How to Leave a UK Motorway

[@andrewc6380]

I’d also say, that’s a nice quiet motorway, on a busier day, I’d be getting into lane 1 much earlier than the 300yd marker for fear of missing my exit

[@scottselby7655]

There might not have been a gap to pull in to in time before the 300 marker

[@alex-simpson]

​@@scottselby7655there was. He could have pulled in half a mile before the exit, and to my mind he probably should have done. Can't stand people leaving it that late.

[@scottselby7655]

@@alex-simpson I was in agreement, he shouldn't have left it that late to pull in, in case there wasn't room to pull in at the 300 yard marker

[@billpugh58]

I agree, although Audi drivers leave the fast lane at the 100 marker and push in with hi beam on @@alex-simpson

[@Afif.anNayem.asSalafi]

​@@scottselby7655mate its a motorway, if your vehicle can pump it, go for it. Because, why not? He wasn't over the limit at any point was he?

[@Manu-Official]

The UK has a nice road sign system, but the sheer amount of potholes everywhere is a disgrace...

[@Adamadam-tc1qg]

Not on the motorways... UK motorways are number 1 in the world in terms of safety and quality

[@yeahyeah4433]

I agree but yeah not on the motorway as much, the faster the road the more they’re looked after, generally. Lot of 60 B roads that have huge potholes tho which is fucked

[@hp2084]

​@@Adamadam-tc1qgI think I have seen potholes on motorways as well.

[@garymilne8900]

@@hp2084 no you havent,
if one appears the lane is closed and the pot hole repaired as a matter of urgency,
but thanks for playing

[@hp2084]

@@garymilne8900 lol.. that for being an idiot.

[@magneticman245]

Its worth mentioning that unlike with dual carriageways and other fast roads, a motorway slip road is usually quite long, so there's no need to start slowing down at all until after you've left the motorway. This differs from other roads where you may need to start slowing on the carriageway before you get onto the slip road.

[@jackwatsonepic626]

That's right "
but I'm afraid some people ,
who have got somebody else to pass their test for them .
won't know this .

[@dahorn100011]

There are some exceptions. The M50 being converted from an A road. The slip roads are very short and very narrow

[@the90sfattyfromtakethat]

Hate when idiots slow right down, more dangerous than speeding.

[@the90sfattyfromtakethat]

@@jackwatsonepic626never did motorway driving when I passed my test! Then again the wheel hadn’t long been invented 😂

[@andrewdouglas1963]

Cars yes, but with HGVs, it's good practice and more efficient to let the momentum of the vehicle slow you down as much as possible before breaking.

[@ibs5080]

I'd also add:
1. Check left mirror for any crazy person coming down the hard shoulder (e.g. stolen car joyriding, police chase, speeding motorbike etc)
2. After signalling left, position yourself more towards the left of lane 1 whilst still fully in it.
3. Get into the slip road from the very moment it starts. I see many drivers casually drift into it well after it's starting point. The sooner you are in the slip road, the earlier you are out of the way of following traffic.

[@kentondoeslife]

I went on the M1 for the first time today. These are great tips!

[@ibs5080]

@@kentondoeslife Well I'm glad it helped. Safe travels!

[@pigswillbepigs]

Not to mention the skys just incase a plane has a malfunction and needs to land on the motorcycle.

[@ibs5080]

@@pigswillbepigs I knew there was a reason why some cars have panoramic sunroofs. 😀

[@pigswillbepigs]

@@ibs5080 why else. You win todays stupid prize 🏆

[@ibs5080]

Curious to ask:
I heard you signal when moving from Lane 2 to 1 around the 300 yard mark. I can't hear but did you briefly cancel your left signal once you'd moved into Lane 1 and reapply it shortly thereafter for the upcoming exit? Or did you leave your left signal on for both manouvres?
Reason I ask is, I've been told that it's best to not use one continuous signal application to cover two distinct manouvres. For one thing, other road users may not be sure if you do indeed intend to carry out a second manouvre or whether you simply forgot to cancel after the first manouvre. Cancelling and re-applying signal removes any ambiguity and attracts more attention

[@amyk9813]

I recently sat in with police DTU and thr instructor made clear you do not use the same signal for two different manouveres. So you should cancel and reapply. Hope this answers your question!

