“In the lesson about emerging at T-Junctions, we talked about open and closed junctions. The term open adn closed refer to your view into the main road.
As you approach the view at crossroads can also be open or closed, the available view will affect how you emerge from the side roads and the speed that you drive through when you are on a main road.
An open junction is one where you have a good view into the side roads from the main road and from the side roads into the main road. At a closed view crossroad, you will not be able to see into the other roads until you are very close or have arrived at the junction.
Because of this, you would need to take special care by scanning the road ahead. You will see give way or stop signs well in advance. Other clues that you are approaching a crossorad might include breaks in houses or hedges or brakes in the tree line or verges on an open road.
You will often be able to see traffic movements crossing your intended path ahead or vehicles waiitng to emerge from side roads. Whether you are on the main road or a side road, it’s likely that there will be hazard lines on the approach – Long white centre lines with short gaps.
When you are on the main road, you might see a crossroad warning sign in advance of the junction.
The key points are:
– Crossroads can be described as open or closed.
– Open crossroads give the driver a good view on the approach.
– Extra care is needed when the view is closed.
– By scanning the road well ahead, you will see clues that there is a crossroad – These include gaps in houses and traffic movement. On side roads, you may see stop or give way signs.
– Ahead and on main roads you will often see crossroad warning signs in advance of the junction.”
