I love this film. The motorways were so clean then. They look like the Autobahn now. The motorways now in the UK are linear dustbins. Great film to show people in the 70's cared and had personal pride and standards.
These days the roundabouts are marked out for the exits you use. No room for stopping on them anyway. I lost a wing mirror because some idiot decided to stop in one of these roundabout lanes !
"and if you are driving a BMW, please ignore everything we have told you. The highway code does NOT apply to you, please remember that you don't need to show consideration to anyone else on the road so long as you get to your destination as fast as possible. Very importantly, please do not indicate, it confuses other road users and could cause an accident."
Paul and his neighbour, Jim, comtinued up to Leeds with Jim giving lots of useful and sensible advice. When they got to Leeds, it was late so Jim suggested they should stay in a hotel rather than drive back through the night which would be dangerous. Paul agreed and being sensible, Jim booked one room to save money. Up in the room which had a rare (for 1979) ensuite, Jim suggested a shower would be a good idea before dinner and it would make sense to share so Jim could show Paul the correct way to clean his bits...
10:20 the M63 at Stretford before it became the M60 ring road around Manchester. I grew up in Sale right by here and I remember the M63 being built. Great seeing it as it used to be back then! Thanks for posting this film it's really interesting
I live near Worsley. It always amazes me how it took about 3 years to build the motorway in the first place and about 10 years to widen it 40 years later!
I wouldn't mind so much if the "Cones Hotline" wasn't such a darned disappointment. When you're stuck in traffic on a hot day and having to keep the air-con off because you're running low on petrol, a 99 with a flake in it goes a *very long* way indeed! :-)
Smart motorways are safe. Engineers have added an extra lane to existing motorways to speed up long distance traffic. People should support smart motorways it,s a step forward.
Been driving for 15 years and this taught me some aspects about motorway driving I didn't even know! Lol. The arrows on the road indicating which lane you're in was one example.
I'm pushing 40 but I remember doing my driving test nearly 22 years ago and passing on the second try. At the time when I became a new driver, they had offered this Pass Plus course in which the instructor would take you onto the motorway and other more challenging types of road and guide you. Upon completing the course you'd get a certificate as well as the possibility of your insurance becoming cheaper. My friends all raved on about this course and especially the prospect of getting cheaper insurance. I then asked my parents about it and they were like: ''You just passed your driving test, you don't need that course''. I was like ''Yeah...but I haven't driven on the motorway before''. They were like ''Forget the course, we will take you onto the motorway''. For the first few attempts, my Mother and Sister sat with me (my father was too tense about it so I thought it would be best if he didn't sit with me) Upon finally feeling confident enough to drive by myself on the motorway, I was shocked at how much easier it was than driving in built-up areas. You just go in one direction, changing lanes safely on occasion.
"Paul? This is the disembodied voice in your head. You know, the one that talks to you when you're trying to concentrate on driving? You are terrible at this, aren't you? I would try and drive straight into the nearest flyover, when you see one. You'll never amount to much, will you, Paul?"
We still go for drives in our family, and I thought other people did as well, but I was listening to a radio show recently and the host started talking about the idea as if it were totally out of date, a bit like smoking a pipe or wearing a tie at the weekends.
Excellent time machine. When was the last time you saw a Renault R16 let alone an Austin 1100? all gone. Liked the old Bedford army trucks coming along the M6. Thanks for uploading the film. One final note it seems to be blokes who have posted comments about this film. Keep up the good work!
I passed my test in 1979 (the year this film was shot) with my trusty green Austin 1300! Soon as this was shot around where I grew up by the looks of it that could even be me shooting past Paul and his dad when they are discussing going to Leeds! lol
I totally miss the early days of education and the do's and don'ts of everyday life. Such a sad shame it's been reduced to nothing more than a carefree life of now. I wish I could return to early life once again, sigh!
It's funny how in those days the voice over was always so proper and middle class sounding, and that opening & closing music too! Paul was certainly speeding along at a ridiculous speed, but I suspect the film might have been speeded up! It's hard to imagine how a Morris 1100/1300 could go that fast. Very good advice he got on his 2nd trip, but the elderly man certainly took his time in the slip road, I thought he was never gonna join the motorway! Every time they showed the speedometer, he's hardly doing more than 40 mph. It's interesting catching sight of the yellow Ford Escort estate. Can't tell if it's a MK1 or 2, but I knew a family who had a white Escort estate of the same type when I was at primary school in the 80s. One of my teachers also had 1, and in the early 90s I knew someone else with a yellow Escort estate; I think it was the MK2, from about the mid 70s. I never see them now, even at classic car gatherings!
