Joining Motorways/Dual-Carraigeways?

**Timbuk2**

Why does this make me nervous?

I have driven on motorways quite a bit since I passed my test last April. Driving on the motorway is fine, but I always get quite worried before I merge onto it.

This is what I do.

Enter slip-road.
Begin accelerating immediately to somewhere between 110-120km/h. (even before I know how busy the road is)
As soon as I can view the road I will be merging onto, I start looking in my middle and right wing mirrors, examining how busy it is.
As soon as I arrive at the dashed lines, I signal right, even if I am not moving immediately over, e.g. adjusting speed to reach a gap (is this right?).
Keep checking mirrors and looking over my shoulder looking for a gap, and then I move in.

However, what I worry about is what if the motorway is very busy, and I can't get a gap? I've only ever joined a motorway (or a 120km/h dual carraigeway) about 30 or so times. I haven't had problems up until now, usually because the motorways I have driven on (which are only the M1 and the M6) are not that busy, or usually a car will move out into the adjacent lane to let me on.

If I can't get a gap, technically I have to stop, but realistically that's not an option. You can't merge onto a 120km/h motorway starting at 0km/h.

If I end up on the slip road directly beside a car in lane 1, who doesn't move over, should I accelerate to get ahead of it, or press the breaks and merge behind it? Is it situation dependent?

All of the merging lanes that I have used have been quite long, but some that I have seen (as a passenger in a car usually) are short - e.g. the M1 Airport Junction northbound - there are literally only dashed lines for a few metres, before the merging lane ends. What should you do if merging in this situation?

Also, a situation that bothers me. If the car in front of me on the slip-road is doddling along at 60km/h, seeimingly oblivious to the fact that he is trying to merge into traffic moving twice as fast, what should the following car (me) do? Just follow him on? Go even slower, wait until he merges, then boot it? Wait until he merges, then accelerate and merge in front of him (I'm guessing that last one is illegal though).

What about in the case of very slow-moving traffic on the dual carraigeway? I often see it on the N11 UCD Slip-road. Is this just a case of 1 car merges on, the next car waits, then someone lets him in, and so on. I'm guessing stopping isn't a big issue if the traffic is moving slowly.

Sorry for the essay. I'm the only one who seems to find merging difficult - everybody else says it's easy.
tl;dr - How do you join a busy motorway? What do you do if merging and you can't find a gap, and nobody moves out to let you on?

DriveSkill

To be honest you seem to have pretty much got it covered in your own post

The main things about merging onto a Motorway/Dual Carriageway are :

• Build up speed on the 'on-ramp' in an attempt to match the speed of the traffic on the Motorway when merging
• Do not merge until you get the broken line (surprising how many people seem to cross the hatch markings or solid white lines when merging!)
• Very important to check your blind spot before committing to merging into Lane-1, prior to this you should be using your mirrors and then using a right signal etc (even if there isnt a gap at that moment)
• Remember traffic on the Motorway has right of way so you should adjust your speed to find the gap - in some cases this means slow down and in other cases might mean speed up slightly.
• If it is particularly busy then in all likelyhood the speed will be slower on the road, in some cases in very heavy traffic it may actually be stopped or virtually stopped. In these cases, you should proceed to the end of the merging lane and then if all was going to plan people should use the 'zipper method' (i.e. one from the merging lane, then one from the main road, then one from the merging lane etc...) to merge the 2 lanes.
• One final point is, if you are actually on the Motorway then when approaching a merging slip road be aware of traffic attempting to merge and if possible move into lane 2 while passing the merging traffic to allow them easier access to Lane 1.

Midnight_EG

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Why does this make me nervous?

I have driven on motorways quite a bit since I passed my test last April. Driving on the motorway is fine, but I always get quite worried before I merge onto it.

This is what I do.

Enter slip-road.
Begin accelerating immediately to somewhere between 110-120km/h. (even before I know how busy the road is)
As soon as I can view the road I will be merging onto, I start looking in my middle and right wing mirrors, examining how busy it is.
As soon as I arrive at the dashed lines, I signal right, even if I am not moving immediately over, e.g. adjusting speed to reach a gap (is this right?).
Keep checking mirrors and looking over my shoulder looking for a gap, and then I move in.

However, what I worry about is what if the motorway is very busy, and I can't get a gap? I've only ever joined a motorway (or a 120km/h dual carraigeway) about 30 or so times. I haven't had problems up until now, usually because the motorways I have driven on (which are only the M1 and the M6) are not that busy, or usually a car will move out into the adjacent lane to let me on.

