DRIVING LESSONS
DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS

On your test, where possible, your examiner will take you onto a high speed road and watch to make sure that you can join the road safely, use your mirrors effectively and drive according to the higher speed of traffic around you.

Videos

Joining a dual carriageway

Right turn onto a dual carriageway - Overtaking on a dual carriageway

Some dual carriageways with slip roads are similar to motorways. You should be confident using these higher speed roads as well as dual carriageways where traffic can cross and turn right.

On all types of dual carriageways you need to drive safely and confidently when ...

	using urban and rural dual carriageways and clearways
	joining a dual carriageway - if there's a slip road use it to adjust your speed to match any vehicles on the dual carriageway and join when there's a suitable gap. If there's no slip road, join as you would any other road
	travelling on a dual carriageway - choose the correct lane. When leaving you should move into the correct lane in good time
	turning right off a dual carriageway where allowed

To understand the rules of dual carriageways you need to be aware of ...

	the MSM and PSL routines
	the various speed limits that may be used on dual carriageways
	advance warning and information signs and how you should respond to them
	what you should do if your vehicle breaks down, including the use of your hazard warning lights and warning triangles
	the rules relating to motorways, some of which may also be relevant to high speed dual carriageways
	how the weather can affect driving on dual carriageways - e.g. when it's wet you need to increase your stopping distance and be aware that the spray from other vehicles may affect visibility

If you have to stop at the end of a slip road, it may be difficult to pick up sufficient speed to join the new road safely.

If there's no slip road, join as you would any other road. If you're turning right onto a dual carriageway, make sure that the central reservation is deep enough to protect your vehicle. If it isn't, you'll have to wait until the carriageway is clear in both directions before you start to cross.

When travelling on a high speed dual carriageway remember that situations can change very quickly - use your mirrors constantly so that you always know what is happening around you.

When can I use the right hand lane? On some dual carriageways the lane on the right may be used for traffic turning right as well as for overtaking. If you're overtaking, watch for clues that traffic ahead of you is slowing down to turn right.

Can I overtake on the nearside of another vehicle? You shouldn't normally overtake on the left, but you can if traffic is moving slowly in queues and the queue in the right-hand lane is moving more slowly.