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Did you know?

The speed limit on a motorway is 70 mph (where national speed limit applies). Large vehicles and vehicles towing trailers have a speed limit of 60mph unless other limits are shown.
If caught speeding on a motorway, a driver could be fined up to £2,500.
Red X is there for your safety and means an incident has occurred ahead. Driving under a red X sign is illegal and could result in an automatic £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

When there are three or more lanes, certain kinds of vehicles can never use the right-hand lane. These are:

Vehicles with trailers,
Speed-limited goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes,
Any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes,
Speed-limited vehicles meant to carry more than 8 passengers.

When driving on the motorway always use the left most lane unless overtaking.

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Motorway Driving

Motorways

Do you know the different features on a motorway?

Motorways have reflective coloured studs which are designed to guide drivers when driving at night:

Red – hard shoulder
Amber – central reservation
White – mid-lane
Green – slip road

In addition to the standard motorway with a hard shoulder, there are three other types of motorways that you may drive on:

Dynamic hard shoulder: the hard shoulder is temporarily open.
All lane running: the full width of the road is usable with emergency areas.
Controlled motorway: with 3 or more lanes, a hard shoulder and variable speed limits.

Red X – a red X sign is used to inform drivers of a closed lane to traffic. When displayed, drivers must not use that lane.

Hard Shoulder – on some motorways the hard shoulder can be used as an extra lane to help create more capacity on the motorway. Overhead signs will inform drivers when the hard shoulder is available for use and a variable speed limit will be in force to help manage traffic flow.

Variable Speed Limits – variable speed limits allow Highways England to adjust the speed limit on a motorway during busy periods. The current speed limit is displayed on overhead signs.

Driver Information Signs – Highways England use the overhead driver information signs to warn drivers about queuing traffic ahead and any speed limits in force so that they can take preventative action by slowing down.