Driving on the motorway might feel overwhelming when you are about to do it for the first time. But motorways are one of the safest roads to travel. You may have probably taken motorway driving lessons when you took your license. But let’s have a look at some of the tips that may help keep you calm and comfortable on your next motorway drive.
How to join or leave the motorway?
You should adapt your vehicle’s speed from the on-ramp (sometimes called slip roads) to the motorway. Slip roads are the ones that lead to the motorway and drivers usually should ramp up their speed smoothly to match the speed of the motorway. In doing so, please make sure there is no traffic coming your way on the adjacent lane. Priority should always be given to the traffic already on the motorway.
If you are about to exit the motorway, give yourself enough time to do so in an orderly manner. Motorway exits usually require indicating and slowing down at the 300m marks. Also remember the rules about the solid and dotted white lines.
Why should you follow lane discipline when driving on the motorway?
Lane discipline is one of the common rules that you must conform to make driving safer for you and your fellow drivers. You should always drive in the left-hand lane (the slowest of the three on a three-way highway) unless you are overtaking slower cars in front of you, in which case you have the right to do so in the right-hand lane.
What should you know about overtaking on the motorway?
Look into your mirrors and make sure there is no traffic in the lane you’re moving into. If there is traffic, you should always keep in mind that the approaching vehicles might be travelling faster. Adapt your speeds and always signal your intention of overtaking by using the indicators. Watch out for a sufficient gap on the right-hand lane before you overtake.
Follow the direction signs when driving on the motorway
Motorways often include digital sign boards at regular intervals to indicate hazards ahead or changes speed limits. Temporary road markings might be done in yellow or marked out with cones in case of roadworks. Remember the rules about driving on the hard shoulder in case of emergencies.
Should my driving on a motorway change with the weather conditions?
The speeds for wet driving conditions should be noted. Maintain a larger distance to the car in front when there is low visibility. Conditions such as fog and rain might sometimes worsen the situation and braking distances may exceed that of normal situations. It is better to take a break during adverse weather conditions and start again when conditions remain favourable to drive. You can check road status on the NZTA Road Closure website.
Do’s & Don’t when driving on the Motorway
- Try not to overtake on the left-hand lane.
- Do not stop on the hard shoulder except in cases of emergency. Do not use the hard shoulder to overtake during heavy traffic conditions.
- Lane hogging is one of the most common driver mistakes. Never stay on the middle- or rightmost-lane unless there is a car in front. If the leftmost lane is empty, it should be used and not the middle lane.
- Do not ignore the signs mentioned along the motorway as speeds usually drop near junctions or when there are roadworks ahead and temporary speed limits might be introduced.
- Make sure to check your blind-spots when changing lanes.
- Speeding and tailgating are not acceptable and should be avoided for the sake of everyone on the road.
Be sure to adjust your headlights when oncoming traffic is coming. If your car is older, you can get them restored easily.