Lane Discipline
What is Lane Discipline?
Maintaining proper lane discipline is essential for safety and smooth traffic flow. Always keep to the left-hand lane, unless you are overtaking another vehicle.
Two-Lane Motorways
On a two-lane motorway:
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Drive normally in the left-hand lane.
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Use the right-hand lane only for overtaking, then return to the left as soon as it’s safe.
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The right-hand lane is not a “fast lane”—it’s an overtaking lane.
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Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) may use either lane, following the same rules.
Motorways with Three or More Lanes
On wider motorways:
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Stay in the left-hand lane unless you need to overtake slower traffic.
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You may remain in the centre or outer lanes while overtaking several slower vehicles, but don’t stay there longer than necessary.
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Avoid blocking faster vehicles.
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Large vehicles, buses, coaches, and vehicles towing trailers must not use the right-hand lane unless lanes are temporarily closed.
Changing Lanes
Change lanes only when necessary.
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Keep your vehicle centred in your lane and avoid drifting.
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Always follow the Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre (MSM) routine, starting earlier than usual due to higher speeds.
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Signal early to warn other drivers of your intentions.
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Take extra care with motorcyclists, who can be difficult to spot and may move between lanes of slow traffic.
Crawler and Climbing Lanes
On steep motorway gradients, extra lanes (crawler or climbing lanes) are sometimes provided. These help slow-moving vehicles maintain progress without disrupting traffic flow.
When Other Vehicles Join
After passing an exit, watch for new traffic entering from a slip road.
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Don’t race merging vehicles.
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Adjust your speed if necessary to let them in.
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Move to another lane to create space, if it’s safe.
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Be cautious on curved sections, where visibility between merging and motorway traffic can be limited.
Motorway Interchanges
At junctions where motorways merge or separate:
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Watch for overhead direction signs and move to the correct lane early.
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Stay within your lane and avoid cutting across hatched markings.
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Be alert for other drivers changing lanes suddenly.
Changing Traffic Conditions
Traffic density can vary across the motorway network. Expect:
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Heavy traffic near cities or roadworks
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Congestion during peak hours
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Busy sections throughout the day
When approaching stopped vehicles or people working on the hard shoulder or in emergency areas, move over to the next lane if it’s safe to provide extra space.