Doing small slip roads

[MakaveliX]

Hi, new to the forum and registered here as I enjoy driving and have a few questions.

I passed back in 2010 but didn't drive for a few years
I started driving again a couple of months back and have been getting lots of practise. ( Done about 1,000 miles in 6 weeks or so )

I took everything slowly and can now, reverse park and parallel park, do motorways, ring roads, dual carriage ways, roundabouts and slip roads and follow sat-nav.
Roundabout exit signs need a bit of improvement however.

I also have a front and rear dash-cam fitted, so I can re-play parts of my driving and see where I can improve on.

Just a couple of questions.
When doing long slip roads it is correct to build up a decent amount of speed to match the traffic in the carriageway ( try and get to about 45mph in 3rd gear ), indicate right and wait for a suitable space to fill in to, and try and use a fair bit of the slip-road before merging. ? I know that you must not stop on a long slip road unless absolutely necessary. I also know that most people ( not all ) will accommodate, by either speeding up, slowing down, or even pulling into Lane 2

Very short slip-roads which follow after a 90degree turn to the left ( some on here treat them as junctions, which I fully agree with ) require to be going much slower, about 15mph or so in 2nd gear, keep checking the right mirror for a big gap in traffic, accelerate and try to meet the speed of the traffic and then pull out toward the end of the slip road? IF you do have to stop, then it's always best to stop far back, rather than forward, then wait for a gap and speed up etc.

Thankfully I've had no problems doing slip roads but I just wanted some advice from more experienced drivers

Thanks

Edited by MakaveliX on Tuesday 16th November 14:33

Edited by MakaveliX on Tuesday 16th November 14:36

Edited by MakaveliX on Tuesday 16th November 14:36

Edited by MakaveliX on Tuesday 16th November 14:39

Edited by MakaveliX on Tuesday 16th November 15:45

[Mave]

Pretty much, but on a short slip road i'd be looking directly rather than using the mirror as you've got less time for observation and hence more opportunuty to miss something in your mirror

[stogbandard]

Reminds me of when I pull out of the OK Diner or say petrol station directly accessed from a fast dual carriageway such as the A1, which is not a slip road as such, and has a short merge taper. I usually approach slowly checking for a gap and judging the speed of traffic. When a big enough gap appears often by people seeing me and changing lanes to make more space, then I’ll turn onto the merge taper and floor it along the merge as I enter the main carriageway.

[dvenman]

MakaveliX said:

Just a couple of questions.
When doing long slip roads it is correct to build up a decent amount of speed to match the traffic in the carriageway ( try and get to about 45mph in 3rd gear ), indicate right and wait for a suitable space to fill in to, and try and use a fair bit of the slip-road before merging. ? I know that you must not stop on a long slip road unless absolutely necessary. I also know that most people ( not all ) will accommodate, by either speeding up, slowing down, or even pulling into Lane 2

Choose the gap as early as you can, given the main carriageway and slip road traffic already there, then match the speed of the gap once alongside it. I wouldn't be choosing an arbitrary figure and then trying to match. And some people won't accommodate either because they won't or don't know you're there.

[waremark]

On a free flowing motorway or dual carriageway traffic in lane 1 is likely to be doing around 60, so you will find it easiest to merge if you are at about that speed by the earliest point at which you can join lane 1, with a gear engaged which gives you flexibility to speed up or slow down - often 4th. Ideally adjust your speed to be alongside a large gap at a similar speed before moving into lane 1. Quite often with a two lane slip lane 2 of the slip ends after a short distance - so it is easier to be in lane 1 on the slip. Try never to be alongside another vehicle on the slip as you get to the bottom of the slip. Try to watch the traffic in lane 1 as early as possible to identify a suitable gap.

I have never had to move onto the hard shoulder at the end of a slip road - which is illegal. However, I have always thought that if I fail to get into a gap in lane 1 of a motorway in time it would be safer to continue onto the hard shoulder than to come to a stop at the end of the slip.

As a newish driver you may well have a low powered car - it is much easier in a higher powered car!

[MakaveliX]

Nice one thanks guys

[Veryoldbear]

stogbandard said:

Reminds me of when I pull out of the OK Diner or say petrol station directly accessed from a fast dual carriageway such as the A1, which is not a slip road as such, and has a short merge taper. I usually approach slowly checking for a gap and judging the speed of traffic. When a big enough gap appears often by people seeing me and changing lanes to make more space, then I’ll turn onto the merge taper and floor it along the merge as I enter the main carriageway.

