First time on Motorway.

Co45

Quick question.

I recently got my full licence. I've been driving for a few months but never on a motorway. I have to drive to the airport tonight and the only thing that I'm worried about is merging into the motorway off slip roads.

Now I know I have to be going 120km coming off the slip road but I quess I'm worried what if no cars let me out and I run out of space??? How can you give right of way when your going 120km and running out of space????

Nerves are shot about this, HELP.

Absurdum

Co45 wrote: »

Now I know I have to be going 120km coming off the slip road

oh jesus

Mc Love

Depends on where you are coming from. Some parts of M50/M1 are 100kmh. And its up to you to determine what speed you need to be doing to merge safely. Observation etc

oxegen85

remember to stay in middle lane

blond45

Co45 wrote: »

Quick question.

I recently got my full licence. I've been driving for a few months but never on a motorway. I have to drive to the airport tonight and the only thing that I'm worried about is merging into the motorway off slip roads.

Now I know I have to be going 120km coming off the slip road but I quess I'm worried what if no cars let me out and I run out of space??? How can you give right of way when your going 120km and running out of space????

Nerves are shot about this, HELP.

thats your problem your to nervey. in that case someone should be with you . you might cause an accident. there are to many careless drivers out there, not saying you are but dont go on your own.

stealthyspeeder

You will be let on, hold your nerve, dont slow down on the slip road unless you really need to (only slow if your actually going to run onto the hard sholder, in that case stop and wait for the road to be clear), if you slow down on the slip road you actually make it more stressful and more likely that you wont be let in as nobody wants to stuck behind someone going really slowly!

neilthefunkeone

Note to self.. stay off M50

theteal

Absurdum wrote: »

oh jesus

ah give the lad a dig out, he said he's nervous and inexperienced. OP you should really go over the rules of motorway driving again now before you set off

where are you joining the M50? at night time the M50 really isn't that busy, this will probably be a great chance to increase your confidence. increase your speed coming down the ramp, the slip road is there to allow you adjust your speed to the traffic on the motorway. cars on the m50 will (should) be aware of cars coming down the on-ramp

my bet is, you'll do it easily and be wondering what the panic was over

Cookie_Monster

there is very very little difference in doing 120 on the motorway and 100 on a national road though, should be well used to that kind of speed by the time you passed your test!

corktina

ah give him a chance...

accelerate down the slip road and match your speed to the traffic in lane one, indicate right and pull decisivley into the best gap available which should (if the people in lane one can drive at all) open up for you by them either adjusting their speed or pulling into lane two.(you dont HAVE to do 120k btw)

well done on passing your test, NOW is when you REALLY start to learn.

stevenmu

Most of the M50 is now 100kph. Also, you do NOT have to get up to that speed to merge.

You should be aiming to be at the same speed as the traffic in the lane you are trying to merge with. Failing that just be at the right speed to make it into a big gap without forcing the car that will be behind you to brake. If you can't do that slow down until a gap appears. If you really have to just come to a stop at the end on the sliproad, do not force your way in.

Don't worry too much, in 8 odd years of driving I've never had to stop on the slip road, and I've only occasionally had to slow down by a small amount a few times. You should be fine going at 60 or 70 starting on the slip road, then when you spot your gap increase or decrease speed accordingly.

Maybe have someone who's more experienced with you to guide you.

L1011

oxegen85 wrote: »

remember to stay in middle lane

If your not being sarcastic, please remove yourself from the gene pool immediately.

KEEP LEFT unless overtaking. Ignore any morons who seem to assume you use the middle lane - if you can somehow use your mind to make them crash in to each other and die horribly and painfully, do...

cailineile13

Treat it like you would a filter lane onto a dual carriageway-it's the exact same, only difference is the speed.(and maybe an extra "slow" lane)
Coming down the slip road, get your speed up, check your mirrors, check your blind spot, indicate, and move into your lane at a decent speed.

Like someone else said, it should be fairly quiet if you're doing it tonight. It's like any other new experience when driving, it's kinda scary/unnerving the first time, but once you've done it, you'll wonder what you worried about....you'll be grand OP!:)

kazul

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

(only slow if your actually going to run onto the hard sholder, in that case stop and wait for the road to be clear)

Bad advice IMHO, merging from a stop on the hard shoulder is trickier than merging in motion from a slip road.