If I can't get a gap, technically I have to stop, but realistically that's not an option. You can't merge onto a 120km/h motorway starting at 0km/h.

If I end up on the slip road directly beside a car in lane 1, who doesn't move over, should I accelerate to get ahead of it, or press the breaks and merge behind it? Is it situation dependent?

All of the merging lanes that I have used have been quite long, but some that I have seen (as a passenger in a car usually) are short - e.g. the M1 Airport Junction northbound - there are literally only dashed lines for a few metres, before the merging lane ends. What should you do if merging in this situation?

Also, a situation that bothers me. If the car in front of me on the slip-road is doddling along at 60km/h, seeimingly oblivious to the fact that he is trying to merge into traffic moving twice as fast, what should the following car (me) do? Just follow him on? Go even slower, wait until he merges, then boot it? Wait until he merges, then accelerate and merge in front of him (I'm guessing that last one is illegal though).

What about in the case of very slow-moving traffic on the dual carraigeway? I often see it on the N11 UCD Slip-road. Is this just a case of 1 car merges on, the next car waits, then someone lets him in, and so on. I'm guessing stopping isn't a big issue if the traffic is moving slowly.

Sorry for the essay. I'm the only one who seems to find merging difficult - everybody else says it's easy.
tl;dr - How do you join a busy motorway? What do you do if merging and you can't find a gap, and nobody moves out to let you on?

DriveSkill wrote: »

To be honest you seem to have pretty much got it covered in your own post

The main things about merging onto a Motorway/Dual Carriageway are :

• Build up speed on the 'on-ramp' in an attempt to match the speed of the traffic on the Motorway when merging
• Do not merge until you get the broken line (surprising how many people seem to cross the hatch markings or solid white lines when merging!)
• Very important to check your blind spot before committing to merging into Lane-1, prior to this you should be using your mirrors and then using a right signal etc (even if there isnt a gap at that moment)
• Remember traffic on the Motorway has right of way so you should adjust your speed to find the gap - in some cases this means slow down and in other cases might mean speed up slightly.
• If it is particularly busy then in all likelyhood the speed will be slower on the road, in some cases in very heavy traffic it may actually be stopped or virtually stopped. In these cases, you should proceed to the end of the merging lane and then if all was going to plan people should use the 'zipper method' (i.e. one from the merging lane, then one from the main road, then one from the merging lane etc...) to merge the 2 lanes.
• One final point is, if you are actually on the Motorway then when approaching a merging slip road be aware of traffic attempting to merge and if possible move into lane 2 while passing the merging traffic to allow them easier access to Lane 1.

Would anybody be able to provide some insight into the part I've outlined in Timbuk2's post?




Also...Timbuk2, don't start... :P

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for the answers guys! DriveSkill, that was a great help!

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Would anybody be able to provide some insight into the part I've outlined in Timbuk2's post?


Also...Timbuk2, don't start... :P

In case someone doesn't get this, Midnight mentioned previously that he sometimes accelerates to get ahead of the slower car that merged on before him. I said that it can't be correct, as it's technically overtaking on the left. However, after I posted that I thought about it more and more. I have often seen cars that speed up when a car is directly beside them to merge in, especially when a bigger gap exists ahead of the car than behind it.

Is this allowed? Isn't it technically overtaking on the left? I too am confused about this point.

I guess merging is just something that comes with practice. I have been practicing, but sometimes there is no traffic that is near me, so it's quite easy (all I have to do is move into Lane 1, no adjusting of speed necessary), or somebody lets me out. I was practicing last weekend on the M1. There are two service stations near me so I joined the motorway, left at the service station, rejoined the motorway, left at the next exit, turned back and joined the motorway in the opposite direction (back towards where I came), left at the next service station, rejoined again and then left. In a way, I come across crazy by saying it, but I thought it was good practice to get 4 merges done in 10 minutes.

But as I said, sometimes it isn't great practice as there is no real adjustment needed to merge, depending on traffic and how courteous people behind are!

Midnight_EG

I knew you'd do that to me ^ :pac:

mardy_bum

Ha I actually have that fear aswell of not being able to join the motorway...suppose its best not to panic!

**Timbuk2**

I should have noted, I have no problem with changing lanes while on the motorway. If I can't move over straight away because there isn't a gap, I just wait until there is one and then change lanes.

It's the limited time of the merging lane that makes me nervous. You 'have' to get on the motorway within 200m or so (some of them are considerably shorter). I always think it's like crossing a road but not being allowed to stop and wait (a daft example, but the idea of needing to get a suitable gap in a short amount of time is what I mean).

