motorway/dual carriageway slip roads.
Discussion
Hi everyone.
I'm a inexperienced driver looking for advise and tips
I can tell already by reading other topics that there is some good information about. so I wanted to go in to something that's bothering me a lot.... slip roads!
to be honest it scares me to death knowing I have to travel down one in a few weeks for the first time is causing some major anxiety.
What is bugging me is, if I'm coming down this slip road and there are not gaps big enough for me to enter. say I have to slow quite a bit down to get to a gap big enough to safely move over. will this cause an obstruction to say the following car behind.
I've been told to either speed up or slow down if there is a car or two beside me on the motorway.
I have to give way but stopping is the most dangerous thing of all.
I'm so worried about this. Can anyone help??
I'm a inexperienced driver looking for advise and tips
I can tell already by reading other topics that there is some good information about. so I wanted to go in to something that's bothering me a lot.... slip roads!
to be honest it scares me to death knowing I have to travel down one in a few weeks for the first time is causing some major anxiety.
What is bugging me is, if I'm coming down this slip road and there are not gaps big enough for me to enter. say I have to slow quite a bit down to get to a gap big enough to safely move over. will this cause an obstruction to say the following car behind.
I've been told to either speed up or slow down if there is a car or two beside me on the motorway.
I have to give way but stopping is the most dangerous thing of all.
I'm so worried about this. Can anyone help??
Ok ignoring the others asking if you have a licence, and lets assume you do,
Do you have a friend or a colleague that will either take you on a motorway or a dual carriageway to give you some pointers, either as a passenger or as the driver ?
But echo whats already been said a lot of people will move over to allow you to merge easier
Do you have a friend or a colleague that will either take you on a motorway or a dual carriageway to give you some pointers, either as a passenger or as the driver ?
But echo whats already been said a lot of people will move over to allow you to merge easier
Just go out an have a go. Everyone has a first time. Just spend 30 min travelling up an down and practicing. It's really nothing to worry about.
If you are in conflict with something else, slow a little and join behind them. Better to have early observations and pick your joining point before you arrive there.
If you are in conflict with something else, slow a little and join behind them. Better to have early observations and pick your joining point before you arrive there.
Match the speed of the main road traffic while on the slip road. If in doubt don't be afraid to put your foot in the bucket on the slip road and be ready to back off once you know the speed of the traffic, half the problems on slip roads are due to people not accelerating when they have the chance.
If you do need to slow down to enter the main carriageway the vehicles behind you will have the same problem so you shouldn't be balking anyone.
Remember it's almost unknown for there not to be a gap unless the traffic is actually at walking pace, in which case someone will let you out. Also that the main road drivers know exactly what your problem is and will invariably try to help out.
If you do need to slow down to enter the main carriageway the vehicles behind you will have the same problem so you shouldn't be balking anyone.
Remember it's almost unknown for there not to be a gap unless the traffic is actually at walking pace, in which case someone will let you out. Also that the main road drivers know exactly what your problem is and will invariably try to help out.
Be confident!
Worrying about it is only going to make your nerves worse by the time you are actually on the slip road.
Get up to speed on the slip road, and aim to merge just behind someone already on the carriageway, I aim to merge about two car lengths behind my target vehicle, then drop back to a two second gap immediately by lifting off the throttle, not braking.
Most slip roads are long with good visibility, but some can be a little short, with bad visibility. These shorter, blind slip roads simply need you to be assertive in your road positioning, with slightly faster decision making.
I can understand your apprehension, my mother still doesn't like slip roads, after many years of driving.
Its the same as with any fear, you need to face it. You'll find out its not that much of an issue.
Worrying about it is only going to make your nerves worse by the time you are actually on the slip road.
Get up to speed on the slip road, and aim to merge just behind someone already on the carriageway, I aim to merge about two car lengths behind my target vehicle, then drop back to a two second gap immediately by lifting off the throttle, not braking.
Most slip roads are long with good visibility, but some can be a little short, with bad visibility. These shorter, blind slip roads simply need you to be assertive in your road positioning, with slightly faster decision making.
