Learning to Drive: Approaching Junctions

Jamie Daly - Apr 1 2022 1:20PM

Part 3 of the Learning to Drive series, Approaching Junctions. Approaching junctions is all about testing your Awareness whilst moving and your ability to Control the car.

Learning to Drive: Turns

Left Turns When you're Learning to Drive, your instructor will likely start off with a simple lesson, turning left into a junction.

PERFECT ROUTINE FOR APPROACHING LEFT TURNS

1) Check your centre mirror (which will let you know the distance of following traffic) and left wing mirror (to spot anything approaching on the left - bikes, motorcycles, pedestrians).
2) Reduce speed and indicate left, as you approach the junction.
3) Enter 2^nd Gear for the turn and slow down to roughly 5 mph (start looking into the road you wish to enter).
4) Begin turning into the road when the front tip of the car is in line with the new road.
5) If traffic on the new road is clear, drive into the new road

LEAST MEMORABLE STEP

Early Indicating - Don't leave your indicator too late, your examiner will mark you down.

MOST MEMORABLE STEP

When To Turn The Wheel - After enough left turns you'll start to get the hang of when it's appropriate to start turning the wheel.

InsureLearnerDriver HELPFUL TIP

When you enter the new road, do not do so quickly. Leave yourself enough time to survey the new road; someone may emerge from behind a parked car or a car may pull out from their drive way. Right Turns Right Turns are a bit more tricky, as you will have cross the path of oncoming traffic.

PERFECT ROUTINE FOR APPROACHING RIGHT TURNS

1) Check your centre mirror & right wing mirror.
2) Reduce your speed and indicate right, as you approach the junction.
3) Enter 2^nd gear, position your car just left of the Centre Line.
4) If traffic is approaching from the opposing direction and not enough time is available to manoeuvre, wait. Put the car into 1st gear, apply the handbrake and set the biting point.
5) The front tip of the car should be in line with the centre line of the new road.
6) When traffic is clear, drive into the new road

LEAST MEMORABLE STEP

1st Gear - When you come to a complete stop, be in 1st gear. Otherwise you will not be able to move off when traffic is clear.

MOST MEMORABLE STEP

Waiting - If a car is coming, your natural instinct will be to stop and wait.

InsureLearnerDriver HELPFUL TIP

If you have to stop and wait, turn your wheel slightly in preparation.

Learning to Drive: Equal Priority

Nearside & Off Side When two cars in Opposing Lanes want to Turn Right, turns can be either:

Near Side to Near Side – This is when two cars position their passenger seats closest to one another.

Off Side to Off Side –This is when two cars position their driver seats closest to one another.

The most commonly used turn is Nearside. Deciding Which Turn To Use Approach the opposing car slowly In 1^st gear. You and the other driver will have to signal to one another which type of turn will be carried out (Nearside or Off Side). More often than not it will be nearside but it will depend on the situation. Listen to your driving instructor's advice as they will direct you on how to proceed.offered filter lanes. These are Filter Lanes Cars wishing to turn right may be presented as a box in the middle of the road, with a right directional arrow. < Read Part 2 - Moving Off & Pulling Over Read Part 4 - Emerging at Junctions >

Learning to Drive: Approaching Junctions

Learning to Drive: Turns

Learning to Drive: Equal Priority

'Learning to Drive' series - full lesson list