How to ride on a Motorway in the UK 2023 : (Timestamps in description) 

I've just passed my A license today from a CBT, watching your videos are going to make a lot of difference, a bit worried about motorways

When going for an over take, where vehicles are entering via slip roads or parking lay-by; I check my mirrors and blind spot to the offside, just in case I have to take evasive action quickly. I’ll already know whether the lane to my right is clear, allowing for quicker reactions. I also don’t move back into lane 1 when a ‘on’ slip road is approaching, I make sure no traffic is entering the motorway before returning to the 1st lane. When overtaking I wait until I can pass the vehicle on my near side in one go, especially lorries, so I avoid any chance of being in their blind spot for too long. Thanks for all the great videos. I feel that my riding and confidence have improved greatly, since watching your videos.

They say if you learn 3-4 new things per day, you’re doing well. I just learned a dozen from this. "20 second rule”, side winds . . . Just, wow.

A very useful film, I reckon. Thanks. The 1st time I went on a motorway - it was westbound to Wales on the M4 - I stayed in the inside lane. I was horrified that everyone beeped at me. Mind you, I would have been better off in a car rather than walking.

I wish the UK would make their minds up between metres and yards lol. Everything they measure including low visibility is in metres but the motorway countdown markers are in yards. Tell you what, let's call the markers "sausages" and just count down in thirds. ☺

Brilliant as ever. Fantastic content Russell.

these are top tips even for car drivers, and a number of these tips have come to me through many motorway miles, especially the left lane 20 second rule and expecting cars rejoining after an exit. It seems trivial but adds to fatigue on long runs if you don't anticipate.

I like what you said about using your mirrors efficiently. I get the sense that many drivers only give them one quick glance just before changing lanes.

I've noticed that often slip roads exiting services are often 'greasy' with diesel spillage from HGV's so be careful when accelerating on to the carriageway

I do a lot of motorway miles on my motorcycle, I would say watch out for other motorcycles travelling at crazy speeds can be there all of a sudden, and like your self I will only filter at low speeds or in completely stationary traffic, being extra vigilant and making sure others are aware of my presence, however some motorcyclists filter at crazy speeds with no concern that a vehicle or motorcycle might move position , not always to change lanes but maybe to just to see what is going on ahead of them and not leaving them quite enough room to get through or hit a fellow motorcyclist who has decided to get out and start filtering . Stay safe.🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍👊👍

Only just come across your site - really good. Well presented and informative. You talking through what you were actually doing was so good and demonstrated that talking through what you're actually doing - at speed reinforces the learning. Thank You and keep the videos coming.

Great information again. Thank you. Recently on a motorway (M62) I was undertaken as I had stayed out in the middle lane to overtake a slower moving vehicle and a faster vehicle was in lane three to my right. The offending vehicle had actually been following the vehicle to my right in lane three but decided that neither of us were going fast enough and he had seen a small gap. I had seen what was happening and felt a bit like the meat in a sandwich and had no time to move left to allow him a correct overtake. To be honest it was a bit of heart pounding moment but I eased off a bit and let him through. I did have it on video on my helmet camera and could have reported the incident but didn't bother. In hindsight maybe I should have. And yes it was an Audi A6 🤷🏼‍♂️

My motorway riding tip: take the scenic route!!!! Great commentary as always 👍

Quality stuff. I live half my life on the motorway these days and you covered just about everything anyone needs to know so concisely. I'm finding these days undertakers are more frequent than ever, and navigating and avoiding bad drivers is a big part of each and every journey.

Something I have noticed locally on the motorways is that the cats eyes are largely missing in many places (especially at junctions where wheels frequently pass over them) making spotting the exit at night "interesting" in rural areas.

Glad I found your channel and appreciate all your hints and tips... even though your country drives on the wrong side of the road (only in humor), your hints and tips for safe riding is awesome and taken with respect... It's us against them out there... stay safe....

Just getting ready to commute to the office by motorbike again (can't frickin wait) after 2 years working from home, this and some of your other videos are really helping to refresh my skills, cheers

Great video and content as always! Thank you for producing and sharing 👍 Wishing you great success in spreading the word about safe fun motorcycling 🙏

excellent work thanks

Really good advice, all your videos are really informative and promote good safe riding

Really good points. When I trained with IAM I was warned to avoid overtaking a vehicle that was itself overtaking an another vehicle. Not always possible on heavily used motorways but it made sense to me. The discussion being that sudden movements of vehicles are most likely when they are overtaking or being overtaken.