Seeing the old layout, pre-M60 "ring-road" is a great treat. Thank you for restoring this beauty. White-van man existed back in 1979? And of course, he was heading for the M61 - I'd bet 5p that he switched to the A666 and got off at Farnworth :P
“You should only remain in the 2nd & 3rd lane to overtake slow moving traffic and return to the first lane once you’ve completed your overtake” - A far cry from the attitudes of ‘middle lane hoggers’ on today’s motorways. All these years later and people still don’t know how to drive! This film should be compulsory education in all schools and its content part of the UK theory driving test.
@@annother3350 Safer to undertake than making multi lane changes to the right then multi lane changes to get back to the driving lane. What would you do if we had 6 plus lanes and the hogger was in lane 7 of 8?
I remember those central reservation lights a bit further up from Birch Services oscillating during a storm in the 1980s. They literally bent over to the left and right only a few feet from the road surface in each sway. Like swaying palm trees. I was gobsmacked. Was shown on Granada News too. They replaced those type after that.
Details for PFV927N Vehicle make RENAULT Date of first registration 01 August 1974 Cylinder capacity (cc) 1647cc CO₂Emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL Export marker No Vehicle status Not taxedVehicle colour BEIGE Tax due: 30 March 1990 - Not a bad run for a 70's Renault :)
Oh I know. My Sister's little R12 kept going until 1993. It was long out of her custodianship by then but still 1978- 1993 isn't a bad stint. I have seen ONE R12 TS still on the road. Sat behind it at traffic lights a few years ago. Couldn't believe how small it was compared to modern stuff. Was in "used" condition, a bit dog eared, but obviously loved enough to have avoided the scrappage scheme.
As I live in the UK and have no idea of the road tax system in the United States, do you pay any form or road tax for your vehicles or is it all just insurance?
Remember, on motorways safety is always the key. Danger is never the key. Not heeding safety is dangerous. Never drive dangerously, dangerous driving is unsafe. Safe driving by you is safety for all road users. Be safe. Be sound. Be smart. Be certain
@fpsMaverick When the very first bit of motorway opened, the M6 Preston Bypass, a news reporter marvelled at how he went from Samlesbury to Broughton at an average speed of 85mph. In the early days of motorways, there was perhaps more variance in speed between vehicles than there is now. People who were only used to narrow country roads and who were driving cars that couldn't sustain long distances at high speed were pottering along at 40mph and mixing it with people in high powered Jaguars and similar doing over 100mph. Apparently the average motorway speed increased with the introduction of the 70mph limit in 1965 as, although the fastest people were being slowed down, there were plenty of people doing a lot less who suddenly realised they were expected to go faster than they had been.
@@Flossie1985: Re the last paragraph: Funny enough, apparently, there was a case where similar happened on a road through a village - the speed limit was reduced, but the average speed ended up increasing, with the suspicion being that those who drove fast ignored the limit, while others who drove through slowly ended up increasing their speed as if it was a target. The link to the source seems to have broken though, so take that with a pinch of salt...
I think some of the footage may have been a bit older than 1979. There was a car transporter visible at 5:11 which seemed to be carrying three new yellow MK1 Hillman Avengers with the "L" shaped rear lights, that model was made until 1976. Could have been random cars but that seems unlikely. Bit fuzzy so I could be wrong.
I passed my driving test in 1991 and never had any motorway experience, it was quite alarming first time I used one but I soon accepted the way to drive differently from normal roads.
I had a car for a few years at about this time, and absolutely hated it. I never wanted to drive, but my mother wanted me to so I could take her to local places, such as the Orange Luxury Coach Station in Brixton if she was going on a trip somewhere. I did just once drive on a very short section of motorway and it frightened the life out of me. Mother and car both expired at about the same time, so I gave up driving in 1982 and will never do so again. I couldn’t drive now even if I wanted to as I have serious eyesight problems. I do occasionally travel on motorways, but only as a passenger in a coach.
Some people haven't a clue how to drive on a motorway. Some of my dashcam clips are testament to that. BMW and Audi drivers tend to be the worst with White Van Man not too far behind. I'm familiar with these sections of the M6 & M62 and they have changed since the 1970s. Unfortunately, I have to got to Leeds every day to go to work and I have to contend with the car park that is the M62 between J26 & J27. I don't think the smart motorways have helped any. I had to contend with them when they were being built in 2012 when I was working in York. The 50mph average speed limits were a nightmare and a single accident caused big delays.
I grew up around this area where the film was shot looks like M6 junction 20 at Lymm and I passed my test in 1979 so I'm looking for myself in my little green Austin 1300! Could even be me passing Paul and his dad where they are talking about going to Leeds. Looks a bit like Altrincham
I remember those lights at 10:58 on what is now the m60 (in the clip it was M62). It must have been late 1980s or early 90s parents took me to Yorkshire. Always wondered where that was. It's interesting seeing it all as the M62. Those gantries have recently been changed over to smart motorways and I recognise the bridge at 11:48 that goes diagonally across the middle of junction 17. Also birch services looks alot different now.
