How to drive on the motorway

Whether you're new to driving or can just get nervous on busy roads, we're here to help make motorway driving a little less daunting.

Here's some useful information about how it all works, and how to stay safe behind the wheel.

How do you join a motorway safely?  

There are a few important things to remember when merging safely onto a motorway:

Build speed early

Make sure you build up speed early on the slip road, so you can match the speed of the flow of traffic.

If you join too slowly, you could force drivers already on the motorway to brake and disrupt the flow of traffic.  

Assess and find a gap

Some cars might move over into the middle lane to give you a space, but don’t expect them to. Watch out for a gap to fit safely into and be ready to adjust your speed.  

Signal your intention  

Make sure you let people know what you intend to do by signalling in plenty of time.

This will give other drivers the opportunity to change their speed slightly or move over into a different lane.

Check your blind spot and merge  

Remember to always check your blind spot before you merge! Don’t just rely on your right wing mirror.

How do you maintain a safe distance on a motorway?

The Highway Code says you should leave at least a two second gap between you and the car ahead.

If either of you need to brake suddenly, this gives you a safe stopping distance.  

Remember, this doubles to a four second gap if it’s raining – and goes up even more if the road is icy.  

How do you drive safely on a motorway?  

There are a few extra things to think about when it comes to driving on the motorway.  

Lane discipline

When it comes to choosing and changing lanes, here are some important things to remember:  

• If the road is clear, you should always drive in the left-hand lane.
• Make sure you return to the left-hand lane after you’ve overtaken any cars.  
• Avoid cruising in the middle lane for too long – you should only use it for overtaking.

Speed limits

The speed limit on motorways is normally 70mph.  

But if there’s traffic or an accident, that can change. Watch out for the gantry signs overhead that might indicate a lower speed limit – and look out for speed cameras too!

Overtaking  

Always overtake on the right and only if it’s safe to.

Remember to:

• check all your mirrors and your blind spot
• signal in plenty of time, so other drivers know what you’re doing
• make sure you have enough space to move into
• judge the speed of other cars correctly, so you don’t force anyone to brake suddenly

Be extra careful overtaking at night or in bad weather conditions.

Check out our guides on driving at night, in rainy weather, or in snow and ice.  

How do you exit a motorway safely?

You should:

1. Keep an eye on the signs so you can see when your junction is coming up.  
2. Move into the left-hand lane nice and early so you’re ready to exit.
3. Signal early on so drivers around you know what you’re doing.
4. Check your mirror and blind spot before you move onto the slip road.  
5. Start to reduce your speed gradually, remembering some slip roads have sharper corners.

Remember not to cross hatched markings. If it’s too late to pull onto the slip road you need, it’s much safer to carry onto the next exit and re-route your journey.  

What is motorway driving like?  

In general, motorway driving is very safe. The lanes are wide, straight and there’s no pedestrians to worry about!  

Just like on any other road, you need to be aware of your surroundings and what other cars are doing.

How do you prepare for motorway driving?

If you’re a little nervous before you set off, here are a couple things you can do beforehand for a smooth and stress-free journey.

Check your vehicle

Check that:

• you have enough fuel or charge to reach your destination – or at least to a service station along the way
• your tyres have the right tread and pressure
• there are no warning lights on your dashboard – for example, if your coolant level is too low
• your lights, indicators and wipers all work properly

Plan your journey

Map out your journey before you head off.

Make sure you know exactly which junction you need to get on and off the motorway at.

If it’s a longer journey, look at the services along the way so you know where to stop for fuel if you need. Driving an electric vehicle? Check which ones have charging points.  

What are smart motorways?

They’re a type of motorway that are actively monitored for signs of congestion. The idea is to help keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely.

There are three different types:

Dynamic hard shoulder  

These motorways:

• use variable speed limits – this is when a different speed limit is temporarily displayed on the signs overhead if there’s traffic, accidents or bad weather
• open up the hard shoulder to traffic if it’s busy
• have separate emergency areas where you can pull over if you need to

Controlled motorways

These motorways:

• have three or more lanes open
• have a hard shoulder that can only be used in emergencies
• use variable speed limits

They’re sometimes known as managed motorways.  

All lane running (ALR)

These motorways:

• use variable speed limits
• use overhead signs to show a red ‘X’ if you can’t use a specific lane
• don't include a hard shoulder, but have emergency areas at regular intervals
• use Stopped Vehicle Detection (SVD) – this is when they use sensors and cameras to see if a car has stopped in the road, so they can close lanes or adjust speed limits

Can learner drivers drive on a motorway?

Yes, learner drivers are allowed on motorways as long as:

• you're with a driving instructor that’s been approved by the DVSA
• you're in a dual-control car that is fitted with L plates  
• your instructor thinks you’re capable enough and ready to try

Check out our in-depth guide on learning to drive.  

Voluntary lessons

As motorways aren’t part of your practical driving test, it’s not necessary for your instructor to take you on before then.

But after you’ve passed your test, you can choose to pay extra for a motorway driving session to get your confidence up before you try it alone.  

Or if you’d like, you can choose to do Pass Plus. This is 6-hour training course new drivers can take to improve their skills after passing their test, which includes motorway driving too.  

Getting the right cover for you

Car insurance gives you extra peace of mind behind the wheel. We offer three levels of cover, so you can choose a policy that suits you.

And, if you’re a parent looking to insure a child who’s recently passed their test, we offer MultiCar Insurance too so you can look after everything in one place.

Remember, policy limits and exclusions apply – so always check your policy book.