By their nature and design, motorways carry a greater volume of traffic, which generally travel at higher consistent speeds than achievable on national routes.

It is of extreme importance therefore, that drivers raise their level of anticipation and their judgement of speed and distance to cope with these factors.

Drivers must make decisions early and therefore, it is important to use mirrors earlier and look much further ahead than on other roads.

Before embarking on a journey which may include motorway travel, it is of paramount importance that your vehicle is capable of coping with the demands, which may be imposed on it.

POWER - Petrol Oil Water Electrics Rubber
Your pre-driving check should ensure that fuel, oil and water levels (if water cooled) are sufficient to allow you cruise at speed and that tyres are correctly inflated, undamaged and carry sufficient thread.

Motorway Signs Signals Markings
Motorway information signs have a blue background, and white lettering. The following are a sample of signs to be found.

(Above right) At junction leading to motorway.

(Left) Countdown markers – 100 Meters apart - 300, 200, 100

Downward pointing arrows mean ‘Get in Lane’

Matrix signs warn of hazards that may be some distance ahead

Cats-Eyes – Amber studs mark the right hand edge near central reservations and also mark the left-hand edge at hard shoulder.

(In Northern Ireland and the U.K. red studs mark the hard shoulder) Green studs mark the sliproad exit from the Motorway, and White studs separate the lanes on the Motorway.

Joining the Motorway
Vehicles may join a Motorway via a slip road or where Motorways merge (right).

These slip roads are designed to give drivers the time and space to merge smoothly with traffic already using the Motorway and in particular the nearside land.

Your aim as a good driver should ensure that you do not cause other drivers to alter course or speed.

As vehicle on the Motorway have priority and may not be able to move over, thereby allowing you to enter your skill with regard to early vision, good planning and acceleration sense should allow you to merge safely.

Extremely heavy traffic or poor planning may cause you to stop in the acceleration lane.

Once on the slip road/accelerating lane access early the traffic already on the slip road and the Motorway – ensure your position is the correct one giving you maximum information.

M/Signal/Speed/Gear – It is very important to be travelling along the slip road with the correct gear engaged in order to accelerate onto lane 1 of the Motorway smoothly and safely bearing in mind that it is safe to do so.

• As you are about to join lane 1 consider a right signal to inform vehicles already on the Motorway of your intention to join the traffic flow.

• Before joining lane 1 a shoulder check over your right shoulder checking your blind spot should be considered.

• Never assume that traffic already on the motorway will be courteous enough to allow you to join. It is up to you to yield to traffic already on the motorway.

• Once on the Motorway allow yourself time to adjust to driving at speed and to tune in your judgement of the speed of other vehicles.

• Travelling at 70 M.P.H. = 100 feet per second. In order to give yourself a greater reaction time you should

a) Extend your vision in all directions and to the road horizons to give yourself more time
b) Anticipate early
c) Good following position – 2 second rule in good driving conditions – doubled or trebled in adverse conditions
d) Avoid ‘swinging’ on the steering wheel at speed, remember it is for ‘holding onto’ not ‘hanging onto’
e) Signal early to inform other drivers of your intention, then change course. Remember your indicator does not entitle you to change direction, it is merely visual information regarding you intended change of position for the good of other road users.
f) The use of the horn at high speed is diminished due to road and wind noise – consider using your headlight flash responsibly as an effective alternative, a signal flash should be sufficient extending its length according to your speed. Do not appear aggressive, beware its not taken as an invitation by another driver to move out in front of you.
g) Remember – Far Distance – Mid Distance – Near Distance – Mirror Check

Lane Discipline
Overtaking should only be attempted on the right – except when traffic is moving in queues and the queue on the right is moving slower than on the left.

Avoid ‘hogging’ the offside lane – once your overtake is complete check your mirror and ease back to the nearside lane without cutting in.

In cases where there is a line of slow traffic and faster traffic are coming behind you, pick a gap in that lane of slow vehicles, if feasible, ease into the gap on acceleration sense and once the faster traffic has moved on, check your mirror signal right, right shoulder check and complete your own overtaking maneuver.

At Junctions
Generally at junctions there is an increase in the number of vehicles changing lanes together with variations in the speed of traffic flow. Anticipate the drivers who may delay changing lanes at an exit to the last second.

It is worth remembering that where there is ‘one off’ there maybe ‘one on’ i.e. after a slip road off a Motorway very often there is an entry slip road/merging lane ahead with traffic joining the Motorway.

When you are approaching a merging lane, check your mirrors early and if possible allow traffic to join by making slight adjustments to your speed or by changing to the offside lane being mindful not to cause traffic in that lane to alter their course or speed. Remember it is the vehicle joining the Motorway that should yield.

