Question

Difficulty: EasyJoining the Motorway

When entering a motorway via a slip road, arrange the following steps in the correct chronological order to merge safely and lawfully.

  1. 1Accelerate along the slip road to adjust your speed to match the flow of traffic on the motorway.
  2. 2Check your mirrors, assess traffic in lane 1, and indicate your intention to move right.
  3. 3Perform a final check of your right-hand blind spot and give way to traffic on the main carriageway.
  4. 4Steer smoothly into a safe gap in lane 1 and cancel your indicator.

Answer

The correct sequence begins with accelerating along the slip road to match motorway traffic speed, followed by checking mirrors and signalling, performing a right-hand blind spot check while yielding priority to carriageway traffic, and finally merging smoothly into lane 1 and cancelling the indicator.
In accordance with Highway Code Rule 259, safe motorway joining requires building up speed on the slip road, checking mirrors and signalling early, making a quick sideways glance into the blind spot while giving priority to main carriageway traffic, and completing the merge smoothly into lane 1.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Accelerate along the slip road
Vehicle speed matches the prevailing speed of traffic on the motorway
Matching traffic speed prevents causing sudden braking or disruption on the main carriageway.
2
Check mirrors and signal right
Awareness of lane 1 traffic is established and intention to merge is communicated
Allows surrounding drivers on the motorway to anticipate your approach.
3
Check blind spot and observe priority
Confirmation that the intended gap is clear and carriageway priority is respected
Highway Code Rule 259 states traffic joining from a slip road must give priority to traffic already on the main carriageway.
4
Merge into lane 1 and cancel indicator
Safe positioning in lane 1 without misleading signals
Completes the manoeuvre safely and avoids confusing following drivers with a continuous signal.

Key Concept

Highway Code Rule 259 procedure for joining the motorway safely from a slip road
Estimated Time:45s
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