Emotional comment here as I watch Ashley's video. Hope you don't mind folks. Seeing motorway footage in good weather is bringing back so many very happy memories of the numerous road trips my very dear Mum and I made up and down the country, attending so many events. To places such as the NEC, Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Wisley Garden, Kew Gardens, London Olympia and so many other places. Never thought I'd get so emotional seeing video footage of a motorway. I miss my Mum dearly and I fully intend to resume my events. I know it's what she would have wanted and it's partly in her honour that I want to do so. And as far as I'm concerned, my very dear Mum is still very much "with me" wherever I am.
Keep those memories Ibrahim and hold onto them. Looking forward to reading messages from you to say you are heading off to an event or that you will be watching a video later as you have just parked up and going to be out most of the day Your mum will be with you always and she is with you now while you have your treatments and we are all keeping everything crossed for the all clear next year
All the best Ibrahim. I guess we've all done 'that' motorway journey which reminds us of someone, or to see a family member for the last time, or travelling for the first time without them. Important to still focus on the drive in these situations, using the skills that Ash demonstrates here to stay safe.
I've been driving for more than 50 years now. Coming across Ashley's videos explaining his attitude to the art of the road, vindicates everything I was initially taught by my father who had been a police trained driver in the 1930's and an instructor in the army during the war. He had a licence to drive anything! All the nuggets of wisdom and analysis that Ashley imparts, along with his patient observant and considerate approach to sharing the road (with idiots, villains and the vulnerable), and reading the conditions, maintaining the flow, helping others out..this is all the stuff I was taught that has kept me safe for decades. Ashley maintains the tradition of driving attitude, skill and knowledge that go back to the dawn of mass motoring and we never stop learning. It was explained to me that driving is a privilege, to be treated with respect, not a right to be taken for granted. That's why you need a licence to do it! I think that is an understanding that needs to be revived and reinforced in the public mind. Thank you for everything you do. Excellent.
Excellent video, see so much of this behaviour daily, I am forever giving way and practice defensive driving just to keep out of trouble. Some drivers totally obsessed with themselves and ignore every other driver. Well done Ashley.
A common one I see is when myself or others hold back slightly waiting for space to pass an HGV quickly and safely without hanging next to them too long and the suited commuter in a company car starts tailgating and flashing the lights. If we do move up ever so slightly we are next to the wagon not going any quicker but in more danger and risk 🤦♂️ All we can do is protect ourselves and maybe in the process protect the ignorant
Everything Ashley describes here is the same practical common sense, continuous observation, awareness, anticipation and forward planning that I was taught, over 50 years ago. It works, it keeps you and others safe, it facilitates flow and makes driving easier. This method of creating and maintaining space around you enables your actions to control that space too, and makes allowances for those who may not be capable of paying proper attention. In many ways, Ashley is actually stating what should be obvious and that is what makes him such a good, insightful instructor and teacher. Excellent. Thank you. This makes me feel vindicated in my attitude to using motorways. The Government should pay this guy to do a series of public information programs. It would save hundreds of lives and millions of pounds.
I think at the start Ashley kept quite a distance from the Merc in front and didn't move off as quickly, guy probably assuemd it was a learner and didn't wanna get stuck behind.
Awesome video Ashley. These "How to drive like a driving instructor" videos are probably my favourite ones you do. So good to see nice driving and I also pick up tips. The lean forward to use the mirror instead of the shoulder check is a good one. I must give that a try. One tip I didn't see you use. At about 11:30 you were in lane 3 catching a lorry in lane 1 with the possibility the lorry might want to move into lane 2. In a case like that, I'd put on a right turn indicator. If the lorry driver is watching me in the mirrors, me turning on the signal lets the lorry driver know that I am staying out in lane 3. I have seen that work well, with lorries signalling right immediately after me doing my right signal, and then moving out into the gap I have left. However, I won't do it if there is somebody directly ahead of me in lane 3 in case the lane 3 driver interprets it as me wanting to do an overtake. Every time we consider a signal, we also need to consider the risk of somebody misinterpreting our signal. I also like the advice about varying speed and sometimes dropping back into lane 1 at reduced risk and reduced cognitive load. When I was preparing for my IAM Roadsmart Masters test, I was advised to make good progress. Which I can do. However, in real life, it's good to allow your mind some chill space too. As you imply, you are not switching off but you are turning the pressure down. In effect, make it a non-event!
Looking forward to watching this 44 min video now. Apologies for my late viewing and comments folks. I was on a long phone to a friend this morning. Hope everyone is surviving the stormy weather ok. Now onto Ashley's video. Always love these longer "How to drive like a driving instructor" videos.
Thank you for taking the time. I am back to get some calm mindset from your videos as I noticed I was getting frustrated and angry at people driving dangerously here in Luxembourg. I have the impression it's getting worse by the day and I started catching myself doing some errors. This video comes in the perfect moment as I take the motorway every single day to go to and back from work and the traffic is so heavy, it's a little bit difficult to allow for space around me.
Interesting you mention Luxembourg. My other half's nephew moved there a few years ago for work (he's a chartered accountant) and I found out that dashcams are illegal there, what are your thoughts on that..? Why on earth outlaw such a massive help to road safety..?
@ Luxembourg rarely comes up with its own laws about.. anything really. Most often it copies Belgium but sometimes French or German laws are implemented. It mostly depends on who's in power at the moment and what their personal experience is. I guarantee you that a politician watched news or talked with a neighbour while walking their dogs about how bad cameras are, because someone snapped a photo of a woman on the train and the next day the law was "drafted". Imagine a big village that outgrew itself but still has village politics. It's not illegal per se. It's just not usable as evidence and you can't upload videos where people's faces are recognizable. In one word - unusable. That said, the two times we had hit and run incidents in front of our home, the policemen asked if we had dashcams to see what happened. Absolute bs but nothing surprising from Luxembourg 🤷🏼♀️.
@@huskytail Weird. We often see the cops asking for dashcam footage if there's an incident. There's even a 'riding with the cops' type television show that features dashcam footage and they ask people to send in any clips they have.
I'm very jealous of the quiet motorway you have. My nearest, the M4 near Swindon, is rarely as quiet as when you hit the congestion. Keeping space becomes a bigger challenge, but usually still possible. Here's a challenge for you. Had to travel to South Wales and back on Thursday, in heavy rain. The return journey, early evening, dark, raining, was particularly difficult. Between Newport and Swindon, I encountered 5 occasions of a car travelling in the middle lane, at about 45mph, wipers on 'frantic', driver staring rigidly ahead, oblivious to the turmoil behind. Trucks building up in lanes 1 & 2 behind, unable to use lane 3, and lane 3 just a queue of cars, as we trickled gently past. Once past each of these, we had a reasonably good run, until the next. Brunel built a great railway for these people.
I’m training to be an ADI, with one of the big nationals. I’ve done my Pt.1 & Pt.2 and my car is now covered in vehicle graphics supplied by the company I’ll be working with. It’s eye opening how other drivers now treat me presuming I’m a learner when I’m out in the car. A double decker bus was trying to bully me out of his way on the first trip out in the car after it had been sign written. I was occupying the centre of three lanes at a roundabout in order to access the city centre while taking my wife to work, which was correct. The driver of the bus was attempting to intimidate me out of their way. No dash cam fitted yet, I will use your promo code.
At around 11:50 re don't be scared to abandon a manoeuvre if you need to. Sometimes the situation changes to warrant exactly that. I feel this is something that distinguishes an experienced driver versus a novice. The latter of whom may just carry on with their original plan and not react or adapt. I think there's also a degree of "saving face" or avoid embarrassment so as not to be seen abandoning.
Excellent video, thanks. On drivers who gap close, quite a few years ago I worked for an organisation that had drivers, chatting in the equipment room, he said he didn't like going backwards on motorways, so he did not like leaving a gap in front, I smiled and said I had not had to use reverse on a motorway..... the M62/M60 junction was just the same in he 1970's. then it was the M62/M62 junction.
Just linked this cracking video to my daughter who's new to motorway driving and is finding her feet. This will be really useful without a doubt, many thanks.
I remember how spooky it was driving on the motorway the first few times. Great idea to go over these scenarios beforehand to get familiar with the hazards and strategies.
Very much like my decision-making on the motorway. I have found that aiming for about 60-65 mph on a motorway is generally more relaxed because I am overtaking fewer vehicles and generally not holding up anybody. Trying to do 70 is more stressful because it involves the outside lane more often and there are far too many drivers who believe that anything less than 80 is a personal affront and they will tailgate dangerously - not everyone by any means, but enough to punctuate any journey with aggro. I've held a clean licence since 1977 and I see no reason to start collecting points now. So, slightly slower it is. One reason I avoid spending time alongside wagons is the rare, but explosive way their tyres can pop.
