Driving in the UK - M1 Motorway (Part 1)

A southbound trip on the M1 Motorway, from the A50/A6 at junction 24 near Nottingham to Leicester Forest East Service Station.
The M1 is one of the two backbone north-south motorways in the UK. The section from St Albans to Junction 18 had been the first intercity motorway in the UK when it opened in 1959. The first extension to the M1 up to junction 24 opened 6 years later in November 1965 and it is this section which features in the video.
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[@NathanielRafferty]

Very good driving. Love how you move to the left lane once you have done with the overtaking, and how you use your signals everytime you switch lanes.

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Ii

[@tealeavees]

I find this relaxing to watch.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

me too.

[@Speedforce2277]

Me three

[@progamerevshorts9703]

Me four.

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Grrrg

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Orr

[@riacharda]

thanks for uploading this! I'm learning about driving on motorways. this video is a good demonstration of the hazards and driving techniques that drovers use out there

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Pp

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

O

[@calliduspenguino773]

I can't be the only person who likes to watch videos of driving on highways while listening to James Bond music

[@ladyfromauntie6712]

That old white Uno early on was doing well, really goin for it. He was out of sight!👋..💨

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Love the services on the M1.

[@roadtripsam]

Oh man, I wish our freeways in Australia worked this well - people actually keeping left when not overtaking!

[@LucianDog.]

Not always is like this in Uk. I'm doing lots of motorway miles and I've seen lot of drivers driving in the second lane.

[@rogueuniversities6866]

@@will123134 True however a lot of drivers don't make it easy to switch lanes as they ignore the 2-second rule (4 in wet weather, x10 in snow)

[@Sophia..11xx]

You shouldn’t I drove on the m1 today so dangerous sometimes people overtaking and gliding lanes could crash at any moment

[@roadtripsam]

Your drivers hog the middle lane? Ours go straight to the right hand lane and stay there. Infuriating.

[@mariebest1917]

So relaxing watching this when I wanna take my mind off things. Thankyou for the video! 😊

[@sgnjamcitydevteam6913]

16:06 that one service station that is busy- Besides the other one that’s halfway down the road.

[@razvanalexe9680]

I like your videos drive around the M1 to the south

[@kampiuben]

I love motorway trip and keep looking at the location distance at the motorway if I am on the vehicle.

[@Ricardo_Diazgranados_Bossio]

Really nice trip!

[@albertothomasx]

Driving blind @8.40, Ignoring the indicator of the lorry. You assumed it would not enter the outer lane. Large goods vehicles can use ANY lane in an emergency. Apart from that, it was a confident drive. You were travelling between 75MPM to 80 MPH.

[@DriveCamUK]

+albertosaurus60 Heavy goods vehicles are prohibited from using the outside lane on a motorway with 3 or more lanes in the UK. It was fairly obvious it only wanted to overtake the tanker wagon in front - which it would have done so in lane 2. Besides - I was fully past the lorry by the time it had entered lane 2. Average speed was actually only 66 mph on this video once I'd gotten up to speed.

[@albertothomasx]

+DriveCamUK Please read my comments carefully. I said in an EMERGENCY..... In fact, you will be surprised how many times this happens. In fact, this morning - while driving my articuated lorry - another pulled onto the motorway from the hard shoulder - without building up speed, venturing too far over the middle lane. I could have just ploughed into the side of him - and caused carnage across both sides of the motorway. However, I chose the safest route - and this was to use the outer ane of a 3 lane motorway. Also, in roadworks - while lanes are narrow - lorries will often straddle the outer lane - to keep a safe distance from other lorries that are being overtaken. The number 1 priority for any driver - is safety, and this may mean - using ALL available lanes that are free. If you chose to ignore indicators - and drive blind, then one day - you may find yourself in an accident. I NEVER asked for your average speed. You were travelling between 75 and 80 MPH.

[@albertothomasx]

+DriveCamUK The only time you slowed down - was to pass the Highways Agency Traffic Car, when you were doing around 70MPH.

[@DriveCamUK]

I didn't exactly choose to ignore the HGV's indicators: The indicator came on at 8:20 on the video - and my indicator was on to move out to lane 3 at 8:21. I could have anticipated the HGV wanting to overtake a bit sooner though. I agree though that in an absolute emergency, a driver can do whatever necessary to avoid an accident. I'm not sure exactly how you're working out my speed - but to give you an example - between the taper for junction 23 and the merge in of J21a is 10.1 miles according to Google Earth. I pass the first of these at 5:37 and the second at 14:53 = 10.1 miles in 8m56s - which is 67.8mph.

