Top tips for motorway driving

Our top tips for navigating the motorway will make driving anxiety a thing of the past

You may not think it, but motorways are actually some of the safest roads in the UK. Of all the driving-related fatalities that happen here, only 5% occur on the motorway.

Surprised?

When you consider the high speeds, multiple-lane traffic and (sometimes) long distances that make up the motorway experience, you’d probably expect that percentage to be higher.

But the fact is that many of us can feel anxious about handling these elements safely, even if we normally find driving to be an easy, enjoyable experience.

So, if you’re suffering from a bit of motorway-related anxiety, you’re not alone. And the good news is, we’ve spoken to some industry experts to bring you the top tips for handling the motorway safely. 

Because while a 5% fatality rate is definitely lower than the national average, we should all do our bit to lower that risk even more.

How to overcome motorway driving anxiety

Match your speed when joining

We all know this is one of the worst parts of motorway driving; getting onto the road in the first place.

There’s nothing that can bring on a cold sweat more than coming off a slip road in the dark, only able to judge the position of oncoming traffic by the glare of headlights.

But it’s not just your responsibility to ensure a safe joining. Your fellow drivers play a key part in this too: those on the motorway will already have had advance warning that they are nearing a slip road.

It is their responsibility to make sure you have both time and space to join the road, by moving into another lane when it’s safe for them to do so.

So don’t be hesitant in your approach. Use your mirrors and try to match the speed of cars already on the motorway, so you don’t disrupt the flow of traffic.

There will be times when other drivers will struggle to let you join – usually during periods of high traffic where they are unable to move across – so do be prepared to slow down if it’s not safe.

But remember these times will be rare. Most of us are reasonable human beings who try and be accommodating on the road. 

Use your mirrors

Your mirrors are there for a reason. Learning to use them correctly was probably one of the first things you were taught by your driving instructor.

But it’s easy to become complacent once we have years of driving experience under our belts. Remember, the old ‘mirror, signal, manoeuvre’ is a cornerstone of safe driving practice.

And driving on the motorway? 

Using your mirrors correctly is essential to keep on top of the fast-moving traffic around you. This means checking both your wing and rear mirrors (and monitoring your blind spot) regularly.

By keeping an eye on your mirrors, you can get a good idea of the volume of traffic building up behind you. Some of these drivers will come up at speed and attempt to overtake in the next lane – so you need to know where they are.

Overtake safely

Speaking of overtaking; don’t do it unless you can do so safely.

You must always check your mirrors first, before you do anything else. Stay vigilant and look for a gap in the traffic to your right.

If there is one, look over your shoulder before you move – there may be a vehicle lurking in your blind spot.

When it’s safe and clear to move into the space, indicate that you are changing lanes and move out carefully. Don't be that person on the M25 who suddenly swerves into our lane without indicating (we hate that person). 

Though you should never undertake - and sometimes, we admit, it is tempting  when faced with the inevitable middle-lane hogger - you shouldn’t assume others won’t. It’s a dangerous manoeuvre, though regrettably not technically illegal.

So, take equal care when moving back to the inside lane once you have overtaken.

Take regular breaks

The signs on the edge of the motorway reminding us to take a break aren’t there for laughs.

Fatigue is real – and it kills.

While many of us like to think it’s not going to affect us, tiredness and exhaustion can have a huge impact on our ability to drive safely. It’s not something that can be sorted with a cup of coffee or a quick chug of an energy drink.

Even if you feel fine when you start your journey, the chances are you won’t feel so fresh after a few hours of driving. And motorway driving in particular requires intense concentration that can sap energy over long periods.

It doesn’t help that motorways are incredibly dull to look at.

Taking a break every two hours is a good rule to set yourself. 15 minutes at a service station for a quick walk around and some fresh air should be sufficient, without adding much time on to your journey. 

And if you happen to treat yourself to a fancy coffee while strolling around the service station, we won't tell anyone. The key thing is that a change of scenery and a chance to stretch your legs will refresh you for the onward journey. 

Keep your distance

It’s an old adage, but it’s a goodie. And one you should keep in mind for any journey, not just when driving on the motorway.

Keeping your distance from the car in front is a crucial part of safe driving.

But we spoke to Neil Worth, an expert at GEM Motoring Assist, who gave us a new insight into maintaining safe distance.

Neil said, “Drivers regularly place being tailgated at the top of the list of annoying, unpleasant and dangerous things they experience on the road.

“According to the Highway Code, if you’re driving at 70mph you will need a minimum of 96 metres to come to a stop. This relies on you being alert and able to react immediately to any potential problems you’ve spotted ahead. 

"Any sort of distraction will compromise that ability, meaning you will continue driving towards the problem at more than 60 metres per second.

“The two-second rule is a great guide, and it works because it’s time-based, not distance-based. There’s flexibility that matches your speed, so it doesn’t mean carrying a spreadsheet of distances and speeds around in your head.

“We know that some aggressive drivers deliberately choose a close-following position in an attempt to intimidate those in front of them. 

"Others may follow too closely simply because they’re not paying attention, or they’re not aware of the space they would need to stop if anything went wrong ahead of them. They don’t mean anyone else any harm, but they’re still putting lives at risk.”

So, what is the two-second rule and how do you put it to use?

For those not in the know, the two-second rule is an effective way you can actively measure the gap between yourself and the car in front of you on the road.

Allow the car in front to pass a fixed object like road sign, then count to two seconds. If you pass the reference marker before your count reaches two seconds, you’re too close to the car in front of you and you need to drop back.

It really is that simple. 

But remember – the gap increases with driving speeds and when roads are wet.

Additional tips to help you keep your distance:

• In wet weather, two seconds is bumped up to four. Reduced visibility means spotting hazards is harder and tyres have less grip on wet roads, so it takes longer to stop. It’s no different for modern cars with fantastic brakes. Effective and early braking still relies on observant and alert drivers.

• It’s a good idea to check your driver seating position to make sure you can brake hard when needed. A seat that’s too far forward or too far back can compromise this ability.

• Make a habit of observing what’s going on beyond the vehicle directly in front of you. The earlier you spot nasty surprises up ahead, the earlier you can brake.

• If you’re worried someone is following you too closely, leave plenty of extra room in front of you in your lane so you can lose speed gradually if needed.

Use your car safety features

The modern car is a wonder, with so many new safety features designed to assist you on the road.

And car leasing is a really great way to get access to these newer, safer models with active car safety built in. Head-up displays, traction control and visibility aids are just some of the clever features which can be included with your car.

While we would never suggest that these safety features are a replacement for your own vigilance on the road, it never hurts to take advantage of them either.

And there are certain features which are particularly well-suited for motorway driving, like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping technology.

Knowing what features you have available and how to use them may bring you some peace of mind as you approach the motorway.

And it might just make your journey safer and more comfortable too. 

Be confident

Finally, the most important piece of advice – and sometimes, admittedly the hardest to follow – is to trust in your driving skills.

As we mentioned earlier, motorways are some of the safest roads in the UK. It’s our fear of the unknown elements we may encounter on our journey that makes us wary of driving on them.

But by brushing up on safety essentials taught to you in your driving lessons and keeping the above tips in mind, you’ll be well equipped to deal with any bumps on the road (figuratively, not literally). And by the time you reach your destination, you’ll be wondering what you were feeling so anxious about.

Whether or not you have a personal car lease, or a business car lease you can proceed to the motorway with confidence.