Well, if they had to use the motorway to get there, one would assume they lived quite a long distance away from Leeds. If you were 'just off to' anywhere, it's not usually likely to be anything other than a short, casual trip of maybe half an hour.
My sister is terrified with driving on the motorway. They may be safe roads to drive on but she is too scared. Years ago she drove from our house to southern scotland on the a77 and a76 to Dumfries. She felt safer driving on narrow country roads. She didn,t drive on the m74 or the old a74 either. The a74 was a notorious road with a high death toll people thought it was a motorway when in fact it was a dual carriageway between 2 motorways m74 and m6 heading south to Carlisle.
This is exactly how to drive on the motorway! Even 40+ years later, this is how we should be driving and remember, the next time you’re stuck in an horrendous traffic jam on the motorway caused by a crash that if we all drove like this, accidents just wouldn’t happen and there wouldn’t be any queues etc
Do you know whether there any issues about using any of the audio from this clip or is it considered to be royalty free and public domain? Thanks. Neil
It's certainly not public domain under UK law but the video has been up for 8 years without a copyright claim. I think it's what you would call an 'orphan work' where the current copyright holder is unknown. If you remixed the sound and/or pictures into another UA-cam video then that is fine by me. Just give my Chanel a credit please 🙂
@@ephemeralfilm Ah thanks for this. I think as long as the label are happy that sounds fine. It's not like the track is going to be a million seller! Although we can dream!
I left school at 18 in 1971 and entered the construction industry part-way through the Midland Links Motorway Programme, M6-M1 junction and M6 North, M5-M6 junction and all the interchanges between - including spaghetti junction (Gravelly Hill interchange). Been driving now for 52 years and despite all the improvements and hi-tech vehicles on the roads today, driving standards are at an all-time low, IMO. I don’t just mean in the UK but everywhere I’ve driven, which includes most of the western European countries, the USA, Canada, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey, Oman, UAE, Qatar, KSA… everywhere, the same old story, too fast, too close together and too impatient.
The over the shoulder check isn't mentioned until later in the film. It also mentions the countown markers in metres, they are yards, also don't start slowing down until you leave the motorway, vehicles behind won't be pleased if you drop to 30 before leaving ! - Rest of it ok, interesting to see Birch services, it must have been rebuilt since then. Not been on roadworks that cross the central reservation for a good number of years.
I think I did see at least one Volvo F88 in this film.I think there's one at 6:32. There might be one at 5:56 too.There seems to be a Foden at 5:59(might be a S80? rather than a S39 though)
I think the highway code still says that if there is no gap to merge from a slip road onto a motorway then the driver has to stop. This is WRONG, you can use the hard shoulder to build up your speed if running out of slip road and a gap WILL open and you can merge. its less dangerous and you wont get nicked for it. (I know I have had to do it with the rozzers behind me). stopping on a slip road with other motorists charging down it whilst they are looking over their shoulder is a recipe for disaster.
True, dangerous stopping, if there are cars behind they have to avoid you and accelerating from a stop will take some time to build up speed which means vehicles coming along have to slow down or overtake. That old bloke should have a hat on and be driving a Volvo.
Being old school, even with sat nav, I like to see my intended route on a real map and plan stops ahead. The only place I find sat nav a real boon is navigating around a large town or city.
The film is correct, the countdown signs are in metres but the Highway Code lies that they are in yards. The marker posts are every 100 m even today, also the codes on phones contain a distance in kilometres from the start of the motorway. At the time the film was made there was still an official intention to fully metricate road signage. Another vestige of metrication preparation, is that some motorway signs are at 2/3 mile and 1/3 mile corresponding to 1 km and 500 m.
@@andw2638: Didn't know about the thirds of miles being for halves of kilometres! You learn something new every day... On which note, pretty minor, but Know Your Traffic Signs inaccurately states that tram speed limits are shown in kilometers per hour - there are at least two exceptions to that, where they're in miles per hour. Though of course I guess they don't really have any real impact for most people!
Great find from the past, but I find some of the advice a little odd. Slowing down on the motorway BEFORE reaching the deceleration lane for the slip-way? Never a mention of signalling when performing a lane change (not that most of the other traffic did either). Passed driving exam without motorway testing? Taking a break after 1.5 hours of motorway driving? My daily commute would take forever! Haha!! A great video though. Thoroughly the trip into the past. Thanks!!
Precisely thats why you see signs stating no mopeds or learner drivers allowed on motorways. Cannot or never has been part of a UK test. Dual carriageways different and can involve.