[@albertothomasx]

+DriveCamUK Ok, perhaps I sould say - speeds of up to 75 to 80 MPH. It's really easy to see how fast you're going - and that's by seeing how fast you pass the lorries, which are all doing 55 to 56 MPH.

[@b0ws3rnuke94]

M1 is a busy Motorway 24/7

[@janheard3826]

NUKE/ SHADOW doesn’t look busy here!

[@arihdenal4026]

I was just watching videos of Dutch, French and Italian motorways. I think I'll go back.

[@janheard3826]

ARIHD ENAL French and Italian roads mostly pot holes etc. Dutch roads are good like the UK

[@grahameaustin5183]

9:50 look at the middle lane hoggers!

[@Owen_trains2010]

I dont see anything

[@thegreypenguin2932]

@@Owen_trains2010 the car travelling slowly in the middle lane - illegal

[@trainman665]

@@Owen_trains2010 Both of the cars ahead should be in lane 1. You are not meant to stay in the overtaking lanes.

[@fay_gaming454]

J

[@PhillipDampier]

Compared to driving in New York State, there is a much clearer difference between the varying speeds of vehicles on the M1. Traffic on American highways in the northeast is more uniform in speed than what I am witnessing here, presumably because of robust enforcement of traffic laws. Trucks generally drive slower than autos and motorcycles tend to be the most frequent violators of posted speed limits. But you don't often see the kind of speeding outliers that I am seeing here. Reading some of the comments reflecting on speed travel in this video averaging 75+MPH (and up to 100) means the only diving experience comparable in this state is probably the toll New York State Thruway, which traverses east to west across the entire state and has a much more limited number of exits and on-ramps, which means the drive can be monotonous. The posted maximum speed limit is 65MPH and only about 20-30% of vehicles obey it on this roadway in the western half of the state, and slower traffic mostly keeps to the right lane. But the majority drive at 65-73MPH. The remaining 10% generally travel at 74-80MPH (or higher), and have a significant risk of being ticketed if caught by regular speed enforcement vehicles driven by the New York State Police, especially at night. Most drivers in this part of New York will avoid exceeding a posted speed limit by more than 10MPH because the chances of being pulled over and ticketed (fines generally average $100+ for mild offenses and substantially more as your clocked speed increases) are much higher at speeds above that. Another difference, perhaps speed related, is that road signage was much more difficult to read on the M1, and was "busy" and complicated. In America, it is more likely to see standalone framework holding much larger and clearer signs guiding drivers, and pavement marked lane information is discouraged, especially in harsher climates where our roads deteriorate much faster.

[@DriveCamUK]

+Phillip Dampier Our trucks are speed limited to 56mph (90km/hr). Another factor is the high price of fuel, so quite a few cars will travel at 50-60mph for fuel saving. There isn't regular enforcement of motorways and you're unlikely to get pulled over if you're doing 80, so the less cost conscious drivers will do up to 80-85. If caught you could get a driving ban for 100+ so few go that fast. The posted limit is 70mph.

[@janheard3826]

New York roads in terrible state of disrepair. UK roads are generally well kept .

[@benthomas7344]

Phillip Dampier ..

[@andrewdking]

@@janheard3826 really, you don't live in the home counties then. The poorer the area, the better the roads. Best UK roads are in Wales

[@TheDronne]

Go back to the USA. Always disputing what the Britons and The Commonwealth do.

[@grahameaustin5183]

At 8:18 I have anticipated the truck is gaining on the tanker in front, and would have pulled out. You waited until the truck gave a signal.

[@kinstar]

even if the truck signalled he must wait until its clear to change lanes, he didnt have to change lanes but whenever i see a truck signal and i can change lanes i always do so just out of courtesy and then there is the thought maybe im in their blind spot and they havent seen me lol.

[@andrewdking]

@@kinstar agreed, especially as many articulated lorries on UK motorways are continental LH drive, so increasing the likelihood they haven't seen you.

[@paulchilds8884]

That's 16 minutes of my life I will never get back

[@collinslfc]

Well what were you expecting to watch?

[@simonasimo8643]

@@collinslfc 🤣🤣

[@mrroom5965]

I continued to watching this video only for the Fiat Uno

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

If this road was in Germany, there'd be probably no speed limit...

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

I believe UK motorways in general have a 100mph design speed specification - is that correct?

[@savegfan3374]

Bro i have been on this hundred of times

[@mateenabdul4593]

+freeway Frank's. the average speed people go is about 80-90 mph and the speed limit is 70mph

[@timaamelins4675]

Mateen Abdul, this is incorrect.