OP, go thru town onto the M1, no merging. Just watch for the lane change to the left to get to the airport. Take it easy and stay calm, you'll be fine.

My first time ever driving alone, and still on L plates, I took a wrong exit from a roundabout and ended up on the M50.
As long as you're not causing havoc or breaking the law don't worry too much or let other road users bully you.

There has to be a first time for everything

-Chris-

Can people be helpful to the OP rather than smart? If they take up your sarcastic advise as proper advice and get in trouble, you'd have a hand to play in that...

oxegen85

MYOB wrote: »

If your not being sarcastic, please remove yourself from the gene pool immediately.

KEEP LEFT unless overtaking. Ignore any morons who seem to assume you use the middle lane - if you can somehow use your mind to make them crash in to each other and die horribly and painfully, do...

my sarcasm mustnt be as good as I thought as this forum never talks/rants about the middle lane hoggers

but on a serious note it will be fine. when you are actually doing it you will think its easy and never think about it again on motorways

Big Nasty

What time do you reckon you'll be on the Motorway at OP? Probably a good chance it will be fairly quiet by the time you hit it at this stage. Chill and don't worry about it to much you'll be grand!

As someone already said most of the M50 is actually a 100 limit anyhow. In relation to coming off the slip road go as slow as you like until you see a big enough gap to join then merge in. Keep to the left lane unless and only move out to another lane when you are passing and move back in to the left lane once the manoeuvre is completed.

Best of luck!

stealthyspeeder

kazul wrote: »

Bad advice IMHO, merging from a stop on the hard shoulder is trickier than merging in motion from a slip road.

Driving on the hard sholder is illegal, stopping is what you are meant to do if you are not let on.

Of course its easier to merge when moving, thats why the majority of my post advised the OP not to slow down, the small bit in brackets which you singled out for comment is only if you are not let on. What would your advice be? drive on the hard shoulder? that would be illegal and IMO that would be bad advice.

kazul

Unless the M-way is moving at a crawl, around 30kmh for example , this should never apply. Speed matching and blind-spot checking are the crucial skills for merging.
I sometimes forget that I am one of the few considerate drivers who will temporarily move to the overtaking lane to allow others to merge safely.
I have never had to slow down considerably, never mind stop, to merge onto an M-way but I rarely use the M50 as I think the toll charges are a stealth tax.

Absurdum

Alright I'll try to be helpful, first off the OP didn't mention the M50, the airport is just off the M1 where the speed limit ranges between 60 km/h and 120 km/h depending on where the OP is coming from. You need to be matching the speed of traffic already on the motorway to join it smoothly - there's no point in accelerating to 120 km/h if the traffic is crawling by at 50 km/h! I wasn't trying to be a smartarse with my "oh jesus" thing - seriously if you are this nervous about it you should really take someone experienced with you, or else get some practice in on a less busy motorway. No time like the present either, traffic should be reasonably light at this time of night so out you go!

bigbadbear

Its like a giant game of frogger.

1: see gap
2: go to gap
3: match speed of gap
4: Move in

Its absolutely crazy that someone has to come on the internet to find out how to drive on a road after they've passed their test. When will they realise that motorways are just like any other road and should be part of the test.

gooch2k9

cos not every county has a motorway so how do ya intend on that workin bigbadbear?

bigbadbear

Everyone should have to do their test in dublin.................

Only messin. I meant the test should have a separate theory part that goes thoroughly through motorway driving. I drive a serious amount of miles on motorways and from what I can see more people than not have no idea how to use them.

When I see people sitting on the horn as they undertake a guy who is trodding along obliviously in the overtaking lane it makes me laugh because the majority of people dont even know why they are being beeped at.

-Chris-

OP, here's everything you need to know:

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/index.html

L1011

gooch2k9 wrote: »

cos not every county has a motorway so how do ya intend on that workin bigbadbear?