Personally, I prefer to stay in lane 1 as much as possible and gently go along at 50-55mph. I've never understood the obsession so many people seem to have of getting to 70 as soon as possible; it's a limit, people, not a target. With the price of petrol these days, I want to get as much out of a tank as possible, and the difference in fuel consumption between 50-55 and 70 is quite dramatic, well it is for my car anyway. I am rarely if ever in a hurry, so I see no point in rushing around like a mad thing everywhere.
I do drive very similar. I find driving this way stimulates my brain and keeps me focused. As a inexperienced driver many years ago I would find I dropped into autopilot and got to the end of my journey and couldn’t remember the journey
At around 4:34, when you changed from lane 3 to lane 2, very good consideration if potentially someone could change from lane 1 to 2 at the same time. Sometimes even without signalling.
Your excellent video brings back memories of a similar video you did a few years ago Ash. Namely "How to drive like a driving instructor - motorway driving". Today's video has the extra feature on putting emphasis regarding driving in a staggered formation.
43:40 There's an important point that is rarely made, visible here. Off the motorway, M. Neal goes through three sets of traffic lights in the next 40 seconds, and one of them is red. All of the worry about being 1 minute late or losing 30 seconds at various points on the motorway is meaningless. The consequences of the cycle times on those three sets of traffic lights _alone_ will swamp and wash away _any_ such changes to arrival time achieved on the motorway, and there will be more traffic lights further on still, no doubt. There is very little that one can do (both in losing time or trying to gain time) on a motorway journey of less than an hour that will have as great an effect as the multiple sets of traffic lights, that one comes to after leaving the motorway, will have.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that is sometimes "on the fence" when deciding whether or not to move back to the left. Similarly also occasionally when deciding whether or not to pull out and overtake. All depends on the situation of course but sometimes I find myself taking a few extra seconds to assess the situation.
I did exactly this on a drive up to Northampton last week. I found it a very useful technique. I found it more difficult to execute on the way home (dark, poor weather, more variable speed restrictions and more middle lane hoggers)
When I'm in a motorway queue, still quite a distance from the exit, I always try to remember that drivers wishing to exit may have been caught out by how far back the queue has formed, and need to 'jump in'. OK, so some do it deliberately, but not everyone is familiar with the road, what with it being the national road network and all.
I like the tip to lean forwards instead of looking over my shoulder. I’m going to make a conscious check to see what I actually do, as I may already subconsciously lean forward.
Agree about the 'peace' of mind that can be had from lane 1, just to give my mind a break from the other lanes at times and mental fatigue. Since I've had adaptive cruise control I like it at the right times on motorways and longer journeys. My car set in 'comfort' makes it easier to drive slow and steady, however the 'loud' pedal takes more movement and the cruise control handles that very well and lets me rest my foot too. Great video Ash, thanks 👍🏻😄
0:24 This. This is what I get all the time when I try to drive in a staggered formation. It usually isn't too much of an issue but it does show how many 'oblivions' there are driving around. People always try to battle and get in front. I really appreciate your video's and I'm going to try and work on this as much as I can. Cheers!
Another class video, great demonstration of busy junctions, pockets of spaces, mentally challenging situations. Lots to learn in this one, and some awesome tips. 👍
Staggered formation on faster roads…the cause of many “lane hogging” arguments yet the solution to many problems that arise This is something I have done for many years and having space around you at 70mph cannot be stated often enough I shall still watch the video with great interest in case there are things I can improve on 👍
Excellent video Ashley, thank you as always. Fascinating to see how you were positive in making progress, whilst managing space to reduce risk. Lots we can take from that. Hope you got to your appointment ok!
My part 2 training with Ashley has been fantastic for my day to day driving. Having that "planning ahead" mindset has been the best attitude towards driving I've adopted. Driving in a pocket of space has saved me from various issues caused by the ever so common oblivion driver. Eternally grateful for all you've taught me Ash 😊
Lovely commentary throughout the video. It’s not easy to maintain complete awareness and speak at the same time. There are different hazards here than in slower paced street traffic. It’s nice to appreciate the difference and make sure one doesn’t switch off and go on autopilot.
Thanks Ashley for your videos that put good common sense into words. As a scouser in exile I appreciate seeing Liverpool streets... my grandparents lived in Norris Green so recognized a few ! I have to inverse everything since I live in France now ... and there are some rules that are particular.
Thank you for the section at 28:01 covering about space for those taking an exit coming up while in traffic. I am amazed by how many have the attitude “They could see the traffic so should’ve got in the queue earlier” so wont leave space for people to move over. Me personally, I will leave a space and usually double the recommendation distance. This allows a safety buffer should someone fill the space and brake for traffic, which does happen I also leave a space in front of me when stationary so someone can use it if they wish. I would much rather that than someone stop in lane 2 (or lane 3 in this clip) causing more traffic and higher risk for everyone
Also - and the white Seat behind demonstrated this perfectly - closing the gap when stationary/crawling gives you no room to manoeuvre should you need to edge over for say, a bike or even an ambulance, and also means if you get walloped from behind, there's no cushion of space, even if your car has in-accident braking.
@ Yep, the double thump. Learned the hard way when I was rear ended in traffic and was pushed into the vehicle in front. I always left wiggle room but after that it was a smidge more
Fatigue… there is a huge difference between a half empty motorway and one that is busy. Every Xmas I leave home at 4am to drive across the country and I arrive 4hrs later at 8am still fresh and alert, sometimes without the need to stop for a break. After the holiday on the way back I leave at 8am and the same journey takes 5 or 6hrs and if the traffic is really badly congested I arrive back home mentally exhausted. [even cruising at a slower speed in the inside lane can be stressful because of all the traffic jostling trying to get past you to get on and off the motorway.
100% agreed I used to travel along the M1 from East Midlands Airport through into central London with a little piece of the A50 added at the start. If I started before 3am I could arrive fresh as a daisy, leave after 4am and get caught in all the traffic heading South one would arrive knackered. Anywhere in between usually required a strong coffee and half hour sit down before doing anything
Great video again Ashley. Being next to a space and managing it like that has saved me a number of times on the Motorway. I did notice you fall into the "must move over a lane" trap joining the M60 though! The left lane was clear all the way past the next junction and you were just focussed on finding a gap to join the more congested lanes 2 and 3
Ashley how do you seem to stay so composed and relaxed while driving every single time? I tend to become anxious while driving sometimes. Great work as always, love the channel.
After i watched your video, i had to make a return journey on the M8 and M73 so i was thinking of what you had to say while i wax going along because i know that you know what you are talking about. I DID have a conflict when i was changing lanes for i committed the sin of turning my head to look ovef my shoulder. Well, it is force of habit, but your disapproving voice entered my head when i did it.
41:22 tip "one point five miles" At 60mph you'll cover one mile in sixty seconds. Somewhere like this I'd be looking at the traffic in lane 1 and picturing\asking ¹ if I'm likely to be past them in roughly 1½ minutes ² is it worth the hassle of staying out It's useful coming up to lane closures or speed changes too. At an "800 yards" sign I'll start counting down 30 29 28 27 and find it helps me picture where everyone is going to be by the time we get to '0'.
Totally agree with you about limiter ahead of cruise control. So much more effective, and allows for small adjustments based on circumstances, as opposed to cruise control which will cancel as soon as you make any input.
Good to see you in a heavy traffic situation. Truth is personally I would not tolerate this stress for very long, I'd be back into lane 1 relaxing (relatively)
13:56 it gives the lorry options if they need to move for a hazard ahead (not necessary here) and it’s gives them chance to deal with failure to the left
Excellent video, Ashley. One thing I really envy you for is your ability to do a commentary as you drive. I have always had extreme difficulty in doing this, and it's one reason I never took the IAM test, as at the time it was a requirement, I don't think it is now, but I'm getting on in years now, let's just say I had a letter from the DVLA telling me my licence expires in February 😵💫😋
I learned and am still learning so much from your videos, Ashley. I think i am becoming a better driver because of you, so thank you so much. This video is very informative 👌
It appears that the DVSA have contacted the Leeds Mindset instructor, as she mentions in her recent video, and she has now removed her first two "Hazard" videos, presumably at their behest.
I think that we need to take the opportunity to shout out the _at least_ one _other_ driving instructor in Leeds who has a TH-cam channel. iDriveLeeds is nothing like the "Mindset" channel. M. Neal is right that the _bad_ instructors should not get all of the attention.