We need these public information films today. 90% of people think driving in lane 1 is illegal.
No you don't shoot off across all three lanes Paul...You're not in a BMW
Or Audi.
Or possibly a Range Rover
You all got here before me... Just like the BMW, Audi, Range Rover and the white van (with a wisp of smoke coming out because it's being ragged).
Or an Audi.
@@metro_ken No, that will be on the hard shoulder with the engine management light on.
40 years later and people still have no idea how to use a motorway
james callaghan lol
james callaghan hahahahah true!!!
The roads themselves may be safe, but what about the fools who drive like they're grounded Kamikaze pilots?
39
Called smart motorways
I am convinced that this is a major contribution to road safety.
Thank You Sir Robert Mark 👍
ua-cam.com/video/BE15EtuA6Z8/v-deo.html
I love this film. The motorways were so clean then. They look like the Autobahn now. The motorways now in the UK are linear dustbins. Great film to show people in the 70's cared and had personal pride and standards.
Belguim motorways are immaculate compared to the UK motorways never seen one bit of litter or rubbish on there motorways UK turning into a shite hole
Yep, just stop in the middle of the roundabout when you're deciding whether to go onto the motorway or not. That'll be safe.
You also don't stop on a roundabout if you've had a heart stopping moment on the motorway.
These days the roundabouts are marked out for the exits you use. No room for stopping on them anyway.
I lost a wing mirror because some idiot decided to stop in one of these roundabout lanes !
@@melissanewton7462 That was your fault then.
"and if you are driving a BMW, please ignore everything we have told you. The highway code does NOT apply to you, please remember that you don't need to show consideration to anyone else on the road so long as you get to your destination as fast as possible. Very importantly, please do not indicate, it confuses other road users and could cause an accident."
Or any vehicle manufactured in Germany, Audis included.🇦🇺
Not to mention A6 Audis and other very high speed 4x4s😉
Paul and his neighbour, Jim, comtinued up to Leeds with Jim giving lots of useful and sensible advice. When they got to Leeds, it was late so Jim suggested they should stay in a hotel rather than drive back through the night which would be dangerous. Paul agreed and being sensible, Jim booked one room to save money. Up in the room which had a rare (for 1979) ensuite, Jim suggested a shower would be a good idea before dinner and it would make sense to share so Jim could show Paul the correct way to clean his bits...
😂😂😂
LOL exactly what I thought. Paul you'll never make old bones getting into old cars with dodgy geezers like that
Ahhhh Leeds the home of James Savile 😂
You must be Jim!
Paul regrets that they didn’t stop to pick up the hunky hitch-hiker
10:20 the M63 at Stretford before it became the M60 ring road around Manchester. I grew up in Sale right by here and I remember the M63 being built. Great seeing it as it used to be back then! Thanks for posting this film it's really interesting
I live near Worsley. It always amazes me how it took about 3 years to build the motorway in the first place and about 10 years to widen it 40 years later!
And that's how the water park at Sale came to exist. My mum used to know a worker on the M63 construction site.
Even back then there,s still no sign of anybody working at the roadworks.
upton parka and yet the roads seem to get repaired
I wouldn't mind so much if the "Cones Hotline" wasn't such a darned disappointment. When you're stuck in traffic on a hot day and having to keep the air-con off because you're running low on petrol, a 99 with a flake in it goes a *very long* way indeed! :-)
Invisible Bloody Roadworks™
Coning Off Miles of Road for No Frickin Reason
Could do with these public broadcasts today!! Especially regarding smart motorways.
The only public information films we get now are telling you how to wash your hands!
Smart motorways are safe. Engineers have added an extra lane to existing motorways to speed up long distance traffic.
Smart motorways are safe. Engineers have added an extra lane to existing motorways to speed up long distance traffic. People should support smart motorways it,s a step forward.
Been driving for 15 years and this taught me some aspects about motorway driving I didn't even know! Lol. The arrows on the road indicating which lane you're in was one example.
David Lister You don't see arrows used like that any more on motorways.
Great video, this is when people used to care about stuff : (
I'm pushing 40 but I remember doing my driving test nearly 22 years ago and passing on the second try. At the time when I became a new driver, they had offered this Pass Plus course in which the instructor would take you onto the motorway and other more challenging types of road and guide you. Upon completing the course you'd get a certificate as well as the possibility of your insurance becoming cheaper. My friends all raved on about this course and especially the prospect of getting cheaper insurance.
I then asked my parents about it and they were like: ''You just passed your driving test, you don't need that course''. I was like ''Yeah...but I haven't driven on the motorway before''.
They were like ''Forget the course, we will take you onto the motorway''. For the first few attempts, my Mother and Sister sat with me (my father was too tense about it so I thought it would be best if he didn't sit with me)
Upon finally feeling confident enough to drive by myself on the motorway, I was shocked at how much easier it was than driving in built-up areas. You just go in one direction, changing lanes safely on occasion.