[@ibs5080]

@@amyk9813 Thank You Amy. You've confirmed what I already believe and practice. Still awaiting a response from Reg as to what he did in this situation as far as signalling is concerned.

[@takaedzachirowodza601]

Yeah he cancelled it and switched it in again

[@garymilne8900]

@@ibs5080 no need to signal when changing from 2 to 1 and no need to signal when exiting the motorway,
if you think im wrong, let me know who benefits from those signals.

[@jonathanlawson5717]

@@garymilne8900 ??? The person behind you in the first lane who now needs to slow to allow for a 2 second gap?

[@gbhxu]

Personally would have just stayed in the first lane that last mile.

[@kerraptregolls4929]

So would I

[@jeffreyfearn5662]

Depends on if you have a slow moving vehicle in front

[@gbhxu]

@@jeffreyfearn5662 I feel it's safer to stay in lane 1 rather than hope you can get back into lane 1 from lane 2. The few seconds that you save aren't really worth the risk.

[@renral69]

That's possibly because your not very confident or competent or experienced?
He was safe and had a very large margin for error, plenty of space and time. The gap he pulled into with good speed not to hinder the van behind was huge.

[@htimsid]

No, it's because we / I have had enough experience of unexpected traffic / road situations which make a safe, later exit less relaxed. @@renral69

[@grahammearns5492]

I'd be in lane 1, ready to exit, at the 1/2 mile. I think the 300 yard marker is too late to get into lane 1.

[@gbhxu]

I'd have just stuck behind the white van until the exit. You couldn't be sure that you'd get back into lane 1 on time to make the exit

[@Jarv263]

I always get in lane 1/2 mile from the exit, makes it easier to create room for people like this guy jumping in last second.

[@deang5622]

Nah, not necessary as you are driving with a safe distance of 2 seconds or more between you and the vehicle in front, so plenty of room for another vehicle to pull in in front of you.

[@Jarv263]

@@deang5622 if you’re leaving a 2 second gap infront of you for safety, and a car jumps in it, that’s no longer a safe gap.

[@deang5622]

@@Jarv263 I knew one idiot was going to come out with your assertion. Turned out to be you didn't it?
Who is in charge of driving the vehicle? The passenger, God, the milkman your wife ran off with because he was more intelligent than you, or the driver?
It is not a trick question.
So answer this question, as the driver of the car where another vehicle has pulled in to the safety gap between you and the vehicle in front, what you should you do?
A) Sound your horn at the vehicle now in front of you in annoyance
B) Pull out your water pistol you keep in the glove box for occasions like this and give the car in front a good squirt
C) Pull out your Glock 9mm pistol and fireoff a couple of live rounds at the new vehicle in front of you because this is more effective than the water pistol
D) Close the gap between you and the vehicle in front and ram him, to send him a message
E) Increase the gap between you and the new vehicle in front of you to restore that safety distance?
Easy question, easy answer. And something you should have thought of before you made your ridiculous post.

[@robp1316]

A nice video telling you how not to exit a motorway. Should be over from the half mile marker not the 300 yd marker.

[@simonleeofficial]

Agree

[@Puddingtops]

Why do a lot of people start indicating when they’ve straddling the broken white lines on the slip road exit instead of the 300 yard marker ?

[@ibs5080]

Yes and if you are following such a driver, it can invariably result in you moving out to Lane 2 to overtake them, only to find they are exiting the motorway after all. Had they given advanced warning of this, you could have just stayed in lane 1 until they cleared it by their exiting. As a result of this scenario and depending on the situation and relative speeds, I sometimes will remain in Lane 1 when approaching an exit and a slower vehicle in front of me...and wait to see if they exit. Of course, this also involves having to slow down if I'm catching up with them. But it has saved me making two lane changes on a number of occasions.

[@hotdoug1000]

To let you know they've used the exit silly! 😂

[@hotdoug1000]

They must also be the person that doesn't indicate right to exit a junction until they start moving into the main carriageway. By that time it was too late, you've moved and not let anyone know where you wanted to go but did let everyone know you're incompetent.