Yes, I know this one, just North of Newark. It is tricky at busy times and this is all you can do. There are also some difficult short slips roads on the A34 Oxfordshire / Berkshire, where you just have to approach slowly until you get everything in the mirror (and a quick look over the shoulder) and when the gap presents itself floor it. The real problem is if there is a hesitant person on the slip road ahead of you ...

[MakaveliX]

Never had to act on someone joining the dual carriageway from a slip road until today, think it went fairly well.
Car was coming up the sliproad, so I looked in my right mirror - there was a van in lane 2, I indicated right and then checked my mirror again and could see he was gaining on me quickly.
So turned off the indicator, looked at where the car coming up the sliproad was ( slightly ahead of me ) so I took my foot off the accelerator a gently tapped the brake to reduce my speed by 3 or 4 mile per hour - and let the car join the a-road.

Does that sound about right ? For my first time having to act on someone joining the A Road I thought I did it fairly well. It is a little bit pressurising as you have to make an instant decision as to whether to slow down, speed up, or ideally go into lane 2

[dvenman]

MakaveliX said:

Does that sound about right ? For my first time having to act on someone joining the A Road I thought I did it fairly well. It is a little bit pressurising as you have to make an instant decision as to whether to slow down, speed up, or ideally go into lane 2

Look - and plan - further ahead...

As long as you didn't crash and there was no sudden braking involved on your part or anyone else's, that's a win!

[MakaveliX]

Thanks.
The van in L2 had plenty of time to see me, and if he had anything about him he would have eased off the gas and let me into L2 so that the person on the slip road could then easily get onto the carriageway, instead he just blindly floors it and doesn't allow me into L2. Just goes to show some people only think about themselves.
Also shows the importance of checking the mirrors twice. 1st check, all clear with van in the distance.. 2nd check, van approaching at speed. The person I allowed into L1 also had the decency to thank me aftward

[jj.]

Hmm Maybe, maybe not. First follow highway code. And look, way, way...way ahead as someone else mentioned (forward planning).

In reality, you want to nail the speed limit on the slip road, so when you join the other carriageway, you are matching their speed.

But, and this is for later in your driving experience, by being the faster car, is easier to 'scrub' off the speed to join, rather than having to accelerate into a space. Also if you are accelerating to the limit, you can watch the cars ahead and plan where to join, thus only looking forward, rather than looking forward and behind, meaning you are better focused on the join which is in front of you.

For later, later in your driving experience, (this manly comes from advanced riding) if you are the quickest on the road, then you only have to look in front and not check your mirrors. Again meaning that 100% of your focus is forward, as nothing will be trying to overtake you.

Might not be everyone's viewpoint, done me well over the years.
jj (29 years IAM - or whatever they call their-self these days.!)

[Pica-Pica]

dvenman said:

MakaveliX said:

Does that sound about right ? For my first time having to act on someone joining the A Road I thought I did it fairly well. It is a little bit pressurising as you have to make an instant decision as to whether to slow down, speed up, or ideally go into lane 2

Look - and plan - further ahead...

As long as you didn't crash and there was no sudden braking involved on your part or anyone else's, that's a win!

You will see this some time before you see the slip road or anyone on it.

Always, but always, know what is around and behind you.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 22 November 21:00

[Macneil]

Why do people keep feeding this troll?

[cpszx]

jj. said:

For later, later in your driving experience, (this manly comes from advanced riding) if you are the quickest on the road, then you only have to look in front and not check your mirrors. Again meaning that 100% of your focus is forward, as nothing will be trying to overtake you.

seems to work well for all of the stars of Police, Camera, Action

must be why they never seem to notice all the blue flashing lights behind them

[Solocle]

dvenman said:

Choose the gap as early as you can, given the main carriageway and slip road traffic already there, then match the speed of the gap once alongside it. I wouldn't be choosing an arbitrary figure and then trying to match. And some people won't accommodate either because they won't or don't know you're there.

Indeed. And in a small engined car it's easier to brake than to accelerate.

I mean, it's a rare thing, but here's me doing precisely that on a bike (a very short "slip" road type arrangement on a single carriageway).