"Paul? This is the disembodied voice in your head. You know, the one that talks to you when you're trying to concentrate on driving? You are terrible at this, aren't you? I would try and drive straight into the nearest flyover, when you see one. You'll never amount to much, will you, Paul?"
These films you're digging up are brilliant! Great work, and please keep them coming!
Rumour has it that the M6 still has roadworks on it!
It does.....
same ones
They always do. Road surfaces are a consumable item.
These films should be shown today! -
Young lad going off for a drive with elderly neighbour - how innocent and naive we all were in the '70s :)
+Joanne Gray - Not necessarily naive; as Scroobius Pip once wisely said, "Some people are *just nice*" !
We still go for drives in our family, and I thought other people did as well, but I was listening to a radio show recently and the host started talking about the idea as if it were totally out of date, a bit like smoking a pipe or wearing a tie at the weekends.
Immediate Training Devon keep it light mate
Unfortunately for Paul, the visit to Leeds, was Jimmy Savile's Harem Hospital...
Just pull in for a quick blowie Paul...
If everyone listened and behaved properly on the motorway and didn't drive so closely to each other, we may not have so many traffic jams !
Isn't it in English?
They never used to give motorway lessons
The UK excelled in making mildly condescending public information films back then.
Drop down to 35mph when you leave the motorway and undertaking is fine too.This chap would have kittens on a modern road.
Excellent time machine. When was the last time you saw a Renault R16 let alone an Austin 1100? all gone. Liked the old Bedford army trucks coming along the M6. Thanks for uploading the film. One final note it seems to be blokes who have posted comments about this film. Keep up the good work!
I passed my test in 1979 (the year this film was shot) with my trusty green Austin 1300! Soon as this was shot around where I grew up by the looks of it that could even be me shooting past Paul and his dad when they are discussing going to Leeds! lol
I totally miss the early days of education and the do's and don'ts of everyday life.
Such a sad shame it's been reduced to nothing more than a carefree life of now.
I wish I could return to early life once again, sigh!
"I'm just off to Leeds. Why don't you come with me?"
And Paul was never seen again.
This should be reissued and be made mandatory!
I pressed my test 38 yrs ago now I am 56 brilliant I miss the good old days ❤️❤️❤️
Some nice cars at 11:05; Rover P6 (with aftermarket sunroof), Granada Mk1, and Austin Princess.
Fool in Citroen GS 11:40!
it's that twerp in the Allegro that's holding everyone up 13:00, trundling along in the middle lane.
A lot of Austin cars on the Motorway back then! 🤣
It's funny how in those days the voice over was always so proper and middle class sounding, and that opening & closing music too! Paul was certainly speeding along at a ridiculous speed, but I suspect the film might have been speeded up! It's hard to imagine how a Morris 1100/1300 could go that fast. Very good advice he got on his 2nd trip, but the elderly man certainly took his time in the slip road, I thought he was never gonna join the motorway! Every time they showed the speedometer, he's hardly doing more than 40 mph. It's interesting catching sight of the yellow Ford Escort estate. Can't tell if it's a MK1 or 2, but I knew a family who had a white Escort estate of the same type when I was at primary school in the 80s. One of my teachers also had 1, and in the early 90s I knew someone else with a yellow Escort estate; I think it was the MK2, from about the mid 70s. I never see them now, even at classic car gatherings!
yh i noticed that
Seeing the old layout, pre-M60 "ring-road" is a great treat. Thank you for restoring this beauty. White-van man existed back in 1979? And of course, he was heading for the M61 - I'd bet 5p that he switched to the A666 and got off at Farnworth :P
“You should only remain in the 2nd & 3rd lane to overtake slow moving traffic and return to the first lane once you’ve completed your overtake” - A far cry from the attitudes of ‘middle lane hoggers’ on today’s motorways.
All these years later and people still don’t know how to drive!
This film should be compulsory education in all schools and its content part of the UK theory driving test.
Middle lane hoggers don't bother me. I pass them on left.
@@billyporter1389 Thats why they call you the Undertaker
@@annother3350 Safer to undertake than making multi lane changes to the right then multi lane changes to get back to the driving lane. What would you do if we had 6 plus lanes and the hogger was in lane 7 of 8?
The joy of pre "Average Speed Camera" zones.
I remember those central reservation lights a bit further up from Birch Services oscillating during a storm in the 1980s. They literally bent over to the left and right only a few feet from the road surface in each sway. Like swaying palm trees. I was gobsmacked. Was shown on Granada News too. They replaced those type after that.