I have found cruise control helps reduce my mental fatigue and find it interesting that you tend towards the speed limiter instead. I like that I can nudge it up or down by 5mph to work the gaps and keep flow. I noticed you traded places with the sprinter (they usually have cruise control but it is harder to adjust so they could have been maintaining aning speed) a few times while discussing "chilling" in the inside lane
I also prefer cruise control, because that's what I'm used to, but I understand Ashley's speed limiter approach. I think the idea is that you can just leave your foot decently far down and stay at your intended speed without thinking much about throttle position, but you can easily adjust your speed by lifting off. It's like having cruise control with a dead man's switch instead of having to actively disable it. Each approach has its own downsides. The limiter only works if you're applying enough throttle. "Dumb" cruise control needs you to be paying enough attention to drop it or disable it as needed for situations ahead, and in congested conditions, that can be as annoying as having no cruise at all. "Adaptive" cruise control is theoretically great, and can be a godsend in congestion, but it's not smart enough to see problems developing in adjacent lanes or to stagger your position, and some systems are vulnerable to phantom braking - potentially dangerous if this happens at the wrong time.
@BlazeFirereign yeah my VW system is dumb but, due to the age of the vehicle, I see it as less points of failure. It is good that it shows the set speed. I like that I can hover the brake pedal to reduce reaction time. I don't have a limiter, just an alarm but it is more hassle than it is worth as I find using cruise helps keep me honest. Most of my non-local journeys are minimum 2hrs and tend to be in the evening. The sprinter has a speed limiter you can set to a number but the cruise doesn't give you that info, you just have to set it below your speed then increase till you are at the desired cruise speed. For that case, the limiter is fantastic for slower roads and more built up areas
I rarely use motorways, but I had to drive to and from Devon this week. I used your pocket of space method as much as I could. I regularly use cruise control and am now using adaptive cruise, rather than limiter, I find I'm having to pre-empt situations much earlier, but I do find I'm sitting in an overtaking position longer than I used to. But if the pocket of space disappears, or I'm holding someone up, I will adjust my speed up or down to sort it. Obviously, I can also cancel my cruise control, which I do. I definitely agree with your comment on leaving a little earlier, too. We were delayed for about an hour going south, but because we'd allowed some flexibility, we still arrived 30 mins early. I might have gone a little faster than I normally would, but nothing excessive and certainly not risky.
At around 9:45, excellent example of what I call "Claiming your space" before you have that option taken away from you. This situation comes up frequently on motorways with three or more lanes
At around 6:06, you've mentioned this technique in the past re: staying out of lane 1 when approaching a motorway "on" slip. I also remember you saying whenever there is a slip road coming off, there is often a slip road coming on. It's one of those situations where I hear that "Inner Ashley" voice.
Totally agree about chilling out in lane 1, I do that on my journeys up to Scotland from Dorset, and like you, I use my speed limiter all the time. Hardly ever use cruise control.
Thanks Ashley, I do watch your videos and reflect on if I drive in a similar fashion, and on motorways I do (I actually like to use my cruise control for as long as I can - and if I can't use it, go to lane one for a bit is good advice). I can't wait to find out if you are going to give us an update on the Leeds driving instructor. Have a Happy Christmas, TTFN
Good that you do shoulder checks when changing lanes. I was once questioned by a friend for doing that and they said they rely only on their mirrors as they felt that was always sufficient.
11:45 would have maybe waited a little longer to move back had a few Fast cars Tesla, etc, boot it from the front corner of lorrys straight to L2. Edit big thumbs on little keyboard.
Agreed Also, if a vehicle is behind it can limit the option of aborting the move into lane 2 as many will start to overtake as you are still straddling and moving lane rather than wait
Nice driving and dialogue Mr Neal, as a long term cyclist, motorcyclist and car/van driver I can still find myself picking up tips from your videos. When driving with the Missus in my passenger seat I’m always pointing out the other driver errors, mistakes etc, not sure if She is listening though. 😂
In Australia, we have a very real problem with drivers not wanting to create space by accelerating for fear of being picked up for speeding. General tolerance is understood to be +3km/hr. On the motorway/freeway, we see lots of ‘bunching’ because of this fact. Also, on two lane highways (one in each direction) at overtaking lanes, it’s rare for drivers to accelerate quickly and create space. It’s a nightmare when a number of cars get to the end of the overtaking lane side-by-side!!! 😱😱
4:27, what normally happens here is they then sit in the middle at the same speed as you. So you have to slow in order to tuck in behind or break the speed limit to overtake to get out of the outside lane.
At around 8.30, yes it's good the Corsa on the off slip held back from the lorry in lane 1 of the main carriageway. Depending on the situation, I sometimes do that. I know that dur to the road markings, the slip road can now be considered "a separate road" but there's nothing to stop the lorry from making a sudden dash for the slip road. Indeed I've seen that sort of thing happen.
20:44 trundling in lane 1 One of the best things about arrival time on the satnav. In the days pre satnav I'd be always wanting to push on, just in case i was late. Even if i know the route like the back of my hand I'll have the satnav on and if the eta says i can trundle,,, I'll trundle.
I once did the maths for my daily commute a decade ago. There was about 25km of motorway. The Audis whizzing along at 90m/h would gain 3 to 5 minutes over the whole length, which would be entirely lost in the noise of the changes to arrival time caused by the 29 sets of traffic lights in the city journey at the end of the motorway.
08:33 I do that all of the time, even though the road markings allow you to pass on the left I prefer to stay behind the vehicle next to me just in case they decide to dive across at the very last moment.
Always use the speed limiter in my car for variable speed limits on the motorway. It is so easy and quick to adjust up and down. Don't think I have used the cruise control even once.
At around 2:05, re "Shall I wave to them sarcastically". I did that once at the Canada US border. It was to a pickup truck that had been driving very impatiently on the approach to the border heading south into the USA. The pick up truck had to join the regular line which according to the display boards had a 3 hour wait. In the meantime, I drove down the virtually empty NEXUS lane as a trusted traveller, which had no wait time at all. To join the NEXUS program, it costs $50 for 5 years. When you apply, both Canada and the USA do a very thorough background check on you, then you are called in for an interview. If approved, you get a NEXUS card and are able to use the dedicated NEXUS lanes, which have a much shorter wait time than the regular lanes. It's extremely satisfying to sail past the long lines in the regular lanes. Especially on that occasion with the pick up truck facing a 3 hour delay!
I thought the two least relaxed or chilled moments in this clip were at around 17:12 and then 18:40 when on both occasions it looked far less stressful and more convenient for flow to move over to the clear middle lane for a few hundred yards. I know you were making a point at this time so you probably wouldn't have stayed there normally, but it does prove your point that you can't just switch off in the inside lane and let everyone else deal with you.
The challenge with having a pocket of space is when traffic volumes get beyond a certain point. Then it gets much more challenging. In some situations, even impossible. Including busy multi lane roundabouts.
Cheers from the USA Ashley you are a good driver and I wish I was driving next to you on most days just wanted to wish you and your family a happy holidays and keep the videos coming we'll keep pressing the like button and subscribing for you You are spot-on with your analysis of traffic and people as drivers it's even worse here in the USA as I'm sure you and your wife know
Like several other commenters here, I too could do a "How To Drive Relaxed In Amongst The Lorries" video, had I the video equipment. Driving a car as if one were one of the lorries is a different mindset again to normal car driving, including things such as good etiquette when a lorry overtakes you and how lorry drivers signal thanks.
I'm a bit late seeing this one. One thing Ashley commented on, Re - ''never going to get in a situation without a gap. '' had me smiling. On a recent trip south )M6) from Lancashire, the new smart motorway displayed 50 limit, (it was a tiny bit misty, but still lots of visibility). I was in second lane doing 50, coming up to overtake a slightly slower car (they were probably doing 45 / 46),. A Lorry undertook me (obviously speeding), The car must have seen the lorry, as it increased its speed a bit. Because the lorry couldn't get past the car, it tailgated it, and sat with its door in line with my bonnet,. . Slowing down was not a good option because there wee lots of traffic behind me also doing 50. There was also plenty of traffic in lanes 3 and 4. So there I was with no gaps, because a Lorry wanted to tailgate a car. My solution was not the best, but I used my right foot, to quickly get past the lorry and car, then slowed back down to 50. Sometimes you get caught without gaps, in situations which are out of your control.
Todays motorway procedure seems to be join at 50mph, dart for the middle lane. Switch brain off and stay in the middle lane whatever the speed of surrounding vehicles.
That was last years method, it has been updated since then. It is now recommended to still drive at 50mph on the sliproad but now it is better to stop at the end of the sliproad as it is supposedly a give way and then trundle directly into lane 2 accelerating as if you are pulling out of a supermarket car park 🤣
I drove from Haverfordwest to Reading with a trailer on yesterday, towing on the motorway teaches you exactly this. The restrictions are as for LGVs - 60mph, and no use of the rightmost lane if there are 3 or more lanes. Is the vehicle I am overtaking, catching someone? Especially LGVs, because if they ever lose speed it takes forever to get it back, especially uphill. Don't be that guy who blocks them out, it just makes life worse for everybody. Unfortunately I often see people driving at 80 in lane 3 and towing. Mad.
