Junctions Flashcards
What are the types of junction
T
Y
Crossroads
Slip roads
Unmarked
Box
Traffic light controlled
T and Y junctions
At one of these junctions you need to ensure you are correctly placed on the road to be able to safely see the road into which you are turning
If needed lean forward and then creep forward till you can see
Crossroads
Always check who has priority at a crossroad and be aware of the other traffic moving around you
Look for the signs and road markings
Slip roads
These roads are designed to allow you to match your speed to that of other traffic before joining a road
Unmarked
These are often found on side roads and country lanes
At an unmarked junction no one has priority so be very careful
Box
These are marked by cross crossed yellow lines on the road
You must not enter the box section until your exit lane is clear
However you may enter the box and wait if you are turning right and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic
Traffic light controlled
You must stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road, unless the traffic light is on green
You may only cross on an amber light if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close to the stop line you are unable to stop safely. Check your mirror to know if it’s safe
You must never cross on a red light
Advanced stop lines are to allow cyclists to get to the front. You should stop at the first line and must stop at the second
What do you need to be aware of and watch out for at junctions?
Cyclists, motorcyclists, mobility scooters and pedestrians crossing and using the junction.
Pedestrians crossing the road into which you are turning.
If a pedestrian has started to cross they have priority and you must give way
Long vehicles which are turning into a junction may have to use the whole width of the road to make the turn
Never assume when waiting at a junction that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn.
Always wait and make sure
Always look all around before emerging. Do not cross or attempt to join a road until there is a big enough gap to do this safely
Look and look again
What is the zone of vision?
Your zone of vision is what you can see as you look forward and to the side of your vehicle.
At a junction you may need to be very close before you can see if it is safe to proceed.
If there is an obstruction such as a parked car, it may be necessary to stop and then move slowly forwards to assess the safety.
Zone of vision considerations
Look in every direction before emerging at a junction
Keep looking as you join the other road
Be ready to stop if necessary
Use all the visual information available to you, through parked car windows or in reflections
Be aware of your own cars windscreen pillars obstructing your view at junctions, especially your view of pedestrians or cyclists
To deal with the last one move your head if needed
Driving on major road at crossroads
Watch for road signs and markings
Watch for emerging traffic, especially traffic that is trying to cut across as they may misjudge your speed
Adjust your speed as appropriate when approaching the crossroad
Turning left / right at crossroads
Treat as a normal T junction
Be extra careful due to the extra road
Turning right at a crossroads when the car opposite also turns right
You will have a choice of going driver to driver side or passenger to passenger side.
This will be decided by either the:
- Road layout
- Other driver
- Road markings
Driver to driver side
Make sure you leave space for the other cars
Its advantage is you can see what’s coming
Its disadvantage is only two at a time
Passenger to passenger side
Be extra careful due to reduced visibility
Watch out for bikes coming through on the inside
It’s advantage is, there is a better flow of traffic
What is the procedure for emerging from a junction?
Mirrors - check to see if your actions affect others behind and you
Signal - w/ good time but not too early
Position car either left / straight
Bring to stop (closed junctions) / roll slowly in first and check both ways at least twice - look for other traffic and hazards, assess the situation, decide whether to go / wait, act on your decision
Check rearview mirror when in new road
What to look for on approach to a junction
What type of junction is it?
How much traffic is there?
Look for any warning signs.
What road markings are there?
Is it a ‘give way’ or ‘stop’ junction?
Is it traffic light controlled?
Speed for turning into a junction
12 mph
Turning left into a junction
Approach using your normal driving position, don’t move to the right to get a better angle as this could be dangourous for oncomming vehicles and any cars overtaking.
Choose an appropriate speed, rememering some corners may be sharp. Match the gear to the speed you have choosen.
Watch out for parked vehicles near the junction, as this may mean you need to move onto the other side of the road or vehicle approaching may be on your side of the road.
Watch for pedestrians already crossing, as they have prioity. Also look out for pedestrians approaching to cross as they may not have seen you.
Take care and look for cyclist coming up on your left before turning, particularly if there is a cycle lane or bus lane.
After turning check your mirrors and if safe to do so start to increase your speed.
Turning right into a junction
Position yourself as close to the centre of the road as safe to do so, so that vehicles can pass on your left if there’s room. Take into account any parked vehicles on the right hand side of the road, which would mean oncoming cars need more space.
Choose a speed that allows you to turn safely and assess a safe gap.
Give way to the oncoming traffic. Try to approach at a speed that allows you to get to your point of turn when there is a gap, avoiding stopping can help with fuel economy and the smoothness of your drive.
Watch for pedestrians already crossing as they have priority.
Watch for parked cars near the junction. These may mean you need to cross over the centre line when turning. However you MUST NOT cross over the centre line until you’re sure it’s safe to do so. Slow down and before you turn check into the new road for any oncoming vehicles.
Emerging from a junction
When emerging from a junction you will need to judge the speed and distance of the traffic on the road you intend to merge into.
First look ahead for information about the junction you’re approaching. Is it a ‘give way’ or ‘stop’ junction? Is it an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ junction? (This basically means how much can you see on the approach and will affect your speed at the junction.)
Types of junction
Give-way
Stop
Give-way junctions
Give way junctions mean you must wait for any traffic that you would cause to change speed or direction if you moved into the road.
Approach slowly giving yourself time to assess the traffic, creeping the car forward if necessary.
Stop junctions
You must stop at a stop junction. Stop junctions will generally have low visability or some other hazard that needs extra time to assess.
Apporoach the junction slowly and come to a stop. Only move off once you have a clear view and you’re certain its safe to do so.
Myth buster: It is not necessary to apply the handbrake at these junctions. You may want t for the normal reasons you’d apply the handbrake but it’s not a requirement.
Positioning for emerging from junctions
For a left emerge follow the path on the road.
For a right emerge position just left of the centre line
Deciding when to go at junctions
Deciding when to go involves judging the speed and distance of the cars on the road. Your ability to make this decsion will come down to your field of vision.
Your vision can be blocked by many objects, for example, buildings, parked cars and bends in the road.
As you creep the car forward your vision of the road will increase, those last few feet are crucial to get the best view.
Never rush this decision, junctions are a flash point for accidents. Take your time and assess the traffic, are there any points you can’t see? Only go once you are sure it’s safe to move on.
What routine is used for traffic lights?
MSPSL
Mirrors for traffic lights
- Middle mirror if lights changing to red or might change on approach
- Wing mirror if left / right
Signal for traffic lights
- Needed?
- Changing direction
Position for traffic lights
- Normal position in lane
- If turning left / right, may need to look at road layout to see if have designated lane
Speed for traffic lights
- Reduce speed smoothly and progressively
- Avoid harsh braking
- Stop at white line
- If behind another vehicle, should be able to see their tyres and 1m of tarmac (tyres and tarmac distance)
Look for traffic lights
- Look for sequence of lights - anticipate when will change
- Stopped long enough to apply handbrake?