Mayo, Cavan and Kerry are the only counties left with no dual carraigeway of any description. Going by your username you might be in one of those though! Although Kerry has one under construction.

R.O.R

If the OP is coming off the M50 then they don't need to merge at all. Once past the Ballymun exit keep going in to the left most lane as soon as it appears (and you can enter - not across hash marks) and that takes you all the way to the airport roundabout.

If coming from the Port Tunnel you have to merge in to the M50/M1 slip once past the M50 junction. At rush hour in the evening this is very, very heavy so you want to be in the left lane, let people on to the M1 from the M50 slip and then merge in to the Airport slip once past the hash marks.

If coming from the North, take the Airport slip road and right at the roundabout. This is the worst scenario though as you have to cross at least one lane where there might be faster traffic coming from the left. The Slip from the Roundabout brings you in to the lane that ends up right turn only at the Airport roundabout. Heading to Santry from the M1 this way can be a bit hairy if traffic is heavy as you only have about 300m to cross from the outside (4th lane) to the inside lane.

Big Nasty

I would say he's done the journey by now!

How did you get on OP?

Co45

Hey guys, thanks for those who gave me helpful responses. It was fine in the end

Though on the way back I mistakenly missed my turn off for the city centre and ended up going southbound on the M50 all the way to Tallaght.....I was going to Harold's Cross!!!

Big Nasty

Co45 wrote: »

Hey guys, thanks for those who gave me helpful responses. It was fine in the end

Though on the way back I mistakenly missed my turn off for the city centre and ended up going southbound on the M50 all the way to Tallaght.....I was going to Harold's Cross!!!

Well done OP!

That M1/M50 junction isn't terribly well laid out / signposted. I've done the same myself!

Absurdum

don't forget to pay the toll!

cynder

I was joining the motorway the other day and was not let out and had to continue driving on hard shoulder for another 150 meters before i could enter the 1st motor way lane.

i did not stop because 1 i would have to get up to speed to enter motor way lane (cant enter motorway lane at 50kph you need to be doing at least 80 -120 kph depending on traffic flow and speed) and 2 what if a car was behind me it would run into the arse end of me.

To join the motorway keep an eye in your drivers side mirro and indicate your intentions to enter motorway lane get to speed with the other cars , you may have to slow or go faster depending on the other cars speeds to be able to move out on to motorway when there is space. there is a long enough run off so you shouldnt have to drive on hard shoulder.

my advice go with the flow and yuor senses should tell you when its safe to pull out. ( i went to the uk last year and was terrified of the 3 lane motorways it was fine, but the double roundabouts were a little wierd)

R.O.R

grindelwald wrote: »

I was joining the motorway the other day and was not let out and had to continue driving on hard shoulder for another 150 meters before i could enter the 1st motor way lane.



To join the motorway keep an eye in your drivers side mirro and indicate your intentions to enter motorway lane get to speed with the other cars , you may have to slow or go faster depending on the other cars speeds to be able to move out on to motorway when there is space. there is a long enough run off so you shouldnt have to drive on hard shoulder.

I've been driving 16 years, and completed 100,000's of KM's on Motorways across Europe, never once have I had to drive in a hard shoulder when trying to enter a motorway.

If traffic was moving so slow that you had to continue 150m down the hard shoulder then you were going too fast.

If traffic was light and you couldn't get on to the Motorway because someone on the main carriageway wouldn't give way, then you really should surrender your licenece and leave the roads free for people who can drive.

corktina

Its no big deal, you position your car ahead of a car in the inside lane and indicate your intention to pull in to the gap, and then do so...if he can drive at all he will make sure he isnt in the way...

cynder

traffic was heavy and fast, the lane leading on to motor way is very short maybe 200m at the most, doesnt give you much time at 100kph to join the motor way, and traffic in co clare dont let anyone out.

if i see someone entering motorway i will go into the second lane (if clear) and let them enter.

the trouble wth ennis to limerick motorway is the lanes leading off and on to motorway are way too short (except the run off to the main ennis town) so much so you have to slow down to 80kpm before entering the exit lane - ( tulla rd and barefield turn offs) otherwise you will end up the embankment, which many cars have done. (not me).