It's interesting to pit two techniques against each other regarding speed. Namely: 1. It's safer to vary your speed up and down to react to hazards and maintain a pocket of space 2. It's more economical to maintain a constant speed I would favour #1 over #2. In other words, safety over economy.
My concern with not signalling lane changes when you determine that it won't affect anyone is that if you mess up and miss someone, and actually it *would* affect someone, you're in a situation where you've made a grave error and then also depriving the other party of an early warning signal that something will be going wrong. This is my reason for just always signalling: I know that I'm fallible, and signalling is an easy safeguard with very little downsides.
If you don't signal, you might inconvenience someone, if you don't look, you will kill someone. Effectively, you are replacing your signal with the need for proper observation.
@@ashley_neal That's not what I meant, of course you should look first. I don't even begin to signal until I know that there is space (usually, there are situations in e.g. queuing traffic where you could use it to ask if someone could make space and help you fix your mistake). What I mean is that safety can come from having multiple layers of protections, for instance in factory floor protocols or flight safety. If looking went wrong (people shouldn't be distracted, but reality is that they sometimes are), maybe the second layer of signalling will save from a bad outcome. That said, maybe there's evidence that all things considered, habitual signalling does cause people to change lanes less attentively. Since we know from studies that drivers actually pass cyclists wearing helmets more closely than they do ones without (on average), it wouldn't surprise me.
If there is one thing from Ashley's videos I just can't bring myself to do and thats the "Only signal when necessary" advice. It's all due to the Canadian half of me! Decades of driving in North America where signalling every lane change and turn is always compulsory makes it difficult for me to drop that habit.
Well we can just look at the number of times that M. Neal narrates "What's this one going to do?" when it comes to vehicles that _might_ be pulling back in to the left, to see that you might be being more of a help to people with those habits than you think.
This video highlights the issue with Road Safety, Safety Camera Non-Revenue Generation Safety Partnerships placing "Safety" cameras on bridges over the motorway. There's lots of times where if you have someone at 66 in overtaking lane one, and it can be beneficial for overall flow and your own safety to push on a bit, then drop speed and back into the running lane and use the space a mile or two down the road after the overtake. Safer all round. Having speed cameras (sorry, safety cameras) sat on bridges can really hinder people making space.
I'd love to see a FLying ASHley (FLASH) channel from learning to taxi to full PPL. One hour a month will get you solo within a year with your human factors skills and attention to detail but if you decide to do so, get your medical first. I wasted £6,000 on training only to perma-fail the medical :(
Cruising on half empty motorways, amazes me how often I get a car closing from behind, so to pull into a gap to get out of their way for them to pull into the same gap behind me. [it almost as if they are using me as their speed limiter]
Great video, I'm still yet to do much motorway driving but learnt alot from this... I live 10 mins from where you ended this video, curious to know where you was going 🤔 Shame you couldn't spare any time to have a quick hour with me would love a session with you assessing my driving. Also you need to show us how you negotiate the famous and dreaded simister island not far from here 🤣
At around 10:30 re "They won't even look at you for doing 1 or 2 above". This also ties in nicely to your previous video in Florida re How accurate is my speedometer? Though in my case I use GPS speed. Either way, good point about adjusting speed to fit in and not worry about 1 or 2 mph over.
Ashley, at 36:42, how important is it to use the whole slip road (all of the road space as you say)? This is what I try to do at slip roads. Or was this because there was a good gap you could take without stopping the flow? Thanks
Could you do a video on how poor some road markings and signage can be? Got a three lane roundabout near me that has arrows showing straight on for all lanes. But when you get to the end, the two to the left are straight on but the right lane is right turn only. According to the markings, all can go straight on.
My Son failed his driving test. When I looked at the paperwork the examiner had written down 31 mph. I said that this was presumably in a 20 limit but he replied that it was a 30 limit and the first time he did 31 he gave him a minor but the second time, also 31 in a 30, he failed him. I talked about the parallax error between my Son at 6ft 3in and the examiner, who was short and sitting off to one side, and the fact that 31mph on the speedo was below 30 actual as I have checked the speedo against the GPS but he would not change his mind and simply reminded us of our right to appeal. We could not be bothered so my Son took the test again and passed with 3 minors. The examiner was a complete idiot and, one thing is for certain, his driving record cannot be anywhere near as good as mine as I have been driving for longer than he had been born. 🤣
Many of those driving instructors get their license from a box of Kelloggs Frosties. There's one TH-cam instructor who moves out to the outside while a van undertakes him yet he says the van is committing the offence of Careless Driving while he is lane hogging. Think he goes under *Driving Instructor ADI*
@Ashley, when driving on slightly wet roads where you are creating spray behind you, what's your take on giving more space to the driver you have just passed before moving back in, in order to reduce the amount of spray they receive?
Chances are they are getting spray from you in a lane to their right anyway. I think the better way to look at it would be have I given enough space should I need to start slowing? We are advised to give doible the following distance in the wet so my general rule of thumb is to give doible the space when overtaking before pulling in. But it is situational. If you have someone up your backside then it might be better to move as normal to stop them risking an undertake for example That is my thoughts, it would be interesting to hear others as well 👍
You're coping exactly how I drive on the motorway. Thinking of flow and space that I want and others need. My pet hate is the attitude of its the people joining have the responsibility and people on have 0 responsibility to make safe. The other day going to work could see people going to join so I checked right mirror mirror can I move over to allow space. Yes so move over to allow the merge. Then they where going to swing straight into lane 2 I was in a position to allow but did brake to make safe as it was risky for them to change . They realised I was there and abbondoned then as I went past they wave to say sorry not that it was an issue as I had it under control
The other one for me is people with zero awareness of what is happening in front. I have a dual carriageway near me that is frequently used by tractors. I saw one yesterday up ahead with wagons just ahead of me so I slowed so they could move and keep momentum. The driver behind got a little close not understanding why I wasn’t passing the wagons. When they moved to lane 2 the driver dropped back and then I think the penny dropped as brake lights appeared ahead from drivers getting caught out and “surprised” by a tractor going slow suddenly appearing in front of them Similar can happen on motorways where there is a steep incline and fully loaded wagons start to slow. Zero awareness from those approaching faster wagons that will need to move lane
@smilerbob bonnet watchers you often catch catch them om the main roads that close looking for the overtake. I hold back lol for the pass then pass and think we'll if didn't drive so close you would see past to overtake
I wish people would not overtake on islands, particularly on the left. Sometimes at a complicated island that you are unfamiliar with - say you are a stranger in the area - its very difficult to know in advance the lane you should be in to come off at the turning you need and sometimes you do have to change lanes. When people are passing you on both sides its an order of magnitude harder. People who know the road often drive with very little tolerance towards drivers that dont.
@@smilerbob yeah in my van it's maybe 15 or 18 fiat doblo my mum has a Toyota yatis and it's around 30 I find the limiter a pain to use probably as I don't use much where the cruise is on a stalk and you just flick the lever then
I reported a Morrisons van for doing this exact thing infront of me, I had to let it it to make it safer for both its driver and traffic around, a few days later an email notice of intended prosecution Just doing my bit for safer roads
I try and look at the "body language" of other vehicles, but I also try and "profile" the sort of driving I expect from any particular vehicle. It's surprising how accurately you can judge the behaviour of a driver by the sort of car they drive, particularly which modified a little. An A-Class Mercedes with poorly fitted dark tints is going to be driven carelessly and selfishly, for example. If you know this, you can minimise the risk that vehicle poses to you.
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
Emotional comment here as I watch Ashley's video. Hope you don't mind folks. Seeing motorway footage in good weather is bringing back so many very happy memories of the numerous road trips my very dear Mum and I made up and down the country, attending so many events. To places such as the NEC, Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Wisley Garden, Kew Gardens, London Olympia and so many other places. Never thought I'd get so emotional seeing video footage of a motorway. I miss my Mum dearly and I fully intend to resume my events. I know it's what she would have wanted and it's partly in her honour that I want to do so. And as far as I'm concerned, my very dear Mum is still very much "with me" wherever I am.
Keep those memories Ibrahim and hold onto them. Looking forward to reading messages from you to say you are heading off to an event or that you will be watching a video later as you have just parked up and going to be out most of the day
Your mum will be with you always and she is with you now while you have your treatments and we are all keeping everything crossed for the all clear next year
Had memories of my dad while driving on the motorway today, for the purpose was to go where my dad is buried from 2011 and lay a wreath for Christmas.
All the best Ibrahim. I guess we've all done 'that' motorway journey which reminds us of someone, or to see a family member for the last time, or travelling for the first time without them. Important to still focus on the drive in these situations, using the skills that Ash demonstrates here to stay safe.
❤
I've been driving for more than 50 years now.
