Approaching junctions

The key to dealing with all junctions safely is the MSM routine. When you first see the junction you should check the mirrors to assess the speed and position of following traffic. Look for the speed, type and density of traffic on the road you are joining, the width and gradient of the road and the presence of other road users, particularly pedestrians. Look out for other road users ahead of you in your own road and in the road you will be joining.

Turning Left
You must decide whether a signal is necessary and if it is, when you should give it. Unless road markings and signs clearly indicate that you can only turn one way, in a filter lane for example, you should give a signal. Timing the signal is important. If you give your signal too soon, another road user may think you intend to stop or turn into property bordering the road. If there are side roads before the junction at which you will be turning, particularly care in the timing of signals is needed. After giving your left signal we then come on to the manoeuvre part of the MSM routine. A manoeuvre can be broken down into position, speed and look.. So MSM becomes MSPSL.

Position
You need to make sure you are positioned correctly. For a left turn it may not be necessary to adjust position since we want to be about a meter from the kerb to take the corner, which is normal road position. If you do need to change course slightly, first check your exterior mirror in the direction you intend to move.

Speed
Once in position you will need to adjust your speed. Ease off the gas pedal to begin with, but use the footbrake in good time so that following traffic has enough time to react to your stop light signals. You should not slow down too soon. Apart from frustrating following drivers, they may be tempted to overtake you, which would be dangerous with a junction ahead. As you get nearer to the junction, you may need to change gear to give you better control of the car. The speed at which you approach the junction and the gear you select will depend on what you can see and the angle through which you need to turn. Second gear is the most versatile and may suffice for most junctions, but you may select first gear if the angle of your turn into the new road is very shallow. Whichever gear you select, remember it is acceptable and just as safe to miss out a gear on approach. You do not need to change through the gears in order. Whichever gear you select, make sure you actually use it! You must not "coast" around the corner with the clutch down. Coasting reduces your control of both braking and steering. When making the turn, the engine should drive your car. This means that you should have enough gas set to be just pulling the car around the corner.

Look
Take particular care with cyclists. If you see a cyclist on approach, hang back until you are sure of his or her intentions. You must not overtake the cyclist and then cut in ahead to make your turn. Before you turn left, check your left side exterior mirror for cyclists alongside the car. This is particularly important in slow moving traffic. As you are slowing down and changing gear, you should still be watching the corner for more information. before you turn you must look as far into the new road as you can, and then decide whether or not it is safe to proceed. Look out for and danger from emerging traffic, or obstructions just around the corner. Be particularly careful about pedestrians. Pedestrians are very vulnerable at junctions and you will need to anticipate their movements on the assumption that they may not have seen you. Take particular care with infirm, elderly or young people. If the pedestrian has started to cross the road you are entering, you must always give way to them. If the pedestrian hesitates after stepping out onto the road, try and establish eye contact and allow the pedestrian time to decide whether to proceed or wait. DO NOT beckon the pedestrian to cross.

The point of turn is when the front of your car reaches the corner. You must not turn too soon because of the danger that the rear wheels may take a short cut across the kerb. Neither should you swing out just before turning, you could move into the path of a vehicle which has begun to overtake you. Once you have joined the minor road you need to make progress. This means checking your mirrors and the road ahead and acting safely and sensibly on what you see fit in with the new road and traffic conditions.

Turning right
You will be crossing the path of approaching traffic. You will need to decide whether it is safe to proceed or not, which requires sound judgment of the speed and distance of approaching traffic. When crossing the path of other traffic you must not cause vehicles to slow down or swerve to avoid you. If you are in any doubt about whether to proceed it is safest to wait, but as a guide, imagine yourself as a pedestrian waiting to cross the road. If you could walk across, you should be able to drive across safely.

Crossing the path of other traffic, you must take effective observation, looking out for moving and stationary hazards that could hinder your progress before starting the turn. Remember that when you join the new road you can only travel as fast as the vehicle ahead of you. If it is slow moving and very close to the junction you need to ask yourself whether you can get the whole of the car clear of approaching traffic as you turn. Similarly you need to anticipate the actions of pedestrians at the mouth of a junction. Remember that you must give way to pedestrians when turning into a new road. This could be highly dangerous for you, the approaching traffic and the pedestrian.

If you need to stop for approaching traffic, you must keep to your own side of the road. Stop in position so that the front of your car is just before the centre of the road you intend to turn into. Do not proceed until you are sure it is safe. If in doubt about going, be patient and wait. You should not normally give way to traffic emerging to turn right unless you can see good reasons that you will not be able to commence your turn soon. For example, a queue of traffic on the left of the new road. You should begin turning in good time to avoid the danger of over steering or clipping the kerb in the new road. How soon you being turning will depend on the widths of the roads you are leaving and entering. As a guide, the front of your car should be about level with the centre of the road you are joining before you commence the turn. You must not cut the corner by turning too soon. this would place you dangerously in the path of approaching traffic in the new road. In some situations, a right corner cut is unavoidable because of the angle of the road and obstructions near the mouth of the junction. In these circumstances you need to be absolutely sure there is no danger to traffic on the right hand carriageway of the road you are turning into. If necessary, hold back from the junction so that the traffic emerging right can get clear of your intended path.

If it is safe to proceed at a give way line, drive around the corner. If you are in any doubt about emerging, be patient and wait. You can only do this if your eyes are level with all obstacles at the mouth of the junction. This is the final 'look' position in the MSPSL routine. At give way lines, if you cannot get your eyes level with all obstructions before reaching the end of the road you should stop before the line and then edge out slowly until you can see. If necessary lean forwards so that the front of the car needn't stick out an interfere with the traffic flow. A good way to remember this is 'peep and creep'.Stop lines are found at places where your vision zone is so limited that the decision had been made for you that you need to stop before the line and then edge out slowly to take effective observation. Before you turn you must look as far into the new road as you can, and then decide whether or not it is safe to proceed. Look out for any danger from approaching traffic or obstructions just around the corner. Be particularly careful about pedestrians.The point of turn is when the front of your car reaches the corner. You must not turn too soon because of the danger that the rear wheels may take a short cut across the kerb. Neither should you swing out just before turning, this could put you into the path of approaching traffic. Try to follow the line of the kerb. You will only be able to do this if you have slowed down enough on approach.

Once you have joined the minor road, you need to make progress. This means checking your mirrors and the road ahead and acting safely and sensibly on what you see to fit in with the new road and traffic conditions.

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Written by:
www.approvedinstructor.com
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