Types of junction

There are five main types of junction

• T-junctions
• Y-junctions
• staggered junctions
• crossroads
• roundabouts.

Each type of junction can have many variations.

What you intend to do at the junction determines how you approach each type.

T-junctions

This is where a minor road joins a major road.

Normally, the road going straight ahead, along the top of the ‘T’, has priority.

The minor road may have

• a ‘stop’ sign and road markings
• a ‘give way’ sign and road markings
• ‘give way’ lines only
• no road sign or markings.

If you’re emerging from the minor road, follow the procedure described earlier in this section.

Driving on the major road

If you want to go straight ahead

• take note of any road signs and markings
• watch out for vehicles emerging to turn left or right
• look for stopped vehicles waiting to turn into the minor road
• avoid overtaking any vehicle on the approach to a junction.

Hatch markings

On busier roads the major road is often split before and after the junction, with a turn-right filter lane protected by white diagonal hatch markings (or chevrons), surrounded by a broken or unbroken white line.

Join and leave the major road at these junctions exactly as you would a dual carriageway.

Areas of hatch markings painted on the road

• separate streams of traffic
• protect traffic waiting to turn right.

Where the boundary line is solid, don’t enter except in an emergency.

Where the boundary line is broken, you shouldn’t drive on these markings unless you can see it’s safe to do so.

T-junctions on bends

Look well ahead for traffic signs and road markings indicating priority.

These junctions need extra care, especially when turning right from a major road that bends to the left, because

• your field of vision might be limited
• traffic might be approaching quickly from the other direction
• you’ll need time to manoeuvre safely.

Your position before you turn mustn’t endanger either oncoming traffic or yourself.

Wait until there’s a safe gap in the traffic before turning.

Unmarked T-junctions

Never assume priority over another road if there are no road signs or markings.

What’s obvious to you might not be obvious to drivers on the other road.

Watch carefully for vehicles

• approaching the junction on the other road
• waiting at the junction
• emerging from the junction to join or cross your path.

Any vehicle crossing

• might assume priority and expect you to give way
• might not assume priority, but might have misjudged your speed or might not have seen you.

Such a vehicle creates a hazard. You should respond in a safe and sensible manner. Anticipate and adjust your speed accordingly to avoid a collision.

Defensive driving

Adjust your overall speed when passing a series of side roads on the left, and be prepared for vehicles emerging onto the major road.

Y-junctions

Y-junctions can be deceptive because they often call for little change in direction.

Normally, the road going straight ahead has priority and joining roads have either ‘give way’ or ‘stop’ signs. However, there are many exceptions. Watch out for oncoming vehicles positioned incorrectly. The drivers might have misjudged the junction.

Going straight ahead on the major road

• Look well ahead for road signs and markings.
• Watch out for vehicles emerging to turn left or right.
• You mustn’t overtake when approaching any junction.

Emerging from a minor road

If the angle of approach to the major road is very sharp and from the right, the view to your left might be restricted.

If you position your vehicle towards the major road at a right angle as you approach the ‘stop’ or ‘give way’ lines, you’ll improve your view.

This is especially important if your vehicle has no rear side windows – a van, for example.

Staggered junctions

These are junctions where roads join from both the right and the left, but not directly opposite each other, so that the path from one side road to the other is staggered.

Driving on the major road

Look well ahead for road signs and markings. Use the MSM/PSL routine.

Adjust your speed as necessary and prepare to stop, especially if your view is limited or if another driver’s view of you might be limited.

Watch for vehicles

• emerging from either minor road to turn left or right
• on the major road turning into a minor road on the left or right
• driving across the main road from one minor road into the other.

Emerging

When emerging from a minor road to cross the major road and enter the other minor road, watch out for traffic approaching from both directions.

When it’s safe to emerge, drive to the centre of the major road opposite the minor road you intend to enter and check the traffic again before entering the minor road.

If you’re travelling only a short distance from one minor road to another one almost opposite, take extra care and make sure the gap in traffic is wide enough in both directions.

Look, assess, then decide. Either go if it’s safe, or wait.

Crossroads

The procedure when turning at a crossroads is much the same as at any other junction.

You’ll need to assess the crossroads as you approach, so look well ahead and check for road signs and markings that might indicate priority.

Driving on the major road

• Watch for road signs and markings.
• Watch for emerging traffic. Be especially careful of vehicles trying to cut across, using gaps in the traffic. They may misjudge your speed.
• Adjust your speed approaching the crossroads.

Turning right

Getting your position and speed right is vital. Look out for traffic on the road you’re joining, as well as on the road you’re leaving.

Check your mirrors before starting to turn, especially if you’ve had to wait.

Turning right when an oncoming vehicle is also turning right

When two vehicles approaching from opposite directions both want to turn right, there are two methods that can be used. Either method is acceptable, but it will usually be determined by

• the layout of the crossroads
• what course the other driver decides to take • road markings.

Turning offside to offside

The advantage of this method is that both drivers can see oncoming traffic.

In congested traffic conditions, leave a space for approaching traffic to turn right.

Turning nearside to nearside

This method is less safe because the view of oncoming vehicles isn’t clear. Watch out for oncoming traffic hidden by larger vehicles. Motorcyclists and cyclists are particularly vulnerable, as they can be hidden by any type of vehicle.

Be ready to stop for oncoming vehicles.

Road markings sometimes make this method compulsory.

Approaching on a minor road

If you approach a crossroads on a minor road and want to turn onto a major road, as long as the minor road opposite is clear, you should treat it as if you’re emerging from a T-junction.

If you want to turn onto the major road, and another vehicle is approaching the crossroads from the minor road opposite, then

• if you’re turning left or going straight on, you should proceed with extra caution and make sure no vehicle from the opposite direction is going to cross your path
• if you’re turning right and the other vehicle is going ahead or turning left, you should normally wait for the other vehicle to clear the junction before you make your turn. Otherwise, you’d be cutting across their path
• if you’re turning right and the other vehicle is turning right, you should try to make eye contact with the other driver to establish who should proceed, as neither of you has priority.

Defensive driving

Try to make eye contact with the driver of the approaching vehicle to determine which course is best. Your speed should allow you to stop if the other driver pulls out across your path.

Unmarked crossroads

Treat unmarked crossroads with extreme caution, since neither road has priority. Never assume you have priority if there are no signs or markings.

Drivers approaching on other roads might also assume they have priority, and an incident could result.

Proceed only when you’re sure it’s safe to do so.

Remember LADA – you must Look, Assess and Decide, before you Act.

Take extra care when your view is restricted by vehicles, walls, hedges or other obstructions.