Coming across Ashley's videos explaining his attitude to the art of the road, vindicates everything I was initially taught
by my father who had been a police trained driver in the 1930's and an instructor in the army during the war. He had a licence to drive anything!
All the nuggets of wisdom and analysis that Ashley imparts, along with his patient observant and considerate approach to sharing the road (with idiots, villains and the vulnerable), and reading the conditions, maintaining the flow, helping others out..this is all the stuff I was taught that has kept me safe for decades.
Ashley maintains the tradition of driving attitude, skill and knowledge that go back to the dawn of mass motoring and we never stop learning.
It was explained to me that driving is a privilege, to be treated with respect, not a right to be taken for granted.
That's why you need a licence to do it!
I think that is an understanding that needs to be revived and reinforced in the public mind.
Thank you for everything you do. Excellent.
Excellent video, see so much of this behaviour daily, I am forever giving way and practice defensive driving just to keep out of trouble. Some drivers totally obsessed with themselves and ignore every other driver. Well done Ashley.
A common one I see is when myself or others hold back slightly waiting for space to pass an HGV quickly and safely without hanging next to them too long and the suited commuter in a company car starts tailgating and flashing the lights. If we do move up ever so slightly we are next to the wagon not going any quicker but in more danger and risk 🤦♂️
All we can do is protect ourselves and maybe in the process protect the ignorant
Everything Ashley describes here is the same practical common sense, continuous observation, awareness, anticipation and forward planning that I was taught, over 50 years ago.
It works, it keeps you and others safe, it facilitates flow and makes driving easier. This method of creating and maintaining space around you enables your actions to control that space too, and makes allowances for those who may not be capable of paying proper attention. In many ways, Ashley is actually stating what should be obvious and that is what makes him such a good, insightful instructor and teacher. Excellent. Thank you. This makes me feel vindicated in my attitude to using motorways.
The Government should pay this guy to do a series of public information programs. It would save hundreds of lives and millions of pounds.
At 1:54 "They're probably going to come back in to the left" and moments later, sure enough they do. I could also sense that too.
I think at the start Ashley kept quite a distance from the Merc in front and didn't move off as quickly, guy probably assuemd it was a learner and didn't wanna get stuck behind.
Awesome video Ashley. These "How to drive like a driving instructor" videos are probably my favourite ones you do. So good to see nice driving and I also pick up tips. The lean forward to use the mirror instead of the shoulder check is a good one. I must give that a try.
One tip I didn't see you use. At about 11:30 you were in lane 3 catching a lorry in lane 1 with the possibility the lorry might want to move into lane 2. In a case like that, I'd put on a right turn indicator. If the lorry driver is watching me in the mirrors, me turning on the signal lets the lorry driver know that I am staying out in lane 3. I have seen that work well, with lorries signalling right immediately after me doing my right signal, and then moving out into the gap I have left. However, I won't do it if there is somebody directly ahead of me in lane 3 in case the lane 3 driver interprets it as me wanting to do an overtake. Every time we consider a signal, we also need to consider the risk of somebody misinterpreting our signal.
I also like the advice about varying speed and sometimes dropping back into lane 1 at reduced risk and reduced cognitive load. When I was preparing for my IAM Roadsmart Masters test, I was advised to make good progress. Which I can do. However, in real life, it's good to allow your mind some chill space too. As you imply, you are not switching off but you are turning the pressure down. In effect, make it a non-event!
Looking forward to watching this 44 min video now. Apologies for my late viewing and comments folks. I was on a long phone to a friend this morning. Hope everyone is surviving the stormy weather ok. Now onto Ashley's video. Always love these longer "How to drive like a driving instructor" videos.
Thank you for taking the time. I am back to get some calm mindset from your videos as I noticed I was getting frustrated and angry at people driving dangerously here in Luxembourg. I have the impression it's getting worse by the day and I started catching myself doing some errors.
This video comes in the perfect moment as I take the motorway every single day to go to and back from work and the traffic is so heavy, it's a little bit difficult to allow for space around me.
Interesting you mention Luxembourg. My other half's nephew moved there a few years ago for work (he's a chartered accountant) and I found out that dashcams are illegal there, what are your thoughts on that..? Why on earth outlaw such a massive help to road safety..?
@ Luxembourg rarely comes up with its own laws about.. anything really. Most often it copies Belgium but sometimes French or German laws are implemented. It mostly depends on who's in power at the moment and what their personal experience is. I guarantee you that a politician watched news or talked with a neighbour while walking their dogs about how bad cameras are, because someone snapped a photo of a woman on the train and the next day the law was "drafted". Imagine a big village that outgrew itself but still has village politics.
It's not illegal per se. It's just not usable as evidence and you can't upload videos where people's faces are recognizable. In one word - unusable.
That said, the two times we had hit and run incidents in front of our home, the policemen asked if we had dashcams to see what happened.
Absolute bs but nothing surprising from Luxembourg 🤷🏼♀️.
@@huskytail Weird. We often see the cops asking for dashcam footage if there's an incident. There's even a 'riding with the cops' type television show that features dashcam footage and they ask people to send in any clips they have.
@@TestGearJunkie. they ask indeed but it's completely unusable in court or in front of the insurance companies.
@@huskytail Crazy.
I'm very jealous of the quiet motorway you have. My nearest, the M4 near Swindon, is rarely as quiet as when you hit the congestion. Keeping space becomes a bigger challenge, but usually still possible.
Here's a challenge for you. Had to travel to South Wales and back on Thursday, in heavy rain. The return journey, early evening, dark, raining, was particularly difficult. Between Newport and Swindon, I encountered 5 occasions of a car travelling in the middle lane, at about 45mph, wipers on 'frantic', driver staring rigidly ahead, oblivious to the turmoil behind. Trucks building up in lanes 1 & 2 behind, unable to use lane 3, and lane 3 just a queue of cars, as we trickled gently past. Once past each of these, we had a reasonably good run, until the next. Brunel built a great railway for these people.
I’m training to be an ADI, with one of the big nationals. I’ve done my Pt.1 & Pt.2 and my car is now covered in vehicle graphics supplied by the company I’ll be working with. It’s eye opening how other drivers now treat me presuming I’m a learner when I’m out in the car. A double decker bus was trying to bully me out of his way on the first trip out in the car after it had been sign written. I was occupying the centre of three lanes at a roundabout in order to access the city centre while taking my wife to work, which was correct. The driver of the bus was attempting to intimidate me out of their way. No dash cam fitted yet, I will use your promo code.
At around 11:50 re don't be scared to abandon a manoeuvre if you need to. Sometimes the situation changes to warrant exactly that. I feel this is something that distinguishes an experienced driver versus a novice. The latter of whom may just carry on with their original plan and not react or adapt. I think there's also a degree of "saving face" or avoid embarrassment so as not to be seen abandoning.
Excellent video, thanks. On drivers who gap close, quite a few years ago I worked for an organisation that had drivers, chatting in the equipment room, he said he didn't like going backwards on motorways, so he did not like leaving a gap in front, I smiled and said I had not had to use reverse on a motorway.....
the M62/M60 junction was just the same in he 1970's. then it was the M62/M62 junction.
Just linked this cracking video to my daughter who's new to motorway driving and is finding her feet. This will be really useful without a doubt, many thanks.
I remember how spooky it was driving on the motorway the first few times. Great idea to go over these scenarios beforehand to get familiar with the hazards and strategies.
Very much like my decision-making on the motorway. I have found that aiming for about 60-65 mph on a motorway is generally more relaxed because I am overtaking fewer vehicles and generally not holding up anybody. Trying to do 70 is more stressful because it involves the outside lane more often and there are far too many drivers who believe that anything less than 80 is a personal affront and they will tailgate dangerously - not everyone by any means, but enough to punctuate any journey with aggro. I've held a clean licence since 1977 and I see no reason to start collecting points now. So, slightly slower it is.
One reason I avoid spending time alongside wagons is the rare, but explosive way their tyres can pop.
Personally, I prefer to stay in lane 1 as much as possible and gently go along at 50-55mph. I've never understood the obsession so many people seem to have of getting to 70 as soon as possible; it's a limit, people, not a target. With the price of petrol these days, I want to get as much out of a tank as possible, and the difference in fuel consumption between 50-55 and 70 is quite dramatic, well it is for my car anyway. I am rarely if ever in a hurry, so I see no point in rushing around like a mad thing everywhere.
I do drive very similar. I find driving this way stimulates my brain and keeps me focused. As a inexperienced driver many years ago I would find I dropped into autopilot and got to the end of my journey and couldn’t remember the journey
I nearly lost my Werther's original, laughing so hard... "its as if I know what I am talking about sometimes"👌✌
At around 4:34, when you changed from lane 3 to lane 2, very good consideration if potentially someone could change from lane 1 to 2 at the same time. Sometimes even without signalling.
