How To Turn Right And Left From A Side Road Onto A Dual Carriageway

Dual carriageways are identifiable by a central reservation. This separates lanes running in opposite directions. When approaching a dual carriageway to turn right or left apply the normal MSPSL routine.

Turning Right - The 3 main considerations you will have when turning right onto a dual carriageway are: what the speed of the traffic is on the 1st carriageway before crossing it to the gap in the middle, what is happening in the gap in the middle and what the speed of the traffic is on the 2nd carriageway before joining it.

Crossing to the gap in the middle - Only cross to the gap in the middle if it is big enough to protect the whole of your car and you will not cause any vehicle to slow down or change direction on the 1st carriageway. If the gap in the middle is not big enough, do not cross until it is clear in both directions. When you cross to the middle, keep to the left of the gap. Check before you cross to the middle to make sure there is not a vehicle waiting in the space you want to move into.

Moving off from the gap in the middle - You are now waiting in the gap in the middle. Check the 2nd carriageway and only join it if it is safe to do so. Do not cause another vehicle to slow down or change direction. Move straight into the left lane unless there is hazard preventing you from doing so. Build your speed up briskly to keep up the speed of the traffic on that carriageway.

Turning Left - When waiting to turn left onto the dual carriageway, check the 1st carriageway. Only emerge if you are not going to cause another vehicle to change speed or direction. Make sure you also check the gap in the middle before emerging. There may be a vehicle in the gap waiting to turn in the same direction as you. Although you have priority make sure you do not move at the same time as this could result in an accident. If that vehicle starts to move first, let it go and join the carriageway when it is safe to do so.

To Recap

1. M MIRRORS: Check your centre and left mirrors to turn left or centre and right mirrors to turn right.

2. S SIGNAL: Signal left if you are going to turn left. Signal right if you are going to turn right.

3. P POSITION: On the approach, stay in your normal driving position for turning left. Move to just left of the centre line for turning right. Providing the gap is big enough and it is safe to do so, cross to the middle, keeping to the left of the gap. Join the 2nd carriageway in the left lane, providing there are no hazards in that lane.

4. S SPEED: On the approach, apply progressive braking in good time. You should arrive at the give way lines at the speed you intend to emerge at. This junction should be treated as a 'T' junction. If the T Junction is a closed junction, as most are, you would normally slow down to a 1st gear speed and select 1st gear 'just' before the give way lines. If the T junction is an open junction and is safe to emerge, you would normally normally slow down to a 2nd gear speed and select 2nd gear 'just' before the give way lines.

5. L LOOK: Make sure that you look in all directions before you emerge. When turning left: Check the speed of traffic on the 1st carriageway. Also check for vehicles facing you, waiting in the gap in the central reservation, also wanting to emerge in the same direction as you. Do not emerge if you will cause other vehicles to slow down or change direction. When turning right: check the speed of the traffic on the 2nd carriageway. Build your speed up briskly. Do not cause another vehicle to slow down or change direction.

How To Turn Right And Left From A Dual Carriageway Into A Side Road

When turning right or left from a dual carriageway into a side road, identify where that side road is and then apply your normal MSPSL routine on approach.

Turning Left - Carry out your normal MSPSL routine on the approach. Before you turn, it is important to check all directions, particularly if there is a gap in the central reservation. There may be a vehicle waiting to cross in front of you. You will have priority, however ensure that that vehicle does not move before you have turned. If it does you may have to slow down and turn after it has gone.

Turning Right - Carry out your normal MSPSL routine on the approach.

POSITION - For turning right, you will need to move to the right lane in good time. This will reinforce your signal and therefore your intention to turn right. Check the gap in the central reservation ahead and ensure you will be able to turn into the gap, keeping to the left of it. If there is a vehicle already waiting there, you may have to wait 'just' before the gap, in the right lane. This will keep the gap clear, allowing other vehicles to turn if necessary.

LOOK - For turning right, you will also need to check the traffic coming towards you on the 2nd carriageway opposite. If it is clear or there is a sufficient gap, you may not have to stop. Instead, select 2nd gear, keep to the left of the gap in the central reservation and complete the turn into the new road. If you cannot make the turn without causing traffic on the carriageway opposite to slow down or change direction, wait in the gap, to the left. Then cross the 2nd carriageway when it is safe to do so.

To Recap

1. M MIRRORS: Check your centre and left mirrors to turn left or centre and right mirrors if you are turning right.

2. S SIGNAL: Signal left if you are going to turn left. Signal right if you are going to turn right. You may need to give a slightly earlier signal if there is a lot of traffic in the right lane. This will help you move into the right lane. Consider an arm signal. This may also assist you to move in to the right lane.

3. P POSITION: Stay in your normal driving position for turning left. Move to the right lane in good time for turning right and keep to the left of the gap in the central reservation.

4. S SPEED: Apply progressive braking in good time. In general, select 2nd gear for a left turn and bring your clutch up to avoid coasting. For a right turn, also select 2nd gear if there is no oncoming traffic and no reason to stop. All of this should be completed about '1-car length' from the junction. If you have to stop before turning either left or right, select 1st gear 'just' before you stop.

5. L LOOK: Make sure you look in all directions before you start turning and throughout the turn, to be sure it is safe to turn. For a left turn, make sure you check the gap in the central reservation, if there is one. A vehicle may try and cross the carriageway in front of you. For a right turn - only cross the 2nd carriageway if it safe to do so.

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.

Previous Section - Back To Top - Next Section