Thanks Russ, I do feel that I am a pretty confident rider on the motorway, but I am going to be doing more in the near future due to work. No matter how confident you feel, it's always good to get some "pointers" from the people that know more than you do. Thanks again for a great video.

Great primer for those who have not ridden on UK motorways. Thank you for posting.

Solid advice as always, got my first significant MOTORWAY journey since passing test on Saturday . Brighton to Cambridge and back featuring M25 and Dartford tunnel. Preparing well for it, weather forecast good, bike just serviced and rider keen as mustard. This video helps, especially 20 seconds rule. Cheers Russ from Sussex Maf 🏍️

Great advice, great tips; ever so welcome - thanks very much!

Found your channel again after 7 years,great tips,keep up the good work 👍 steve.

Thanks for the video. I love hearing what you have to say on road strategy - all very intelligent but also practical and easy to keep in mind in the real world.

Always sound advice. Thank you Russ

Another brilliant video Russell , your videos are clear and simple to understand keep up the good work .

Great tips, have been training in Scottish Borders for advanced test, but now temporarily in fife got test on 27th so expecting motorway duel carriageway during test. So this has helped a lot still got a week but not found an observer/ trainer here to try get an hour or three on major roads before 27th thanks again for all your advice iv watched just about all your videos as I returned to biking last sept after a gap of 16 yrs bought an st1300 as iv retired at 63 years young was wary of bike but now confident thanks to your videos andIAM training thanks again ride safe

Good editing and narration. It is always helpful to go over the basics and fundamental wisdom of motorcycling/general roadcraft as I and I'm sure others become complacent with experie ce.

A great teaching vid.In relation to up and coming “Services” I tend to move into the middle lane regardless of what’s in front of me asap whilst passing them ,thereby in my mind ,reducing the risk to me of the cars and lorries coming back onto the motorway all at differing speeds; makes me feel safer and hopefully helps the other drivers.I’ve recently found your channel and have enjoyed / revisited lots of aspects of technical manoeuvres all of which are good reminders particularly slow riding and U turns.Cheers Richard Bristol ( 500 cbx)

Excellent video, Russ. I've been trying for four years now to get my bike, I hope this will be the year I can finally afford one. Even though we're on different side of the pond, your videos are a wealth of information for any person who rides, anywhere in the world.

Very good clear explanation! Even folks who have been riding (or driving!) for years would do well to watch this... if it's been a long time since you passed your test you can get into bad habits.

always enjoy your video's did my bike test 11yr's ago i'm 59 this yr and as far as i'm concerned there's alway's something to learn so thank you for doing these video's .ps high 5 from skegvegas

Years back I used your content in conjunction to my own instructors lessons and passed my A licence first time, I've had a Kawasaki Ninja 636 for years, touch wood never had an incident. Thanks for the memories ;) keep up the stellar work.

Thanks Russ, another quality vid. I watch this a few times as there’s plenty of nuggets.

Great stuff, never stop learning or refreshing your skills people, it keeps you tuned in and up to speed with good reminders like these about staying safe! Blind spot, Blind spot, Blind spot! Stay safe!

Great video. Clear and concise as always!

All amazing points. Using bridges like the Severn is another hazard. Anyone who's new to Britain, it's the England / Wales connection and damn that gets windy at times. Just like your advice, keep a bigger distance between big lorries and yourself. This video's so well thought out and put together, and should be mandatory to show it to learners especially. It'll help so much in overcoming worries / fears. Speak to the driving associations who do the tests and so on to get this instated as mandatory. Nice one, cheers 😉

Great tips Russ - and timely reminders for me. About to go off on an 8 day adventure but then have to high tail it back for about 6 hours on brand new motorway to get home.

Great information. I've learnt something here. Thanks

Well what a find. I’m a newly qualified rider and was looking for some motorway riding tips as my commute will be Rainworth to Derby and I prefer the M1 to the A38 in my pick up. And I found this 😆

Thanks for the good advice mate going to try the motorways and a roads soon iam a bit nervous but your advice has helped me

Great tips and hints once more.

