Road Junctions - How To Do Road Junctions Video Lesson
Road Junctions |
A Junction Is Where 2 or More Roads Meet
 Distance to give way line ahead |
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 Distance to stop line ahead |
For more information on road junctions see our pages on roundabouts, basic right and left turns and box junctions. Our driving test DVD has chapters on T-junctions, junctions on a bend, crossroads and staggered junctions.
When taking your practical driving test your examiner will expect you to-
- Use the MSM routine effectively and in good time
- Brake gently and in good time
- Position your vehicle correctly
- Look for pedestrians, obstacles and traffic
- Read road signs correctly
- Assess the speed of traffic.
Approaching A Junction
As you approach a junction you need to assess what type of junction it is, and plan how you intend to deal with it. To help you do this look for the following:
- the amount of traffic at the junction
- warning signs
- road markings
- direction signs
- 'Give way' and 'Stop' signs
- traffic lights
Priorities At Junctions
Give way signs, road markings, stop signs and traffic lights indicate priorities. On an uncontrolled junction, where there are no signs or markings indicating priority all vehicles have equal priority. If you encounter an uncontrolled junction you should slow down, look for traffic in all directions and be prepared to stop and give way if necessary.
Pedestrians and Priority
If you turn into a road that pedestrians have already started to cross then they have priority and you must give way.
Emerging From Junctions
When emerging from a junction you may be joining heavy or fast moving traffic. If making a right turn there is the additional hazard of crossing the path of oncoming vehicles. Cautious and careful judgment needs to be exercised and you should be constantly assessing the changing road environment.When approaching and emerging left from a junction:
- as you approach the junction check your mirrors
- signal if necessary
- position your car to the left of the road with the front bumper just behind the stop or give way line
- reduce your speed and be prepared to stop and give way
- before pulling out look in all directions, check your left mirror for cyclists and motorcyclists passing on your nearside
- as you pull out check your mirrors and accelerate to a safe speed
- make sure your indicator is cancelled
When approaching and emerging right from a junction:
- Follow the above procedure but position you car as close to the centre of the road as you can
When stopping at a junction for more the a few seconds you should apply your handbrake. This will prevent your car being shunted into traffic if hit from behind.
Assessing Traffic Speed
Remember you must be able to pull out of a junction without forcing other vehicles to slow down or change position. On the other hand you mustn't hesitate and miss a valid opportunity to pull out (do this on your driving test and you will earn a minor fault).To make such judgments takes a driver sometime to learn. However weather an experienced driver or not it is likely that you have experience in crossing a road on foot.
So when waiting to pull out into traffic ask yourself this question - given the current road traffic situation would I cross the road on foot?
If the answer is yes then it is likely to be safe to pull out in your car.
What the driving test examiner expects of you during the driving test.
Road Markings
 Give way to traffic on a major road |
 Give way to traffic from the right at roundabouts |
 Stop line at stop sign |
 Stop line at signals or police control |
 Seen on the road just before give way sign |