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4 fatal mistakes when motorway driving
Motorway driving isn't taught on your driving lessons and therefore it's important to know the fatal mistakes new drivers make so you can avoid making these and stay safe.
The first fatal mistake when driving on a motorway is not using a correct signal when changing lanes. With traffic moving at high speeds it's important that you show other drivers your intention. Moving lanes without indicating can be potentially dangerous as other road users could misread your actions. Although you're taught to always indicate on your driving lessons Manchester when changing lanes motorways are never mentioned, hence why it's a fatal mistake that most new drivers make.
Not checking your blind spot before switching lanes is also very dangerous and another fatal mistake on a motorway. If two cars are moving at the same speed it's very easy for one to be in the others blind spot for a long period of time. Some motorists don't check their blind spot when moving over and can turn into other cars which at high speeds can cause fatal accidents. When you’re switching lanes be sure to check both mirrors and your blind spot just before you move over.
Using slip roads correctly can be difficult for most new drivers as you must maintain a constant speed whilst planning and looking for a gap to fit into without slowing anyone down or tailgating the driver in front. Using slip roads incorrectly is another fatal mistake when motorway driving. Some accelerate too fast and end up having to brake harshly when they merge onto the road whilst others find themselves having to speed up as reaching the end of the slip road to match the speed of the traffic.
The final fatal mistake made whilst motorway driving is judging braking distance. New drivers aren't use to the braking distances at high speeds and therefore don't brake quick enough causing sometimes fatal accidents. You should be braking as soon as you see the brake lights of the vehicles ahead and this is usually a good gauge to how fast you need to slow down. You will eventually gain a good perception of stopping distances on a motorway but until then the method above is very helpful.
Motorways are dangerous places, even more so for new drivers. If you feel like you need practice on motorways with a professional then you can either book driving lessons in Manchester after your driving test that specifically targets motorway driving; or you can take a pass plus course which targets a wide variety of driving that isn't included in the DSA syllabus such as city, country, night and motorway driving.
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