Learning how to drive on the highway is an essential skill for anyone looking to get their driver’s licence or to improve their driving skills. Whether you’re motivated by the need to commute between cities or visions of an epic road trip in Spain, we’ve compiled a guide on how to drive on highways.

This blog contains a helpful step-by-step guide, tips on dealing with anxiety and tailgating, a special section about driving on freeways, and more.

How to drive on the highway: a step-by-step guide

Before learning to drive on the highway, you should feel comfortable driving at lower speeds and be ready to move up to highway speeds.

It can be a good idea to first practice driving on empty rural roads if possible. Before starting your first highway drive, you should also know all the relevant rules, laws, and road signs.

Choose the right time and route

The best time to drive on the highway is when there isn’t a lot of traffic and you don’t have any time pressure. This allows you to comfortably focus on your drive.

Another thing to consider is the weather — choose a clear, sunny day. Pick a familiar highway and end destination so you have a solid idea of where you’re driving to. Go through the whole drive in your mind before starting so you have a good idea of the journey ahead and are better prepared.

Merge into the highway safely

Once you’re on your way and are getting onto the ramp to join the highway, start accelerating and smoothly increase your speed to match the speed of the highway traffic.

When merging, use your turn signal, check your blind spot and mirrors, and then look ahead again. Watch for other cars and find a spot to join the highway. Many drivers will make space for merging cars, but it’s considered the responsibility of the merging driver to enter the highway safely.

Changing lanes

Once you’re on the highway and feel fairly comfortable, it’s time to practice changing lanes.

Before every lane change, use your turn signal and check your mirrors and blind spots. Any time you’re driving at a steady speed, keep to the slow lane on the right. If you’re driving in the left lane and notice a vehicle coming up behind you, change to the right lane when safe to do so.

Also, remember that it can be dangerous to drive at a lower speed on highways — always match the speed of the traffic or the speed limit of the highway.

Overtaking other cars

Now it’s time to try passing other cars. Choose the left lane for this, and make sure you leave plenty of space for the other car. Keep your manoeuvres smooth, and don’t cut in front of other drivers on the road.

Exiting the highway

Once you’re ready to get off the highway, look for an exit ramp or road turn. Switch to the appropriate lane using the correct steps — use your turn signal and check your mirrors and blind spots.

Once you’re in the exit lane, you can start to slow down as you get closer to a turn or exit ramp. Keep an eye out for a possible speed limit sign once you’re off the highway.

Tips on driving on the highway - exiting the highway

Driving on the freeway

All of the basic rules and advice for driving on a highway also apply to driving on freeways. However, there are some differences between these road types. Let’s have a closer look.

What is the difference between a freeway and a highway?

Freeways are a special type of highway. A freeway is an express highway, which means it’s built for high-speed traffic, and vehicles can travel at a fast pace for long distances, uninterrupted. On a freeway, you won’t drive through any intersections or see any traffic signals, at-grade junctions with other roads, railways, or pedestrian crossings.

You most likely already know the German autobahn; other freeways around Europe are called snelweg in the Netherlands, autopista in Spain, and autostrada in Italy.

How to drive on the freeway

Driving on the freeway comes with its own set of challenges. High speeds leave little room for error, requiring constant attention and concentration from the driver. Controlling the car is different at high speeds and requires practice. You’ll also need to factor in longer stopping and shorter reaction times.

Freeways are typically quite long, so you must be prepared for a lengthy drive. Longer distances mean fewer opportunities to take breaks, and your petrol tank needs enough fuel to complete a longer journey.

It’s not possible to stop on the freeway, and it’s even illegal to do so on the German autobahn, for example.

You’ll also need to make sure you recognise signs of drowsiness and keep yourself alert on long straight stretches of road. Don’t go on the freeway if you’re sleepy or plan to drive when it’s close to your regular bedtime.

Driving with a passenger is a good idea to stay alert. You can also put on some music and sing your heart out. Listening to the radio, your favourite podcast, or audiobook is another great way to keep your mind focused.

Here are some tips for driving on the freeway:

If you’re new to a high-speed freeway, it can be best to keep to the right lane until you gain more driving experience.
Pay attention to speed limits, as they vary depending on the freeway you’re using. On some parts of the German autobahn, there are no speed limits at all.
Keep an eye on the road signs. Before driving on a freeway abroad, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the country’s road signs.
Familiarise yourself with any emergency procedures and know how to get help in case you need to. The European-wide emergency number is 112, and you can use it to get direct access to any emergency service like the ambulance, police and fire brigade.

Tips for driving on the highway

Let’s look at some tips for driving on the highway. We’ll cover highway lanes, driving on busy highways, dealing with driving anxiety, and how to handle tailgating.

Highway lanes explained

Highway lane rules are easy enough to navigate. On a two-lane highway, you’ll have a slow lane on the right and a fast lane on the left. If you’re driving in the UK or Ireland, the rules are the opposite.

Which lane should you choose and when? It comes down to whether you want to overtake or stay at the speed limit. Driving at a steady, comfortable pace? Stay to the right — the slow lane.