the road was a dual carriageway and was made for such (100kph) and when upgraded to a motorway they never extended the enter/exit lanes, which really they should have done. hence having to go a little further up the hard shoulder to enter the motorway, we dont have mile long run off that you do up in dublin. and thats once in my whole life that i did it so dont condem me for it.

im sure you have screwed up once here and there but of course it was the other persons fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! prehaps over took a tractor on a white line. gone over on a just turned red light because you didnt bother stopping on the yellow light thinking oh ill make it or maybe pulling into a yellow box when not turing right and being stuck there. prehaps you have done 55 in a 50 speed limit, or 110 in a 100 speed limit or 140 in a 120 speed limit. took the wrong lane at the roundabout or prehaps cut infront of a lorry into his braking space, drove with a bald tyre, skidded on ice. picked you nose at the wheel. parked on double yellows. talked on your mobile phone when driving. SO GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE NO ONE IS PERFECT. there are so many other faults i could quote but i have things to do.

I could of pulled out onto the motor way that day but do you know what if i did i would of hit a car, i waited until i had a safe space to get into and adjusted my speed to such.

Henry Ford III

grindelwald wrote: »

traffic was heavy and fast, the lane leading on to motor way is very short maybe 200m at the most, doesnt give you much time at 100kph to join the motor way, and traffic in co clare dont let anyone out.

if i see someone entering motorway i will go into the second lane (if clear) and let them enter.

the trouble wth ennis to limerick motorway is the lanes leading off and on to motorway are way too short (except the run off to the main ennis town) so much so you have to slow down to 80kpm before entering the exit lane - ( tulla rd and barefield turn offs) otherwise you will end up the embankment, which many cars have done. (not me).

the road was a dual carriageway and was made for such (100kph) and when upgraded to a motorway they never extended the enter/exit lanes, which really they should have done. hence having to go a little further up the hard shoulder to enter the motorway, we dont have mile long run off that you do up in dublin. and thats once in my whole life that i did it so dont condem me for it.

im sure you have screwed up once here and there but of course it was the other persons fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! prehaps over took a tractor on a white line. gone over on a just turned red light because you didnt bother stopping on the yellow light thinking oh ill make it or maybe pulling into a yellow box when not turing right and being stuck there. prehaps you have done 55 in a 50 speed limit, or 110 in a 100 speed limit or 140 in a 120 speed limit. took the wrong lane at the roundabout or prehaps cut infront of a lorry into his braking space, drove with a bald tyre, skidded on ice. picked you nose at the wheel. parked on double yellows. talked on your mobile phone when driving. SO GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE NO ONE IS PERFECT. there are so many other faults i could quote but i have things to do.

I could of pulled out onto the motor way that day but do you know what if i did i would of hit a car, i waited until i had a safe space to get into and adjusted my speed to such.

You should have stopped then I think. Driving on the hard shoulder is a no no.

Cookie_Monster

grindelwald wrote: »

the road was a dual carriageway and was made for such (100kph) and when upgraded to a motorway they never extended the enter/exit lanes, which really they should have done. hence having to go a little further up the hard shoulder to enter the motorway, we dont have mile long run off that you do up in dublin. and thats once in my whole life that i did it so dont condem me for it.

but DC in Ireland are designed to well over 100, just because you can only go 100 is nothing to do with design and as such entry and exits lengths are suitable

Mc Love

Went off on a rant there for nothing grindel!

cynder

ok if i stopped at the end of the runoff how the hell am i suppose to join the motorway because i cant join at 5 kph. im sure all of you would love comming up behind me. say for instance you had a flat you pull over to the hard shoulder and stop, change your tyre and then start up gather speed (while on hard shoulder) then get back on. you dont just pull out doing 5kph and then gather speed.

i also know driving on the hard shoulder is a no no. just like all the other stuff that i mentioned.

r.o.r. must be put up for the worlds best driver. michael schumacher even run into the back of a lorry while changing the radio station.

rant rant rant but the fact is im sure r.o.r. like 100% of other drivers have broken rules of the road a some point. you wanna call me the worlds worst driver fine 11 years and no points says something different. i could have joined the motorway earlier but i probably wouldnt be writing this if i did.

bigbadbear

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You should have stopped then I think. Driving on the hard shoulder is a no no.

