More Advanced Hazards

Crossroads

Approaching crossroads to turn

Approaching to turn into a minor road at a crossroads is slightly different from turning into a minor road at a T junction. For one thing, traffic may emerge from either side road and cross your path. While you may have priority you must be prepared to stop, or give way, if someone does cross your path. This may also happen when you are proceeding ahead, which is why you should always take observations into the side roads of a crossroads as you approach. Always expect vehicles to approach in the side roads.

Emerging from a side road at crossroads

If no vehicles are approaching to emerge from the side road opposite, emerging to the left and the right is identical to T junctions. Take advantage of opportunities to proceed that might arise as a result of the vehicles on the major road slowing down to turn into the side road opposite.

Priorities

Where problems can arise is when vehicles in the opposite side road need to cross your path or follow their road ahead. Who has priority in these situations is the same as if the two minor side roads were one major road. However do not assume that the other driver will comply.

Secondly, when turning right you may be faced with an oncoming vehicle also wanting to turn right. In this instance neither vehicle has priority. There are usually three options in this situation:

Turn Nearside To Nearside
Turn Offside To Offside
Hold back and allow the other vehicle to proceed

The nearside of the car is the passenger side, or the side nearest the kerb. Offside is the driver's side, or the side off from the kerb. When turning N To N the vehicles should cross the front of each other, meaning that the vehicles should pass with the passengers doors nearest to each other. When turning O To O the vehicles should cross behind each other,meaning that the drivers doors are closest to each other.

Usually vehicles turn nearside to nearside in this situation, although offside to offside is safer because you can more easily observe oncoming traffic before turning. Road markings, and the size of the junction may also dictate which method is used.

Despite not having priority the other driver may want you to proceed first and therefore you need to learn to watch and anticipate their actions. Be careful if the other driver "flashes" his headlights. Make sure that:

He is signaling to YOU
His signal means what you think it means and
Ensure for yourself that it is actually safe to proceed.

The Highway Code says that you should only flash your lights to warn someone of your presence. Bear this in mind!

Emerging at a staggered crossroads

Priorities between the traffic on the opposing side roads is not so clear at staggered crossroads therefore we have to be particularly careful.

Emerging at unmarked crossroads

Neither road is the major road therefore proceed with extreme caution and be prepared to stop. Anticipating other drivers actions and driving at a speed that enables you to stop is critical. Priority regarding oncoming vehicles is not changed. Beware at junctions controlled by traffic lights when the lights are not working. This effectively makes this an unmarked junction.

Making progress

You should now be developing the skills to make progress at the various situations you will encounter. Making progress is quite simply keeping up with the flow of traffic within the speed limits and driving to suit the conditions.

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Roundabouts

Now that you have learnt how to deal with crossroads, T-junctions and Y-junctions it’s time to take it a stage further and learn how to deal with roundabouts safely using the M-S-P-S-G-L routine.

Roundabouts are just another type of junction and are designed to keep the traffic flowing, but equally important, to SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN!

Traffic should only flow in a clockwise direction around the roundabout. This circular system is a one-way circuit but may be made up of one or more lanes, allowing traffic to filter away into several directions. Traffic entering the roundabout must give way to traffic already on the roundabout approaching from the right.

Approaching a roundabout

As with other junctions you apply the hazard drill and take observations of the major road ahead as early as possible. Roundabouts are quite open so that you can see and assess the flow of traffic on the roundabout at an early stage as you approach. The purpose of this is to give you the time to adjust your speed so that, if possible, you can safely merge into any gaps, in the flow of traffic from the right without stopping.

You should approach in a progressive manner, bringing your speed and gears down as appropriate to the conditions. You should approach at a speed at which you can safely view the roundabout traffic while also keeping an eye on your own lane. Avoid taking observations to the right at the last minute, as this may mean stopping at the give way line when it isn’t necessary.

Signals And Lane Positions

As with any junction, the signals that you give and the lane positions that you take up will provide valuable information to other road users.

Turning Left (1st Exit)

You should position to the left, or take the designated lane, and signal left on the approach, maintaining the signal until into your new road.

Following The Road Ahead (2nd Exit)

You should again position to the left, or take the designated lane, but do not signal on the approach. As you pass the exit BEFORE the one you want you should check your mirrors and signal to the left to tell others that you intend to leave the roundabout at the next exit. Maintain good lane discipline at all times, keeping to the outside (left) edge of the roundabout. Maintain the left signal until into your new road.

Turning Right (3rd Exit)

You should position to the left of the centre line, or take the designated lane, signaling to the right on the approach. Maintain good lane discipline at all times, keeping to the inside (right) edge of the roundabout until, as you pass the exit BEFORE the one you want, you should check your mirrors and signal to the left to tell others that you intend to leave the roundabout at the next exit. Maintain the left signal until into your new road.

When leaving the roundabout you should always exit to the left of your new road, or into the left hand lane of a dual carriageway. The only exceptions are when there are obstructions in the left hand lane, such as parked cars, or when there are slow moving vehicles that you wish to overtake.

On the approach to the roundabout the sign should tell you the layout of the various exit roads. If looking at the roundabout like a clock face anything past 12 o'clock should be treated as a right turn. Look for your lane early and avoid any last minute changes of lane position.