Your excellent video brings back memories of a similar video you did a few years ago Ash. Namely "How to drive like a driving instructor - motorway driving". Today's video has the extra feature on putting emphasis regarding driving in a staggered formation.
43:40 There's an important point that is rarely made, visible here. Off the motorway, M. Neal goes through three sets of traffic lights in the next 40 seconds, and one of them is red. All of the worry about being 1 minute late or losing 30 seconds at various points on the motorway is meaningless. The consequences of the cycle times on those three sets of traffic lights _alone_ will swamp and wash away _any_ such changes to arrival time achieved on the motorway, and there will be more traffic lights further on still, no doubt. There is very little that one can do (both in losing time or trying to gain time) on a motorway journey of less than an hour that will have as great an effect as the multiple sets of traffic lights, that one comes to after leaving the motorway, will have.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that is sometimes "on the fence" when deciding whether or not to move back to the left. Similarly also occasionally when deciding whether or not to pull out and overtake. All depends on the situation of course but sometimes I find myself taking a few extra seconds to assess the situation.
I did exactly this on a drive up to Northampton last week. I found it a very useful technique. I found it more difficult to execute on the way home (dark, poor weather, more variable speed restrictions and more middle lane hoggers)
When I'm in a motorway queue, still quite a distance from the exit, I always try to remember that drivers wishing to exit may have been caught out by how far back the queue has formed, and need to 'jump in'. OK, so some do it deliberately, but not everyone is familiar with the road, what with it being the national road network and all.
I like the tip to lean forwards instead of looking over my shoulder.
I’m going to make a conscious check to see what I actually do, as I may already subconsciously lean forward.
Agree about the 'peace' of mind that can be had from lane 1, just to give my mind a break from the other lanes at times and mental fatigue. Since I've had adaptive cruise control I like it at the right times on motorways and longer journeys. My car set in 'comfort' makes it easier to drive slow and steady, however the 'loud' pedal takes more movement and the cruise control handles that very well and lets me rest my foot too. Great video Ash, thanks 👍🏻😄
0:24 This. This is what I get all the time when I try to drive in a staggered formation. It usually isn't too much of an issue but it does show how many 'oblivions' there are driving around. People always try to battle and get in front. I really appreciate your video's and I'm going to try and work on this as much as I can. Cheers!
Another class video, great demonstration of busy junctions, pockets of spaces, mentally challenging situations. Lots to learn in this one, and some awesome tips. 👍
Staggered formation on faster roads…the cause of many “lane hogging” arguments yet the solution to many problems that arise
This is something I have done for many years and having space around you at 70mph cannot be stated often enough
I shall still watch the video with great interest in case there are things I can improve on 👍
Excellent video Ashley, thank you as always. Fascinating to see how you were positive in making progress, whilst managing space to reduce risk. Lots we can take from that. Hope you got to your appointment ok!
My part 2 training with Ashley has been fantastic for my day to day driving. Having that "planning ahead" mindset has been the best attitude towards driving I've adopted. Driving in a pocket of space has saved me from various issues caused by the ever so common oblivion driver. Eternally grateful for all you've taught me Ash 😊
Lovely commentary throughout the video. It’s not easy to maintain complete awareness and speak at the same time. There are different hazards here than in slower paced street traffic. It’s nice to appreciate the difference and make sure one doesn’t switch off and go on autopilot.
Thanks Ashley for your videos that put good common sense into words. As a scouser in exile I appreciate seeing Liverpool streets... my grandparents lived in Norris Green so recognized a few ! I have to inverse everything since I live in France now ... and there are some rules that are particular.
Thank you for the section at 28:01 covering about space for those taking an exit coming up while in traffic. I am amazed by how many have the attitude “They could see the traffic so should’ve got in the queue earlier” so wont leave space for people to move over. Me personally, I will leave a space and usually double the recommendation distance. This allows a safety buffer should someone fill the space and brake for traffic, which does happen
I also leave a space in front of me when stationary so someone can use it if they wish. I would much rather that than someone stop in lane 2 (or lane 3 in this clip) causing more traffic and higher risk for everyone
Also - and the white Seat behind demonstrated this perfectly - closing the gap when stationary/crawling gives you no room to manoeuvre should you need to edge over for say, a bike or even an ambulance, and also means if you get walloped from behind, there's no cushion of space, even if your car has in-accident braking.
@ Yep, the double thump. Learned the hard way when I was rear ended in traffic and was pushed into the vehicle in front. I always left wiggle room but after that it was a smidge more
Fatigue… there is a huge difference between a half empty motorway and one that is busy.
Every Xmas I leave home at 4am to drive across the country and I arrive 4hrs later at 8am still fresh and alert, sometimes without the need to stop for a break.
After the holiday on the way back I leave at 8am and the same journey takes 5 or 6hrs and if the traffic is really badly congested I arrive back home mentally exhausted.
[even cruising at a slower speed in the inside lane can be stressful because of all the traffic jostling trying to get past you to get on and off the motorway.
100% agreed
I used to travel along the M1 from East Midlands Airport through into central London with a little piece of the A50 added at the start. If I started before 3am I could arrive fresh as a daisy, leave after 4am and get caught in all the traffic heading South one would arrive knackered. Anywhere in between usually required a strong coffee and half hour sit down before doing anything
Signaling to remind yourself to observe carefully because you always do before signaling. Nice point.
Great video again Ashley. Being next to a space and managing it like that has saved me a number of times on the Motorway.
I did notice you fall into the "must move over a lane" trap joining the M60 though! The left lane was clear all the way past the next junction and you were just focussed on finding a gap to join the more congested lanes 2 and 3
Ashley how do you seem to stay so composed and relaxed while driving every single time? I tend to become anxious while driving sometimes. Great work as always, love the channel.
A nice relaxed drive with Ash is a good way to wind down after a long day.
After i watched your video, i had to make a return journey on the M8 and M73 so i was thinking of what you had to say while i wax going along because i know that you know what you are talking about. I DID have a conflict when i was changing lanes for i committed the sin of turning my head to look ovef my shoulder. Well, it is force of habit, but your disapproving voice entered my head when i did it.
41:22 tip
"one point five miles"
At 60mph you'll cover one mile in sixty seconds.
Somewhere like this I'd be looking at the traffic in lane 1 and picturing\asking
¹ if I'm likely to be past them in roughly 1½ minutes
² is it worth the hassle of staying out
It's useful coming up to lane closures or speed changes too. At an "800 yards" sign I'll start counting down 30 29 28 27 and find it helps me picture where everyone is going to be by the time we get to '0'.
OK, it does rely on you being able to count at one beat a second. Practice at home.
;) if you're doing 70 not 60 ,,, count a bit faster ;)
Totally agree with you about limiter ahead of cruise control. So much more effective, and allows for small adjustments based on circumstances, as opposed to cruise control which will cancel as soon as you make any input.
I like speed limiters. Sadly my car doesn't have one, although it does have cruise control. Never understood why they left the limiter out.
Yeah I'd happily ditch the cruise control and only have the limiter
Good to see you in a heavy traffic situation. Truth is personally I would not tolerate this stress for very long, I'd be back into lane 1 relaxing (relatively)
13:56 it gives the lorry options if they need to move for a hazard ahead (not necessary here) and it’s gives them chance to deal with failure to the left
Excellent video, Ashley. One thing I really envy you for is your ability to do a commentary as you drive. I have always had extreme difficulty in doing this, and it's one reason I never took the IAM test, as at the time it was a requirement, I don't think it is now, but I'm getting on in years now, let's just say I had a letter from the DVLA telling me my licence expires in February 😵💫😋
I learned and am still learning so much from your videos, Ashley. I think i am becoming a better driver because of you, so thank you so much. This video is very informative 👌
creating as much space around me has been a game changer, more time to plan is way smoother of an experience and it's all thanks to this channel! 🥳
At 3:23 "It's as if I know what I'm talking about". Too funny Ash.
It appears that the DVSA have contacted the Leeds Mindset instructor, as she mentions in her recent video, and she has now removed her first two "Hazard" videos, presumably at their behest.
I think that we need to take the opportunity to shout out the _at least_ one _other_ driving instructor in Leeds who has a TH-cam channel. iDriveLeeds is nothing like the "Mindset" channel. M. Neal is right that the _bad_ instructors should not get all of the attention.
I have found cruise control helps reduce my mental fatigue and find it interesting that you tend towards the speed limiter instead. I like that I can nudge it up or down by 5mph to work the gaps and keep flow. I noticed you traded places with the sprinter (they usually have cruise control but it is harder to adjust so they could have been maintaining aning speed) a few times while discussing "chilling" in the inside lane
I also prefer cruise control, because that's what I'm used to, but I understand Ashley's speed limiter approach. I think the idea is that you can just leave your foot decently far down and stay at your intended speed without thinking much about throttle position, but you can easily adjust your speed by lifting off. It's like having cruise control with a dead man's switch instead of having to actively disable it.