Leaving the Motorway
Like all aspects of Motorway driving, this requires careful planning. Proper route planning on your part should ensure your knowledge of junction exit number and road number. Assess road and traffic conditions on your approach and remember your exit information signs are displayed 1 mile back from the exit. If the Motorway is busy, consider joining the left lane earlier rather than later. Always allow enough time for other drivers to react to your signals. Indicators should be used no later than the 300-metre marker and before this if it would benefit other drivers.

Avoid braking on left lane if possible. Your plan should be to lose any unwanted speed in the slip exit road. Be alert for the ‘rogue’ vehicle attempting to leave the Motorway from the offside lane and cutting across your path.

N.B. a) Remember you need to adjust your perception of speed on leaving the Motorway; check your speedometer regularly.
b) Anticipate and plan for meeting two- way traffic
c) Be alert for acute bends or junctions at the end of slip roads and watch for oil and tyre residue, which make these areas extremely slippy particularly when wet.

The hard shoulder is not an exit road/driving lane and should not be used as such.

Weather Conditions
The use of dipped headlights in poor weather conditions is recommended especially on Motorways where high speed reduces not alone road holding but also visibility. A useful guide for assessing visibility is the gap between Motorway marker posts, which is approximately 100 meters.

Fog
Fog reduces drivers perception of both speed and risk and because they cannot see they tend to drive closer together to keep in sight the taillights of the preceding vehicle. Be alert to the risks from the reckless behavior of other drivers. Driving in fog is extremely tiring, so watch for signs of fatigue. Be aware of the motorway visual aids i.e. ‘cats eyes’ etc. Use your fog lights if visibility is reduced by less than 100metres. Do not use the rear lights of the vehicle in front as your ultimate guide. They are then dictating your safety. Always ask yourself ‘Can I stop in the distance I can see to be clear’?

Rain
At Motorway speeds surface water causes spray which will impair visibility, especially prior to overtaking. Aquaplaning can occur when surface water forms a wedge of water between the tyre and the road. This could result in instantaneous and complete loss of control. After a long hot spell, oil, tyre and other dust build up on the road surface. These deposits create a slippery surface during and after rain, particularly at the end of Motorway slip roads or coming to a halt at toll bridges

High Winds
Often elevated above the surrounding countryside Motorways tend to suffer from the effects of high winds. Be prepared for strong gusts of wind: -

a) On leaving cuttings entering an open area
b) Entering or emerging from under a bridge
c) On top of viaducts and bridges
d) The slipstream of high sided vehicle. During overtaking the motorcar tends to be drawn toward the larger vehicle and as the motorcar moves in front it breaks free of the ‘suction’ and has the tendency to veer away, keep a firm grip of the steering and apply appropriate pressure to counter this tendency.
e) High-sided vehicle may suddenly veer in windy conditions also.

Dazzle
Bright sunshine just after sunrise and before sunset can cause serious dazzle especially on east/west sections of road. Ensure your windscreen is clean and in good condition. The wearing of good quality sunglasses is recommended. Be aware that other drivers may also be suffering similar difficulties.

Debris
Scan the road surface for debris, which may have fallen from vehicles, which could cause other vehicles to suddenly alter course. Any collision with debris at Motorway speeds could result in a total loss of control of the motorcar. Contact the emergency services as soon as possible who will initiate the safe removal of the debris. Do not attempt to remove debris yourself.

Stopping and Parking
NO STOPPING EXCEPT

a) In an emergency
b) When told to do so by Garda in an emergency
c) If it will prevent an accident

NO PARKING ON

a) The carriageway
b) The slip road
c) The hard shoulder
d) The central reservation
It is illegal to pick-up or set-down anyone on a slip road or any other part of a Motorway
e) You must not walk on a carriageway except in an emergency

Breakdowns
If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the Motorway at the next exit. If this is not possible you should: -

a) Try to stop at emergency phone located at 1 mile intervals on hard shoulder
b) Pull onto hard shoulder and park as far left as possible
c) Keep on parking lights if it is dark or visibility is poor
d) Follow arrows on posts at the back of the hard shoulder, which lead to nearest emergency telephone (not applicable in Ireland. N. Ireland and U.K only)
e) Switch on hazard warning lights
f) Get occupants to leave vehicle via left hand door – leave any animals inside
g) Ensure passengers wait near the vehicle but well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder and that children are well supervised.
h) Anyone having to remain in the car should be seated on the left side of the car.

When the time comes to join the traffic flow build up speed on hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap in traffic to re-enter carriageway.

The consistent high speed of the large volume of traffic that use motorways deserve constant monitoring by all involved. The ‘domino effect’ of someone’s mistake one-mile down the carriageway can result in a major accident. The ease at which distance can be covered can often lull the inattentive driver into the realm of an accident. Casting your eye on the range of vehicles using our motorways today, all travelling at a minimum 50mph, can you imagine the carnage that would ensue from the sudden reflex application of brakes by all concerned?

The Motorways are like all our roads, they are only as safe as we make them.