{"id":4283,"date":"2015-06-25T10:59:42","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T09:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.ingenie.com\/young-drivers-guide\/?p=4283"},"modified":"2015-06-25T10:59:42","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T09:59:42","slug":"turning-left-at-a-junction-minor-road-to-major","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ingenie.com\/young-drivers-guide\/turning-left-at-a-junction-minor-road-to-major","title":{"rendered":"Turning left at a junction (minor road to major)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re approaching a junction, it\u2019s important to remember that you\u2019re merging into oncoming traffic. Taking your chances and speeding into the turn like a Ribena-happy toddler tri-cycling across a road isn\u2019t recommended. <\/p>\n\n

Turning left is a bit easier than turning right because you\u2019re only tackling traffic from one direction. Although it doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t check left before moving.<\/p>\n\n

Cars will be approaching from the right, but you still need to be aware of what\u2019s happening everywhere. Don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re going the other way though, we have an article on turning right<\/a><\/strong>, too. Handy!<\/p>\n\n

Funny story: my grandma doesn\u2019t turn right. Ever. Don\u2019t be like her, OK?<\/blockquote>\n\n

Approaching the junction<\/h2>\n\n

When you know the junction is coming up (because you're looking well ahead for signs, right?), think of turning as a bit like a manoeuvre. You\u2019re hopefully already thinking \u201cOh, Mirror - Signal - Manoeuvre!\u201d <\/p>\n\n

For a junction, we add in 3 extra steps to describe the manoeuvre (turning left).\n\n

    \n
  1. Mirrors:<\/strong> check your main and left mirrors<\/li>\n
  2. Signal: <\/strong>signal your intention<\/li>\n
  3. Manoeuvre:<\/strong>\n
      \n
    • Position:<\/strong> position your car to the left of the lane<\/li>\n
    • Speed:<\/strong> slow down (and select the right gear)<\/li>\n
    • Look:<\/strong> check the road you\u2019ll be turning into both ways<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

      Positioning your car means that you move your car in the direction you\u2019re going. So, if you\u2019re turning left at a junction, you would move over to the left side of your road, not too far or you\u2019ll go over the kerb when you turn. Think of it as ticking the \u2018Yes, I confirm\u2019 box on the signal you\u2019ve given with your indicator. <\/p>\n\n

      Use your foot brake to slow your car as you approach the junction, and start looking at the road ahead to see if you\u2019ll be able to pull out or if you\u2019ll have to stop.<\/p>\n\n

      If you\u2019re still feeling a little meh about the added steps, check our approaching a junction tips in detail.<\/blockquote>\n\n

      Open junctions<\/h2>\n\n

      When you get close to the junction, you need to decide whether you would class it as \u2018open\u2019 or \u2018closed\u2019.<\/p>\n\n

      If have great visibility of the road that you\u2019re turning into on both sides, that makes it an open junction. <\/p>\n\n

      This means that you can take your sweet time looking to see if it\u2019s clear for you to emerge left into the road before you get to the junction. Your instructor will call this \u2018early observation\u2019.<\/p>\n\n

      Always slow down to pull out safely. Stop debating whether you can make the turn before that cyclist gets there. Taking the corner at a safe speed could save your life, and you can always overtake him and his funny shorts later, when it\u2019s safe.<\/p>\n\n

      Closed junctions<\/h2>\n\n

      If the view of the road you\u2019re turning left into is restricted either way by anything from houses to parked cars, that means you\u2019re at a closed junction. <\/p>\n\n

      Turning left at a closed junction means that you need to take more care to check that it\u2019s safe for you to join the new road, so you\u2019ll probably have to stop.<\/p>\n\n

      Your driving instructor has probably mentioned something called \u2018peep and creep\u2019. It sounds like an imprisonable offence but actually it just means stopping, putting your car in first gear and then using the clutch to move forward in tiny movements, giving you a better vision of the road.<\/p>\n\n

      There is no shame in not wanting to get hit by an oncoming car: take your time to check it\u2019s safe!<\/blockquote>\n\n

      Although the danger is coming from your right, make sure that you check traffic approaching from the left. Cars on the other side of the road could be overtaking and cause a hazard on your side, or you could be joining a line of traffic and need to wait before pulling out. <\/p>\n\n

      Keep your head moving and checking both ways until it\u2019s clear. You\u2019ll look like you\u2019re watching a tennis match (my instructor calls it the Can Can: Can I, Can\u2019t I, Can I, Can\u2019t I until it\u2019s Can Can!), but you\u2019ll know you\u2019ve got a clear road. <\/p>\n\n

      Stop signs<\/h2>\n\n

      Remember that no matter how unrestricted your view of the road is, if there is a stop sign you need to bring your car to a complete stop. Who\u2019d have thought it?!<\/p>\n\n

      I reckoned I was a bit clever and impressive when I slowed my car to a crawl, had a good look and pulled out without having to move off again. Then my driving instructor told me that if your car doesn\u2019t come to a complete stop at a stop sign (requiring you to put it in first gear and move off again), you\u2019ll fail your test. <\/p>\n\n<\/p>It's the law, man.<\/p>\n\n\n

      Pulling out<\/h2>\n\n

      Once you\u2019re 100% sure that you\u2019re clear to go, move off as normal. <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Car in first gear<\/li>\n
      2. Clutch up to biting point<\/li>\n
      3. Push on accelerator<\/li>\n
      4. Foot slowly off clutch<\/li>\n
      5. Turn steering wheel to your left, keeping to your side of the road<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \n

        You\u2019ve got it!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        When you\u2019re approaching a junction, it\u2019s important to remember that you\u2019re merging into oncoming traffic. Taking your chances and speeding into the turn like a Ribena-happy toddler tri-cycling across a road isn\u2019t recommended. Turning left is a bit easier than turning right because you\u2019re only tackling traffic from one direction. Although it doesn\u2019t mean you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":4285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-to-drive","category-junctions","learning-to-drive","junctions"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n