Each approach has its own downsides. The limiter only works if you're applying enough throttle. "Dumb" cruise control needs you to be paying enough attention to drop it or disable it as needed for situations ahead, and in congested conditions, that can be as annoying as having no cruise at all. "Adaptive" cruise control is theoretically great, and can be a godsend in congestion, but it's not smart enough to see problems developing in adjacent lanes or to stagger your position, and some systems are vulnerable to phantom braking - potentially dangerous if this happens at the wrong time.
@BlazeFirereign yeah my VW system is dumb but, due to the age of the vehicle, I see it as less points of failure. It is good that it shows the set speed. I like that I can hover the brake pedal to reduce reaction time. I don't have a limiter, just an alarm but it is more hassle than it is worth as I find using cruise helps keep me honest. Most of my non-local journeys are minimum 2hrs and tend to be in the evening. The sprinter has a speed limiter you can set to a number but the cruise doesn't give you that info, you just have to set it below your speed then increase till you are at the desired cruise speed. For that case, the limiter is fantastic for slower roads and more built up areas
I rarely use motorways, but I had to drive to and from Devon this week. I used your pocket of space method as much as I could. I regularly use cruise control and am now using adaptive cruise, rather than limiter, I find I'm having to pre-empt situations much earlier, but I do find I'm sitting in an overtaking position longer than I used to. But if the pocket of space disappears, or I'm holding someone up, I will adjust my speed up or down to sort it. Obviously, I can also cancel my cruise control, which I do. I definitely agree with your comment on leaving a little earlier, too. We were delayed for about an hour going south, but because we'd allowed some flexibility, we still arrived 30 mins early. I might have gone a little faster than I normally would, but nothing excessive and certainly not risky.
At around 9:45, excellent example of what I call "Claiming your space" before you have that option taken away from you. This situation comes up frequently on motorways with three or more lanes
At around 6:06, you've mentioned this technique in the past re: staying out of lane 1 when approaching a motorway "on" slip. I also remember you saying whenever there is a slip road coming off, there is often a slip road coming on. It's one of those situations where I hear that "Inner Ashley" voice.
Totally agree about chilling out in lane 1, I do that on my journeys up to Scotland from Dorset, and like you, I use my speed limiter all the time. Hardly ever use cruise control.
Thanks Ashley, I do watch your videos and reflect on if I drive in a similar fashion, and on motorways I do (I actually like to use my cruise control for as long as I can - and if I can't use it, go to lane one for a bit is good advice).
I can't wait to find out if you are going to give us an update on the Leeds driving instructor.
Have a Happy Christmas, TTFN
Good that you do shoulder checks when changing lanes. I was once questioned by a friend for doing that and they said they rely only on their mirrors as they felt that was always sufficient.
11:45 would have maybe waited a little longer to move back had a few Fast cars Tesla, etc, boot it from the front corner of lorrys straight to L2.
Edit big thumbs on little keyboard.
Agreed
Also, if a vehicle is behind it can limit the option of aborting the move into lane 2 as many will start to overtake as you are still straddling and moving lane rather than wait
Yep, not a good decision!
We all make them.
@@Jonc25And experience is a great teacher! Thank you to you and Ashley for sharing yours.
Nice driving and dialogue Mr Neal, as a long term cyclist, motorcyclist and car/van driver I can still find myself picking up tips from your videos. When driving with the Missus in my passenger seat I’m always pointing out the other driver errors, mistakes etc, not sure if She is listening though. 😂
In Australia, we have a very real problem with drivers not wanting to create space by accelerating for fear of being picked up for speeding. General tolerance is understood to be +3km/hr. On the motorway/freeway, we see lots of ‘bunching’ because of this fact. Also, on two lane highways (one in each direction) at overtaking lanes, it’s rare for drivers to accelerate quickly and create space. It’s a nightmare when a number of cars get to the end of the overtaking lane side-by-side!!! 😱😱
4:27, what normally happens here is they then sit in the middle at the same speed as you. So you have to slow in order to tuck in behind or break the speed limit to overtake to get out of the outside lane.
At around 8.30, yes it's good the Corsa on the off slip held back from the lorry in lane 1 of the main carriageway. Depending on the situation, I sometimes do that. I know that dur to the road markings, the slip road can now be considered "a separate road" but there's nothing to stop the lorry from making a sudden dash for the slip road. Indeed I've seen that sort of thing happen.
20:44 trundling in lane 1
One of the best things about arrival time on the satnav.
In the days pre satnav I'd be always wanting to push on, just in case i was late.
Even if i know the route like the back of my hand I'll have the satnav on and if the eta says i can trundle,,, I'll trundle.
I once did the maths for my daily commute a decade ago. There was about 25km of motorway. The Audis whizzing along at 90m/h would gain 3 to 5 minutes over the whole length, which would be entirely lost in the noise of the changes to arrival time caused by the 29 sets of traffic lights in the city journey at the end of the motorway.
08:33 I do that all of the time, even though the road markings allow you to pass on the left I prefer to stay behind the vehicle next to me just in case they decide to dive across at the very last moment.
Speed limiter is a great ivention - use mine all the time...
Brilliant….. If you never did anything else, getting people to drive in a staggered formation is probably the best thing you have ever done.
Always use the speed limiter in my car for variable speed limits on the motorway. It is so easy and quick to adjust up and down. Don't think I have used the cruise control even once.
I do that. Often pull in to the left lane for 2 or 3 miles on a longer journey to give my brain a bit of a rest.
At around 2:05, re "Shall I wave to them sarcastically". I did that once at the Canada US border. It was to a pickup truck that had been driving very impatiently on the approach to the border heading south into the USA. The pick up truck had to join the regular line which according to the display boards had a 3 hour wait. In the meantime, I drove down the virtually empty NEXUS lane as a trusted traveller, which had no wait time at all. To join the NEXUS program, it costs $50 for 5 years. When you apply, both Canada and the USA do a very thorough background check on you, then you are called in for an interview. If approved, you get a NEXUS card and are able to use the dedicated NEXUS lanes, which have a much shorter wait time than the regular lanes. It's extremely satisfying to sail past the long lines in the regular lanes. Especially on that occasion with the pick up truck facing a 3 hour delay!
I thought the two least relaxed or chilled moments in this clip were at around 17:12 and then 18:40 when on both occasions it looked far less stressful and more convenient for flow to move over to the clear middle lane for a few hundred yards. I know you were making a point at this time so you probably wouldn't have stayed there normally, but it does prove your point that you can't just switch off in the inside lane and let everyone else deal with you.
The challenge with having a pocket of space is when traffic volumes get beyond a certain point. Then it gets much more challenging. In some situations, even impossible. Including busy multi lane roundabouts.
Cheers from the USA Ashley you are a good driver and I wish I was driving next to you on most days just wanted to wish you and your family a happy holidays and keep the videos coming we'll keep pressing the like button and subscribing for you
You are spot-on with your analysis of traffic and people as drivers it's even worse here in the USA as I'm sure you and your wife know
Like several other commenters here, I too could do a "How To Drive Relaxed In Amongst The Lorries" video, had I the video equipment. Driving a car as if one were one of the lorries is a different mindset again to normal car driving, including things such as good etiquette when a lorry overtakes you and how lorry drivers signal thanks.
I'm a bit late seeing this one. One thing Ashley commented on, Re - ''never going to get in a situation without a gap. '' had me smiling. On a recent trip south )M6) from Lancashire, the new smart motorway displayed 50 limit, (it was a tiny bit misty, but still lots of visibility). I was in second lane doing 50, coming up to overtake a slightly slower car (they were probably doing 45
/ 46),. A Lorry undertook me (obviously speeding), The car must have seen the lorry, as it increased its speed a bit. Because the lorry couldn't get past the car, it tailgated it, and sat with its door in line with my bonnet,. . Slowing down was not a good option because there wee lots of traffic behind me also doing 50. There was also plenty of traffic in lanes 3 and 4. So there I was with no gaps, because a Lorry wanted to tailgate a car. My solution was not the best, but I used my right foot, to quickly get past the lorry and car, then slowed back down to 50. Sometimes you get caught without gaps, in situations which are out of your control.
It's interesting how your own driving and thought process has developed since your 'How To Drive Like...' video on the motorways from 12 July 2019.
Todays motorway procedure seems to be join at 50mph, dart for the middle lane. Switch brain off and stay in the middle lane whatever the speed of surrounding vehicles.
