what is a motorway reservation
A “motorway reservation” usually refers to the central reservation – the strip of land or barrier separating traffic going in opposite directions on a motorway or other divided road.
What a motorway reservation is
- It is the reserved area between the two carriageways of a divided road (dual carriageway, motorway, freeway, etc.).
- It can be grass, paved, or fitted with safety barriers, lighting, or even rail tracks, depending on the road design.
- Its main job is to increase safety by keeping opposing traffic flows apart and reducing the risk of head‑on collisions.
On UK‑style dual carriageways, learners and driving instructors often talk about the central reservation when explaining how to turn right across a dual carriageway: if it is wide enough, you can pull into the reservation and wait before joining the second half of the road; if it is narrow, you must make the turn in one movement so your vehicle does not stick out into fast traffic.
Related terms you might see
- “Central reservation” – common in UK English for motorways and dual carriageways.
- “Median strip” or “median” – common in US and international English, meaning the same thing.
- “Central reservation barrier” – the crash barrier installed along the reservation to stop vehicles crossing into oncoming lanes.
Simple example
If you are driving on a three‑lane motorway in each direction, the motorway reservation is the strip in the middle, often with a concrete or steel barrier, sometimes with grass or plants, that separates your side of the motorway from the traffic going the other way.
TL;DR: A motorway reservation is the middle strip (often with a barrier) that separates the two directions of traffic on a motorway or dual carriageway, mainly for safety.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.