3:28 "Check your indicators". Only applies to people who don't own BMWs or Audi's :)
Glad you posted this it's great!!!
Details for PFV927N
Vehicle make
RENAULT
Date of first registration
01 August 1974
Cylinder capacity (cc)
1647cc
CO₂Emissions
Not available
Fuel type
PETROL
Export marker
No
Vehicle status
Not taxedVehicle colour
BEIGE
Tax due: 30 March 1990 - Not a bad run for a 70's Renault :)
asm1 what does it mean tax due 1990 etc.. I saw this in other comments too on here about other cars. I'm from US.Chicago.
Tax due 1990 means the car was still in use up until 1990. Which considering Renault cars of the mid 70s wasn't bad at all.
Oh I know. My Sister's little R12 kept going until 1993. It was long out of her custodianship by then but still 1978- 1993 isn't a bad stint.
I have seen ONE R12 TS still on the road. Sat behind it at traffic lights a few years ago. Couldn't believe how small it was compared to modern stuff. Was in "used" condition, a bit dog eared, but obviously loved enough to have avoided the scrappage scheme.
Okay, thanks in the US we don't have that expression etc.
As I live in the UK and have no idea of the road tax system in the United States, do you pay any form or road tax for your vehicles or is it all just insurance?
Remember, on motorways safety is always the key. Danger is never the key. Not heeding safety is dangerous. Never drive dangerously, dangerous driving is unsafe. Safe driving by you is safety for all road users. Be safe. Be sound. Be smart. Be certain
❤ this. Live in the US but originally from north west England where this was filmed 💯
I like how some of the signage, gantries and matrix signs are still up and running today. Those gantries near J21a on the M6 are still there now.
Er, get on the motorway at 30mph !!!! Brilliant.
Could perhaps have something to do with the roadworks and contra flow -_-
@@rememberremember3489 That was further on and the limit through there was only advisory.
@fpsMaverick When the very first bit of motorway opened, the M6 Preston Bypass, a news reporter marvelled at how he went from Samlesbury to Broughton at an average speed of 85mph.
In the early days of motorways, there was perhaps more variance in speed between vehicles than there is now. People who were only used to narrow country roads and who were driving cars that couldn't sustain long distances at high speed were pottering along at 40mph and mixing it with people in high powered Jaguars and similar doing over 100mph.
Apparently the average motorway speed increased with the introduction of the 70mph limit in 1965 as, although the fastest people were being slowed down, there were plenty of people doing a lot less who suddenly realised they were expected to go faster than they had been.
@@Flossie1985: Re the last paragraph: Funny enough, apparently, there was a case where similar happened on a road through a village - the speed limit was reduced, but the average speed ended up increasing, with the suspicion being that those who drove fast ignored the limit, while others who drove through slowly ended up increasing their speed as if it was a target. The link to the source seems to have broken though, so take that with a pinch of salt...
It can indeed be a dangerous and costly situation to run out of petrol on the motorway (Especially if you're driving a Renault)
The old guy is great. He could get a job doing public information films.
the seventies in the uk looks like someone accidentally vacuumed up the fifties and had to pull it out of the canister and now it's all dirty.
I think some of the footage may have been a bit older than 1979. There was a car transporter visible at 5:11 which seemed to be carrying three new yellow MK1 Hillman Avengers with the "L" shaped rear lights, that model was made until 1976. Could have been random cars but that seems unlikely. Bit fuzzy so I could be wrong.
I passed my driving test in 1991 and never had any motorway experience, it was quite alarming first time I used one but I soon accepted the way to drive differently from normal roads.
I passed on my 3rd attempt, in 1991,can't believe it been over 30yrs,I was so excited
I had a car for a few years at about this time, and absolutely hated it. I never wanted to drive, but my mother wanted me to so I could take her to local places, such as the Orange Luxury Coach Station in Brixton if she was going on a trip somewhere. I did just once drive on a very short section of motorway and it frightened the life out of me. Mother and car both expired at about the same time, so I gave up driving in 1982 and will never do so again. I couldn’t drive now even if I wanted to as I have serious eyesight problems.
I do occasionally travel on motorways, but only as a passenger in a coach.
That reads like an Alan Bennett monologue. Well done.
Some people haven't a clue how to drive on a motorway. Some of my dashcam clips are testament to that. BMW and Audi drivers tend to be the worst with White Van Man not too far behind. I'm familiar with these sections of the M6 & M62 and they have changed since the 1970s. Unfortunately, I have to got to Leeds every day to go to work and I have to contend with the car park that is the M62 between J26 & J27. I don't think the smart motorways have helped any. I had to contend with them when they were being built in 2012 when I was working in York. The 50mph average speed limits were a nightmare and a single accident caused big delays.
Extraordinary that we didn't used to train or test for motorway driving until 2018!
