SuperDriver Learning Centre - Crossroads
Crossroads
So now you know all the controls, and the routines to move away (POM - Prepare, Observe, Move Off) and pull over (MSM - Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre) and how to turn left or right using your routine MSPSL - Mirrors, Signal, Speed and Look.
It is the same routine for crossroads.
Important factors at crossroads are knowing where your waiting position is. If you wait too far forward you may obstruct another vehicle.
Remember you do not have priority when crossing the path of other vehicles.
And how to handle vehicles coming towards you turning the opposite direction to you. The method to deal with this:-
Nearside to nearside - the turn is around the front of the vehicle heading towards you who is turning the opposite direction to you.
Offside to Offside - the turn is around the rear of the vehicle heading towards you who is turning the opposite direction to you.
Your instructor or examiner will normally say - take the next road on the right or at the traffic lights turn right or at the crossroads turn right. They will not tell you how so you will need to determine which method is best for the crossroad. This depends on the position of the other vehicles and space.
BEWARE OF THE FLASHER OR THE WAVER!
If another driver waves or flashes you, you may think they are giving way to you. Is the signal for you? Can you see that it is safe? Make sure for yourself.
Waving is not in the highway code. Flashing is in the highway code and is to make other drivers aware of your presence!
CROSSROADS - NEARSIDE TO NEARSIDE
On approach to the crossroad, complete your routine.
Mirrors – check your rear view mirror first then right door mirror. Is there anything close behind you or to your right. If there is you may need to brake sooner.
Signal – indicate right. Tell other road users what you are doing.
Position – your position for turning right needs to change, you are aiming to position just left of the centre line. Or if there is right turn lane move into it. The earlier the better - if you leave it too late you may not be able to change lanes. If this happens do not force it. Just forget the turn.
Speed – as a starting point you should lower your speed by half, and even more so by the time you reach the stop line. Stop if the traffic lights are on Amber or Red
If the traffic lights are green, you need to move forward to the waiting position. The waiting position is just left of the centre line and not so far forward that cars coming towards you and turning right can do so in front of you without you hitting them if you can turn at the same time.
Look – you are not only interested in cars waiting to turn right like you, but you are interested in vehicles that could be going around their nearside. In the nearside to nearside waiting position you may not be able to see them. Complete your routine LADA (Look, Assess, Decide and Act). If it is clear both ways, make your turn.
If there are no cars to wait for, there is no need for the waiting position.
CROSSROADS - OFFSIDE TO OFFSIDE
On approach to the crossroad, complete your routine.
Mirrors – check your rear view mirror first then right door mirror. Is there anything close behind you or to your right. If there is you may need to brake sooner.
Signal – indicate right. Tell other road users what you are doing.
Position – your position for turning right needs to change, you are aiming to position just left of the centre line. Or if there is right turn lane move into it. The earlier the better - if you leave it too late you may not be able to change lanes. If this happens do not force it. Just forget the turn.
Speed – as a starting point you should lower your speed by half, and even more so by the time you reach the stop line. Stop if the traffic lights are on Amber or Red
If the traffic lights are green, you need to move forward to the waiting position. The waiting position is just left of the centre line and not so far forward that cars coming towards you and turning right can do so in front of you without you hitting them if you can turn at the same time. The difference here is that instead of the other car turning in front of you, it moves further forward, in this case you can move further forward as in the image.
Look – you are not only interested in cars waiting to turn right like you, but you are interested in vehicles that could be going around their nearside. But now you can see them as you view is not reduced like it is in the nearside to nearside waiting position. Complete your routine LADA (Look, Assess, Decide and Act). If it is clear both ways, make your turn.
If there are no cars to wait for, there is no need for the waiting position.
CROSSROADS - LEFT TURN
Mirrors – check your rear view mirror first then left door mirror. Is there anything close behind you or to your right. If there is you may need to brake sooner.
Signal – indicate left. Tell other road users what you are doing.
Position – your position for turning left is unchanged from your normal driving position, about a metre from the kerb.
Speed – as a starting point you should lower your speed by half, and even more so by the time you reach the turn. If you are driving a manual, change your gear down to the one you need, which could be 2nd gear, bring the clutch back up. If on approach the traffic lights turn amber then red, or you are entering a crossroad and the exit road is narrow or has obstacles you may need to use 1st gear and slow down further. You may even need to stop if a car is coming the other way and there is no room.
Look – the car must be slow enough that as you get closer to the junction you have time to complete your next routine LADA (Look, Assess, Decide and Act). Look both ways, Assess the situation, is it clear both ways to make your turn, are there any obstacles, do you need to creep forward to get a better view. Once you have decided, you need to act. If you stopped you need to start your routine to set off, you may need your handbrake if you are on a hill.
CROSSROADS - STRAIGHT ON
Mirrors – check your rear view mirror. Is there anything close behind. If there is you may need to brake sooner if the traffic lights change or you don't have priority.
Signal – none.
Position – your position for straight on is your normal driving position or the corect lane if there are lanes.
Speed – you may not need to lower you speed at all. Unless the traffic lights change or you do not have priority.
Look – look at the crossroads, watch out for vehicles from the left and right that should be giving you priority but are not. Watch out for Emergency Services, you need to give way to them.
CROSSROADS - BOX JUNCTIONS
You may only wait in a box junction if you are turning right and your exit route is clear.
This is to prevent the crossroad from being blocked. Some crossroads have traffic offence cameras and you can be given fines/points if you enter a box junction when your exit route wasn't clear.
