Driving on a motorway

By the end of this topic you can

• You can keep to the left lane and use other lanes only to overtake.
• You can keep a safe gap of at least two seconds, more in bad weather.
• You can read overhead signals, including variable speed limits and the red X.
• You can overtake on the right safely and return to the left.
• You can recognise tiredness and plan breaks.

What you need to know and understand

• The speed limit for cars is 70 mph unless signs show a lower limit; limits in a red circle on overhead signs are mandatory.
• Keep in the left lane unless overtaking, whatever the number of lanes.
• Overtake only on the right, except when queuing traffic in a left lane is moving faster.
• A red X above a lane means it is closed and you must not drive in it.
• On motorways with three or more lanes, vehicles towing trailers and larger goods vehicles must not use the right-hand lane.
• You must not reverse, cross the central reservation, drive against the traffic, or stop on the carriageway, hard shoulder or verge except in an emergency.
• The Highway Code recommends a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving.

Lane discipline in plain terms

Your home is the left lane. Move out to overtake, then come back once you are safely past. Sitting in the middle lane with an empty left lane forces others to overtake around you and is a common cause of frustration and unsafe driving.

To change lanes, check your mirrors, take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot, signal, and move across smoothly. Watch especially for motorcyclists, and for vehicles coming up fast in the lane you want.

Reading the overhead signals

• Speed limit in a red circle: a legal maximum for that lane or the whole carriageway.
• Flashing amber lights: slow down and be ready for a hazard; only speed up once past a sign showing the hazard has cleared.
• Red X with flashing red lights: the lane is closed. Move to an open lane as soon as it is safe.
• Red lights over all lanes: the road is closed. You must not go past the signal.
• A speed limit shown above the hard shoulder means it is open as a running lane; a red X or blank sign means it is for emergencies only.

Gaps, tiredness and what is not allowed

Leave at least a two-second gap from the vehicle in front, double it on wet roads and allow much more in ice. If someone cuts in, ease off to rebuild the gap.

Motorways can make you sleepy, especially on long, monotonous stretches. Plan breaks at services. If you feel sleepy, stop somewhere safe, which does not mean the hard shoulder or an emergency area. You must not walk on the motorway, pick up or set down passengers, or make phone calls while stopped on it except in an emergency.

Common mistakes

• Hogging the middle lane. Return to the left lane after every overtake.
• Following too closely at speed. Count at least two seconds, more in rain.
• Ignoring a red X because the lane looks clear. There may be a broken-down car or workers ahead.
• Overtaking on the left by moving into an emptier left lane. Only pass on the right unless queuing traffic in your lane is moving faster.
• Driving on when tired. Stop at the next services for a proper break.

Test yourself: Driving on a motorway

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Motorway Driving Tips for New Drivers
• Red X on the Motorway