There is very little room for error when it comes to joining a motorway. I'm amazed some form of it doesn't appear on the test. I understand that many parts of the country don't have motorways, e.g. the test centres that have closeby motorways (like Dundalk, etc.) should contain a small portion of the test on motorways.

I did consider getting a lesson with an ADI on motorways, but not only is it excessive but I think it would be a waste of money. As I said, I have no problems when I am on the motorway. I have driven over 600km on motorways, but that's mainly made up of long journeys on the one motorway!

Just to get an idea - am I doing this in the right order?

- Accelerate down the slip lane
- Once I am nearly parallel with the motorway, start checking in rear + right wing mirrors
- Signal right as I arrive to dashed lines
- Keep looking in mirrors, adjusting speed (using the brakes if necessary) for a gap
-Checking blindspot seconds before I move in


Should I be turning my head while looking for a gap, or should well-adjusted mirrors be sufficient for this?

Also, while I'm at it. When leaving a motorway, I start to signal left (after checking left mirror and rear mirror) at the 300m to the exit sign (3 crosses), and then check mirrors and left blindspot before I turn onto the exit lane. Is this right, or am I signalling too early/too late?

Alanstrainor

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Should I be turning my head while looking for a gap, or should well-adjusted mirrors be sufficient for this?

Also, while I'm at it. When leaving a motorway, I start to signal left (after checking left mirror and rear mirror) at the 300m to the exit sign (3 crosses), and then check mirrors and left blindspot before I turn onto the exit lane. Is this right, or am I signalling too early/too late?

I would probably check over my shoulder when coming to the end of the slipway to check for a gap. It's one of those things i never really put that much thought into! So i'm trying to figure out how i do things from memory!

I can't see any problem with the way you described exiting a motorway. I probably wouldn't indicate so early, but i wouldn't be far off. I can't see anything wrong with the way you do it tbh.

Joining a motorway is one of those things that there is no single answer, a lot of it will require you to adapt to the situation at hand.

I would say however, that if you are on the motorway and are coming up to an on ramp, try and move out of the driving lane to accommodate people joining. It may not be necessary all the time, but it's worth keeping in mind.

munchkin_utd

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

<snip> I have often seen cars that speed up when a car is directly beside them to merge in, especially when a bigger gap exists ahead of the car than behind it.

Is this allowed? Isn't it technically overtaking on the left? I too am confused about this point.

nope,
they are technically 2 separate roads.

Same as the opposite case of when 1 motorway splits into 2. You can go "past" a person on the other road, as they are on another road.

Its the same principle as on the M50 in Dublin.
Theres an auxilary lane between junctions (the sliplane doesnt end, it continues to the next junction) which is NOT part of the mainline so you can do a different speed there if you want.
It does look mad to be driving faster than the mainline traffic on the lane on the inside, but it is technically 100%. They are not the same road so a differential in speed is not overtaking.

One thing you missed in the maneuver, is to indicate that you are entering the mainline.
EDIT: i just see that you do mention signalling in a later post.

daveharnett

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Also, a situation that bothers me. If the car in front of me on the slip-road is doddling along at 60km/h, seeimingly oblivious to the fact that he is trying to merge into traffic moving twice as fast, what should the following car (me) do? Just follow him on? Go even slower, wait until he merges, then boot it? Wait until he merges, then accelerate and merge in front of him (I'm guessing that last one is illegal though).

This is about anticipation. You want to be watching for this at the very start of the slip. If a car is not accelerating as they should, slow right down early and give them a good head start so that you have room to accelerate to 100/120 by the merge line (and some room to spare).

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If I end up on the slip road directly beside a car in lane 1, who doesn't move over, should I accelerate to get ahead of it, or press the breaks and merge behind it? Is it situation dependent?

The best answer I think is try not to allow it to happen. I think the ideal is to control your speed (with the accelerator only) so that you are matching the car's speed after he passes you.

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

How do you join a busy motorway? What do you do if merging and you can't find a gap, and nobody moves out to let you on?

First of all, this scenario is pretty unusual, so don't lose sleep over it. If it's a long M50-type merge, just match speed and put on a indicator. Somebody will usually make room for you once they see that you won't hold them up. If you don't have a long merging lane, you are going to have to be assertive and make room for yourself:

Match speed with lane 1 justafter a car passes, indicate, and move out decisively (rather than suddenly) as close to the car in front as you can. Once you have established your position in the lane, drop your speed by a few km/h so that you gradually gain a correct separation distance with the car in front.

It's not ideal, as you need to spend a while uncomfortably close to the car in front, and it will cause a ripple in the speed of lane 1 behind you, but it's the safest way I know of.

