A crossroad is similar to a T Junction, but with an extra piece of road joining it.

Like T junctions, they can be unmarked, marked with giveway or stop lines, or signal controlled.

Looking first at marked crossroads, just like a marked T junction, there is a major road, where the traffic has priority and minor roads, where the traffic needs to give way.

Crossroads are accident blackspots and we must adapt our speed to suit.

If we are driving on a major road where we have priority, it’s important that we check our mirrors and slow down before we reach the crossroad, just in case another vehicle pulls out. If another vehicle does pull out be prepared to slow down and maintain a safe distance.

Tip: When we see something when driving that makes us change our speed or direction and prepare for a hypothetical bad situation (a worst case scenario), this is called “hazard perception”.

The ability to build these “what if” scenarios and prepare for them is one of the greatest skills when driving.

We’ll look more at this “anticipation and planning” later in the course.

If we are approaching a marked crossroad from one of the minor roads and there is traffic on the opposite minor road and on the major road, this is where the situation can get confusing.

Even if we understand the order of priority perfectly, we can’t assume that other road users do!

Therefore, it is important to approach them with caution, making good eye contact and reading the position and movement of other vehicles is essential.

To simplify the priority order, traffic established on the major road, even if turning off, has the highest priority.

Traffic emerging from a minor road which needs to cross the path of other traffic emerging from the opposite minor road has the lowest priority.

It is important to note that two or more cars can have equal priority, in which case they will need to negotiate who will proceed first between themselves.

“Remember, if you don’t know, don’t go!”

At unmarked crossroads, just like unmarked T Junctions, no one has priority.

We must approach at a speed slow enough to give us time to carry out good observations throughout and only proceed when we are 100% sure it’s safe to do so. Again, if you don’t know, don’t go!

This is an unmarked T junction where no one has priority at the exit of Poole driving test centre. Students can gain a serious fault here if effective observations are not carried out.

The next category of crossroad has signals controlling it. It may have multiple lanes, lots of road markings and may appear quite busy.

As a default, at a two lane crossroad, the left lane will take you to the left or straight ahead and the right lane to the right (just like our roundabout defaults).

The image below shows a "standard" signal controlled crossroad.

Some crossroads will not follow this default layout, we must look out for signs or road markings giving us specific instructions.

Similar to what we have talked about with complex roundabouts, the key to a safe transit starts before we get to it, by looking out for destination signs and looking for arrows painted in the lanes. Therefore is it important that we choose a lower speed so we have time to take in the information.

Turning left or going straight ahead is fairly straight forward, though we must keep a lookout for other road users.

When turning right, we must give way to any oncoming traffic, there is often a safe area (in green below) that we can move forward into to wait.

If there is a suitable gap in the oncoming traffic, we an proceed if our exit is clear.

When the oncoming traffic stops, it has likely stopped for a red light, so we can proceed.

Some signal controlled junctions may have green filter arrows. If a green filter arrow shows in the direction we are turning, this means that we have priority and can proceed as any oncoming traffic will have a red light.

In the photo above, all traffic must stop as there is a red light, except for traffic turning right, because there is a green filter arrow pointing right.

Filter arrows can be easy to miss, so keep a good look out! 

We must not stop on pedestrian crossings or cyclist waiting areas. Make sure you can clear these areas before proceeding.

Some junctions, either T junctions or crossroads may combine controlled and uncontrolled rules.

Some T junctions, crossroads or roundabouts have areas with yellow hatched markings. These are “yellow box junctions”, we must not enter this area unless our exit is clear, the only exception being, if we are turning right.

Some crossroads may not have any right turn markings to guide us through. If we are turning right, we need to make a decision about what position to take up in our safe waiting area and also how to synchronise ourselves with any oncoming traffic turning right. Our choices when passing oncoming right turning traffic are:

• Offside to offside (drivers side to drivers side)
• Nearside to nearside (Passengers side to passengers side)

Sometimes the road shape and layout makes this an easy decision, other times it’s not so obvious. We also have the element of the unknown with the oncoming right turning traffic. A pinch of local knowledge can help, in all cases, moving forward slowly and cautiously are always advisable.

Here are some tips highlighting the pros and cons of each method to help you decide.

Offside to offside

Pros: If a junction is large, passing offside to offside will allow more cars inside the junction at one time, this allows more traffic through during the green light phase.

Cons: Your forward view may be restricted and oncoming cars could block you from turning right.

Nearside to nearside

Pros: Sometimes preferable at smaller Junctions. It allows you to make progress if safe as oncoming right turning traffic cannot block you.

Cons: Only two or three cars might be able to pass through each green light phase and you will need to work harder to ensure it is safe to turn.