Road Intersections

Incorrect behaviour at road junctions causes many collisions. Never make or act on a last-minute decision at one. If you have missed your turn, overrun the junction and come back to it.

Decide what you intend to do in time to take up the correct position. For a left turn that is as far left as possible; for a right turn, as far right on your own side as possible, or the lane the markings give you. Getting there is a lane change, so it takes the full drill. Slow down on the approach, and stop if you must, so you can give precedence to the traffic that has it.

Then work out which kind of intersection it is.

• Controlled by a robot: the signal overrides everything except a police officer directing traffic. Stop on red and on amber, and go on green.
• Controlled by a police officer: obey the officer, whatever the robot shows.
• Controlled by a stop or give way sign: the sign settles the order before the geometry matters. At a three-way or four-way stop, each vehicle that stopped before you clears the junction first, and the one that stopped first goes first.
• Uncontrolled: give precedence to vehicles approaching on the road to your right, cycles included.
• A traffic circle: traffic already circulating has absolute priority. You need not wait for the circle to empty, only be sure you can enter without getting in anyone's way or making a driver on it brake.

Never turn right in front of oncoming traffic. A vehicle turning left or right gives way to any pedestrian already within the crossing it is entering.

Do not enter a junction unless you are satisfied both that you have the right to and that it is safe. It is dangerous to assume a driver who should give way will do so.

Overtaking at a junction is an offence, because your view is partly obscured. There are three exceptions: the side road is controlled by a stop or give way sign and your road has more than two lanes; the traffic is directed by a robot or a police officer; or the driver ahead has signalled a turn.