Wishbone Ash

As daveharnett says, you need to be assertive and start merging slowly with indicator on. It will come to you with experience. The following motorist will let you in as they would expect the same themselves.

Don't spend too much time looking in the side mirror - always be on the lookout for vehicles parked on the hard shoulder ahead


At least in a standard car/van one can adjust the speed upwards to match the motorway speed.

Try merging in a truck (limited to 80kph) or a double deck bus or bus with standing passengers (limited to 65kph) onto a motorway where vehicles are travelling at twice that speed!!

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for the answer! I would imagine that would be tough in a truck or a bus!

Actually, another thing that was bothering me was the slip-road in a motorway services station near me (M1 Castlebellingham Northbound). The acceleration lane is very short, about 30 metres between when you leave a small roundabout and the point where you can move onto the carraigeway (dashed lines). This is an unusual circumstance though - what I usually do is just stay in the lower gears for a bit longer and try and accelerate as fast as I can. It's a 1.3L car by the way. I can usually get it up to near 90/100km/h by the time it's time to merge, which is usually sufficient and again, cars behind often move over to let me on!

highlydebased

Many people (myself included) move into the right hand lane if a car is observed about to merge with the motorway/dual carriageway out of safety/courtesy. In fact, usually that courtesy is returned.

brian076

One thing you should bear in mind, and it came up when I was doing the advanced driving test, is not to go into 5th gear before merging onto the motorway. Staying in 4th gives you more flexibility to accelerate quicker when merging.

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for the answers - I practiced a good bit over the past few weeks since writing this thread, and it has been going really well. Daveharnett's advice above about 'following' the car that you are going to merge behind was especially helpful - it's a simple idea, but it's easier to think about!

Brian, that's a good tip - I nearly always merge in 5th. It is a 1.3L car though, it's fairly strained even in 5th gear at motorway speeds though. The revs would be fairly high in 4th, I think. I'll try it anyway, it makes sense!

Thanks again!

munchkin_utd

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Brian, that's a good tip - I nearly always merge in 5th. It is a 1.3L car though, it's fairly strained even in 5th gear at motorway speeds though. The revs would be fairly high in 4th, I think. I'll try it anyway, it makes sense!

Dont worry about high revs
If you look at the rev counter theres a long way to go before you are in the red on a petrol car.

Petrol cars are not diesels.
They do not have great power at low revs.
You really need to get her into the higher regions of the rev counter to get the power you need at times.

Just be glad you normally have a sloped ramp to help you speed up onto a motorway with your 1.3L speed machine.
On the continent the acceleration lanes are normally on the flat and no length at all.
There its a case of flooring it in third(into that red zone ASAP!) and hoping for the best, and courtesy from traffic on the motorway to let you on!
Then straight into top gear once you are safely on the motorway.

**Timbuk2**

Yes the sloped ramps are helpful, but some of them are sloped upwards, which I don't like for two reasons. Firstly, it's harder to get up to speed when it's sloped upwards (i.e. the motorway is above where I start!) and secondly, you don't get a good view of the traffic on the motorway until you are almost at the merging point.

There are two Motorway Service stations near me, which have completely flat slip-roads that are very short, extremely difficult to get up to 120km/h. I can usually get to 80km/h or 90km/h, and the traffic usually adjust to let me on anyway.

Thanks for the reply!

**Timbuk2**

Just to update this! Getting along a lot better with this now after practicing - it's becoming second nature (or more likely is I'm just getting lucky that there isn't much traffic behind me when I actually go to merge)

There were M1 roadworks last week which provided interesting practice oppurtunities. I was heading northbound on the M1 and the traffic was down to one lane, which made it a bit more difficult to merge into. But traffic was going more slowly so it wasn't too bad.

Also, in the same roadworks, coming out of the northbound service station, the merging lane was cut off halfway with traffic cones, with a stop sign. I had to stop and wait to merge on at a sharp angle. Again, it wasn't too bad as I just waited until a large enough gap came, then drove onto the lane and accelerated quickly.

Actually fully appreciated how important a blindspot check is last week. I do the whole mirror check and blindspot check routine, but it's rare that there is something in my blindspot that I didn't actually see in the mirror, or at least anticipate on my way down. Before I moved onto the lane, upon checking my blindspot I could see a car in Lane 2 (overtaking lane) that was completely invisible in my mirrors, and I didn't see on the way down to the motorway.

I saw this video today. Shockingly dangerous not having a merging lane - makes me wonder what I am having difficulty with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OHIkYsXAw

J_R

Hi,

believe next TV safety video by the RSA will be on merging d'ways/m'ways

Will also be published here http://www.rotr.ie/videos.html