I can understand your apprehension, my mother still doesn't like slip roads, after many years of driving.
Its the same as with any fear, you need to face it. You'll find out its not that much of an issue.
Start looking for a space as early as possible, the main carriageway is often visible well before you reach the end of the slip road. Once you've identified a space adjust your speed so you meet your space at the end of the slip road and you just simply slot in.
If you start looking early you should have time to stop if you don't find a space. I can't remember the last time I had to stop on a slip road though.
If you start looking early you should have time to stop if you don't find a space. I can't remember the last time I had to stop on a slip road though.
When you're on the slip road, accelerate to a speed to approximately match that of what is in Lane 1. Bearing in mind often trucks are using L1, they are limited to 56mph so aiming for around 60mph is probably what I would suggest. So aim for 60.
As you become visible to the traffic on the main carriageway, turn on your right hand indicator. Obviously joining on a slip road there's no other direction you could be going so some could argue it's not beneficial to anyone and therefore pointless, however I always assume that whoever may be in L1 is half asleep, not paying attention and therefore a flashing amber light in their peripheral vision might just wake them up enough to accommodate me.
Next is choosing a space to slot into, choosing this slot requires good observation and use of the mirrors, including a check over your shoulder to make sure there isn't a vehicle hiding from your mirrors. This is perhaps the most nerve racking part of merging for new drivers, because of that "what if there's no gap" question. Well, when you think about it, the average following distance on the motorway in L1 is enough to easily fit a vehicle into. People generally don't drive with their bumpers touching, that's reserved for L3. Infact, I'm not sure on this but at a guess, I would say that L1 has the least number of vehicles in it (fundamentally wrong, according to the HC) but in reality most vehicles are clogging up the outer lanes. This makes merging easier.
Once you've identified a suitable slot, fine tune your speed by either accelerating or taking your foot off the gas (avoid braking if possible, this can cause unwanted chain events) and gently merge into the gap, again just checking your blind spot over your shoulder as you join.
Finally, check all mirrors, cancel the indicator (of course they won't self cancel joining a motorway or DC) and adjust your speed to maintain a proper distance from the car infront.
A common misconception of slip roads is that traffic already on the carriageway MUST move into L2 to accommodate vehicles joining from the slip road. This is NOT true, it is up to the joining driver to merge safely, traffic in L1 may not be able to move over due to volumes of traffic on the motorway.
Safe driving
As you become visible to the traffic on the main carriageway, turn on your right hand indicator. Obviously joining on a slip road there's no other direction you could be going so some could argue it's not beneficial to anyone and therefore pointless, however I always assume that whoever may be in L1 is half asleep, not paying attention and therefore a flashing amber light in their peripheral vision might just wake them up enough to accommodate me.
Next is choosing a space to slot into, choosing this slot requires good observation and use of the mirrors, including a check over your shoulder to make sure there isn't a vehicle hiding from your mirrors. This is perhaps the most nerve racking part of merging for new drivers, because of that "what if there's no gap" question. Well, when you think about it, the average following distance on the motorway in L1 is enough to easily fit a vehicle into. People generally don't drive with their bumpers touching, that's reserved for L3. Infact, I'm not sure on this but at a guess, I would say that L1 has the least number of vehicles in it (fundamentally wrong, according to the HC) but in reality most vehicles are clogging up the outer lanes. This makes merging easier.
Once you've identified a suitable slot, fine tune your speed by either accelerating or taking your foot off the gas (avoid braking if possible, this can cause unwanted chain events) and gently merge into the gap, again just checking your blind spot over your shoulder as you join.
Finally, check all mirrors, cancel the indicator (of course they won't self cancel joining a motorway or DC) and adjust your speed to maintain a proper distance from the car infront.
A common misconception of slip roads is that traffic already on the carriageway MUST move into L2 to accommodate vehicles joining from the slip road. This is NOT true, it is up to the joining driver to merge safely, traffic in L1 may not be able to move over due to volumes of traffic on the motorway.
