May be via a slip road, or at a roundabout where the motorway finishes.
May be via a slip road, or at a roundabout where the motorway finishes.
Leaving the Motorway can be as dangerous as Joining, but with the correct understanding of what is required it is no different to a traditional turn into a junction.
Possibly the biggest danger when leaving the Motorway is knowing what speed your car is doing, requiring additional and earlier braking.
Having possibly sat on a motorway for some time driving at speeds of up to 70MPH, when slowing down you may actually think you are going slower than you are, braking will need to start earlier as it will take longer to stop.
Unless traffic is backed up onto the Motorway from the slip road, do not begin to slow down until you have entered the slip road.
The slip road can also be referred to as the deceleration lane.
Frequent checks of your speedometer is crucial until you become accustomed to the slower roads again.
Once back to 30mph having driven at 70mph for some time, you may feel that you are just crawling along.
50mph may only feel like 30mph but without checking you wouldn't know.
When your time comes to leave the Motorway, ensure that you are in Lane 1 by the time you see the exit sign showing 1 mile to go.
You DO NOT want to leave changing lanes right up to the last second, so preparing early is preparing to drive safely.
The Black box with the number 9 in it is telling you that this is exit Number 9.
If following a route plan or a Sat-Nav you may well be looking out for an Exit Number.
The 1m is telling you there is one mile until the exit slip road.
There will possibly be another sign at either 2/3rd of a mile, 1/2 a mile or 1/3rd of a mile before the exit slip.
These distances can vary depending on the lay of the land and the opportunity to place a sign at one of the distances.
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Slip roads can be dangerous for driver's remaining on the motorway.
Driver's are meant to using Lane 1 for general driving and only using lanes 2,3 or 4 for overtaking.
However, if it is safe to do so, we recommend that vehicles should move to Lane 2 as they approach slip roads so that vehicle who are joining have a free lane to drive into, as well as those exiting the motorway will have a free flow to exit.
The main danger at exit lanes, is when another road user has not been paying attention and realise at the last second that they are about to miss their exit, and can possibly shoot across 3 lanes of traffic just to make their exit.
ALWAYS be aware that this could happen at any slip road.
What we would also advise around slip roads, especially slip on lanes, if you have moved into Lane 2 to keep Lane 1 free for vehicles to join, other vehicles may NOT have moved over. If you then decide to overtake said vehicle at the point or just before the point of vehicles merging onto the motorway, you may find vehicles in Lane 1 panic and try and move into Lane 2 at the last second to allow vehicles merging to get onto the motorway. If you are attempting to overtake these vehicles you may be putting yourself in danger.
Therefore, although you have moved into Lane 2 to assist those merging onto the motorway, we would recommend that you maintain your current speed, and only consider overtaking those remaining in Lane 1 once the slip on road has ended. Alternatively move into Lane 3 to ensue Lane 2 is left clear for those remaining in Lane 1 to move over if it is necessary.
Once you have cleared the slip roads, return to Lane 1 if you are not continuing to overtake others.
