This section outlines the correct way to approach and drive at junctions and roundabouts.

Junctions

If you see a 'Stop' sign (shown below), you must stop at the sign or at the stop line on
the road, if provided, even if there is no traffic on the road you would like to enter.




If you see a 'Yield' sign or yield line (shown below), you must slow down, but you do
not have to stop completely unless you need to wait for any oncoming traffic to pass.




Section 6 has more information on these and other regulatory signs.

Right of way

Traffic travelling straight ahead in either direction along a major road has right of way at all times.

If you are at a junction where the roads are of equal importance, the traffic on your right has right of way. You must let that traffic pass before moving on. It is important to understand that the right of way is not an absolute right. You must proceed with caution while showing regard for other users of the road.

If you are approaching a T junction, the traffic already on the road you are joining has right of way. This means any traffic on the road ending at the junction must wait for the other traffic to pass before turning left or right.

If you are turning right at a junction, the traffic coming straight through the junction from the opposite direction has right of way. If you plan to turn right at a junction and a vehicle from the opposite direction wants to turn into the same road, the vehicle that is turning left has right of way. If yours is the vehicle turning right, you must wait for the other vehicle to turn first.

If you are approaching a junction with a major road, you must yield to other traffic. This means giving right of way or letting them pass before you enter the road you are joining.

Vehicles do not have an automatic right of way on the road. The overriding rule is, in
circumstances, proceed with caution.

You must always yield to:

• pedestrians already crossing at a junction,

• pedestrians on a zebra crossing,

• pedestrians on a pelican crossing when the amber light is flashing, and

• pedestrians and traffic when you are moving off from a stationary position (for example from your position at a stop sign or a parking space).
  

To avoid doubt and in the interest of road safety a vehicle should always yield to pedestrians.

You must also yield to:

• traffic already turning at a junction,

• traffic in another lane when you wish to change lanes, and

• traffic on a public road when you are coming out of a private entrance.

Stop, look, listen, and look again. This is your duty when entering the roadway.

Motorists should watch for cyclists emerging from the end of a cycle track and mopeds and motorcycles emerging from junctions who might be difficult to see because of their small size.

It is important to understand that the right of way is not an absolute right of way. You must proceed with caution, having regard for other road users. 

Turning right from a major road onto a minor road

• Check your mirrors and blind spots well in advance for traffic following behind you and give a right turn signal.
  

• As soon as you can do so safely, take up a position just left of the middle of the road or in the space provided for right-turning traffic.
  

• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left.

• Do not turn the steering wheel until you are ready to make the turn.

• When a safe gap occurs in oncoming traffic, finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road into which you are turning.

• Do not cut the corner when you turn. Do not make a ?swan neck? by passing the correct turning point and then having to turn back into the road you want to enter.
  

Turning right from a minor road onto a major road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you and give aright turn signal.
  

• As soon as you can do so safely, take up a postion just left of the middle of the road.

• If you are at a junction controlled by a Stop or a Yield sign, wait at the entranceto the junction until the road is clear in both directions.
  

• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left.

• When a safe gap occurs in traffic coming from both directions finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road onto which you are turning.

• Be alert for road markings which direct you to follow a certain course.

Turning right at a crossroads

When turning right at a crossroads and a car coming from the opposite direction is
also turning right, if possible you should both try to turn back to back. This allows
you and the other driver to see oncoming traffic and allows the traffic to see you.




If you cannot do this, you may turn near-side to near-side if necessary. This means
starting the turn while the vehicles are still facing each other.




Turning right from a one-way street

Drive as close as you safely can to the right-hand side of the one-way street. Look
out for areas where two lanes may be allowed for turning right.

Turning left from a major road to a minor road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you.

• Give a left-turn signal and slow down.

• Keep as close as you safely can to the left-hand edge of the road, using your mirrorsto watch for cyclists or motorcyclists coming up on your left.
  

• Watch for flashing amber arrows that allow you to proceed to the left if no traffic is approaching from the right.
  

• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the right.

• Make the turn, keeping close to the left-hand edge. Do not hit or mount the kerb.

Turning left from a major to a major road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you.

• Give a left turn signal and slow down.

• If you are at a junction controlled by a Stop or a Yield sign, wait at the entrance to the junction until the road is clear.
  

• Watch for flashing amber arrows that allow you to proceed to the left if no traffic is approaching from the right.
  

• If a left-turn slip lane is provided, you should use it.

• When it is safe, finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road onto which you are turning.
  

Take care not to swing wide when you turn and always give way to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the junction before you start any turn.

Yellow box junctions

These junctions consist of patterns of criss-cross yellow lines.







An exception is when you want to turn right. In this case, you may enter the yellow
box junction while waiting for a gap in traffic coming from the opposite direction. However, don't enter the box if to do so would block other traffic that has the right of way.