Find a gap, match speed, and slot in.

[MakaveliX]

Been getting lots of practice and now confident doing all kinds of slip roads.

Let's say you are driving down a Dual Carriageway and approaching a slip road where people could be joining our lane. Is it best to try and get into L2 before getting to the slip road to make it easier for others to merge ?
Also, if approaching a slip road and someone is coming up it, if they are infront of us then it's best to ease off and let them in, if they are behind us then accelerate. What if they are right next to us? IS it best to play it safe and slow down to let them in ?

[Pica-Pica]

MakaveliX said:

Been getting lots of practice and now confident doing all kinds of slip roads.

Let's say you are driving down a Dual Carriageway and approaching a slip road where people could be joining our lane. Is it best to try and get into L2 before getting to the slip road to make it easier for others to merge ?
Also, if approaching a slip road and someone is coming up it, if they are infront of us then it's best to ease off and let them in, if they are behind us then accelerate. What if they are right next to us? IS it best to play it safe and slow down to let them in ?

Well done for the practice.
On the carriageway and approaching a slip road coming in:
Well before that you should be aware of what is around you, especially directly behind in your lane, and in L2. It should be a regular habit to always know what is behind without checking, even a glance every three seconds is not excessive, especially when approaching a hazard.
Let’s be clear, you are not obliged to move over, they have a give way line at the end of their entry slip road. HOWEVER;
that will not be good or considerate driving.
Some slip roads will be blind - you will not see the entering vehicles until late. In those cases it is best to keep aware of what is behind and move out to L2 to assist their entry, as long as that neither inconveniences or endangers yourself or others.
Other slip roads will be better designed and be visible and allow a fast entry. For these, you can see if the entering vehicle is going to be fast enough to merge, and if there is a suitable gap in front of you. If there is, and there is also a suitable gap behind you it is beat to maintain a constant speed. The entering vehicle will not expect or wish you to change speed - they then have to accommodate your changing speed as well as adjusting their speed, on occasions that may not end well!
If they are along side you on their slip road, that is bad planning by them, which can be overcome by good planning by you. So if that slip road is a congested and blind one, I would have been aware what is around me and have either moved to L2 or be aware that I could. If observation and a crowded dual carriageway means you can’t move over, then judge their speed. If they are still accelerating, then ease off, if they seem hesitant and not progressing a little acceleration may help them make up their mind. It may be a fine judgement. Do not put your self into a situation where you have to brake. From the perspective of any car behind you they will take a little while to assess whether your brake lights indicate an emergency or not.
If it is a lorry approaching on the slip road, then plan to move over early. Lorry drivers are generally pretty good at using their indicators here. A lorry cannot brake or accelerate that well, so will appreciate this. Also look out for lorries emerging from a lay-by on fast dual carriageways, they will invariably indicate, and you should move to L2 if safe, and they will appreciate your indication signal and and the empty lane you leave for them.

To summary, it is about early observation, and then positioning for the safety and convenience of all. Keep practising!

[MakaveliX]

Pica-Pica said:

If they are along side you on their slip road, that is bad planning by them, which can be overcome by good planning by you. So if that slip road is a congested and blind one, I would have been aware what is around me and have either moved to L2 or be aware that I could. If observation and a crowded dual carriageway means you can’t move over, then judge their speed. If they are still accelerating, then ease off, if they seem hesitant and not progressing a little acceleration may help them make up their mind.

Thanks ! Good advice and I'll take it on board.
As you said, early observation. I always try to move over to L2 if possible before getting to slip roads.

[Blakewater]

One I used to have to deal with regularly when I was at uni, not long after passing my test, was this one onto the A57(M) in Manchester from Upper Brook Street. With this one, you usually do have to stop at the end of the sliproad and wait for a gap, but some people behind would object and expect those in front to just barge out into traffic.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4716795,-2.236848,...

[MakaveliX]

Blakewater said:

One I used to have to deal with regularly when I was at uni, not long after passing my test, was this one onto the A57(M) in Manchester from Upper Brook Street. With this one, you usually do have to stop at the end of the sliproad and wait for a gap, but some people behind would object and expect those in front to just barge out into traffic.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4716795,-2.236848,...

The ring road near here is tricky like that too. It has people entering and exiting the ringroad on the same lane