Turning right at traffic lights

GarIT

Just a quick question about turning right at traffic lights. My instructor has been telling me, if there is a flow of traffic coming towards you, wait behind the white line until you are sure there is a break in the traffic to turn right. I've heard from a few other instructors that you should always move into the junction even if there are no breaks in the oncoming traffic and you probably won't be able to go until the light has gone red.

Same again with the turning box with the right arrow in the junction, my instructor says don't use them if there is any chance you will get stuck in them, but 3 different instructors showing the test routes on the internet all use it even when they can't turn because of a constant flow of traffic and then just turn when the light has gone red and the oncoming traffic has stopped.

Just a second small question about junctions, if you are going straight and there is traffic in the junction so you can't make it fully across but there is no yellow box, do you wait behind the first white line or move into the junction?

irishmoss

For the last question stay behind the white line because if lights change you will be blocking entry.

I've always moved to the centre of the junction when turning right but I can see his point in holding back as I had a situation recently where I moved into the junction but a car coming toward me drove through just as the lights went red. I waited until he passed to turn right but by then the pedestrian lights had kicked in on the right hand junction. But that's the first time that's happened in many years driving and by not moving out into the junction if the lights change quickly you might not make the manoeuvre at all so you will be holding up traffic. So I would move out into the junction.

J_R

GarIT wrote: »

Just a quick question about turning right at traffic lights. My instructor has been telling me, if there is a flow of traffic coming towards you, wait behind the white line until you are sure there is a break in the traffic to turn right. I've heard from a few other instructors that you should always move into the junction even if there are no breaks in the oncoming traffic and you probably won't be able to go until the light has gone red.

Same again with the turning box with the right arrow in the junction, my instructor says don't use them if there is any chance you will get stuck in them, but 3 different instructors showing the test routes on the internet all use it even when they can't turn because of a constant flow of traffic and then just turn when the light has gone red and the oncoming traffic has stopped.

Just a second small question about junctions, if you are going straight and there is traffic in the junction so you can't make it fully across but there is no yellow box, do you wait behind the first white line or move into the junction?

Hi,

If you do not move into the junction in the test you will be marked for progress. In ordinary everyday driving you may be needlessly causing obstruction.
1. By moving into the junction you "open up" the lane behind and following traffic may be able to undertake you.
2. My moving into the junction you have shortened the distance needed to clear the junction, hence you can go on a smaller gap in the oncoming traffic.
3. If you get stuck it is NOT your fault. The oncoming traffic should have stopped on amber, so you should have had the amber light to clear the junction and
4. When the other traffic gets the green light, that light only allows them to go - IF Clear. They should wait and allow you to clear the junction.

If they do not, no problem, sit back relax go when clear.

white box same as above

Re. Going straight. Depends on the junction, but you should never put yourself in a situation where you would block other/crossing traffic.

You should imagine there is a yellow box in all cross junctions

Change instructors immediately

J_R

Hi,

Another few points.

If you do get stuck in the junction, you are no longer controlled by the lights, you go when clear, irrespective of the lights.

Following image from the UK Highway code..

. By allowing the green car to cross the blue car has cleared the right hand lane.

If people drove with a little bit of awareness, large dose of common sense there would be no need for yellow or white box junctions

The first "Rules of the Road" printed in the USA was called "Sportsmanlike Driving." Motorists shared the road, played the game, played fair with all other road users.

MascotDec85

OP, the advice given to you by your instructor is completely wrong. Follow the advice above and change instructor. If they are giving poor advice here, what other poor instruction are they giving?

J_R

Hi,

One of the most commonest oral questions asked at the start of the driving test is

"Can you ever stop in a yellow box junction"

And the answer quoted from the Rules of the Road

REMEMBER
You must not enter the yellow box junction unless you can clear it without stopping.

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.

The man does not even know the very basic rules of the road. And he does not appear to have an enquiring mind. As he would have wondered why would the conunty council go to the expense of painting white boxes in junctions if they were to be completely ignored.

Tenigate

The advice i was given is, only the first car should drive past the stop line (and wait in the box) to turn right in anticipation of the oncoming traffic stopping and the road you are entering being clear. Any more and there's a high risk of blocking the junction if the lights change (the first car will make it round on amber, additional cars will be blocking the junction when the lights change, and the road they wish to turn on may be congested)

BeardySi

The additional cars will have right of way when the light changes as the traffic just getting a green should only proceed when the junction is clear.
A green light means you can cross the solid line. At least that's what I was taught - situation didn't arise in my test that I can remember so can't comment beyond that.

Also bar in mind that there may well be a sensor in the white box beyond the line. If there's no car over it it won't trigger any filter light linked to it.

Dravokivich

It is also dependent on the traffic light itself.

If there is an arrow indicating which traffic should flow, ie only straight, you should not progress if intending to turn any other direction at the junction. You'd need either a solid green light or an arrow indicating you can proceed in the desired direction.

BaRcOe

Speaking of Rights - I failed today because of a right at traffic lights junction.

I got the green light, there was oncoming traffic, I moved up into the junction preparing for the right turn. I allowed many cars to pass, checked my blind spot on right and then proceeded to take the right turn. There was a final car approaching which I missed, so it had to slow down while I turned right. It obviously had the right of way. This was a grade 3. I continued the test and passed otherwise.

I wouldn't have passed me either to be fair..

Oh well :rolleyes:

Alanstrainor

BaRcOe wrote: »

Speaking of Rights - I failed today because of a right at traffic lights junction.

I got the green light, there was oncoming traffic, I moved up into the junction preparing for the right turn. I allowed many cars to pass, checked my blind spot on right and then proceeded to take the right turn. There was a final car approaching which I missed, so it had to slow down while I turned right. It obviously had the right of way. This was a grade 3. I continued the test and passed otherwise.

I wouldn't have passed me either to be fair..

Oh well :rolleyes:

Hard luck! Apply again asap and get your pass.

I do have to ask, why did you check your blindspot in this scenario? It seems that this might have played a part in you missing the final car approaching against you. There should be no need to check your blindspot in this instance, there should be no reason for anything to approach from this direction in normal driving. A glance at your right mirror would be just fine.

BaRcOe

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Hard luck! Apply again asap and get your pass.

I do have to ask, why did you check your blindspot in this scenario? It seems that this might have played a part in you missing the final car approaching against you. There should be no need to check your blindspot in this instance, there should be no reason for anything to approach from this direction in normal driving. A glance at your right mirror would be just fine.

Thank you. I have my next attempt booked already. I booked online and then I called up RSA and they have booked me in for a cancellation in three weeks.

Its out of habit, because my Instructor told me to check the turn I am going into over my right shoulder for any pedestrions crossing..etc. I guess I checked one too many times. Still my fault though, no excuses!

Alanstrainor

BaRcOe wrote: »

Thank you. I have my next attempt booked already. I booked online and then I called up RSA and they have booked me in for a cancellation in three weeks.

Its out of habit, because my Instructor told me to check the turn I am going into over my right shoulder for any pedestrions crossing..etc. I guess I checked one too many times. Still my fault though, no excuses!

Okay, so perhaps your definition of blindspot and mine are different. Checking your right blindspot would be looking over your right shoulder to the rear of the car. There's no problem looking to the turn your are moving into. Checking for pedestrians or obstacles would be a wise thing to do!