[@user-mv5zt8qd9l]

Because they know they "need" to use a signal to turn but have zero awareness of how to _actually_ use that signal

[@colinmccormack1728]

Under normal circumstances, why does anyone indicate when joining a motorway? What else are they going to do? Bonus question why do they do so by indicating turning right when in fact they are actually turning left at a very obtuse angle.

[@pigswillbepigs]

I will stick to my way. Be in lane 1 at or about the mile marker. As for the “late exit vehicles, just say watch for Audis doing the lane 321 exit in 20 ft.

[@joshuatk59]

Exactly, leaving it all the way up to the 300yd marker could easily make you one of the ‘late exit’ people if there’s not enough of a gap to merge.

[@pigswillbepigs]

@@joshuatk59 “late exit people” how very polite. You really mean Audi and BMW drivers. 😂😂😂✌🏻👍

[@onkouth]

Lol, before reading your comment I actually said a very similar thing in my own.

[@tomdarling-fernley3178]

Yep. Depends a lot on traffic levels. The video is of a nice quiet motorway. This method would need changing for, say, coming off the M25 to the southbound M11 at 8am on a weekday.

[@pigswillbepigs]

@@tomdarling-fernley3178 I’m also aware my approach would have to change should I decide to drive in say France. Now why didn’t you point that out instead of a M25 comment, who cares about fools on the M25.

[@billcrookston]

Start left signal at the 300 yard sign and keep it on until your tyres are off the motorway.

[@fizzhogg23]

No

[@DrivermanO]

Keep indicator on until you reach where there is reservation between the motorway and slip road, ie until there is no possibility of going back on motorway

[@hashamahmed7918]

Make sure you get into lane 1 to the 300 yards marker in front of a lorry. Don’t pick the right lane nice and early. Leave it to the 300 yards marker. Instructor needs instructions.

[@flyingbeep]

It's real nice that the UK has somewhat standard 3-1 hundred yard signs, it helps get you into the habit of being in lane 1 at the right time even if you can't see the exit around the vehicle ahead.
I'll never really get used to imperial distances from metric, but just knowing there's a standard marking is good enough to visualise what's ahead.

[@trueriver1950]

The right shoulder check on exit is a useful to that I have never thought of doing. You might just have saved my life. Thank you. Liked.

[@MrSnowMen]

Great video,
LATE EXIT is the politest way I have heard of discribing that kind of muppet. ;-)
Attempting to keep the 2 second rule too.
Sorry lorry behind me, THUD,
And the muppet drives away oblivious to what he did.
Please keep them coming. Drive safe.

[@ryanbenson1260]

I aim to be in lane 1 a mile before the exit, just in case there isn't a gap big enough.

[@stevied653]

I would say the 300 yard marker is a late exit also

[@LeDoucheBouche]

Here's a thing that some people don't seem to grasp. 60 miles per hour means 1 mile per minute meaning that if you are doing 70 you have less than a minute before the exit. Half mile marker... less than 30 seconds. Is that overtake worth it? Really? How badly do you need the toilet? Because that's what I assume. Nobody needs to drive like that and it's a shame others have to make allowances for it because traffic would flow better if people were less arrogant and impatient.

[@onkouth]

The right shoulder check is there to help you avoid the speeding Audi that is cutting across you from the 3rd lane, 50yrds from the end of the exit lane!

[@janebrown7231]

On the exit road, if you are in the left lane of the two slip lanes, do not change to the right lane until the Armco barrier is alongside you.
Yes, you have already checked that no vehicle is doing a last minute manoeuvre trying to exit, but this rule ensures it's impossible.

[@crunch8484]

Easiest method is to think in time, not distance. At 60mph, a mile is 60 seconds, so just adjust that number if you're faster or slower, and then start counting when you pass the first sign. You'll discover you have way more time to get to lane 1 than you realised.

[@L-mo]

great tips, and things that don’t get taught in the regular driving instructions which exclude motorways ( freeways) in the UK

[@MrCobo04]

Was told. At the 300,200 and 100 markers. Get in lane by 300 marker. Indicate at 200 marker and prepare to exit at 100 marker

[@stephenwillis9518]

You entered lane 1 and exited the motorway using 1 turn signal. The 2 individual movements should have been clearly distinct with a gap in between to clearly show 2 separate manoeuvres.

