Инструктор по вождению развеял миф о том, что количество полос определяет статус дороги как магистраль

A driving instructor has detailed a common mistake lots of drivers seem to be making with dual carriageways - and it's due to confusion over how they differ from other types of roads. There are more than 40 million drivers across the UK, all having to adhere to hundreds of Highway Code rules and regulations, so it's no surprise when some people get confused or make some small mistakes behind the wheel. Keen to stay safe on the road, many new and experienced drivers look online for refreshers and reminders on the rules. Richard Fanders, from Conquer Driving, often shares educational material on social media to help both learner drivers and qualified motorists understand road regulations - and stay safe. In one YouTube video, the driving instructor pointed out a frequent misunderstanding many people have about dual carriageways. The instructor said it's "common" for him to come across the belief that dual carriageways and motorways differ purely based on the number of lanes. Fanders explained most people think dual carriageways have two lanes while motorways have three or more - but this assumption is wrong. Fanders said: "A motorway is a road with motorway status - and how many lanes are in each carriageway does not determine whether or not that road gets motorway status." He added: "'Dual' means two but 'carriageway' does not mean lane and I think that's where some people can get this wrong." What truly sets a dual carriageway apart in the UK is the presence of a central reservation dividing two carriageways, with each one designated for a single direction of travel. The number of lanes does not necessarily determine its status, and it can feature two or more lanes in either direction. Fanders then offered some illustrative examples of roads. He said: "In Great Britain, if they are travelling in opposing directions they will be passing on the left. "This road is a dual carriageway. We have one carriageway on the left travelling in one direction and another carriageway on the right travelling in the other direction and each carriageway is separated by a central reservation. "This can be a barrier, a kerb or just a piece of grass. This is what makes it two carriageways or a dual carriageway - how many lanes are in each carriageway is not relevant. "There can be one lane in each carriageway, or there can be many lanes in each carriageway. There is no limit to how many lanes can be in each carriageway." Fanders then drew attention to the key distinction between dual carriageways and motorways, which comes down to access control and the types of vehicles permitted. Dual carriageways allow a wider variety of vehicles, including cyclists and slower-moving traffic, while motorways enforce far stricter rules regarding which vehicles may use them. Motorways use blue signage, whereas dual carriageways typically feature green signs. In the comments section, fellow YouTube users were keen to share their opinions. One viewer said: "Useful stuff, thanks. I think I knew all the points raised, but I've been driving for many years now." Another said: "Thank you for clearing this up for people. I was once on a single lane dual carriageway country road and got stuck behind someone who was only going 60mph when they should've been going at 70mph." A third added: "Brilliant explanation. Thank you."