I grew up around this area where the film was shot looks like M6 junction 20 at Lymm and I passed my test in 1979 so I'm looking for myself in my little green Austin 1300! Could even be me passing Paul and his dad where they are talking about going to Leeds. Looks a bit like Altrincham
I have a green Austin 1300 registered in Cheshire. NTU
I remember those lights at 10:58 on what is now the m60 (in the clip it was M62). It must have been late 1980s or early 90s parents took me to Yorkshire. Always wondered where that was. It's interesting seeing it all as the M62. Those gantries have recently been changed over to smart motorways and I recognise the bridge at 11:48 that goes diagonally across the middle of junction 17. Also birch services looks alot different now.
"I'm just off to Leeds!"
What's so funny about that? Genuine question.
Well, if they had to use the motorway to get there, one would assume they lived quite a long distance away from Leeds. If you were 'just off to' anywhere, it's not usually likely to be anything other than a short, casual trip of maybe half an hour.
Now then , now then !
I hope you're not driving, Stevie.
Very suspect. Nobody goes to Leeds.
I'm amazed this man passed his driving test. In the first place. At all.
I'd love to hear Lee Boardman's voiceover (Road Wars) for this using his phrases 'What a donut' and 'he was caught spanking it at 30mph....'
I'd love not to hear Lee Boardman's voice (and glottal stop) ever again!
A great film, thanks for posting.
M6/m56 junction but look at the beautiful Renault 16!
Life was simpler & less crowded then
Suspension of reality we've become so selfish today. Everyone is so busy and irritable
Not really, you'd have some decent dual carriageway then frustrating single carriageway main trunk roads with no by passes with queues.
Was... now everything’s mayhem.
Do one yeah with less foreigners!!!
Really? I see m61 junc of M62 had a jam... Just like today haha😁
Bless! How simple life seemed back then
My sister is terrified with driving on the motorway. They may be safe roads to drive on but she is too scared. Years ago she drove from our house to southern scotland on the a77 and a76 to Dumfries. She felt safer driving on narrow country roads. She didn,t drive on the m74 or the old a74 either. The a74 was a notorious road with a high death toll people thought it was a motorway when in fact it was a dual carriageway between 2 motorways m74 and m6 heading south to Carlisle.
It's classified as a motorway now designated as A74(M) but is it really that bad?
This is exactly how to drive on the motorway! Even 40+ years later, this is how we should be driving and remember, the next time you’re stuck in an horrendous traffic jam on the motorway caused by a crash that if we all drove like this, accidents just wouldn’t happen and there wouldn’t be any queues etc
Jesus christ paul, you absolute mad man
Love this old Renault.
Look at the quality of the roads!!!
I looked forward driving on a motorway for the first time. It was easy
PFV927N was on the road until 1990.
Was waiting for Basil Fawlty to come out with a tree branch!!!
Was thinking of him when looking at earlier comments!🤣
Do you know whether there any issues about using any of the audio from this clip or is it considered to be royalty free and public domain? Thanks. Neil
It's certainly not public domain under UK law but the video has been up for 8 years without a copyright claim. I think it's what you would call an 'orphan work' where the current copyright holder is unknown.
If you remixed the sound and/or pictures into another UA-cam video then that is fine by me. Just give my Chanel a credit please 🙂
@@ephemeralfilm Ah thanks for this. I think as long as the label are happy that sounds fine. It's not like the track is going to be a million seller! Although we can dream!
It's amazing how many broken-down vehicles there are on the shoulder in this. You hardly see any, these days.
beeble2003 you don’t see a hard shoulder these days. Smart motorways...
Most cars weren’t really designed for long distance, high speed driving back then …
Looks bloody busy for 1979!
Not really, most households had cars in 1979.
I'd forgotten what a hard shoulder looked like
I left school at 18 in 1971 and entered the construction industry part-way through the Midland Links Motorway Programme, M6-M1 junction and M6 North, M5-M6 junction and all the interchanges between - including spaghetti junction (Gravelly Hill interchange).
Been driving now for 52 years and despite all the improvements and hi-tech vehicles on the roads today, driving standards are at an all-time low, IMO.
I don’t just mean in the UK but everywhere I’ve driven, which includes most of the western European countries, the USA, Canada, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey, Oman, UAE, Qatar, KSA… everywhere, the same old story, too fast, too close together and too impatient.
30mph on a motorway.................impressive !!
It is on the M25 !
I remember these motorways as a kid. I was a passenger in my dad's lorry around this time and he would travel around these motorways
my dad had a gold cortina with a whining axle i was 7 years old
Me too, great memories.
