Indicating when leaving a motorway

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 20 Aug 2025 21:40
Indicating when leaving a motorway - Antony

Can't remember if I was ever told this by my driving instructor back in the day but, when I am leaving a motorway, I start indicating left at the first countdown marker (three bars, i.e. 300 yards to the exit). All I can find in the Highway Code is the following:

"Rule 273

Unless signs indicate that a lane leads directly off the motorway, you will normally leave the motorway by a slip road on your left. You should

  • watch for the signs letting you know you are getting near your exit
  • move into the left-hand lane well before reaching your exit
  • signal left in good time and reduce your speed on the slip road as necessary."

Plenty of drivers don't bother indicating at all when they leave, or only do so just as they are joining the slip road, but now I'm wondering if I am signalling too early! Would be interested to get some feedback.

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Wed 20 Aug 2025 22:11
Indicating when leaving a motorway - RT

Like you I sign at the first countdown - I'm sure that's as recommended for Advanced Drivers

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Wed 20 Aug 2025 23:07
Indicating when leaving a motorway - Andrew-T

Plenty of drivers don't bother indicating at all when they leave, or only do so just as they are joining the slip road, but now I'm wondering if I am signalling too early! Would be interested to get some feedback.

You are signalling earlier than I do. I indicate between the 2-bar and 1-bar signs, which usually means 6 to 8 flashes visible before I am in the slip road. Ought to be enough for any following driver looking ahead ?

I see little point in signalling right when joining a M'way, when there can be no doubt about my intentions as I have no other option ! Unless it could mean that I am heading straight for the fast lane, as some drivers do.

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Thu 21 Aug 2025 00:19
Indicating when leaving a motorway - Terry W

Signalling left well in advance of leaving the motorway may make sense if already slowing down to allow following vehicles to pass. On busier exits there are often two exit lanes - signalling could mislead when your intent is to use the right hand lane.

If joining busy motorways with limited gaps in the traffic some assertiveness is needed - the alternative to signalling is to simply barge in.

Solution in both cases - observation, use signals to best inform other traffic of your intentions.

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Thu 21 Aug 2025 06:52
Indicating when leaving a motorway - gordonbennet

Terry W is spot on, decide on when to indicate depending on traffic situation and road layout.

I know its different in a truck but easier to explain like this, dual carriageway so deceleration lane and slip road might be combined and of varous lengths and angles (uphill or downhill), if i'm in my truck i'm probably not going to be leaving the dual cariageway at my limited 55mph i'm going to be knocking off speed before reaching the turn for obvious reasons so start indicating early...if there's a well driven truck following (ie not tailgating) i will probably have given him 3 left hand flashes at the 1/2mile marker to pre warn him if there's no turn off before the one intended...you can upscale this scenario to allow for vehicles better equipped to handle braking and turn offs.

If there's nothing to worry about and no one to benefit behind or i can leave the main road at speed then a later indicate is likely.

As for joining busy roads from a slip road, nothing is more annoying than someone who isn't carrying enough speed to merge and/or who gets on (often by the courtesy of others) then minces off at a snail pace causing a rolling roadblock wave behind, get a move on people especially if you've been shown a courtesy which you hopefully acknowledged unlike so many ill mannered people these days.

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Thu 21 Aug 2025 07:56
Indicating when leaving a motorway - daveyjp

Like most of driving matters its all about starting from a general 'rule' then adapting to the conditions,

General advanced driving guidance is to begin indicating at the first countdown marker, but that is when travelling at high speed (close to limit) and there are other vehicles around that will benefit from the signal.

If you are in slower moving traffic, indicating just before you are about to leave may be wholly appropriate.

Similarly planning for exiting should begin at the 1 mile to junction sign. If you aren't in the inside lane plan to be in the inside lane by the half mile sign, ready to indicate at the appropriate time.

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Thu 21 Aug 2025 07:49
Indicating when leaving a motorway - FoxyJukebox
I’ve no idea why they do it-but has anybody noticed that drivers approaching the southbound exit for Gatwick on the M23 always seem to start queuing to get off three miles or more before they need.
Odd.

Edited by FoxyJukebox on 21/08/2025 at 07:52

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If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?