Diesel Apocalypse in and around Service stations, there is usually a spill and they are treacherous... Top Job Russ!

It's weird isn't it? I'm virtually self taught in the late 70's when there was no bike training but when I was taught to drive a car I was told to think of a motorway slip-road as an elongated T-junction and NOT to indicate right. That always felt wrong to me....so I do indicate right now as if nothing else, a flashing light helps draw attention to you. Good video fella.

Thanks for your time from Spain Regards Tony Knowler 🏍️👍🤗

Watching this clip was a refreshment course (!?) to me. Thank you!! 🥰

Thanks, very useful. Also I spy an RD350LC just like the one I had in the '80s, very nice!

Cool video 👍 I have been riding for a few good years now and always learning 😊 and it is nice to watch videos like these, I call it, refresher videos 😃 my moto is -watching, learning and practicing makes a rider, a very good and sensible 1, indeed! Just like me 😋😋

Great tips to think about. Especially, now when we haven't been riding for so long. Cheers

Great tips, thank you for posting.

Great Tips! Thank you👍 Keep up the great work 🙏

I'm dyslexic, so your tips will work in my country just fine. ; )

On Malaysian highways, we riders have to constantly be aware of the speeding vehicles coming from the back. Our highways are very much similar to UK motorways because we inherit the system from you guys (except we are fully metric) , the speed limit is only a suggestion 😂, at least that's what most Malaysian drivers think... 😂 Anyways, great tips and I love how stable the ST side mirrors are. 👍🏽

Hey Russ I always teach not to get boxed in on the motorway too, if your going to do a part two maybe you could tell us what you think. I was also going to pick you up on the countdown markers but see you corrected yourself. 🤣 I’ve been following you for nine years and think of you as the original biker vlogger, keep up your good work. 👍🏻

Thank you for taking the time always helpful to be reminded of things I must admit I tend to stay in lane two a great deal on the motorway I find the verge made by the lorries over the years gives me a feeling of seasickness almost 😂but all good advice I do llike looking in your garage I realise you’re a Time Traveler like me😁

Good tips and presented very well

Honda CX Turbo, oh boy had a 500cc years ago, loved it

I'm Dutch, so not sure how this works in the UK, but on signaling when exiting the highway.. here I was taught that when you're exiting on an entry/exit lane, you keep indicating until you actually pass the fork in the road. I see many people here not doing that though and it's always tricky because when they're slower and you're passing them to exit, you never quite know if they're on that lane to merge into the highway, or because they're exiting. My local highway exit is quite long, and some people stay on it for ages before merging, it's always one of the more dangerous parts of the trip I feel.

I was on the outer lane and just about to pass a car in the middle lane when it pulled out into my lane. I just happened to have camcorder running. When i got home and looked at it what I did not realise when i rolled the vid back was a car had come off the slipway onto motorway, sped up undertaking and then veered into centre lane so the car pulling into my lane was taking avoiding action. So now i know even when in the "3rd" lane, a slipway still is a hazard to be watched. Thanks for the vid there Russ

Some great advice there 👍🏻

I just got my first big bike (v strom650) and one of the first things i bought was a panoramic rear view mirror... It basically provides a wide panoramic view from a curved mirror that sticks to the windscreen on your bike and allows you to see your blindspots in it really well... to be honest, I just saw it on another youtube video and it looked useful; and at first I thought it wasnt that useful, because I do my lifesafer checks anyway, and found i wasnt using it on slower roads. Then the first time i used it on the motorway; i found it so helpful! I still check my blindspots when changing lane with a lifesaver check, but sometimes when a car is very slowly overtaking you, and theyre completely in your blindspot; you can just have an eye on them with the wideangle mirror, and you see them progress through you blindspot until theyre in your peripheral sight... They just allow you to keep your head facing forward more, when on the motorway, while maintaining some good all round awareness; it does take some getting used to though, as we all have learnt without it I got mine from ali express.. just search "Wide Angle Rear View Mirror Safety Rearview Mirrors Panoramic Motorcycle Windscreen Scooter Accessories Universal" if youre interested (i dont get anything for this advertisement , other than hopefully someone else finding it as useful as I do (only on the motorway thought)).

