How can I make sure I’m driving safely on the motorway?
How can I make sure I’m driving safely on the motorway?
Motorways are an integral part of the UK’s road network. They’re often the best way to get somewhere quickly and easily, while they’re also the country’s safest places to drive.
However, driving on a motorway comes with its own set of rules and requirements. We’re going to take a look at some of the things to bear in mind if you’re driving on a motorway for the first time, or perhaps need a refresher course on what to do.
Remember to keep your distance
You’ll find that a lot of collisions on the motorway come from drivers being too close to the vehicle in front. It’s an easy thing to solve, too, as all you need to do is increase the amount of space between yourself and the car ahead.
Driving at the 70mph limit on the motorway, the average stopping distance is 75 metres. But aside from the basic measurements, it’s always worth thinking about whether or not you’d have enough time to react if the car ahead had to perform an emergency stop. Would you be able to do the same? If the answer is no, then increase the gap and give yourself more space.
Always check your mirror and be aware of blind spots
Checking your mirrors is something that drivers become very good at during the learner stage of driving - it’s required by the main driving test, after all - but it’s something that quickly slips after you’ve ditched the L-plates. However, frequent checks of your mirrors can help prevent many accidents while making you a more fluid driver.
There’s no harm in doing a quick shoulder check when changing lanes, either, as this will ensure that you’ve not missed any vehicles that could be in your ‘blind spot’.
Be mindful of overhead gantry signs on smart motorways
Though the future creation of smart motorways has now been cancelled, they’re still a presence on many areas of the UK’s road network so being mindful of how they work is essential.
The overhead gantries on smart motorways must be paid attention to, as they provide information that could help if a car was stranded in a live lane. For example, a red ‘X’ over a lane on a smart motorway means that the lane is closed - there might be a broken-down vehicle in it - and driving along it is classed as an offence. Similarly, if there’s a speed limit displayed on the gantry, then you’ll need to adhere to it or you could risk a fine and points if captured by the speed cameras on the back of the gantries themselves.
Remember what to do if you break down
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Breakdowns are a part of driving and, though they may not happen to you all that often, it’s a good idea to remain clued-up about what to do should your car malfunction. If the road you’re travelling on has a hard shoulder then head straight for that - but keep your speed up and coast to the side of the road with your car’s hazard lights activated. Try not to brake until you’re on the hard shoulder, too.
On a smart motorway, things are slightly different. There’s no constant hard shoulder, so if you find yourself in need of somewhere to head in the event of a breakdown, you’ll need to stay calm. Try to avoid stopping in a live lane and instead head for one of the refuge areas at the roadside - they’re spaced every 1.5 miles. From there, you can call Highways England for assistance.
If you’re not able to get to one, then move as close to the verge as possible and get everyone out of the car as safely as possible - get behind the roadside barrier if you can. Once you’re safe, call 999 immediately.