[@stumo8681]

No need to signal left to return to lane one.
Only time a left signal is required on a motorway is to leave it.

[@stephenwillis9518]

@@stumo8681 correct on an A road, on a motorway a left indication is required.

[@stephenwillis9518]

Well that was what I was taught on my driving lessons over 10 years ago .....

[@stumo8681]

@@stephenwillis9518 nope same for a motorway.

[@jensschroder8214]

1 mile is 1.6 km.
1/2 mile is 800m.
100 yards are 91.5 meters.
In Europe the signs are at 2km, 1km
and the stripes every 100 metres.
And we drive on the right side

[@alexmaddox2255]

At national speed limit you've got about 60 seconds to safely get into lane 1 before exiting. 60 seconds is a long time if you count it down properly.

[@michaelma3385]

The moment you said right shoulder check should actually focus exiting as soon as the road marking start, to some people, after checking it's already 50 yards late and realized they miss the exit, then they become the "late exiter" you mention

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

Aim to be on the inside lane BEFORE the 1/2 mile sign. At 70mph you have just under 30 seconds before you get to the junction. Anything less and you are cutting it too close.

[@simonblades]

The indicating at the 300 yard marker has always stuck with me since learning back in 2007

[@HarmonicaMustang]

Couple more things:
- Maintain your speed if safe to do so until you're completely on the sliproad. Helps left-lane traffic flowing smoothly, keeps you safer.
- Check your left mirror and blind spot as well. You never know if there's an undercutting motorcyclist or someone using the hard shoulder (legally or illegally).
- You don't have to move into the slip road as soon as it appears. If you need to be in the right lane on the slip road, stay on the motorway a little longer and do the manouvre hugging the right side rather than the left. Makes you more predictable and safer in case someone is trying to pull a quick overtake as you're moving to the right side on the slip road.
- Get into the left lane ready for exiting earlier. The 300 yard marker should be the point at which you're indicating to turn off, not getting into the left lane. Remember, you should keep a 2 second gap in front in dry conditions, and double it in wet conditions. When chaning lanes, you are unlikely to have that gap already there, so move over earlier (2 miles is a good buffer), and expand your distance as you approach the slip road. The exit may be busy and you may hit stationary traffic before it. Give yourself options, you'll be wasting seconds at most which is negligable.

[@daveh166]

Be interesting to know if you left enough braking space for the van you pulled in front of because it seems like you pulled in rather close

[@paulsengupta971]

Not really, and he was going quite a bit faster so would have been well in front.

[@daveh166]

@paulsengupta971 see what you mean about speed but looking at the video it does seem like he didn't give much space. Certainly not 2 seconds

[@sarfendman]

I would never leave it as late as the 300yd marker before pulling over to lane 1. You might find that there isn't enough room and you would end up cutting in late

[@candyman5912]

My tip is, if you spot an old small hatchback, with black alloys, keep well away!

[@sherkasherka]

Mile is where you need to floor it to get past any slower vehicles stay in middle lane when you get near then floor it past any slow cars and cut in at the last minute, trust me works every time 😊

[@GHExploration]

After 31 years of clean safe driving I thought indicating between 200 and 300 yard marker was correct, apparently not, every day is a school day 👍

[@Dominate955]

I feel the right shoulder check wouldn't be necessary if you should have already been using the centre mirror frequently and you can usually tell when someone might cut you up at the last second. I'm not an advanced driver though lol

[@usynnstradler]

Thanks for clearing that up grandad

[@BCGT_Mikee_Dredd]

I was ALWAYS taught to signal off a motorway on the 100yd mark, not 300.... for car, bus & bike.

[@trytellingthetruth.2068]

I like the fact we are still using yards and miles.

[@mjradar]

Plenty of signs but drivers still leave it to the last to turn off , usually cut in front of me and breaking because they are going to fast

[@nord1486]

When rurning onto the M1 heading north from the M18, you need to get left prerty much as soon as you pass the Rotherham exit. Otherwise you're screwed

[@davidpye5380]

Going into lane one at the first marker is leaving it way too late, you could potentially cut someone up if it is really busy. You should be thinking about getting over at the one mile marker. And should be in lane one by the half mile marker, getting ready to signal at the first 321 marker you come to….😮

[@Nelson890]

Overtaking half a mile from the exit you wish to take is just pointless hand can present unnecessary hazards.

