Joining the motorway
When entering the motorway, be careful and pay attention, and let traffic already on the motorway pass. You must follow the steps below when joining a motorway.
Use the acceleration lane to build up your speed before merging into
traffic on the motorway.
Signal early to other motorists that you intend to merge.
As you approach on the slip road, check in your mirrors and your blind spot for a safe gap in traffic in the left-hand lane of the motorway.
Obey road signs and road markings.
Do not drive on hatched markings before merging into traffic on the
motorway.
Give way to traffic already on the motorway.
Adjust your speed as you join the motorway so you match, as near as
possible, the general speed of traffic in that lane.
Auxiliary lanes are found on some motorways. They normally link the ‘on’ ramp of the road you are leaving with the next available ‘off’ ramp (see page 151).
Treat each lane change as a separate manoeuvre. Stay in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before attempting to overtake.
On the motorway
You must only drive ahead. No turning or reversing is permitted.
You must progress at a speed and in a way that avoids interference with other motorway traffic.
You must not drive on any part of the motorway that is not a carriageway
for example, a hard shoulder – except in case of emergency.
You must not stop or park on any part of the motorway unless your
vehicle breaks down or you are signalled by a Garda to do so.
You must not pick up or set down anybody on a motorway.