[@tinoedwick795]

Mateen Abdul that's correct if you go 70 cars will overtake you

[@nikeadidas_uk838]

how is it incorrect

[@collinslfc]

@Mateen Abdul That's a massive exaggeration. Yes, some drivers do go 80-90mph but that's certainly not the average speed. Most people go late 60's, early 70's, and quite often drivers can't do that because of the amount of traffic on the motorway.

[@joshuastevens9049]

Q

[@stevephillips6913]

only came here to see if I can see my house.. I live litteraly smack bang at the side of the M1

[@serenadenovellis9660]

steve phillips s'intitola hDbbdbNnfNfhbbhdgtyumgumumujjify

[@whatshisname3304]

i saw it

[@coldicenotgaming8497]

lol

[@ROBERTSANTIAGO16]

Nice video stay safe

[@grahameaustin5183]

8:32, classic case of someone not 'reading the road' in front of them, misjudgement, or middle simply lane hogging.

[@ThatoneMoldavian_countryball]

I have been also on that road a long time ago

[@StukInBuf]

I take it the M1 is kinda like a good many of our Northeastern tollways here in the USA... gas/food stops ever so often along the roadway.

[@manutdlists2442]

British-Aussie Lover The M6 starts near Coventry though, where it goes into the M1

[@sawkvideoproductions1115]

+British-Aussie Lover What are you talking about? The M6 starts at Catthorpe, which is nearly 100 miles from London and it continues to the Scottish border, where it was planned to continue but due to some complications (Scottish people want to be different from the rest of Britain because 'SCOTTISH PRIDE' basically) it becomes the A74(M) and then the M74. Also, it doesn't even get very close to Manchester, I'd estimate the closest approach to be about 25-30 miles away. I'll give you Birmingham though, it *just* avoids the city.

[@manutdlists2442]

Sawk Mapping I live about 5 miles away from its ending in Carlisle, 5 miles away from Gretna

[@sawkvideoproductions1115]

+Theme Park Geek Cool.

[@manutdlists2442]

Sawk Mapping Thanks but it was just a useless fact 😂😂

[@wcstevens7]

Watch out for sneaky policemen in unmarked cars. Better still, stick to the speed limit.

[@hewa984]

aiii, i miss it really

[@ryguy1556]

I'm from the US and I came here to see what it is like to drive on the left side of the road. It looks pretty much the same overall but opposite with passing on the right and people merging in from the left. In towns and cities I think it would take some getting used to driving on the left. One question I have is since you're driving on the left does that mean you can turn left on red when the traffic is clear? Because in the US you are allowed to turn right on red if the traffic is clear.

[@euro1859]

WowDude15 no mate,no turning left on red,we have a green light in the shape of an arrow that will show green when the main lights(straight on)are showing red,then you can turn or filter to the left,have a good day.

[@ScreamQueenObv]

WowDude15 no red means stop. Amber is get ready to go/get ready to stop and green is GO. What you said sounds so confusing...

[@DriveCamUK]

+WowDude15 No. In the UK, a red light means stop and it doesn't matter which direction you are turning. A few junctions do have a left-turn lane which bypasses the lights to a give-way sign - which is a bit like a turn-left-on-red. And quite a lot of junctions have a dedicated left or right turn traffic light, which allows for some turns (or straight on) to go whilst others must stop

[@andrewdking]

Our motorways lane discipline rules are not like those in the US. We don't pick a lane and stay in it, one is expected to keep in the left most lane (lane 1) when space and speed of other motorists permit. We can overtake, not undertake, and motorcycles will filter between queues of slow moving traffic

[@lukekelly9616]

@@andrewdking That's only a myth. Undertaking is allowed in UK at the speed limit of that road as long as there's two or more lanes in your direction. That includes single carriageways.

[@truthlover423]

White Uno was super Fast

[@PepsiCubes]

the nostalgia

[@somslovensky959]

And that's what junction 24 looked like before it was upgraded to a smart motorway

[@sebby324]

Removing the hard shoulder is the worst idea ever

[@AnimatingStudios2002]

@@sebby324 What's next? Removing 1 lane on each direction?

[@sebby324]

@@AnimatingStudios2002 I don’t know but some idiot is making the roads more dangerous

[@Isleofskye]

Just about to go out onto The M2 just outside London to Kent.....A2/M2...

[@oli2000s]

Motorway = British English Highway = American English I love highways :)

[@ltn_aviation8474]

Nice video

[@lewisallen5412]

there should be a map showing us where you are on the m1. not happy

[@azharkhanr.b7878]

Am your 999 subscribeer

[@FreewayFranks]

What is the average speed of drivers on a Motorway like that ? And what is the speed limit ?