[@m341ehw]

Agree with everyone who said they like to be in lane one for an exit 1/2 a mile away..... but then I don't drive on empty motorways. Why are we checking for a late exiter? So we can keep them out! 😂😈

[@adamburns1077]

Always worth remembering the difference in approach signage depending on if it’s a junction like this or a junction where an entire lane turns off with the overhead signs. I feel like a lot of people don’t know the difference and end up changing out of the first lane last minute because they didn’t realise the entire lane turns off.

[@riceracing3184]

Get in lane sooner!

[@AdamK3l]

It’s shocking how many people don’t know these basics, thanks for your clear concise explanation. Also that’s my junction for Leyland! 😅 what a small world

[@jayharrison7782]

Should be in lane one anyway unless overtaking. People with a hat or a Teddy bear on the parcel shelf, driving a jaguar or a 4x4 seem to bypass this rule

[@therealcaldini]

I get in lane 1 when I see the first sign a mile away because if I leave it any later I get distracted by my game of Kandi Krush and forget to pull over.

[@rickewilde]

Good solid advice.
Amazing how many keyboard warriors out there wanna disagree. 😂

[@user-qq2mo1ek2r]

Would be good to show people how to rejoin a morotway after stopping on the hard shoulder. Three time recently ive witnessed idiots indicating and pulling straight out into lane 1. The correct procedure is to get upto the speed of the traffic on the hard shoulder while indicating ans then pulling into lane 1 safely.

[@NeoLithium08]

Spot on. Too many lemmings queueing 3 miles down the carriageway, and then heavy braking before they indicate to take the slip road. Use all available road space and maintain speed to reduce congestion amongst the sheep 😂

[@megachangamanga]

Excellent tips. Thank you Sir. Very helpful to the International Driving license holders who aim to 110% follow the law and NOT be a nuisance

[@smokey9973]

You should be in lane by the 1/2 mile sign and you should start signal at 300yrd marker

[@JiP2944]

You did better this time then the slip road join. You could tell folk that the best way to know if you’ve got a mile till the next slip when looking at the signs is the difference in their height to the first exit sign and the last exit sign.

[@michaelh7741]

And if there are any late exiters you speed up to block them doing so. That shit shouldnt be tolerated.

[@A190xx]

I heard the indicator when changing to lane 1, but not at the start when you moved to lane 2 at the start.

[@wollyxl]

Also above all, make sure your view is not obscured with a mobile phone...

[@paulgouldhorpe6710]

Keep in lane one indicator 300 yards slow down moving up slip road easy really

[@Ken_Norman]

Smooth as silk. 👍🏻

[@vinaychauhan7936]

Easy to do it smooth as silk at that speed.

[@jamesmacdonald1116]

Every Audi driver: where does it say that?
*dashes over 2 lanes 20 yards from exit*

[@robertmulhall1634]

Or ,what usually happens is,wait until you are at the exit, cruising in lane 3 , Dive across traffic indercate.😅

[@om-ww8ct]

My opinion, this is largely dependent on traffic levels, lane 3 following the fastest car is the safest lane when it's busy, agreed when there are 2 cars per kilometer of motorway

[@mikehunt8968]

But..... for BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi drivers the 3 2 1 markers are for the lane to use....

[@ArminGrewe]

Checking your left mirror (or even a left shoulder check) might also be available in case there's a biker "filtering"

[@ArminGrewe]

@@fizzhogg23 did you not notice the quote marks around "filtering"?

[@ArminGrewe]

@@fizzhogg23 do you really not know that quote marks around a word or phrase can have other meanings than an actual quote?

[@ArminGrewe]

@@fizzhogg23 maybe you don't. I wouldn't be too sure about others. If there's a gap somewhere plenty will use it

[@ArminGrewe]

@@fizzhogg23 you know better than me how many bikers I see and how they ride? Fascinating.....

[@nearlyretired7005]

Most drivers indicate very late,or don't bother signal at all!
MOST drivers are ignorant and never read the Highway Code.

[@markymark7200]

I have BMW 5 series signalling isnt required.

