Common motorway myths explained – but getting them wrong could see you slapped with a fine
MOST drivers will find themselves behind the wheel on the motorway at some point.
But a new study has revealed many Brits are confused about the most basic requirements of using these roads.
Completed by retailer , the study revealed one in three Brits don't understand basic motorway signs.
And motorists are confused when it comes to some basic rules of the road.
Many drivers will refer to the 'fast lane' and 'slow lane' when on the motorway, but these restrictions don't actually exist.
Motorists who want to travel at a comfortable speed on the motorway should always use the left hand lane, as the other two lanes are used for overtaking.
How to safely drive on a smart motorway
Highways England gives the following advice when driving on a smart motorway:
- Never drive under a red “X”
- Keep to the speed limit shown on the gantries
- A solid white line indicates the hard shoulder – don’t drive in it unless directed
- A broken white line indicates a normal running lane
- Use the refuge areas for emergencies if there’s no hard shoulder
- Put your hazard lights on if you break down
You can be even be fined £100 and land three penalty points on your licence if you hog the middle lane on the motorway.
Another misconception some people believe is cars already on the motorway have to give way to vehicles joining the flow of traffic.
But these drivers actually have right of way, so it's up to the merging vehicle to join safely.
Motorists seem to think speed cameras are only active when digital signs are black.
But even when display screens are completely black on smart motorways, the integrated speed cameras are still active.
So you can still be fined for going over the speed limit even if there's no limit displayed.
And speed limits on smart motorways are often thought to be advisory, but this isn't always the case.
If you're driving on a motorway with a speed sign in a red circle, it's mandatory to travel at that limit.
But if the speed displayed is accompanied by an orange flashing light, it's just advisory.
Some drivers believe it's illegal to run out of fuel on the motorway, but this is just a myth.
While drivers are advised to fill up before a long journey, you won't be fined if you do break down on the side of the road.
latest motors news
According to the study, a third of drivers said warning messages on the motorway were useless, while a quarter admitted to ignoring red X signs.
And almost 40 per cent had accidentally exceeded the 70mph speed limit as they didn't understand the road laws.
Surprisingly, 60 per cent of younger drivers avoided using motorways altogether as they feared their inexperience may cause an accident.