[@DriveCamUK]

The speed limit on UK motorways is 70mph (112km/h). When not busy according to government stats about 48% of cars exceeded the limit.

[@FreewayFranks]

+DriveCamUK Thank you and Greetings from Quebec city, Canada !

[@roadsforlife6172]

Usually people goes upto 80MPH+ some idiots touch about100MPH

[@timaamelinsios8862]

sanj137, the speed limit on a motorway is 70

[@thesupremesawk1893]

+sanj137 I agree with that, the average speed is probably about 82mph. Fun fact: 70 might be the advertised speed limit, but the official speed limit that speed cameras go by is actually 79mph, because 10% + 2. So in reality, most drivers are actually in accordance with the speed limit.

[@achannel5066]

Sweet!

[@shailsingh007]

When was that M25 junction

[@Rosiebee35]

I'm trying to see if my car is on this video as I use this motorway

[@myladisu487]

I went To M1

[@brandonmartin2363]

Looks just like the states.

[@cx5954]

Rosida Andriyana come on the UK has a bit more life and character than the states

[@crispedt6776]

16:00 service closed in 2018

[@sgnjamcitydevteam6913]

Is that Newport Pagnell?

[@blueberrysavers3547]

No, Leicester Forest East. Also the service is still open as I been there before. They planned to close it in 2017 to widen that section but was later cancelled

[@jero4133]

Leicestershire right?

[@DriveCamUK]

Yes, that's right - it's from junction 24 in North Leicestershire down to Leicester Forest East services.

[@jero4133]

DriveCamUK what county do you born

[@nintiesmrbreezy4574]

Sweet

[@Orbulonthunderdex]

Are you going to waitrose in the last part of the video

[@DriveCamUK]

The end of the video was at Leicester Forest East service station. Just a temporary stop off on my way to the Cambridge area. There's a part 2 showing the M1 down to the M6/A14 junction then there's an A14 video as far as the A1

[@Orbulonthunderdex]

DriveCamUK i dont get it so you go waitrose at the end or you go a store that its called cambridge

[@DriveCamUK]

Waitrose is one of the outlets at the service station. I can't remember exactly whether I bought anything at this stop or not. Cambridge is a city about 80 miles further on from the services.

[@fay_gaming454]

Awww

[@Orbulonthunderdex]

Are you going leicestershire to what place

[@thegreypenguin2932]

6:20 no plates!

[@eviedunne5275]

Saying service station closed

[@sean2000]

@flip inheck there is not 2 M1's there is just a section of the A1 that is motorway

[@DriveCamUK]

+Seán Actually the original poster was right. There are two M1s in the UK. One runs north from London to Yorkshire. The other runs south-west out of Belfast and then west to Dungannon. i.e. Northern Ireland has its own road numbering system separate from that on the mainland UK.

[@avionOasia]

There are 2 M1s There is an M1 in Northern Island and the one in this vid

[@wojciechdabrowski4417]

There is 2, I always go on the A1(M) motorway to london and poland, A1(M) is closest motorway to me near peterborough which is 30 mins away from me, At peterborough the A1(M) starts as grantham starts A1. Idk where starts a1 but maybe grantham.

[@wojciechdabrowski4417]

I mean, 3 A1(M) northen ireland and england@@DriveCamUK

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

😊

[@drnotuseless]

Why are the signs so big?

[@DriveCamUK]

On fast roads you need to be able to see and read them from a good distance. You get a 1 mile notice for a junction, but at 70mph that's only about 50 seconds

[@xkuroo17]

would have been better if u put speed in one corner

[@gacaptain]

The thing that shocks me is how much this resembles driving I-75 through most of rural South Georgia here in the U.S. Only the vehicles are driving on the wrong side of course. Also, I-75 in Georgia was rebuilt a couple decades ago so it's actually got more modern looking barriers, median and lighting than what's here. The signage is larger and easier to read here also. Also Nottingham and Leicester are pretty good sized towns by Georgia standards so an Interstate traveling between them would be larger. Probably 4 lanes either direction for 8 lanes all together. Sort of like I-475 traveling around Macon or I-75 through Atlanta's southernmost suburbs.

[@ArcadeCabNBud]

gacaptain mate you just l45'd my brain

[@gacaptain]

ArcadeMAD Sorry "Mate". I used to work on Interstate highways so I'm a bit of a road geek.

[@janheard3826]

The Americans “drive on the wrong side of the road”.

[@ASD-tx2qy]

What car do u have

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Heaps of passing traffic.

[@rocket7697]

Is there a law saying you must change lanes every 100 meters?

