Chapter 6 - Behaviour on Junctions, priority, giving right of way Flashcards
How should you approach road junctions?
Approach with caution –> a lot of different moving pieces.
When approaching a junction, what should you do first?
Assess the junction to see whether it is a…
- An unmarked junction
- A junction with a road with right of way
- A dangerous junction within a built up area
- A dangerous junction outside a built up area
- a junction with a right of way road that bends.
Other things to consider when approaching a junction?
- Traffic intensity
- Where you should line up
- View of other drivers
- Weather conditions
- Pedestrians/cyclists/moped riders
Generally, is it advisable to block a junction?
No –> try to make sure that the crossing traffic is obstructed as little as possible
Under what circumstances are you allowed to block a junction?
- If you want to turn left on a right of way road
- If you are driving through a green light with other vehicles and you suddenly have to stop
- If you have to give right of way to a road user with the right of way
You must not drive onto the junction unless…?
- You can drive on immediately or can clear it quickly
- If you are able to line up your vehicle between the crossing traffic flows
- If the driver with the right of way is unable to drive because he has to give way to another vehicles –> you can take advantage of this situation only if you can cross the junction safely.
What should you do if you enter several successive crossing areas?
Pay attention to even more details
- Cross roads with seperate carriageways
- Cross with cycle track/footpaths
- Cyclists and moped riders in two directions
- Cross a main priority carriageway to drive into a service road
Big take away from junctions?
Do not block junction
Make sure you check for cars, cyclists and pedestrians so that you can move through swiftly
Measning of giving right of way?
Giving right of way means that you allow others to continue on their way unhindered.
Why do some junctions have speed bumps?
Some drivers fail to adjust their speed when reaching a junction –> speed bump is installed
What does this sign mean?
What does a stop sign at a junction mean?
Stop sign B7 at a junction means that you are approaching a dangerous junction.
Stop before you cross junction –> must give way to all drivers on the main road
Even if you are second vehicle approaching the junction –> you stop before the stop line
What are equal priority junctions?
No boards/signs and roads unsurfaced –> approaching an equal priority junction –> must give way to drivers from the right
What does this sign indicate?
That you are approaching a dangerous crossing at an unmarked junction
Priority at entrance/exits from secondary road and main road?
Entrance and exit recognised by the lowered pavement
When driving into an entrance and leaving an exit you must always give way to all road users (including pedestrians)
How to behave at an unmarked T-junction?
Unmarked T-junction –> be prepared that the traffic on the through road will think they have priority –> do no demand right of way.
The same applies if you are on the through road.
For this reason approach a T-junction with moderate spped.
What does a traffic light flashing amber mean?
Indicates that the traffic light is not operating –> you must judge and decide for yourself
Why is it important to look to the right too when turning right?
Normally, many people just look to the left to see if there is any incoming traffic
However, they forget that there could be a driver approaching from the right, ovetaking another vehicle, putting their vehicle on the ‘wrong’ side of the road
What should you do if you approach a junction and you do not know who has the right of way?
- Err on the side of caution and stop
- Establish eye contact with other drivers
- Communicate with a friendly hand gesture
Rules when approaching an unmarked junction?
- You must give right of way to all drivers approaching from the right
Note - people leading animals/herding livestock classify as drivers
- all drivers must give way to trams
Do you need to give priority to pedestrians when you see this sign?
No
Pedestrians are only given priority when crossing a zebra
When you turn onto a paved road from an unpaved road do you need to give way to all drivers?
Yes
This includes horse traffic even being led by hand
What does this sign indicate?
Crossroad with priority –> cars on the through road have priority over the side roads
Note since you are not travelling on a priority road the priority situation might change at a later junction
What does this sign indicate?
You are driving on a priority road –> you should be given priority
What does this sign indicate?
End of prriority road –> your priority position ends –> after this you should give way to crossing drivers
If you are on a priority road and a tram approaches from either the right or left, do you have priority?
Yes, you should be given right of way by the tram driver
On every junction where you want to turn left or right and the traffic on a adjacent road is travelling straight on in the same direction (e.g. pedestrian/cyclists), do you give right of way?
Yes, if you wish to turn off a road you must always give way to pedestrians, cyclists, etc.
In order to not impede/block the junction –> try to position yourself before the junction
If you turn left, and a driver approaching you want to turn right on to the same road, who has priority?
The driver that has to turn right has priority.
Alternatively the driver that makes the shortest bend
Under what circumstances do you need to give a tram priority? What is the exception?
Give tram priority when…
- If a tram comes from left of right on an unmarked junction
- if the tram comes alongside you and has to cross your vehicles
- If the tram approaches from the front and has to cross your vehicle
Exception - a tram that is approaching a priority road does NOT have any special rights –> this situation the tram driver must give way.
Genereal rules when it comes to emergency service vehicles?
You must give way to all police, fire-bridgade and ambulance services –> vehicles must have their blue flashing light and two tone siren activated
Basically any vehicle with a blue flashing light and two-tone siren
You have to do your best to let these vehicles pass –> moving to the right of the carriagway/going on to the pavement
Note - dont do anything that would cause a dangerous situation
How to identify a funeral procession?
Funeral procession - consist of a number of vechicles displaying a number of triangular, black flags with horizontal white stripes.
Special rules apply to funeral processions –> only if the deceased is being transported to the graveyard or crematorium.
Is a military column escorted?
Yes often it is escorted by motorcyclists from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee –> they make sure the military column proceeds as appropriate at junctions and traffic situations.
However, sometimes they are unescorted for which special rules apply.
What should you do in this situation?
No special rules –> normal traffic rules
The first vehicle in the column/procession has not arrived at the traffic situation yet
What should you do in this situation?
Situation: You are waiting at a red traffic light and your traffic light turns green while the military convoy is already crossing.
You may not cut across the column/procession
What should you do in this situation
Situation - At the junction: the column or procession approaching the junction wants to turn left, which will involve passing you, the first vehicle has passed.
You may not cut across the column/procession
What should you do in this situation?
Equal priority junction: the column/procession is approaching from the left or right; the first vehicle has passed already
You may not cut across the column/procession
What should you do in this situation?
You are driving on a priority road and approach a junction that does not have any traffic lights; the column/procession is approaching from the left or right; the first vehicle has passed already
You may not cut across!
What should you do in this situation?
You are driving on a priority road and have stopped for red traffic lights. The traffic lights change to green while the column is still crossing.
The column/procession may continue –> you may not cut across!
What should you do in this situation?
In every situation: you need to merge into traffic; you see a column/procession on the through-traffic lane
You have to merge, even if the procession/column is driving on the through lane
