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Suggested length - This lesson can be split into two - left turns and right turns. If dealing with only left turns or right turns, allow an hour for each. Both can be introduced in two hours.

Introduction:

This lesson follows on from lesson two and assumes the pupil is now reasonably confident at moving the vehicle away and stopping. Briefly recap lesson 2 before starting this one.

In this lesson you will learn:

About junctions in general.
The junction approach routine.
How to turn left at minor junctions.
How to turn left at T-junctions.
How to turn right at minor junctions.
How to turn right at T-junctions.

Junctions in general:

It’s hard to over stress the importance of learning junctions thoroughly. They are the cause of a great many serious accidents and, for this reason, the examiner will look very carefully at how well and confidently the pupil deals with them.

Junctions test many skills including steering, road positioning, consideration of other road users, understanding priorities, understanding road markings and signs, speed of approach, signaling, clutch control - and that’s just scratching the surface. So it’s hardly surprising that many test routes incorporate a lot of junctions.

This lesson will teach the basics of junctions, but after that there is no substitute for practice. Practice, practice, practice!
Some instructors teach a specific routine for junction approaches and I heartily recommend it. To begin with you may find this routine hard to pick up but, trust me on this, it is well worth the effort in the long term. If you follow this routine it is far far easier to get your junctions nice and smooth and you are much less likely to forget important things like checking your mirrors at the right time.

This routine is.
Mirrors.
Signal.
Position.
Speed.
Look.

Or MSPSL. Learn it off by heart. Learn it so it tips off the tongue easily. It really will make a huge difference to your driving. Once you have become well practiced you will no longer have to say it through in your mind, you will just do it and your examiner will be very happy!

Now I’ll show you how to apply that routine to your junction approaches. Learn left turns first.

Approach and turn left into a minor road:

Here we are turning left into a minor road from a major road. See diagram no. ? below for the route we will be taking. Your mentor, instructor or examiner, will use the expression “At the next junction turn left”.

First locate the junction and decide when you will need to begin slowing down. Just before you start to slow down your routine begins.

Mirrors.Because you are turning left, check the interior mirror and left exterior mirror. If there is traffic close behind, you’ll need to slow down a little earlier and more gently than normal. If there is a road user on your near side (such as a bicycle) you will need to allow them to pass the junction before you turn into it. Checking your mirrors before anything else allows you to prepare for these things and to decide when it is safe to signal.

Signal. Signal left.

Position. Keep your normal distance from the curb. Don’t be tempted to get too close and don’t swing out. (See diagrams below).
If you find you are tempted to swing out, you may be approaching too fast. If you clip the curb when you turn in you may be too close on approach or turning too early.

Speed. For most junctions you will need to slow down and select second gear on approach. Do this in good time. Make sure you have bought the clutch right the way up before you turn in. Turning with the clutch down is called ‘coasting’ and results in loss of control.
Some junctions are very slow and tight and may require first gear. For details on dealing with tight junctions click HERE. Some junctions may be alright for taking in third gear. But, generally, most junctions require second gear.

Look. Look ahead to make sure no-one is turning right in front of you. Unless road markings show you otherwise, you would have right of way over them - but it doesn’t stop some people being silly. Look for pedestrians crossing the junction you are turning into - if they have stepped into the road they have right of way over you. In any case, beware of pedestrians who look as though they haven’t seen you or who look as though they might step into the road anyway.

Finally, before you turn in, look into the junction to be sure it’s clear of any obstructions such as parked cars or stationary traffic. Looking early avoids nasty surprises!

When you have cleared the junction, check your mirrors again before pulling away.

So there you have it - Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed, Look. If you remember your MSPSL you will remember to do all the above. As you approach junctions say it through to yourself in your mind - say it out loud if it helps.

Left Turn at T-junctions:

Here you will turn left at the end of a road. See the diagram below for the route you will take. Your mentor, instructor or examiner will use the words “At the end of the road turn left”.

First locate the junction. To spot the end of the road look for buildings, trees, hedges or some other obstruction across the road which indicates you will need to turn. See diagram below. Other clues will be ‘Give Way’ or ‘Stop’ signs and road markings, thus:

Remember that not all junctions are marked.

Once again, use your knowledge of MSPSL.

Mirrors. Because you are turning left, check the interior mirror and left exterior mirror. If there is traffic close behind, you’ll need to slow down a little earlier and more gently than normal. If there is a road user on your near side (such as a bicycle) you will need to allow them room. Checking your mirrors before anything else allows you to prepare for these things and to decide when it is safe to signal.

Signal. Signal left.

Position. Keep your normal distance from the curb. Don’t be tempted to get too close and don’t swing out. (See diagrams below).
If you find you are tempted to swing out, you may be approaching too fast. If you clip the curb when you turn in you may be too close on approach or turning too early.
As you approach the junction, follow the curb round as shown in the diagrams below.

Speed. Your speed of approach will depend on how tight the turn is and whether it’s an open or closed junction.
An open junction allows you to see the road you are turning into clearly. If you can see clearly on approach that the road you are turning into is clear, you will not need to slow down as much as when your vision is restricted. You may, in fact, be able to take the junction in second gear and, provided there is no ‘Stop’ sign and you have plenty of time to ensure there is no traffic on the main road, turn out without stopping.
A closed junction has restricted vision on approach. You can see little or nothing of the road you are turning into until you are near or at the junction. For a closed junction you will need to slow down much more and, regardless of signs or road markings, expect to have to stop to give yourself time to look before moving out. Even if you don’t have to stop, closed junctions almost always require first gear.

