Coming from the slip road onto the motorway does not seem like a challenging task, but it could be exceptionally unsafe. There are thousands of vehicles travelling on the motorway and due to how fast the vehicles are travelling, accidents can be incredibly hazardous.
When entering a motorway, you must use your mirrors to see whether there is enough space to change lanes; you also need to make sure that you leave enough space for the vehicle behind.
Vulnerable vehicles
The vehicles which are the most vulnerable on a slip road are larger vehicles and motorcycles. Lorry drivers have limited visibility of what is happening on the roads. When coming off a junction, they might not be able to see another vehicle and collide into them whilst changing lanes.
Motorcycles are the opposite of lorries; they are small and more difficult to be seen, leading them to be often overlooked. Motorcycles may travel faster, filter through traffic and are harder to be seen. It is important for drivers to regularly check their blind spots and mirrors, especially when changing lanes, in case motorcyclists may be present. Drivers should leave as much space for a motorcyclist as any other driver.
Entering the motorway on a slip road
It is important to join the traffic on the motorway safely and use the whole length of the slip road if necessary. Whilst entering a motorway, make sure to speed your car up so that when you join the traffic, to avoid slowing down the vehicles already on the road.
If you have been involved in a motorway accident due to no fault of your own, we highly advise that you contact one of our experienced solicitors at Solicitors On Your Side.
On the motorway
The national speed limit on UK motorways is 70mph, however, vehicles in the left lane may be going slower than that. You must only stay in the left lane unless you are overtaking a vehicle, and when you have overtaken you must safely move back into the left lane. Staying in the middle or right lane is dangerous and can cause road traffic accidents. If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, contact us now.
Coming off the motorway
The slip road accidents don’t only occur whilst coming onto the motorway, they can also appear whilst coming off the motorway. When approaching the slip road to leave the motorway, go into the first lane, even if you must slow down. It is dangerous to cut through lanes if you need to get off the motorway and can lead to risky accidents. Depending on what road you will be entering, you may need to slow down, so make sure to do that in time.
If you are coming off the motorway you should never move into the left lane at the last minute, you should always look at the road signs to see how much distance you have left to exit the motorway, so you have time to reduce your speed.
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