Need to overtake? Choose the left lane where you can comfortably accelerate. Once you’ve finished the overtaking manoeuvre and you’re ready to travel at a steady speed, return to the right lane.

When there are more than just two highway lanes, all lanes on the left are for faster traffic. On multi-lane highways, the right lane may be occupied by slower vehicles like trucks, coaches, buses, and vans. In this case, you can stick to driving in the middle lane. You can also drive in the lane with the trucks if you’re looking to get some fantastic fuel economy.

How to drive on a busy highway

If you’re new to driving on a busy highway, it can seem intimidating at first. The fast speed and high traffic require better manoeuvring skills and high awareness of your surroundings.

The first thing to do is to minimise distractions so you can fully focus on driving. This includes asking any passengers not to distract you while you’re driving.

So, where should your focus be? On the road, of course. Regularly check your mirrors and make sure you have an overview of where other cars are positioned and what they’re doing.

Look ahead through the car in front of you or further down the road to get a sense of the traffic flow. When you’re merging or changing lanes, always check your blind spots.

Stick to your lane and stay centred in it to avoid drifting into other lanes. Try to anticipate other driver’s behaviours. Watch for drivers using aggressive driving styles or displaying erratic behaviour, which can be a sign of a hazard. Also, notice things like hand signals from other drivers or cyclists and brake lights.

For more tips on how to get better at driving overall, tap here.

a woman learns about how to get better at driving

How do you drive on the highway with anxiety?

High speeds, negative past experiences, and unfamiliar conditions can all contribute to feeling anxious when driving down a highway.

Close to half of all UK drivers and about 66% of US drivers admit to feeling anxious on the road. As you can see, these feelings are common. The good news is that there are several things that can help with driving anxiety:

Get enough practice: if you’re new to driving, practice driving on the highway during a time when there’s less traffic. Practice driving on the same road so that you can fully focus on the driving and not on any changes in the environment.
Positive mindset: keeping a supportive and positive attitude towards yourself can help you cope with anxious feelings that may arise.
Breathing techniques: different breathing techniques are proven to calm the nervous system. One good thing about learning to use your breath is that it’s a tool that’s always with you and available to use. Other mindfulness and grounding techniques may also be helpful.
Visualisation: don’t knock it ‘til you try it! Top performers in all sports, including race car drivers, use visualisation. Before starting your drive, visualise the journey in detail and in a positive way. This helps to set up your mind and body for success.
Therapy: if you’ve been through a traumatic event or have had personal difficulties, consider working through it with a professional therapist. You can use cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy or EMDR, for example. It’s worth noting that it’s not only driving-related traumas or incidents that can contribute to driving anxiety.

How to deal with tailgating on a highway

Tailgating is a serious concern, and most, if not all, drivers will encounter it at some point. Tailgating, or driving too close to the car in front, is an aggressive driving style that sadly plays a role in many road accidents. Let’s look at how to deal with it.

When someone is driving close behind you, you may feel like you want to either speed up or slow down, but neither of these is a good idea. Speeding up usually means the tailgater will speed up as well. And by slowing down, you’re risking triggering road rage. The best option is to keep to the slow lane on the right side and to continue travelling at a safe speed.

Maintaining an even speed will allow the tailgater to overtake on the left lane. You can also pull over to the side of the road when it’s safe to do so to let them pass. Another option is to pull over to a petrol (gas) station. When you’re switching lanes or making a turn, make sure to use your turn signal far in advance so the driver behind you has enough time to react to you slowing down and turning.

You may also find yourself looking repeatedly or staring into the back mirror at the driver driving too close to you. While this is an understandable response, remind yourself to look ahead and not risk a dangerous situation by taking your focus off the road.

We hope you find our tips helpful and are now ready to conquer any highway. We can also offer you a car to get you on the road in minutes. Rent a Bolt Drive and get a fresh, technically sound, affordable vehicle for your freeway driving.

Tips for driving on the highway. rent a bolt drive car

Frequently asked questions

Is driving on the highway scary?

It can be a little bit intimidating to take on highway driving at first. It’s relatively easy once you know the rules and get some practice. With a bit of time, you’ll start to feel comfortable driving on the highway.

How do I drive on a highway for the first time?

Make sure you know all the road signs so you can feel comfortable and plan your next actions. Get enough driving practice beforehand and follow a step-by-step guide on how to drive on the highway. Go for a drive when there’s low traffic and good weather conditions.

How do I safely get on the highway?

When joining a highway, use the ramp to build up your speed to match the traffic speed. Before merging with the highway, check all your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spots. Before merging, use your turn signal so other drivers know you will merge. Look for a gap where your car can fit into. Match your speed to the gap so you can smoothly join the lane without making other drivers stop suddenly.

How do I gain confidence driving on the highway?

The best way to gain confidence is to get enough practice. Get as much frequent practice as you can to build up your skills and confidence.

How slow can you go on the highway?

The minimum speed limit on highways varies by country and even by specific road section. While there’s no universal minimum, driving significantly below the posted speed limit can be dangerous and disruptive to traffic flow.

Rent a car and Drive