Signs
Leading the motorway - Direction signs from ordinary roads to the motorway have Lettering and figures on a blue panel, often bordered in white.

These signs may stand alone or be included in other larger signs of various colours.

On the motorway- You may find the following types of sign on the motorway

• Advance direction signs
• Countdown markers
• Signs giving information about service Areas
• Signs which have a brown background. These indicate tourist attractions which can be reached by leaving at the next exit.

All these signs are very much larger than those on ordinary roads because you need to be able to see them from a distance. This is a good reminder that you must leave more room for all manoeuvres on motorways.

Each junction has an identifying number which corresponds with current maps. This is to help you plan your route and know where you need to leave the motorway.

Speed limit signs

• Signs which display a speed limit within a red ring indicate mandatory maximum speed limits. You MUST obey these signs. If you don't, you risk prosecution.
• Black and white rectangular signs recommend maximum speed limits which you MUST observe.

Signals
Signals will warn of dangers ahead, such as

• Incidents
• Fog
• Icy roads
• Delays
• Standing traffic.

Flashing amber lights - Look out for flashing amber lights and signs, either on the central reservation or overhead. These warn you of

• Lane closures
• Roadwork's
• Other hazards.

They might also show a temporary maximum advisory speed limit. You should

• Slow down to the speed limit
• Be ready to slow down still more to pass the obstacle or danger
• Look out for signs giving further advice
• Don't speed up until you see the sign ending the temporary restriction (or no more flashing amber lights).

Red lights - some signs have flashing red lights as well.

A red light (it may be red 'X') warns you that you MUST NOT go beyond the red light in the that lane. You should

• Start to slow down in good time
• Be ready to change lanes.

If the red light flashes on a slip road, you MUST NOT enter it.

If the red light flashes on the central reservation or at the side of the road, you MUST NOT go beyond the signal in any lane.

Joining a motorway

You can get onto a motorway

• Where the main road becomes a motorway. This is indicated by a specially-worded sign
• By joining at any entry point. A slip road leads onto the motorway.

At an entry point where a slip road leads to the motorway, adjust your speed to that of the traffic already on the motorway before joining it. Give priority to traffic already on the motorway.

Join where there's a suitable gap in the left-hand lane. Use the MSM/PSL routine.

A quick sideways glance might be necessary to verify the position of other vehicles. Try to avoid stopping at the end of the slip road unless queuing to join other slow-moving traffic.

At some slip roads there is no need to join by merging because the joining lane may continue as a dedicated lane. Signs and road markings normally indicate this arrangement.

Do

• Indicate your intention to join the motorway
• Make sure you can be seen
• Assess the speed of the traffic on the motorway before you try to join.

Don't

• Force your way into the traffic stream
• Drive along the hard shoulder.

Once you've joined the motorway, keep in the left-hand lane* until you've had time to judge and adjust to the speed of the traffic already on the motorway.

* In a very few cases, the lane merges from the right. Take extra care when joining or meeting traffic at these locations.