Its not really a no no. In fact i think in this situation it is one of the most minimal of all traffic offences. I would never ever stop on a slip road because i'm not suicidal!!!!

cynder

M18 creates a new fast track for local motorists


News
Claire Gallagher

Drivers in Clare are going faster than ever before - and it’s legal.
On Friday last, the majority of the N18 dual carriageway became the M18, as motorists are now allowed to drive up to 120 kilometres.
Learner drivers will no longer be able to use this route from Barefield to Ennis, however, as it is now one of the country’s designated motorways. The 12.5km of the Ennis bypass, along with the 8.3 kilometre dual carriageway from Shannon to Ennis, make up the new motorway status.
This motorway will be extended even further with the opening of the Crusheen and Gort bypass.
Once completed, the M18 will link Oranmore in County Galway to Limerick city.
As well as the Gort to Crusheen dual carriageway currently under construction, the Oranmore to Gort route currently in planning will complete the project.
While the opening up of the road as a motorway is welcomed by motorists, concerns regarding safety continue to be raised.
Chief among those with ongoing questions is Ennis County and Town Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG).
While the councillor is happy that the motorway is up to standard, he believes that the slip roads are not adequate - particularly the Barefield and Tulla exits.
Despite assurances from the National Roads Authority (NRA) that it carried out a series of safety tests on the new motorway, the former fire chief and civil engineer said the geometic designs are too short in length to exit and access the motorway. He said this is especially difficult for commercial vehicles.
He said the addition of reflective dividers at the exit to the motorway indicates that the NRA recognised there was an issue.
The councillor also added that the NRA should also improve the signage on the dual carriageway to give motorists adequate notice of turn-offs.

http://www.clarepeople.com/index.php/20090902278/This-Weeks-News/M18-creates-a-new-fast-track-for-local-motorists.html


thats for you who say i was wrong

cynder

Ennis concerns over increase in speed limit for bypass

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PAT FLYNN and TIM O'BRIEN
AS THE Department of Transport prepares to formally redesignate a number of the State’s new dual-carriageways as motorways, concern has arisen in Co Clare that the Ennis bypass is not suitable for the increased speeds.
The redesignation will involve a number of new dual-carriageways across the State, which the National Roads Authority says were built to motorway standards, being redesignated in a move which will raise the speed limit for motorists from 100km/h to 120km/h.
However, locals in Co Clare claim that the Ennis dual-carriageway, where the speed limit will increase from this Friday, was originally intended to cater for speeds up to 80km/h and is not designed for or safe enough for anything higher.
Retired consultant engineer Nigel Barnes said he believed elements of the bypass were “frightening and totally inappropriate” to cater for speeds of 120km/h.
Mr Barnes said: “At an oral hearing during the consultation process prior to work commencing on the Ennis bypass project, documentation was produced which clearly stated that the design speed limit for the route would be 50m/h [80km/h].”
Clare County Councillors Brian Meaney (Green) and Johnny Flynn (Fine Gael), a civil engineer and former chief fire officer for Co Limerick, have already called for a full safety audit of the project to be undertaken before the redesignation of Ennis bypass goes ahead.
Cllr Meaney sought Mr Barnes’s advice on planning matters relating to the project after issues were raised by locals in the Barefield area, near Ennis, about aspects of the project.
Mr Barnes, who has worked on other road projects in Ireland, said: “This route was originally designed to cater for speeds of no more than 50m/h. If the Ennis bypass is upgraded to motorway and has a speed limit of 120km/h, people will get hurt.”
He said the slip roads at the Tulla Road interchange in Ennis and at Barefield further north were too short and dangerous to cater for motorists slowing down from 120km/h.
Several collisions have already occurred at both locations.
However, a spokeswoman for the National Roads Authority said the road was fully tested for compliance with motorway design, including the interchanges, prior to a recommendation being made that they be redesignated.
She said the authority was aware of the concern locally, and the authority had arranged to reassess its designation for the Ennis bypass.


see its not only me!!!!!!!!!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194826.html

Henry Ford III

bigbadbear wrote: »

Its (driving on the hard shoulder) not really a no no.

