Section 11: Motorways and tunnels
Motorways are roads that help reduce journey times by separating traffic and removing road junctions. They are probably the safest way of moving large volumes of traffic, mainly because they remove the risk of head-on collision. However, compared with other types of road, they carry a greater risk of pile-ups.
This section covers the rules on who can drive on a motorway, the meaning of motorway signs, how to overtake safely and how to join and leave a motorway safely.
See section 25 for a list of common signs you will see on a motorway.
Motorway signs What they mean
Motorway ahead
There is an entrance to a motorway ahead and the road users listed on the sign must not enter the motorway.
Entry to motorway
The road user is now entering a motorway and must obey motorway rules. This sign usually appears beside the ‘Motorway ahead’ sign.
Toll plaza ahead There is a toll plaza 7km ahead.
Countdown sign The driver is 300 metres from the next exit off the motorway.
Countdown sign The driver is 200 metres from the next exit.
Countdown sign The driver is 100 metres from the next exit.