Turn right from major to minor road

This explains how to turn right from a major road into a minor road. It also looks at how to handle this turn on a busy road.

Some driving schools split this into two topics. They will teach you to turn right first, and then to deal with busy roads. Other driving schools take it as one topic. Both approaches work. This article takes them as one topic because it is easier to write it as one topic.

In an earlier article, we looked at the MSPSL driving routine. This routine is at the heart of good driving. You can use it to handle any hazard. The article applied the routine to a left turn.

Imagine that you are driving along a busy road on a driving lesson. Your driving instructor asks you to take the next road on the right. There are cars coming towards you.

What do you do?

The first thing you need to identify the hazards. As with left turns you can look for clues that will tell you where the junction is. There will be gaps in the kerb or buildings. There might be road signs or road furniture. Road furniture is things like pedestrian islands in the middle of the road. You could look for signs and road markings.

Having identified the hazard you need to assess the hazard.

When we looked at left turns, I asked you to think about how far you could see into the new road and other people on the road. It is the same for right turns. You have the additional problem of traffic coming towards you. You will need to think about the amount of traffic on both roads.

Now check your centre and right mirrors. Pay extra attention to the right mirror. You need to be aware of motorbikes and cyclists on your right. Then signal right as soon as you possible can.

It is time to take up your position. You need to move to the right hand side of your lane. The door mirror should be just your side of the centre of the road. Use the refuge created by road markings.

Moving slightly to the right adds an extra emphasis to your signal. This secondary indication is worth looking out for. It might even allow other cars to pass you on the left.

Look for a safe gap in the traffic. You need a gap that will allow you to complete the other turn without causing another driver to react. You will probably need to adjust your speed. Arrive at the junction prepared to stop, but ready to go.

Have another look at the new road and the traffic coming towards you. If it is safe to turn, check your mirrors again. Start to turn the steering wheel when the nose of the car feels as though it is level with the middle of the new road.

If you turn too early, you will cut the corner. You might meet a car turning left. You will need to steer in a swan neck shape if you steer too late. It might not be safe to make the turn. You might need to stop and wait.

Later in your driving lessons, your driving instructor will ask you to turn right across a dual carriageway.

It is the same procedure with one exception. You must think about the size of your care and the size of the reservation.

If the central reservation is big, enough to fit the car in then treat it as two different roads. Deal with each carriageway in turn. If the central reservation is too small for your car the treat it as one road. Make sure that you can complete the entire turn safely.

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