Oh it is, and it's also a specified penalty points offence.

LordSutch

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Note to self.. stay off M50

And turn off your "Front Fog Lights" :mad:

Unless its foggy of course ...............

R.O.R

grindelwald wrote: »

r.o.r. must be put up for the worlds best driver.

Thank you, thank you, you're far too kind.

If you don't mind though it's R.O.R - I didn't go to the trouble of capitalising the initials for nothing you know

grindelwald wrote: »

i could have joined the motorway earlier but i probably wouldnt be writing this if i did.

I find it hard to believe that there was no opportunity for the length of the slip road to pull in to a gap. If traffic was steadily moving at high enough speed in the inside lane, then there has to be a decent gap in between cars. Indicator on and someone will create a gap for you.

Alanstrainor

Camelot wrote: »

And turn off your "Front Fog Lights" :mad:

Unless its foggy of course ...............

Christ. Any more talk of foglights in a thread without even a mention of lights of any kind, and people are getting banned.

cynder

I find it hard to believe that there was no opportunity for the length of the slip road to pull in to a gap. If traffic was steadily moving at high enough speed in the inside lane, then there has to be a decent gap in between cars. Indicator on and someone will create a gap for you.[/QUOTE]

R.O.R
You must be joking, hardly anyone down here lets you out. indicator was on and i had to bide my time before i had a space to get into. down here there are few drivers that let you out, even getting out of the estate can take 3 mins and that when there is only your car when your stuck behind 3 cars 10 mins, the flow of traffic on tulla road is the worst in ennis.

corktina

grindelwald wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that there was no opportunity for the length of the slip road to pull in to a gap. If traffic was steadily moving at high enough speed in the inside lane, then there has to be a decent gap in between cars. Indicator on and someone will create a gap for you.

R.O.R
You must be joking, hardly anyone down here lets you out. indicator was on and i had to bide my time before i had a space to get into. down here there are few drivers that let you out, even getting out of the estate can take 3 mins and that when there is only your car when your stuck behind 3 cars 10 mins, the flow of traffic on tulla road is the worst in ennis.[/QUOTE]

you signal your intention and you do it....you dont have to wait til someone lets you out, if you get your nose in front, thats enough....be positive and they will make a space for you...

cynder

JUST BECAUSE YOU INDICATE DOES NOT MEAN OR GIVE YOU RIGHT OF WAY.

RIGHT OF WAY IS FOR THE CARS ALREADY ON THE MOTOR WAY NOT THE ONES JOINING THE MOTORWAY.

IF I DID THAT I WoULD BE DEAD ALREADY!!!!!!

Taken form rules of the road,

Use the acceleration lane to build up your speed before merging into traffic on the motorway.
Signal early to other motorists that you intend to merge.
As you approach on the slip road, check in your mirrors and your blind spot for a safe gap in traffic in the left-hand lane of the motorway.
Obey road signs and road markings.
Do not drive on hatch markings before merging into traffic on the motorway.
Give way to traffic already on the motorway.
Adjust your speed as you join the motorway so you match, as near as possible, the general speed of traffic in that lane.

Padraig Mor

grindelwald wrote: »

You must be joking, hardly anyone down here lets you out..

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you find that you regularly cannot join a motorway without being "let out" by others, you really need to get back to driving school.

Henry Ford III

I've used that piece of motorway, and the acceleration lanes.

The volume of traffic isn't that heavy ever, and in my view a driver of average ability and perception should be well able to join the driving lane without incident.

R.O.R

corktina wrote: »

you signal your intention and you do it....you dont have to wait til someone lets you out, if you get your nose in front, thats enough....be positive and they will make a space for you...

Now that's just asking for trouble. If you tried that with me, you'd end up travelling down the hard shoulder until you pulled in behind - that's unless you are the git in the dump truck who did that to me on the M1 this morning. Discretion is better than valour in that case.

There is a difference between making a definite move, and just being a bully.