“At crossroads, as with turning left at crossroads, check your mirrors early to start your mirrors, signal manouevre routine. Signal in good time and, where space permits, take up a position near to the centre of the road. Where there is a centre line, your position will be just to the left of the line when emerging from a side road.
Start the easy as 1-2-3 checks as you are arriving at the junction. 1 – The road to the right. 2 – The road opposite. 3 – The road to the left.
You will need to make these checks at least twice and perhaps several times. You are checking right and left for traffic or pedestrians who might be crossing the main road, and the road oppsoite for vehicles that might affect your turn.
When there is a suitable gap in traffic on the main road, make a final check of the road opposite. It is usual practice to give way to drivers who are turning left or coming straight across from the road opposite, but this is not a legal requirement and there is no highway code rule stating that you must give way, however it is often best to give way because that’s what the other driver might be expecting.
At crossroads, you will again use the easy as 1-2-3 observation method. Start this early by scanning the road ahead as you approach. Remember you might need to check each road several times.
1 – Check the road ahead. You must give priority to approaching traffic when turning right.
2 – Check the road to your left. Will anyone pull out in front of you. This is always an important check but, as when turning left, it becomes even more important at unmarked crossroads when there is no defined priority. Drivers from the side road may think that they are on the main road, especially if they are not from the local area.
3 – Check that the road that you are turning into to make sure that it is safe to increase your speed. If a driver opposite waves to beckon you out or flashes their lights to give way to you, always double check that the signal is for you and that the road is clear. Never trust the judgement of another driver.
The key points are:
– Use your MSM routine on approach to the crossroads.
– Use the easy as 1-2-3 method to remember to check each road.
– When emerging to the right, you will often have to give way to approaching traffic.
– You must give way to oncoming vehicles when turning right from a main road to a side road.
– Make sure that you can complete the turn before you start to move.
– Take care if someone flashes or waves – Never trust the judgement of another driver.”