I'll never understand those people who say that motorway driving/riding is boring. There are as many things to look out for on the motorway as anything else...

Great video and explanation. I would like to see how you tackle leaving the M1 at junction 28 on the northbound carriageway at rush hour. It gets very busy and is often backed up on the Motorway plus has two lanes for exiting.

...good stuff. And.. we get to see/hear the ST1100 again :)

Great point at 1.15, lane 1 and lane 3 moving to same space. Also noticing a lot of blind spot icons lighting up on car mirrors these days.. I like it.

Very helpful, thank you.

Should be very worth a watch.

Highly appreciated cheers!

Thanks Russ. Much Appreciated.

Hey man great video again, the stuff i've seen driving my lorry in the netherlands you wouldn't believe, like seeing people switching lanes going 130kmh/80mph and scraping the damn door on the guard rail where the motorways split. Usually in (south) Rotterdam though where you get a very complicated motorway with lots of on and offramps. I think its the A16, have a look on google maps if you wanna see it. Its almost as if though people don't understand they can take the offramp and if it turns out to be the wrong one they can just turn onto the onramp again. It really baffles me what people do to avoid taking the wrong exit.

Uk road is pretty much sounds the same as Australia. Its annoying when there are cars who stays on the overtake lane( on the right) and not keeping left and people who doesn't know what the entry ramp is for on freeway/highway and still do 20km below the speed limit which is kinda dangerous imo were everyone does 100km/h+

great video, thanks!

Fantastic - thank you!

Excellent video

Great content very little is said about motorways.I'm fine in a car but my sensors work overtime on a motorway it is not as easy to check all around on a bike i feel.Cheers.

Thanks for a great video. You mention staying in position 1 before overtaking in order to avoid being in the upcoming car's blindspot, then moving out to position 3 just before the overtake. Where would you recommend positioning yourself if you're overtaking lots of cars (say for example twenty, all in a line, across a distance of half a mile)? Staying in position 3 whilst you pass all of them? Any advice on avoiding being in the blindspot of the cars that are further down the line than the first one of two?

When overtaking lorries in windy conditions I always start to slow down once I come aside them to brace myself for the hit of the wind once I emerge, and then I can accelerate to my original speed (if safe). The same when the road is about to open up. There is a section on M40 heading south of Oxford where the flat countryside and trees fall away and you at the top of a hill, so I always make sure I am in a safe position and speed when I see that approach just in case I get caught by a wind gust. But I have never had a problem with motorways as I rode my 125 on the A2 from London to Medway or A3 from London to Guildford which are motorways in everything but name, let alone other major dual carriageways like the A1, A14 etc. So aside from getting experience on high speed roads with three of more lanes, you really do have to learn to be safe when you are likely the slowest vehicle on the road and unable to accelerate out of trouble. It is also on those roads (and in lower speed sections) where I have come the closest to trouble from vehicles wanting to merge into me. One time on the A13 in London (50 limit) I was passing a junction. Lane one was empty but I was in lane two, as I had just been overtaking, a lane drop was coming up, and a car was joining. Thankfully lane three was also empty, as the car driver completely ignore lane one and I had no choice but to break and swerve. Ever since then I always assume that will happen so, depending on the situation, either keep my speed matching or accelerate to pass it while it is still on the slip lane. My other tip for motorways and dual carriageways is to realize that you will effectively slow down when you change lanes, as some of your speed for forward movement instead is needed for sideways movement. The importance of that is car drivers will happily merge in front of you with the smallest of gaps, and with no regard that the gap will shorten despite both of you keeping the same speed. And this applies just as much to traffic leaving the outside lane after overtaking (usually because they are by intimidated by a faster vehicle behind) even when there the road is clear in front of you. So I always come off the throttle a little when someone starts to merges a short distance in front of me knowing that they will shorten the gap. And when moving out of a congested lane I always accelerate as I change lanes then come back off the throttle afterwards, so I can keep my forward speed to ensure I do not shorten the gap behind me. Well, that was longer than I intended.

As always, plan ahead (also the fueling :)) Show intentions clearly and in proper time. And when you start indication, follow up with accordingly positioning.