Safe driving
All good stuff. The important bit I think people get wrong is adjusting how far they are looking up and down the road - the distances involved are much greater.
As was said above, planning is the key. Most sliproads have good visibility early on, so as soon as you can see traffic on the carriageway pick the gap you're going for and stick with it.
Be aware that it might not be the gap next to you or in front, but rather one that's behind where you are a little. Don't be greedy - try and match your entry to the carriageway to a gap close to you so you don't need to accelerate or brake harshly to merge. Keep gaining speed, and aim to be at or above 50mph by the time you merge so that you aren't forcing anyone else to take action.
The important thing is to not panic. Chances are that it will all go fine - statistically the motorways are by far the safest roads in the country.
As was said above, planning is the key. Most sliproads have good visibility early on, so as soon as you can see traffic on the carriageway pick the gap you're going for and stick with it.
Be aware that it might not be the gap next to you or in front, but rather one that's behind where you are a little. Don't be greedy - try and match your entry to the carriageway to a gap close to you so you don't need to accelerate or brake harshly to merge. Keep gaining speed, and aim to be at or above 50mph by the time you merge so that you aren't forcing anyone else to take action.
The important thing is to not panic. Chances are that it will all go fine - statistically the motorways are by far the safest roads in the country.
Don't be scared to accelerate into a decent size gap in front of people travelling relatively slowly
in lane 1.
It boils my piss when I see a car bimbling on the slip road,I'm doing 50ish in an HGV and they just
decelerate when a bit of acceleration would safely get them onto the DC without cutting anyone up.
I do move out to L2 sometimes but it just shouldn't be necessary with the low speed I have to travel at.
in lane 1.
It boils my piss when I see a car bimbling on the slip road,I'm doing 50ish in an HGV and they just
decelerate when a bit of acceleration would safely get them onto the DC without cutting anyone up.
I do move out to L2 sometimes but it just shouldn't be necessary with the low speed I have to travel at.
driveclub said:
Hi everyone.
I'm a inexperienced driver looking for advise and tips
I can tell already by reading other topics that there is some good information about. so I wanted to go in to something that's bothering me a lot.... slip roads!
to be honest it scares me to death knowing I have to travel down one in a few weeks for the first time is causing some major anxiety.
What is bugging me is, if I'm coming down this slip road and there are not gaps big enough for me to enter. say I have to slow quite a bit down to get to a gap big enough to safely move over. will this cause an obstruction to say the following car behind.
I've been told to either speed up or slow down if there is a car or two beside me on the motorway.
I have to give way but stopping is the most dangerous thing of all.
I'm so worried about this. Can anyone help??
Whatever you do don't sit alongside trucks and expect them to move over for you. Either get your toe down and get out in front in plenty of time or ease off a bit and slot in behind them.I'm a inexperienced driver looking for advise and tips
I can tell already by reading other topics that there is some good information about. so I wanted to go in to something that's bothering me a lot.... slip roads!
to be honest it scares me to death knowing I have to travel down one in a few weeks for the first time is causing some major anxiety.
What is bugging me is, if I'm coming down this slip road and there are not gaps big enough for me to enter. say I have to slow quite a bit down to get to a gap big enough to safely move over. will this cause an obstruction to say the following car behind.
I've been told to either speed up or slow down if there is a car or two beside me on the motorway.
I have to give way but stopping is the most dangerous thing of all.
I'm so worried about this. Can anyone help??
Use your gears on the slip road, especially if it's not flat/downhill. The number of people who put their foot down, in fifth at 40mph going up hill (Halesowen springs to mind). In most cars, that doesn't equate to much acceleration.
I got a motorway lesson from my driving instructor, as shortly after I passed my test my dad ended up in hospital 40miles away and my mum won't drive on the motorway. Very useful, and her advice was not to change up to 5th until I had merged.
I got a motorway lesson from my driving instructor, as shortly after I passed my test my dad ended up in hospital 40miles away and my mum won't drive on the motorway. Very useful, and her advice was not to change up to 5th until I had merged.
Edited by Ahimoth on Saturday 20th December 16:17
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