Eventually we'll need to deal with junctions where the traffic flow is a little busier. Apart from concentrating on controlling the car, with will have a higher workload when deciding whether to pull out or keep waiting.

 

Judging a safe gap is something that comes with experience. Don’t worry, your instructor can always help you make this decision until you are comfortable trying yourself.

 

We’ll have lots of opportunity to gain experience in this area, not only at T-junctions but also at roundabouts, which is the next topic we will look at in detail.

 

We must be 100% sure it is safe before making any changes when driving. This includes moving away, stopping, slowing down, speeding up, turning or changing our position in the road. Our POM & MSPSL will help with most of these.

 

Another routine we can use is LADA.

 

Look Assess Decide Act breaks down how we make safe decisions.

 

Look - Effective observation is fundamental for safe decision making.  Yes, look for the obvious, but also consider the not so obvious, "I can see there is enough of a gap to pull out in front of that car, but what if the motorbike behind them overtakes?" Look further than the obvious.

 

Assess - What are we assessing? It's Risk. If I make a decision, will it cause a risk to myself or others?

 

Decide - We will reach appoint where we need to make a solid decision.  Dithering can increase the risk. If we are sure it is 100% safe, off we go. If it's anything less than 100%, wait. If you don't know, Don't go.

 

Act - We are fully committed to our decision and are getting on with our plan. Elements outside of our control can happen at anytime, being able to adapt and apply this routine again may be needed.

 

There is no time limit to this routine, it might take a few seconds, it may take several minutes.

 

 

So lets look at how we can judge a safe gap when emerging.

 

The car approaching from our right is indicating that it is turning left. We can't pull out just yet, what if it changes it's mind or doesn't realise it has a signal on.

 

We need to wait until the approaching car commits to the turn, then we can go. Are we aware of the other traffic to our lright, have we got time to emerge?

 

Now we are turning right, we need to cross the approaching traffic from the right, how can we judge if we have enough time?

 

We must assess the speed of the oncoming traffic and use our experience as a pedestrian, if we imagine we have time to walk across, we will have time to drive  car across.

 

Now we need to work a little harder, we are turning right. Have we got time to cross the traffic approaching from the right  and join the new road without causing the traffic on the left to slow down? If you have any doubt, wait. If you don't know, don't go!

 

Is it safe to pull out now? There is no traffic approaching from the right.

 

Always assess the situation and ask yourself "what if". Remember, the traffic established on the major road has priority, even if it's on the wrong side of the road!