Motorway driving: what you need to know

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 540
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 Time: 12:39 AM
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Learning to drive is a completely liberating experience and it can feel almost like you've conquered the world when you finally obtain that licence you've been waiting to get your hands on for what feels like an eternity. That said, driving education doesn't stop as soon as the licence is in our hands; there is so much more to learn about the skill of driving in a safe and controlled manner, which can only come with experience.

One particular area in which new drivers often struggle is adapting to being on the motorway. Driving lessons generally don't cover the art of driving safely on the motorway, so it's no surprise that some people come unstuck when trying to adjust. The best way to get up to speed with motorway driving is to sign up for further education; many driving instructors will be more than happy to give specific motorway lessons after you have passed your test, while you can also pick up the relevant skills as part of an overall advanced driving course.

Even drivers with years of experience of driving on all different types of roads can find themselves developing bad habits over time, so whatever your experience level it's well worth familiarising yourself with some tips on how to drive correctly on the motorway.

The first thing you should do is plan your journey effectively before you get anywhere near your vehicle. Uncertainty over which junction to take can lead to dangerous manoeuvres if you leave it too late to turn, so make sure that you have your route set in your mind before you leave. While it's true that satellite navigation systems can be a big help when driving on unfamiliar roads, you should never fully rely on technology to help you though. If your satnav system fails while you're on the road then you'll be stuck unless you know exactly where you're headed.

Once you're on the motorway, don't fall into the trap of believing that you'll be choosing between the ‘slow lane', ‘medium lane' and ‘fast lane'. You should always stay in the left-hand lane unless you are overtaking a vehicle. Once you have passed the vehicle in question, you should return to the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear. Before each lane change you should indicate well in advance to let other drivers know your intentions.

You should also follow the ‘two second' rule when driving on the motorway under normal conditions. When the vehicle in front of you passes a particular point, such as a lamppost, count how long it takes you to reach the same point on the road. If it's anything less than two full seconds then you're too close. If you're driving in difficult conditions such as heavy rain, then you should double the distance and adopt a ‘four second' rule as a matter of course.

Breaking down on the motorway has the potential to be more hazardous than on a quieter road, so it's important that you have breakdown cover in place so that you can be assisted quickly in such a situation. Some motor insurance providers will offer roadside assistance as part of your policy, but if yours doesn't then make sure you make other arrangements.

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