That was last years method, it has been updated since then. It is now recommended to still drive at 50mph on the sliproad but now it is better to stop at the end of the sliproad as it is supposedly a give way and then trundle directly into lane 2 accelerating as if you are pulling out of a supermarket car park 🤣
I drove from Haverfordwest to Reading with a trailer on yesterday, towing on the motorway teaches you exactly this. The restrictions are as for LGVs - 60mph, and no use of the rightmost lane if there are 3 or more lanes. Is the vehicle I am overtaking, catching someone? Especially LGVs, because if they ever lose speed it takes forever to get it back, especially uphill. Don't be that guy who blocks them out, it just makes life worse for everybody. Unfortunately I often see people driving at 80 in lane 3 and towing. Mad.
I use the lean forward in the van and use on both side mirrors
It's interesting to pit two techniques against each other regarding speed. Namely:
1. It's safer to vary your speed up and down to react to hazards and maintain a pocket of space
2. It's more economical to maintain a constant speed
I would favour #1 over #2. In other words, safety over economy.
I used to be of opinion 2, and still am on quiet stretches. However, mostly i now use mindset 1
I couldn't handle that level of stress! A decently long motorway trip must leave you absolutely exhausted 🙂
My concern with not signalling lane changes when you determine that it won't affect anyone is that if you mess up and miss someone, and actually it *would* affect someone, you're in a situation where you've made a grave error and then also depriving the other party of an early warning signal that something will be going wrong. This is my reason for just always signalling: I know that I'm fallible, and signalling is an easy safeguard with very little downsides.
If you don't signal, you might inconvenience someone, if you don't look, you will kill someone. Effectively, you are replacing your signal with the need for proper observation.
@@ashley_neal That's not what I meant, of course you should look first. I don't even begin to signal until I know that there is space (usually, there are situations in e.g. queuing traffic where you could use it to ask if someone could make space and help you fix your mistake). What I mean is that safety can come from having multiple layers of protections, for instance in factory floor protocols or flight safety. If looking went wrong (people shouldn't be distracted, but reality is that they sometimes are), maybe the second layer of signalling will save from a bad outcome.
That said, maybe there's evidence that all things considered, habitual signalling does cause people to change lanes less attentively. Since we know from studies that drivers actually pass cyclists wearing helmets more closely than they do ones without (on average), it wouldn't surprise me.
If there is one thing from Ashley's videos I just can't bring myself to do and thats the "Only signal when necessary" advice. It's all due to the Canadian half of me! Decades of driving in North America where signalling every lane change and turn is always compulsory makes it difficult for me to drop that habit.
Well we can just look at the number of times that M. Neal narrates "What's this one going to do?" when it comes to vehicles that _might_ be pulling back in to the left, to see that you might be being more of a help to people with those habits than you think.
This video highlights the issue with Road Safety, Safety Camera Non-Revenue Generation Safety Partnerships placing "Safety" cameras on bridges over the motorway. There's lots of times where if you have someone at 66 in overtaking lane one, and it can be beneficial for overall flow and your own safety to push on a bit, then drop speed and back into the running lane and use the space a mile or two down the road after the overtake. Safer all round.
Having speed cameras (sorry, safety cameras) sat on bridges can really hinder people making space.
I'd love to see a FLying ASHley (FLASH) channel from learning to taxi to full PPL. One hour a month will get you solo within a year with your human factors skills and attention to detail but if you decide to do so, get your medical first. I wasted £6,000 on training only to perma-fail the medical :(
Cruising on half empty motorways, amazes me how often I get a car closing from behind, so to pull into a gap to get out of their way for them to pull into the same gap behind me.
[it almost as if they are using me as their speed limiter]
Great video, I'm still yet to do much motorway driving but learnt alot from this...
I live 10 mins from where you ended this video, curious to know where you was going 🤔
Shame you couldn't spare any time to have a quick hour with me would love a session with you assessing my driving.
Also you need to show us how you negotiate the famous and dreaded simister island not far from here 🤣
Love how you mixed your words up, means I’m not the only one who does it. Sometimes in lessons
Just shows how unscripted your videos are
At around 10:30 re "They won't even look at you for doing 1 or 2 above". This also ties in nicely to your previous video in Florida re How accurate is my speedometer? Though in my case I use GPS speed. Either way, good point about adjusting speed to fit in and not worry about 1 or 2 mph over.
44:21 - that is a shoulder check really. 😂Fine though - needed to be done there.
Ashley, at 36:42, how important is it to use the whole slip road (all of the road space as you say)? This is what I try to do at slip roads. Or was this because there was a good gap you could take without stopping the flow?
Thanks
Could you do a video on how poor some road markings and signage can be? Got a three lane roundabout near me that has arrows showing straight on for all lanes. But when you get to the end, the two to the left are straight on but the right lane is right turn only. According to the markings, all can go straight on.
Interesting where you held on the lorry. Personally I hold behind until I can clear in those overtaking queue scenarios
09:55 I’m totally with you there.
Cruise control/speed limiter...I have those combined in my right foot 😂
My Son failed his driving test. When I looked at the paperwork the examiner had written down 31 mph. I said that this was presumably in a 20 limit but he replied that it was a 30 limit and the first time he did 31 he gave him a minor but the second time, also 31 in a 30, he failed him.
I talked about the parallax error between my Son at 6ft 3in and the examiner, who was short and sitting off to one side, and the fact that 31mph on the speedo was below 30 actual as I have checked the speedo against the GPS but he would not change his mind and simply reminded us of our right to appeal.
We could not be bothered so my Son took the test again and passed with 3 minors.
The examiner was a complete idiot and, one thing is for certain, his driving record cannot be anywhere near as good as mine as I have been driving for longer than he had been born. 🤣
Many of those driving instructors get their license from a box of Kelloggs Frosties. There's one TH-cam instructor who moves out to the outside while a van undertakes him yet he says the van is committing the offence of Careless Driving while he is lane hogging. Think he goes under *Driving Instructor ADI*
@Ashley, when driving on slightly wet roads where you are creating spray behind you, what's your take on giving more space to the driver you have just passed before moving back in, in order to reduce the amount of spray they receive?
Chances are they are getting spray from you in a lane to their right anyway. I think the better way to look at it would be have I given enough space should I need to start slowing?
We are advised to give doible the following distance in the wet so my general rule of thumb is to give doible the space when overtaking before pulling in. But it is situational. If you have someone up your backside then it might be better to move as normal to stop them risking an undertake for example
That is my thoughts, it would be interesting to hear others as well 👍
You're coping exactly how I drive on the motorway. Thinking of flow and space that I want and others need. My pet hate is the attitude of its the people joining have the responsibility and people on have 0 responsibility to make safe.
The other day going to work could see people going to join so I checked right mirror mirror can I move over to allow space. Yes so move over to allow the merge. Then they where going to swing straight into lane 2 I was in a position to allow but did brake to make safe as it was risky for them to change . They realised I was there and abbondoned then as I went past they wave to say sorry not that it was an issue as I had it under control
The other one for me is people with zero awareness of what is happening in front. I have a dual carriageway near me that is frequently used by tractors. I saw one yesterday up ahead with wagons just ahead of me so I slowed so they could move and keep momentum. The driver behind got a little close not understanding why I wasn’t passing the wagons.
When they moved to lane 2 the driver dropped back and then I think the penny dropped as brake lights appeared ahead from drivers getting caught out and “surprised” by a tractor going slow suddenly appearing in front of them
Similar can happen on motorways where there is a steep incline and fully loaded wagons start to slow. Zero awareness from those approaching faster wagons that will need to move lane
@smilerbob bonnet watchers you often catch catch them om the main roads that close looking for the overtake. I hold back lol for the pass then pass and think we'll if didn't drive so close you would see past to overtake
you can tell when their ging to pull out, buy the way they close on the vehicle in front. the mini was a clasic example
I wish people would not overtake on islands, particularly on the left. Sometimes at a complicated island that you are unfamiliar with - say you are a stranger in the area - its very difficult to know in advance the lane you should be in to come off at the turning you need and sometimes you do have to change lanes. When people are passing you on both sides its an order of magnitude harder. People who know the road often drive with very little tolerance towards drivers that dont.
I use the cruise control for the 20s sometimes
Mine doesn’t activate until 25mph as a minimum speed
@@smilerbob yeah in my van it's maybe 15 or 18 fiat doblo my mum has a Toyota yatis and it's around 30 I find the limiter a pain to use probably as I don't use much where the cruise is on a stalk and you just flick the lever then
I reported a Morrisons van for doing this exact thing infront of me, I had to let it it to make it safer for both its driver and traffic around, a few days later an email notice of intended prosecution
Just doing my bit for safer roads
That driving instructors video has been removed that you featured a while ago
Looking forward to next week's video "Driving like Shania"
I try and look at the "body language" of other vehicles, but I also try and "profile" the sort of driving I expect from any particular vehicle. It's surprising how accurately you can judge the behaviour of a driver by the sort of car they drive, particularly which modified a little. An A-Class Mercedes with poorly fitted dark tints is going to be driven carelessly and selfishly, for example. If you know this, you can minimise the risk that vehicle poses to you.