Yellow box junctions can also be found at railway level crossings or tramway crossings.
Never enter these yellow box junctions unless you can leave them without stopping. Section 6 has more information on traffic signs and road markings.

Junctions and dual carriageways




Dual carriageways are roads with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in each direction.
The outer or right-hand lane in each direction is the lane nearest to the centre of the
dual carriageway.

You must normally drive in the left-hand lane of a dual carriageway. You may use the outer lane of a two-lane or three-lane dual carriageway only:

• for overtaking, and

• when intending to turn right a short distance ahead.

Turning left into a dual carriageway

• Drive as close as you safely can to the left-hand edge of the approach road.

• Watch for oncoming traffic.

• Take the turn when it is safe to do so.

• Keep to the left-hand lane on the dual carriageway and build up your speed to that of the normal flow of traffic subject to the speed limits and road conditions.
  

Crossing a dual carriageway or joining it by turning right

• Wait in the median space (the gap in the central dividing strip) until there is asafe gap in traffic.
  

• Finish your crossing or turn into the second half of the dual carriageway and buildup your speed to that of the normal flow of traffic, subject to speed limits and prevailing road conditions.
  

If another vehicle is already blocking the median space, wait on the minor road until
there is enough space to clear the first half of the road without stopping on the carriageway. If the median is too narrow for your vehicle, wait on the minor road until you can clear both sides of the carriageway, or complete your turn in one go.

When driving a large vehicle, it is not safe to treat each half of the dual carriageway as a
separate road. You should remain on the minor road until you can cross both sides of the
dual carriageway without having to stop.

Always take care when you are behind large vehicles or vehicles towing trailers when they
are turning. Remember, a long vehicle or combination needs extra room to finish a turn.
Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, in particular, should be extra careful when near
these vehicles.

Turning right from a dual carriageway

• Follow the normal procedure (see below) and move into the right-hand lane. If there is a deceleration lane, move into it.
  

• At the junction, turn into the median space and wait for a safe gap in traffic.

• When it is safe to do so, finish your turn and move into the left-hand lane of the road you are entering.
  

Roundabouts

By law, a driver must enter a roundabout by turning to the left. Treat the roundabout as a
junction and give right-of-way to traffic already on it.

Approaching a roundabout

• Decide as early as possible which exit you need to take.

• Take note of and act on all the information available to you from traffic signs, traffic lights and road markings that direct you into the correct lane.
  

• Remember, 'mirror, signal, mirror, manoeuvre' at all stages. First use your mirrors to checkfor any traffic following behind you and, where necessary, signal your intentions in good time to give other road users appropriate warnings.
  

• Get into the correct lane when it is safe to do so.

• Be aware of the speed and position of all traffic around you and adjust your speed to fit in with traffic conditions.
  

Follow the correct procedure and instructions when approaching and driving on roundabouts.

When you reach the roundabout

• Give way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs, road markings or traffic lights tell you otherwise.
  

• Where traffic lights control the roundabout, you must obey them

• You must obey any road markings on the lanes and/or other instructions to show what lane to use if you intend to take a particular exit from the roundabout.
  

• Pay attention to vehicles already on the roundabout. In particular, be aware of their signals and try to judge where they plan to exit.
  

• Watch out for other users of the road and be aware of any cyclists or motorcyclists on your left or right.
  

• Look forward before moving on to make sure that traffic in front of you on the roundabouthas moved off. This means that you will be able to move on to the roundabout without blocking any traffic coming from your right.
  

On or leaving a roundabout

Unless road signs or road markings indicate otherwise, follow the steps below, when taking the first exit, going straight ahead or taking later exits off a roundabout.

Making a left turn;

• Signal left and approach in the left-hand lane.

• Keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave.

Going straight ahead;

• Approach in the left-hand lane but do not signal yet.

• Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

• You may follow the course shown in the illustration by the broken red line in situations where:

Taking any later exits;

• Signal right and approach in the right-hand lane.

• Keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout.

• Check your mirrors, signal left and proceed to your exit when it is safe to do so.

• Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want to take.

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most
appropriate lane on approach and through it.

Sometimes a roundabout exit with two or more lanes may narrow into one lane over a
short distance. Drivers in the lane which is terminated should yield to traffic in
the other lane.

Drivers should make themselves aware of the road markings and get into the appropriate
lane when safe to do so, remembering to show consideration to other users of the road
and in the interest of road safety, yield when necessary.

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to:

• pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads,

• traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending toleave by the next exit,
  

• traffic that may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly, motorcyclists,

• cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout,
  

• long vehicles (including those towing trailers), which might have to take a different course approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals.
  

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