Statistically motorways are the UK’s safest roads. Although they might lack the fun factor many motorcyclists crave when riding for leisure, there’s no doubt they’re great for getting from A to B quickly. They’re the fastest roads around but, as your speed increases, so does the potential for things to go wrong. As a learner, you’re not allowed to ride on motorways (even accompanied by an instructor) so in most cases bikers end up having to figure it out for themselves.
Thankfully they are relatively simple, but the high speeds do mean that any accidents tend to be serious. Avoiding crashes are therefore even more critical than usual, meaning good awareness and accident avoidance is key.
To give an expert view on riding motorcycles on motorways, we consulted Harrison Browne from Phoenix Motorcycle Training. Here’s some key facts we think you should consider…
Common mistakes when riding a motorcycle on the motorway
Riding too close to the vehicle in front is the biggest mistake you can make on motorways. The two-second rule is a surprisingly long separation when you travel at high speeds, but it’s important to maintain it.
Exceeding the speed limit is an easy mistake to make on motorways, but again, it’s important to stay sharp and resist temptation. It is scary how much further your braking distance is at 80mph compared to 70mph. And it doesn’t matter how good a rider you are, the laws of physics apply to all of us the same. Speeding also links in with riding too close. Rear end shunts are an unfortunately common scenario in motorway crashes.
Filtering too quickly between lines of traffic is another issue that easily arises out of impatience. Filtering, or lane splitting as it is known in the States, is legal in the UK as long as it’s done safely.
Filtering on motorways where traffic has ground to a halt is a great motorcycling benefit but be careful not to ride much faster than the rest of the traffic moving. If you are zooming between slow-moving cars, you don’t have much time to slow down or make an avoidance manoeuvre if someone changes lane or swerves to have a look past a car in front of them.
This brings us nicely to the old rule that applies to all roads, and should be remembered on motorways: never assume that other road users are going to do the right thing. Prepare for all eventualities and expect the unexpected. Prepare for the worst and make sure you can take avoiding action if the unexpected happens.
One of the unexpected things that people often do on motorways is changing lanes late and without warning, so try to put yourself in a position where you can anticipate and deal with such manoeuvres.
Undertaking (or overtaking on the left to be more correct) other vehicles, particularly HGVs, is sometimes tempting, but should be avoided as drivers don’t generally expect it and can move to the inside lane without warning. As a motorcyclist you are a vulnerable road user, so doing what you can to make yourself as visible as possible is a good thing.
This is not only about using your lights appropriately and wearing brightly coloured clothing, but also in your road positioning – making sure to avoid blind spots, coming up too quickly on other vehicles and being places where you shouldn’t be (such as undertaking).
How to get it right
Unfortunately, there is no magic shortcut to getting motorway riding right instantly. Nothing can beat proper training and practice, and your skills will develop over time. And while there are plenty of sources available to do some background research, remember that not everyone is always right, and consulting qualified trainers is your best bet of getting the right advice.
One thing that is easy to practise, and that will make a difference to your motorway riding, is looking as far ahead as you can. This will give you information about traffic and hazards much further away, and consequently give you more time to assess and react to anything that requires action.
As well as having early warning of what is likely to happen, you should also be aware of what other road users are doing now, anticipate what they might do next, and plan your manoeuvres early in relation to this. This creates time and space around you, which is vital for your safety.
Having space around you is important, especially when travelling at motorway speeds. Try to leave enough space between you and others, and if you’re wondering what that looks like, remember that the two-second rule at 70mph equates to approximately 14 car lengths.
When filtering, travel at a speed that allows you to stop if a vehicle changes lane without warning. This also gives those in front of you time to see you and move over to help. It’s a good idea not to filter when traffic is moving at 25mph or more, and only filter past at a maximum speed of 15mph over the speed of other vehicles.
There’s plenty more to think about when it comes to motorway riding, and depending on your abilities and riding style you may need help in specific areas, so the best way to advance your riding is to talk to a qualified trainer or a training school.
Am I allowed on motorways?
Not all bikes and riders are allowed to ride on motorways. Your motorcycle must be above 50cc in capacity, and unless you obtained a car licence before 1st February 2001, you will need at least an A1 licence or higher (a CBT certificate is not enough).
What about tech?
Modern motorcycles are starting to come with high tech radar controlled technology which should improve comfort and safety when riding on motorways. Active cruise control allows riders to set their cruising speed, with the tech monitoring the distances to other vehicles.
This may apply the brakes to slow you down and maintain safe gaps, while blind spot monitors can help identify vehicles behind you. It’s all fantastic technology which is making motorcycling safer, but shouldn’t take the place of good observation and defensive riding.
