Red and Amber Flashing Lights on the Motorway

Red flashing lights mean you must not proceed in the lane or lanes it applies too.

Amber flashing lights warn of a hazard ahead.

These signals will be situated above each lane, on the central reservation or at an entrance to the motorway.

Signals on the central reservation apply to all lanes and signals above are separate for each lane.

With the amber flashing lights signals will indicate a temporary hazard like reduced speed limit, fog, ice, change lane or leave motorway at next exit.

With the red flashing lights signals and a red cross, do not proceed in that lane. Red flashing lights and white T-shapes: do not enter the motorway.

Turning Right at a Crossroads

Mirror-Signal-Position-Speed-Look-Assess-Decide-Act

First check your middle and right mirrors.

Make a right signal and position the car slightly to the right of the lane.

Use your brake to slow. And when the engine has slowed choose a suitable gear for the turn.

Look for vehicles approaching and turning right; and for emerging traffic.

Assess whether you can pass them nearside or offside. Road markings may help you decide or eye contact with the other driver.

Passing on the offside is safer as both of you can see oncoming traffic.

Passing on the nearside is less safe as vehicles especially cyclists would be hidden.

Decide whether to go or stop.

Act on the decision. When going, check your middle and right mirrors before starting the turn.

Cockpit drill

Cockpit drill is DSSSM. Doors – Seat – Steering – Seatbelts – Mirrors.

First check the car doors by looking in the mirrors to see they are flush with the body work or listening to the sound of them as they close.

Next adjust the seat. Use height adjustment so your head is not too close to the ceiling and you can still see the bonnet. Adjust the seat forward or back so the heal of both hands can rest on the top of the wheel without stretching your arms.

Steering. Move your hands around the wheel to check you can handle the wheel without stretching.

Mirrors. Adjust the centre mirror so that what you see in the top line of the mirror is in line with the top of the back window and slightly to the offside/right.

To move the mirror, hold the left top and bottom edge of the mirror with your index finger and thumb of your left hand.

Adjust both side mirrors so you can see mostly road, leaving about 1/6^th of the side of the car in view to help parking.

If all mirrors are adjusted correctly you will not need to move your head to use them.

Before starting the engine, make sure all passengers have seat belts on, the parking brake is on and the gear is in neutral.

Action to take when vehicle breaks down on a motorway

Steer your vehicle to the hard shoulder and as far to the left as you can.

When stopped turn your wheels to the left.

Switch on hazard lights, and side lights at night.

Don’t open the offside doors.

Move passengers away from the vehicle but leave animals inside.

Using the marker posts, walk to the nearest indicated emergency phone.

Face the traffic when using the emergency phone.

Main differences between dual carriageways and motorways.

Direction signs with blue background and white letters are only used for motorways.

The right hand lane on a dual carriageway can be used for turning right as well as overtaking. On a motorway it is only for overtaking.

Both have a central reservation which you must not cross. Unless when entering a dual carriageway and turning right.

Motorways have a hard shoulder for use in emergencies.

Some vehicles may be travelling slower on a dual carriageway compared to a motorway.

Motorways must not be used by provisional licence holders, cyclists, agricultural vehicles, horse riders and some slow moving vehicles.