Motorway driving rewards planning. At higher speeds, a late decision takes more distance to correct. Look well ahead and prepare one movement at a time.
Joining: find a gap, do not demand one
Use the acceleration lane to adjust your speed to conditions while looking for a safe gap. Traffic already on the motorway has priority; joining is not automatically a zipper merge. Check mirrors and the blind spot before moving across. An indicator communicates your intention but does not require another driver to make room.
During practice, identify the gap before concentrating on the end of the lane. Avoid treating the vehicle next to you as the only relevant traffic: look ahead and behind as well.
Keep a predictable lane position
Use the right-hand lane when required and available, moving out for a lawful overtake and returning safely afterwards. Do not remain in a middle lane simply because another slower vehicle is visible far ahead. Follow temporary signs and lane-control signals through roadworks.
Leave a following distance that fits visibility, grip and traffic conditions. A gap that seems comfortable in dry weather may be inadequate in heavy rain.
Prepare the exit early
Read destination signs in advance and move into the appropriate lane without sudden crossings. If you miss an exit, continue to the next permitted one. Never reverse, make a U-turn or cross a hatched area to recover it. A navigation instruction is not permission to ignore road markings.
Leave an emergency corridor
When congestion forms on a road with at least two lanes in your direction, leave a corridor between the leftmost lane and the lane beside it. Vehicles in the leftmost lane move left; the others move right. Do this before an emergency vehicle reaches you, while remaining within the lawful road space.
The emergency lane is not an extra lane for escaping a queue. Keep your movements calm and predictable, and watch for people or stopped vehicles when traffic starts moving again.
Official sources
Rules and procedures checked on 21 September 2026. Follow the linked authority for later changes; rules announced for a future date are not yet in force.