Thanks good advice! Standard of driving seems worse with Covid 19. A lot of people don't seem to understand "Give Way" signs and road markings!

I still remember my first time riding my motorcycle on a motorway, you don't realise the size (width) of them and the speed until you're that exposed.

Great advice here , good video mate👍 The countdown strikes are in 100 yards interval (90 metres) tho

Short upload, maybe, but full of good, solid, life-saving tips.

Thank you for the excellent video. I’m planning to come to the UK in August and ride with a group. I didn’t even know what the lane numbers were since we don’t use numbers in the States. Do you have videos about riding motorcycles on rotaries?

I generally moved out of lane one into lane two when approaching slip roads or exits from services to leave space for cars joining the motorway. Now in NZ drivers do not indicate 300m before the exit, usually put the blinker on after they have started making their manoeuvre to confirm their actions.

I ride mainly motorways to and from work. Very useful video. Something I do that I don't know if its good or not. Say a driver is merging into your lane because they haven't seen you (because they haven't looked) I accelerate out of the danger. I never brake because I'd get side swiped. M25 is notorious for inattentive impatient drivers. I feel like accelerating out of dangerous situations is better.

Another great lesson! Thank you. Where in the near side lane would you recommend a rider position themselves for the safest place to be? I always take the inner third judging my greatest risk to be from overtaking vehicles.

"In the UK the idea is to stay in the left hand land unless overtaking" - or driving an SUV or if you're over the age of 50 - etc etc. Yeah. A little bit of lane discipline would go a long way to improving traffic flow.

The ones that get me are the ones that drift along nice and slow without a care on the slip road/acceleration lane... Totally unaware that they are putting themselves (and more importantly, me!) in danger now I'm having to join a motorway at a lower speed... GAH!!!

💖💖👏🏼👏🏼

Good video. I have noticed in your videos that you wear a helmet cam and that means to me that you are always looking through the windscreen in front of you. Many years ago in the 60.s and 70.s when I was in the police service I remember that if your screen came above your eyes and that meant that you could only look through it and not over it then you should have a letterbox type of hole made in it so that you could see when vision is obstructed by rain etc. Although its quite possible that the legislation still exists it is obviously that it doesn't seem to be applied nowadays but still a piece of my history. In the older Heartbeat series the main character, a police officer, rode a Francis Barnett with a full screen and that had a letterbox opening cut into it.

Fantastic advice as always. Interesting to know what position you ride in say if your on a busy motorway in the fast lane? 2 or 3? I tend to stick to 3 as see so many obstacles cars straddle.

Wish drivers /riders in New Zealand could see this. The majority haven't a clue how to drive correctly on motorways. 😟

Okay I’ve kept this to myself long enough. So I’ll apologize now, sorry. Since it wasn’t till Covid that you’re not filming while instructing and in all your gear (kit). You’re pretty good looking. Lucky your wife.

Ear plugs are a godsend for motorway stints, the prolonged wind noise is not only tiring and distracting but the most damaging to hearing.

Great clip but a question about the ones we all see, Mr/Mrs/Ms Middle Lane-Hogger, or worse on 4 lane motorways, 3rd lane hogger. Always at 67ish mph. What is your take on those please. I overtake as it's safer if they're well behind me.

Would appreciate your thoughts on something; I was riding with a friend and he asked why I was moving around on the road. Took me a moment to consider what he meant. When overtaking on a motorway or dual carriageway, somehow I’ve naturally got into a habit of moving to the left side of lane two (position 1 really) so that I’m not in the drivers blind spot. I’m still behind them but in the line of sight of the mirror. Then as I get to the point where I’m actually overtaking I move right (position 3) so that there’s more lateral distance between me and the car that I’m overtaking. I’ve done a bit of rider training with the police so I know that position 3 is correct when overtaking, though until my friend mentioned it, I’d instinctively adopted this position 1 on approach. Thinking it through, it certainly means I’m more likely to be visible, but I’ve never noticed anyone else doing it! Do you do that/see it happening/see an issue with it?

"Three hundred metres" ... technically those signs 300 yards (275 metres) etc, just one of those little anachronisms of the UK measurement system