Lane discipline is vitally important on motorways. You should normally drive in the left-hand lane.

Two-lane motorways
On a two-lane motorway, the correct position for normal driving is in the left-hand lane.

The right-hand (offside) lane is for overtaking and once you have overtaken you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as it is safe to do so. It's not'the fast lane'.

Large goods vehicles are permitted to use either lane.

Motorways with three or more lanes
because of the volume of traffic on three- lane motorways, many are being widened to four or more lanes in each direction.

Keep to the left-hand lane unless there are a great many slower vehicles ahead- its possible to stay in the centre or outer lanes while you are overtaking a number of slower moving vehicles, but don't stay in these lanes

• Longer than you have to
• If you are delaying traffic behind you.

Drivers of large goods vehicles, buses, coaches or any vehicle towing a trailer are not allowed to use the extreme right-hand lane of a motorway with more than two lanes, unless one or more lanes are temporarily closed.

Don't stay in an overtaking lane longer than it takes you to move out, overtake and move in again safely. Make sure you don't block traffic which is not allowed to use the outer lane.

Changing lanes
Don't change lanes unnecessarily. You should

• Keep your vehicle steady in the centre of the lane
• Not wander into another lane.

MSM routine - Always use the MSM Routine well before you intend to change lanes.
At higher speed, you must start the routine much earlier.
Look and, if necessary, signal in good time. Remember vehicles might come up behind you very quickly.
The sooner you indicate, the sooner other drivers are warned of your intended movement. They'll expect a change in the traffic pattern and have time to prepare for it.
Be particularly aware of motorcyclists, they can be difficult to see due to their narrow profile but they may be travelling at high speeds. In congested situations they may filter between lanes of slower-moving traffic.

Crawler and climbing lanes
A steep hill on a motorway might have a crawler or climbing lane to avoid heavy vehicles slowing down the flow of traffic.

Controlled motorways
These motorways generally have signs advising drivers not to change lanes.

When other vehicles join
After you pass an exit, there's usually an entrance where other vehicles can join.

• Don't try to race the while they're on the slip road
• Look well ahead; if there are several vehicles joining the motorway be prepared to adjust your speed.
• Show consideration for traffic joining the motorway and its safe, move to another lane to make it easier for joining traffic to merge.
• Take extra care if the motorway curves as drivers on the slip road may have difficult seeing vehicles on the motorway.

Motorway interchanges
Where motorways merge or separate you might be required to change lanes, sometimes more than once.
Pay attention to the overhead direction signs and move into the correct lane in good time.
Where the hatch markings indicate splitter islands, stay in your lane.
Asses conditions well ahead and watch for other drivers changing lane.
Changes in traffic Conditions
Traffic conditions can vary as much on a motorway as on an ordinary road.
There can be rush hour traffic near cities, heavy traffic near roadwork's and constantly busy sections in other places.

These differences will have a greater effect on two-lane motorways.

Drive defensively
React to changes well in advance. Don't wait until you're forced to react.

Overtaking
Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle you intend to overtake.

Use the appropriate parts of the MSM/PSL routine. For example
Mirror - Check behind to verify the speed, course and position of traffic behind you.
Position - you should be able to move out smoothly to the right without making any sudden movements.
Speed - Make sure you're going fast enough or can accelerate quickly enoughto overtake without blocking any vehicle coming up behind.
Look - Look ahead and use your mirror to check if there's anything preventing you from over taking safely, for example, a lane, closure ahead or traffic coming up much faster from behind in the right-hand lane.
Try to anticipate if the vehicle ahead will move out to overtake.

A quick sideways glance into the blind area might sometimes be necessary before you change lanes.
Remember

• Look
• Assess well ahead.
• Decide - don't rush.
• Act - only when you're sure it's safe.

Mirrors - You must use your mirrors regularly and sensibly.
Remember that vehicles coming up in the right hand lane are likely to be moving faster than you are. Watch out particularly for motorcyclists as they are more difficult to see. Watch for vehicles returning to the lane you intend to use.

Signal - You must signal well before you Start to move out. This gives driver behind you plenty of time to anticipate what you intend to do and could influence any manoeuvres they're planning.

Pulling out
Check your mirrors again, and take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot, before pulling out smoothly into an overtaking lane. Overtake as quickly and safely as possible.

Moving back into the left
Pass the vehicle and signal, if necessary, before moving back into the left as soon as you're sure it's safe to do so. Don't cut in too soon in front of the vehicle you've just passed.

Look well ahead for any vehicles about to move out into the lane into which you intend to move. Allow plenty of room. Finally, make sure your indicator signal cancels properly.

Overtaking on the left Never overtake on the left, unless the traffic is moving in queues and the queue on your right is moving more slowly than the queue you are in.

On busy motorways

If you come up behind traffic moving more slowly than you are when you are overtaking, be patient and

• Don't intimidate the driver ahead by repeatedly flashing your headlights and driving dangerously close behind
• Wait until the vehicle ahead can move safely to the left, then proceed.

Drive defensively
Let faster traffic pass you. If other drivers are breaking the speed limit, don't add to the danger by trying to enforce the legal speed limit. Don't move to a lane on the left to overtake.

Never use the hard shoulder to overtake- unless directed to do so by traffic signs at roadwork's, by police officers or Highways Agency Traffic Officers in uniform.