane and slow down!!!!! GGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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Ha ha yes but not just vans. Often I'll be doing 70 and someone feels they must get past, pull in front and drop down to 67/68

I find motorway driving frusting now due to so many other drivers not having a clue about lane discipline. It causes traffic congestion so I'd love to see signs reminding the idiots to use the left hand lane. Or just use some of the overhead signs they use to remind you to take a break etc.