Motoway Tips

triggerthat

triggerthat

triggerthat

Soldato
Joined
26 Aug 2005
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London
Hi guys,

I've been driving for a month now (driving in London and using the car everyday) and I have to make some long journey trips now. Any general recommendations when it comes to driving? Do they state that you have to have a 10 minute break every hour or so?

Cheers.
 
Few tips...

Don't hog the middle or outside lanes ;)
Be wary of idiots
Take a break every few hours
Have a good breakfast before driving, it'll keep you awake
Have something to keep you occupied (music etc)

I drove to Stafford the other weekend. Took about an hour and by the end of it my legs were dead.
 
Rest as and when you need it.

If you are tired and have time have a 30 minute nap - far better than red bull / coffee etc.

I have also found stopping and having a quick walk / stretch your legs makes a big difference.

Longest I have driven without stopping is about 6/7 hours when I drove to Exeter (live near Edinburgh) but usually stop after about 3 or 4 for a stretch of legs or to top up fuel.
 
triggerthat said:
Hi guys,

I've been driving for a month now (driving in London and using the car everyday) and I have to make some long journey trips now. Any general recommendations when it comes to driving? Do they state that you have to have a 10 minute break every hour or so?

Cheers.
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I think its more like 10 minutes every 2 hours. Just drive in motorway mode, ie KEEP LEFT! Don't sit in the middle lane and try not to lose any speed. Other than that its easy peasy, just a dual carriageway with an extra overtaking lane.
 
take a break when you feel you need it. i generally stop every 2-3 hours regardless, its nice to stretch your legs :]


dont get stressed about idiots cutting you up etc, it happens. leave space infront of you.

dont sit in the middle lane if your not overtaking
dont sit in the outside lane unless you need to be there.
 
merlin said:
Not even to re-fuel?
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It's a shorter distance i'm sure, but i frequently do 5 hour journeys without the need to refuel. In fact, i'm usually left with a 1/3rd of a tank left. Petrol too.
 
Don't use your mirrors before you pull into another lane.... look over your shoulder and have a proper look.

I've had so many people pull right infront of me on the motorway :mad:
 
On my road trip through France last summer, I did an entire tank of fuel in one stint from one petrol station to another. I think the distance was just over 450 miles, and it took 6 or 7 hours - I can't remember precisely anymore, but it was a long time to drive without stopping!

Made the ferry with 5 minutes to spare as well after a total drive of 600 odd miles!
 
Charlie Bravo said:
Don't use your mirrors before you pull into another lane.... look over your shoulder and have a proper look.

I've had so many people pull right infront of me on the motorway :mad:
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I used to think it would be dangerous to do that on a motorway... fast moving traffic, taking your eyes off the road... but I won't change lanes without checking my blind spot.

It's amazing just how much area your mirrors don't cover.
 
agw_01 said:
I used to think it would be dangerous to do that on a motorway... fast moving traffic, taking your eyes off the road... but I won't change lanes without checking my blind spot.

It's amazing just how much area your mirrors don't cover.
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Yep, can't emphasise enough on checking your blind spot before changine lanes. The amount of times I've been cut up by people not even indicating is silly. Make sure you indicate and leave enough time for people to see you're about to do something before you do it.

Other stuff is make sure you've gone to the toilet before a trip longer than an hour or so, and also make sure you've got enough fuel to get you there and then some more, as you never know what traffic you're going to face, and you could be stuck for a long time.
 
Just pay attention, and watch that you don't start drifting out of your lane! (people seem to do this all the time).
 
Keep your distance. One of the biggest causes of traffic jams/accidents on the motorways is people tailgating and then realising all too late that they can't stop in time. Use the two second rule for this: when the vehicle in front passes a static marker of some kind (signpost, emergency phone etc) count "one-1000, two-1000" - if you have passed the same marker before you finish the count you are too close and need to back off. (The "keep your distance" chevrons you see on some stretches are there for this reason).

Try and read what is happening a good distance in front of you - if you see car closing in at speed towards a slower moving vehicle, what's likely to happen? By being observant and thinking about what is happening you'll avoid having to jab your brakes on just cos' some idiot decides to change lane at the last minute.

Make sure you know which route you are taking before you set out, including all the relevant junction numbers. I lose count of the number of drivers i see swerving across 3 lanes of traffic to take an exit they were warned about a mile before hand.
 
agw_01 said:
Took about an hour and by the end of it my legs were dead.
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Dead legs after an hour? Wuss :p

My pet hates on the motorway are the lane hogs. Move over if there's nothing to your left. And if you're going to overtake, please make sure it is more than 1mph faster than the other car.
 
Echo all of the above, especially the blindspot comment. With regard to the keeping your distance, a good thing in France is the Hard shoulder line is broken, with the distance covered by two of the lines equating to the necessary gap you need to leave at the speed limit. Simple idea, but a good one imo.
 
Be prepared to have a white van every now and again undertake you ( when your in the outside lane) then move into the smallest possible space infront of you
 
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