How To Turn Left, Right Or Go Straight Ahead – Emerging At A Cross Roads

When turning left and right emerging at a crossroads, carry the normal MSPSL routine. Treat the approach the same as if you were approaching a ‘T’ junction. The only difference is, you need to consider the extra road opposite and what is happening in it.

Observations – LOOK: Your minimum observations before emerging are: to the right, then to the road opposite, then to the left, then to the road opposite again, and finally to the right. These observations need to be continued until it safe to emerge.

Priority – PRIORITY: Traffic on the main road will have priority as if you were emerging from a ‘T’ junction. However you will need to consider what is happening in the road opposite. If you are turning left on to the main road you will have priority over vehicles opposite. If you are going straight ahead you will have priority over vehicles opposite. If you are turning right, vehicles opposite, turning left or going straight ahead will have priority. If the vehicle opposite is also turning right no one has priority. Generally, you or the vehicle opposite will not be able to turn right at the same time, as there will not be enough room to do so safely.

In any of the above situations, regardless of who has priority, it is important you check what the vehicle opposite is doing. Is the car opposite edging forward? Are its wheels moving? Is the driver turning the steering wheel? Is the engine revving? All of these clues are likely to mean the car opposite is about to go. We should therefore hold back and let the vehicle go. On the other hand it may be the car opposite is not trying to move forward. The driver may even be beckoning you to ‘emerge first’ by waving to you or flashing his headlights. Don’t rely on this. Before emerging, check thoroughly and make sure it is safe to do so.

To Recap

1. M MIRRORS: Check your centre and left mirrors if you intend to turn left, centre and right mirrors if you intend to turn right, and centre mirror if you intend to go straight ahead.

2. S SIGNAL: Approaching the turn, signal left if you are going to turn left and right if you are going to turn right. No signal is required when going straight ahead.

3. P POSITION: Stay in your normal driving position for turning left and going straight ahead. If the road opposite is staggered to the left keep to the left, in your normal driving position. If the road opposite is staggered to the right, move to just left of the centre line. Move to just left of the centre line for turning right.

4. S SPEED: Apply progressive braking in good time. You should arrive at the turn at the speed you intend to turn. Make sure you select the correct gear for the speed you are at. This is likely to be 1st or 2nd gear, depending on whether you are likely to stop or not.

5. L LOOK: Minimum observations required are: RIGHT-OPPOSITE-LEFT- OPPOSITE-RIGHT.

6. Priority If you are turning left, you have priority over vehicles opposite. If you are going straight ahead, you have priority over vehicles opposite. If you are turning right, vehicles opposite turning left/going straight ahead have priority. Vehicles opposite also turning right – no one has priority.

NOTE: check for clues to see what the car opposite is doing. If it is edging forward, we should consider allowing it to turn. If the car opposite is showing no signs of moving forward then we can consider emerging.

How To Turn Left And Right From Major Roads Into Side Roads At A Cross Roads

When turning left and right from a main road into a side road at a crossroads, carry out the normal MSPSL routine. Treat the approach the same as if you were turning left or right from a main road into a side road. The only difference is, you need to consider the extra road and what is happening in it.

Observations – LOOK Carry out your normal observations for a usual left or right turn. You will also need to carry out extra observations. If you are turning left, ensure you check the extra road to the right. If you are turning right check the extra road to the left. If you are going straight ahead check both the roads on the left and the right. You are checking to see if there is any vehicle waiting to emerge. Although you have priority because you are on the main road, you should be checking to make sure a vehicle is not going to pull out in front of you. Look for clues. If a car is waiting to emerge, check if the car wheels are moving or if it’s edging forward. If you are going straight ahead check your mirrors. You may need to slow down ‘a touch’ until you are satisfied the car waiting to emerge is not going to pull out in front of you. If a vehicle does pull out in front of you, take safe and appropriate action.

Priority – PRIORITY If you are turning left from the main road, you have priority at a crossroads. If you are going straight ahead on a main road, you have priority at a crossroads. If you are turning right on a main road at a crossroads you have priority unless there is an oncoming vehicle going straight ahead. If there is an oncoming vehicle also turning right – neither of you have priority. Quite often the junction will not be big enough for both of you to turn at the same time. In this situation you need to understand what the other vehicle is doing. One of you will have to hold back and wait just before the junction to allow the other to move forward and turn. If the oncoming vehicle is slowing down considerably or holding back before the junction – then it is likely that you are being encouraged to move into the middle of the junction and turn. On the other hand, if the oncoming vehicle turning right is not slowing down significantly and appears to be moving into the middle of the junction, you should hold back just before the junction. This will give that vehicle plenty of room to turn. You should then be able to move into the middle of the junction and turn right when it is safe to do so.

To Recap

1. M MIRRORS: Check your centre and left mirrors if you intend to turn left, centre and right mirrors if you intend to turn right, and centre mirror if you intend to go straight ahead.

2. S SIGNAL: Approaching the turn, signal left if you are going to turn left and right if you are going to turn right. No signal is required when going straight ahead.

3. P POSITION: Stay in your normal driving position for turning left and going straight ahead. Move to just left of the centre line for turning right. If there is an oncoming vehicle also intending to turn right at the same time, check whether it is holding back to allow you to turn. If it is not, then you will need to wait just before the junction. When the junction is clear, move into the correct position and turn when it safe to do so.

4. S SPEED: Apply progressive braking in good time. You should arrive at the junction at the speed you intend to turn. Make sure you select the correct gear for the speed you are at. This is likely to be 1st or 2nd gear, depending on whether you are likely to stop or not.

5. L LOOK: Make sure that you look in all directions before you turn. In particular, if you are turning left, check nothing is going to emerge in front of you from the extra road on the right. If you are going straight ahead, check nothing is going to emerge in front of you from the extra roads on the right and left. If you are turning right, check nothing is going to emerge infront of you from the extra road on the left.