The over the shoulder check isn't mentioned until later in the film. It also mentions the countown markers in metres, they are yards, also don't start slowing down until you leave the motorway, vehicles behind won't be pleased if you drop to 30 before leaving ! - Rest of it ok, interesting to see Birch services, it must have been rebuilt since then. Not been on roadworks that cross the central reservation for a good number of years.
1:43 "No, Paul, you don't shoot across three lanes like that. You're not an Audi driver!"
Paul would be lucky to be moving on the M62 theses days, let alone get on it.
70's Euro truck is good! My favorite models are Mercedes Benz NG&Volvo F88・89＆Scania LBS&Foden S39.
I think I did see at least one Volvo F88 in this film.I think there's one at 6:32. There might be one at 5:56 too.There seems to be a Foden at 5:59(might be a S80? rather than a S39 though)
Space between cars....bliss!
2016 trip to Leeds, phone, satnav, key in ignition and go, 80mph all the way!!!
Haha, 50mph all the way down the M6 and M60!
I think I should say good luck with the traffic on the M61 from 4, and then the M60 will be busy all the way to the M62...
Clunk, click, every trip, eh, Jimmy?
......when motorways were relatively quite compared to today. I hate using the motorways today they are very hectic.
What a wonderful film, and today? four times as many cars .....
He passed the test without knowing anything about motorway & signs. Lolxx
Safe distance these days seems to be right up on the bumper
I guess it is also one or two car lenghts these days. Perhaps even a one and a half second space or less.
That GS, absolutely shocking !
11:42 Yellow Citroen (showing off road in 1984) turns into a yellow Ford Cortina Estate.
Nothing safer then the motorway.
Try travelling the A19 between Middlesbrough and Sunderland, always accidents along there.
I think the highway code still says that if there is no gap to merge from a slip road onto a motorway then the driver has to stop.
This is WRONG, you can use the hard shoulder to build up your speed if running out of slip road and a gap WILL open and you can merge.
its less dangerous and you wont get nicked for it. (I know I have had to do it with the rozzers behind me).
stopping on a slip road with other motorists charging down it whilst they are looking over their shoulder is a recipe for disaster.
True, dangerous stopping, if there are cars behind they have to avoid you and accelerating from a stop will take some time to build up speed which means vehicles coming along have to slow down or overtake.
That old bloke should have a hat on and be driving a Volvo.
A good advert for Renault 16.
1979 and still using 1950 music! A nice start! LOL!
2:24 They must both be Ventriloquists - speaking without moving their lips.
What a great idea those hard shoulders are...
I think that was filmed slightly earlier than 79. The latest registration I saw on it was P regd
I remember when there was that little traffic on motorways.
Pre motorway checks should have included biscuits, water and a thermos!
Wagon wheels and Monster Munch too.
Possibly condoms …
Being old school, even with sat nav, I like to see my intended route on a real map and plan stops ahead. The only place I find sat nav a real boon is navigating around a large town or city.
13:30 No, the countdown markers are at 300, 200, and 100 yards, not metres!
The film is correct, the countdown signs are in metres but the Highway Code lies that they are in yards. The marker posts are every 100 m even today, also the codes on phones contain a distance in kilometres from the start of the motorway. At the time the film was made there was still an official intention to fully metricate road signage. Another vestige of metrication preparation, is that some motorway signs are at 2/3 mile and 1/3 mile corresponding to 1 km and 500 m.
@@andw2638: Didn't know about the thirds of miles being for halves of kilometres! You learn something new every day...
On which note, pretty minor, but Know Your Traffic Signs inaccurately states that tram speed limits are shown in kilometers per hour - there are at least two exceptions to that, where they're in miles per hour. Though of course I guess they don't really have any real impact for most people!
Is that the Smart Motorway yet?? 40 years after roadworks still in the same place.
Shame everyone is not compelled to watch this before taking their test.
They can have motorway lessons now prior to taking test.
You can, with a fully qualified instructor with dual controls.@@thomascarroll9556
the 1970's version on the motorway they have to drive straight through you xxx
Great find from the past, but I find some of the advice a little odd.
Slowing down on the motorway BEFORE reaching the deceleration lane for the slip-way?
Never a mention of signalling when performing a lane change (not that most of the other traffic did either).
Passed driving exam without motorway testing?
Taking a break after 1.5 hours of motorway driving? My daily commute would take forever! Haha!!
A great video though. Thoroughly the trip into the past. Thanks!!
Indeed, I passed in 1991 and there was no motorway testing.
Really? I find that so very interesting. I did my test in 1986 and expressway (motorway) testing was a very significant portion of the road exam!
either that or go down the slip road at 70
Precisely thats why you see signs stating no mopeds or learner drivers allowed on motorways. Cannot or never has been part of a UK test. Dual carriageways different and can involve.
@TheRenaissanceman65 As above learners not allowed on motorway.