Even though you are turning left make sure you have looked left before turning out. Drivers often believe it is less important as the traffic they need to worry about will be coming from the right. But if a car is overtaking coming from the left, even though they shouldn’t overtake near a junction, and you turn out without looking, the result is a head-on collision. So look both ways! See diagram.

Be sure to look for any other obstructions on approach. As with turning into minor roads, pedestrians have right of way if they have stepped into the road. You should also give way to them if it’s possible they haven’t seen you or are about to step out anyway. If a pedestrian is crossing the main road you are turning into, wait at the junction until they have crossed. See diagram.

When you have cleared the junction, check your mirrors again before pulling away.

Again, your MSPSL routine will help you remember all this. Say it through to yourself as you approach the junction.

Approach and turn right into a minor road:

As with left turns, your MSPSL applies. Here we are turning right into a minor road from a major road. See diagram no. ? below for the route we will be taking. Your mentor, instructor or examiner, will use the expression “At the next junction turn right”.

First locate the junction and decide when you will need to begin slowing down. Just before you start to slow down your routine begins.

Mirrors. Because you are turning right, check the interior mirror and right exterior mirror. If there is traffic close behind, you’ll need to slow down a little earlier and more gently than normal. If there is a vehicle on your off side you will need to allow them to pass before turning into the junction. Checking your mirrors before anything else allows you to prepare for these things and to decide when it is safe to signal.

Signal. Signal right. But only do so if your mirrors show you there is no-one about to overtake or is next to you. A badly timed right signal might make them jump and cause them to swerve.

Speed. Your approach speed and gear selection will be governed by visibility and traffic conditions. As turning right involves turning across on coming traffic, be prepared to stop. On coming traffic has priority over you.

Look. Look at the on coming traffic and decide if you can turn without causing vehicles to slow down or change direction. If you need to stop, wait with the front of your car just short of the centre line of the junction you are turning into (see diagram). If you don’t need to stop, don’t turn too early and cut the corner - that is dangerous to traffic emerging from the junction. Turn when the front of your car is in line with the centre of the road you are turning into (see diagram). Don’t turn too late - you may go up on the curb and endanger pedestrians.
Before turning in check your mirrors again and look into the junction. Is it clear? Are any pedestrians crossing? If it is not clear or there are pedestrians crossing, wait at your point of turn - do not start the turn and have to wait on the wrong side of the road for your way to clear (see diagram).

When you have cleared the junction, check your mirrors again before pulling away.

Right turn at T-Junctions.

Here you will turn right at the end of a road. See the diagram below for the route you will take. Your mentor, instructor or examiner will use the words “At the end of the road turn right”.

Once again, use your knowledge of MSPSL.

Mirrors. Because you are turning right, check the interior mirror and right exterior mirror. If there is traffic close behind, you’ll need to slow down a little earlier and more gently than normal. If there is a vehicle on your off side you will need to allow them room. Checking your mirrors before anything else allows you to prepare for these things and to decide when it is safe to signal.

Signal. Signal right. But only do so if your mirrors show you there is no-one about to overtake or is next to you. A badly timed right signal might make them jump and cause them to swerve.

Position. Unless road markings show otherwise, you will need to position the car just to the left of centre (see diagram). Your road position is just as important as your signal when informing other road users of your intentions. As you approach the junction, keep your steering wheel straight to avoid turning too early and cutting the corner.

Speed. Your speed of approach will depend on how tight the turn is and whether it’s an open or closed junction.
An open junction allows you to see the road you are turning into clearly. If you can see clearly on approach that the road you are turning into is clear, you will not need to slow down as much as when your vision is restricted.
A closed junction has restricted vision on approach. You can see little or nothing of the road you are turning into until you are near or at the junction. For a closed junction you will need to slow down much more and, regardless of signs or road markings, expect to have to stop to give yourself time to look before moving out. Even if you don’t have to stop, closed junctions almost always require first gear.
However, because turning right at a t-junction involves crossing at least two lines of traffic, it is almost always advisable to treat junctions as closed and assume you are going to have to stop. This allows time to look thoroughly both ways before moving out.

Look. As you approach the junction look both ways on the main road to see if it is safe to move out. As you get closer look both ways again. Before you move out look both ways again. It can’t be over emphasised how important it is to keep looking both ways as you move out - motor bikes, for example, can easily be missed.
Be sure to look for any other obstructions on approach. As with turning into minor roads, pedestrians have right of way if they have stepped into the road. You should also give way to them if it’s possible they haven’t seen you or are about to step out anyway. If a pedestrian is crossing the main road you are turning into, wait at the junction until they have crossed. See diagram.

When you have cleared the junction, check your mirrors again before pulling away.

Your MSPSL routine will help you remember all this. Say it through to yourself as you approach the junction.

Conclusion.

Well done! In this lesson you have learnt:

The junction approach routine - MSPSL
How to use your mirrors correctly at junctions
When to signal at junctions
How and where to position the car correctly at junctions
How to judge the correct speed at junctions
Where to look and what decisions need to be made at junctions

Now you have finished this lesson you probably understand why junctions are such an important part of the test.

The more you drive, the more you will realise that every junction has it’s own characteristics. It may be fast or slow, near a corner, at a dual carriage-way or any other number of variations. The only way to become confident at junctions is to experience them. So now you need to practice as much as you possibly can. There really is no substitute.

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