[@stevenmcconkey4882]

All i heard was do a right shoulder check to see if a bmw isnt doing a late exit 😂

[@petea7323]

Lane discipline and maintaining speed has become so awful in the south of England that I really don’t know how to drive to those conditions any more. I feel like 90% of people either don’t know the rules or don’t care and I feel like the odd one out.

[@gaycha6589]

How informative🎉

[@high-velocitymammal5030]

You'd be surprised how fast that last mile goes when you're going over a hu- ... motorway speeds.

[@johnmurray9627]

Should be in lane 1 at 1/2 a mile so as not to do things at the last second and surprise people like you did

[@owieprone]

Was going to say that, at the very least that's when you get in. Especially if you're not local, don't try and get in at 'the last minute' at the 300 mark or less on J9 M40 south... the queue starts at the 1.5 mile marker or worse, just past J10. If you must use J9, get in early sit in the queue, if you don't use 10 or 8a don't wait to see if there's a long queue.. there is.

[@stephenhartup6119]

I wouldn't do a right shoulder check just because some prick wants to leave it till the last minute to exit.

[@robertfarrow5853]

Watch the hard shoulder undertakers. I nearly came a cropper off the Folkestone turnoff M20. It was like an overturned ants nest.

[@keithbanks1525]

I always stay in the first lane when I exit the mortorway from the the 1 mile sign as this is how I was taught not the way you did it

[@Nomad-Drifter]

Only problem is people doing 40 lane 1 stretches for a 3 miles

[@chris77777777ify]

Right shoulder check ?!?!
One should be always checking right mirror.
Never look over your shoulder unless you are in a van really.
Looking over shoulder is for motorbikes.
Right mirrors work just fine

[@dylanwright3465]

My instructor told me to signal to get off the motorway at the 100 yards last sign

[@kwl189]

Definitely wouldn't be moving across into lane 1 at 300 yards out from an exit no matter how empty or busy a motorway is. Poor way to make a simple manoeuvre more dangerous for no significant benefit or reason.

[@jixuscrixus1967]

Unless the motorway exit is straight from lane 3.

[@matty160783]

I don't use any indication and dart in at the last countdown marker. Kr Mr Audi

[@DasArab]

If your driving an Audi/BMW/Mercedes you just ignore all this and barge your way through on the actual junction no fcuks given.

[@KevinSmith-wp9qs]

Get in lane 1 as soon as you can because it could be busy later & you struggle to get in.

[@smokeybarr]

Try exiting that late at junction 9 of the M25!!

[@RobGreenCOMPOSER]

On that stretch you need to be in lane one once you get to that chunk of motorway that's been missing or repatched for 6 years.

[@jamesinman1177]

You need to be in lane 1 at least by the 1/2 mile sign.

[@valeriepvi3667]

I like that ,,usually" 😅 In English everything is in exeptions

[@robbiemac6310]

My route to work every day and I am completely in agreement to many people just simply dont know how to use the motorway.

[@gbhxu]

Seems odd we've had no response from RegLocal on the comments that we've left. Especially the drivers that would have just stayed in Lane 1

[@leosheppard8517]

I realise we are different countries (me - Australia 🇦🇺 ) Aussie’s have very poor driver education. It’s seen as a right rather then a privilege.
When merging off, I try to use the merge off lane to slow down in. As I don’t want to be an a slow car on the freeway. Is this mostly correct? Ta

[@keithnewton8981]

Not alway there are plenty of signs that say mile 3/4 of a mile 1/4 of a mile and some of markers are metric and some imperial .

[@jmoth99]

“Now when you’re egg it in the motorway..”

[@michaelhenry4405]

Just do right shoulder check to watch out for me

[@turbinetechnl5345]

Same steps as in the Netherlands. Sadly every one forgets it as soon as they've got their drivers license 😂

[@eriksimca9409]

this just creates late "exiters"... i wouldnt bother to ovetake traffic that late before i need an exit

[@simon_1987]

WRONG.
just go straight from the fast lane to the exit in one quick manoeuvre.

[@am4793]

Why is he in lane 2 for that length of distance? Lane 2 is for short over taking of lane 1.

[@d_mac3233]

Did you move from the left lane to the right lane on the slip road with your left indicator still on?

[@mordechaileviyitzchok2580]

I always get in a mile before the turn