“In this lesson, you will learn about turning left at traffic lights:
The key points are:
– The traffic lights sequence.
– Using the hazard orutine when approaching.
– Waiting at the lights.
– Moving off on green.
– Safety checks after the traffic.
Red means stop behind the stop line. Red and amber showing together, you can prepare to go but you must remain behind the stop line. Green, you can go if the road is clear and it is safe to do so.
Amber, showing alone, stop behind the stop line. Red, after amber, the sequence starts all over again with a red light.
As soon as you see the traffic lights, or advanced warning sign for the lights, ahead, check you rmirrors and ask yourself what are the drivers behind doing and is it safe to slow down.
Your left turn signal needs to be timed to give plenty of warning to other road users, but not too early because this could be misleading.
Keep your normal road position if there are no obstructions.
You must be able to stop safely behind the stop line If the lights change to amber or are showing red. You can only keep going if the amber light appears after you have crossed the stop line or if you are so close to the line that stopping might cause an accident.
If the lights are green, you can continue but you must always look out for vehicles in the road you’re turning into. Emergency vehicles sometimes cross red lights, but there are other drivers who might go through on red, for example; drivers who don’t see the lights.
Waiting at the lights – Stop behind the stop line and secure your car with the handbrake, keep looking around for anything that might affect you when the lights change, for example; are there are any pedestrians who might cross the road that you are turning into.
Moving off on green – Green means that you can go if it is safe to do so. You must look all around to make sure that it’s safe. Remember that there is a possibility of other vehicles jumping the red lights from another direction. Also look out for pedestrians and cyclists. You must not go on green if the road is not clear.
Safety after the traffic lights – After passing through the lights, check your mirrors and ask yourself whether it is safe to increase your speed. If it’s safe, gently accelerate up to a safe driving speed to suit the conditions and speed limit.”
