Motorway Driving Flashcards

What do green reflective studs on a motorway indicate?

Answer: Slip road entrances and exits

Green reflective studs are used at slip road entrances and exits on motorways and dual carriageways. They help you identify where you can join or leave the motorway, which is especially useful in darkness or poor visibility.

If you break down on a motorway and have passengers including children, what should you do?

Answer: Get everyone out via the left-side doors and move behind the safety barrier, keeping children under control away from the carriageway

Everyone must exit via the left-hand doors (away from traffic) and move behind the safety barrier if possible. Keep children close and under control — they must stay well away from the carriageway. Do not attempt to retrieve belongings from the vehicle. Wait for help behind the barrier.

What does a sign showing a motorway symbol with a red line through it mean?

Answer: End of motorway — normal road rules now apply

This sign indicates the end of motorway regulations. Normal road rules apply from this point. You are likely entering a dual carriageway or other road type. Adjust your speed to the new road's limit and be aware that conditions may change — junctions, pedestrians, and cyclists may be present.

When joining a motorway, what should you do if there is no gap in lane 1 traffic?

Answer: Adjust your speed on the slip road to match a gap, slowing down if necessary

If no gap is available, adjust your speed on the slip road — you may need to slow down or even stop at the end of the slip road in extreme cases (though this should be a last resort). Do not force your way in or drive on the hard shoulder. Traffic on the motorway has priority, though courteous drivers may move over.

Why is lane discipline particularly important on motorways?

Answer: Because at high speeds, unnecessary lane changes increase the risk of collisions, and middle-lane hogging reduces road capacity

At motorway speeds, each lane change creates a collision risk. Staying in the left lane unless overtaking maximises road capacity for all users. Middle-lane hogging forces other vehicles to overtake on the right across two lanes, creating unnecessary danger. It is also a legal offence.

What should you do if you see a vehicle travelling the wrong way on a motorway?

Answer: Pull onto the hard shoulder immediately and call 999

A wrong-way driver on a motorway is an extreme emergency. Pull over to the hard shoulder or an emergency refuge area as safely and quickly as possible, switch on your hazard lights, and call 999 immediately. Do not try to intervene yourself. Warn other drivers by using your hazard lights.