Crossroads Cheat Sheet
Crossroad junctions - Cheat Sheet For Parents
This weeks cheat sheet for parents to help their youngsters drive is all about basic crossroad junctions and how to negotiate them. Crossroads are essentially approaching and emerging situations depending on which way you are coming to them. So you should be familiar with both of those type of junctions before attempting these.
Major to Minor
We'll use the MSM routine for both left and right turns and we have priority over the side junctions. The difficult issue is turning right and having another road user coming towards us doing the same thing. We have two options.
Minor to Major
It's an MSM routine for emerging left and right, so keep that the same. Be cautious due to the extra dangers. The cars opposite are the new concern for a learner driver here.
If we're going straight across, be in a position to get into your new drive position ASAP. Allow space for cars to turn left past you if the road opposite is more off to the right.
If you're turning right and there's a car opposite with no signal, they have priority. If you're turning right and they're turning right, neither have priority. Try to get eye contact and work things out between the two of you. Don't be encouraged to go with hand waving and do not wave yourself.
Once your learner is more confident and clinical with their control, consider the larger ones. But avoid them to begin with. We have a full advanced crossroads tutorial here for those who want to try. It's very high pressure and stalling in the middle of one isn't what anyone wants to see.