[@DriveCamUK]

+rocket7697 In the UK you can be fined for failing to move back to the left-hand lane after you've finished overtaking.

[@a910]

+rocket7697 You can't overtake on the left here so you must always ensure you are going faster than the people to your left and slower than those on your right, and otherwise change lane to make that happen. If the motorway is empty then you bust be in the leftmost lane.

[@MrDaddynomates]

It's why our roads are almost the safest in the world. It's called lane discipline. It's all very British you know, old Chap.

[@autobahnwaybab7608]

DriveCamUK bullshit!

[@autobahnwaybab7608]

donepearce that was 3/5 years ago friend. Try driving now from Luton to Rugby. Yeahh no hardshoulder for almost 50miles. You call that safe??? Oh yes i forgot half the population in england are dumb enough to say hard shoulder is dangerous! Yeahh talk about indicating and how people drive on the left. Keep lying to yourself. Ever since the SMART motorway came in place it became a disaster. Are you aware of that?? I think youre just like every other naive british citizen. Im sorry if im being too harsh!

[@timaamelins4675]

DriveCam UK, I don't think there is another M1.

[@DriveCamUK]

+Tima Amelins Northern Ireland is part of the UK but has its own numbering system. There is a Northern Irish M1 running south-west out of Belfast and round the south side of Lough Neagh, terminating on the A4 at Dungannon.

[@wojciechdabrowski4417]

There is three, A1(M) M1 in england and M1 in northen ireland.

[@wojciechdabrowski4417]

so both were wrong...

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

very start and horn beeping.

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Oo

[@eviedunne5275]

i am bust the people with their comments about the road

[@SlimHandle]

And then there's a car behind me after a5 loop 5 lanes M1 decides to rabidly overtake after realising I am staying where I belong - lane 1. What a twat. Could call him a rat too. Flicked his family on after that disrespect of me. Rude stranger.

[@edwardkent]

does anybody die in this video ?

[@cx5954]

edward kent maybe, maybe noy

[@aymanafzal]

What is the speed limit?

[@DriveCamUK]

70 mph or just under 113 km/h

[@pauldavison7105]

DriveCamUK for cars. Its 60mph for larger vehicle or cars towing something.

[@fxtimx.01]

Zyhhu

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

U😊

[@timaamelins4675]

Ah, ok.

[@user-ie5ez7rd9k]

Where’s part 2?? 😆

[@DriveCamUK]

It's in the list of my videos

[@whatshisname3304]

why am i watching this????

[@ualreadyknow2332]

Because you dont have a girlfriend

[@aliaksandranikovich6300]

like. good roads. subscr

[@dlrpanjsi783]

These british roads look exactly like hong kongs Only the cars r different

[@cx5954]

Yes Hong Kong was built up by the british and a lot of Hongkong is from Britain

[@cavtautomotiveconsultancy5131]

Albertosaurus, DriveCamUK - about truck at 08.02 onwards. You probably both noticed (as viewer, and as driver at the time) you can judge what the truck from Stoke on Trent is likely to do: around 08.10 the visual gap in 2D between this truck and the tanker (i.e. the amount of scenery you can see between) is decreasing in "2D width", which is how you have perceived the van is going noticeably faster than tanker. It's intuitive, but not everyone seems to learn this useful tip - or are asleep at the wheel. J23 is where join M1 from my base and I have many hours of video of this stretch for research on driver behaviour, usually early morning rush hour, both random footage and "interesting" events.

[@fay_gaming454]

Ooo

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

I😊😢

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Xx

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

😅

[@selendanghitam2477]

What's the speed limit there?

[@DriveCamUK]

70mph on most uk motorways

[@oxygen0069]

i got my theory test on 1st of june please pray for me

[@ibrah9962]

Walking gamer Did you pass your theory test? Are you taking driving lessons?

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

U

[@michaelriordan8265]

You should have played some music

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

Iki

[@wojciechdabrowski4417]

Stop saying he is hogging middle lane, He is just trying to catch a great view for you guys.

[@jensonwilkinson5408]

15:06

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

T

[@williamschlich8389]

I came at 9:54

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

D

[@fay_gaming454]

S

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

I

[@trommelbiel]

I will be speeding on M1 to London God willing tomorrow. I usually do 90 miles/hour.

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

k odu the crash barriers and underbridge parapets are rated to protect you to 70mph so good luck if you hit one.

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

P

[@sgnjamcitydevteam6913]

Bruh my house is off the M1 ;-;

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

P😊

[@fay_gaming454]

Oopol

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

O

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

“

[@user-yq7tj8iq9x]

E

[@fay_gaming454]

Yhhhuuuuhhhhnhhhhhhh