Details for using your mirrors and your signal when turning into/emerging from a junction during your driving school lessons - MS - Mirrors Signal

Using Your Mirrors And Your Signal For Junctions

The following details refer to both turning into and emerging from a junction.

Mirrors
While your car is moving you should use your mirrors in pairs.

• To turn or move left, use your Main Mirror then your Left Door Mirror.
• To turn or move right, use your Main Mirror then your Right Door Mirror.

The main mirror (rear-view mirror) should be used first because believe it or not, while you move your view from your door mirror to your main mirror a vehicle (e.g. motor bike) could have moved from behind you and to your side AND YOU wouldn't even have seen it. THIS DOES HAPPEN therefore that's why the main mirror first.

Signal
Rules for the signal: -

• The signal should be put on at a safe distance from the junction.
• If too early, other road users might think you are not going as far as the junction.
• If too late, other road users will not be given sufficient warning.
• The signal does not always need to be applied immediately after looking in your mirrors. Sometimes it will be necessary to delay the signal due to a hazard on approach to your junction e.g.: -
• 1 - Two junctions are close together and you are going to turn into the second junction. To have sufficient time to slow you need to start slowing before the first junction but if you signal before passing the first junction then other road users will interpret that as you intending to use the first junction. Therefore the safe option is to start slowing before the first junction (and change gear if necessary) and delay your signal untill immediately after passing the first junction.
• 2 - When using your right door mirror you see another road user has moved out to overtake you. If you signal right before they pass you then that might cause them to brake/swerve because they think you are going to move out/turn in front of them. Instead, delay your signal untill they pass you.
• 3 - Etc. As you gain driving experience you will learn to identify when it will be safe to signal.

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Details for turning into a junction on the left during your driving school lessons - MS-PSGL - Mirrors Signal-Position Speed Gear Look

Turning into a junction on the left

The following box contains the description of how to turn into a left junction. Read the notes below the box for further details.

Position

• For most junctions to the left you should be approximately one metre out from the kerb just before you start to turn in.
• The position from the kerb can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Speed

• If your junction is clear then you should turn in at approximately 10mph.
• The speed can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Gear

• If your junction is clear then you should turn in using 2nd gear. This is the correct gear for 10mph.
• You should start to selected 2nd gear as your car approaches 15mph therefore giving time to change the gear then bring the clutch up and through the bite by the time your car reaches 10mph, and before you start to turn in.
• If there is a hazard then you might need to slow more and change into first gear.

Look

• Just before you start to turn into the junction: -
• Look into the junction to make yourself aware of any hazards in the junction.
• Use your left door mirror one more time to make sure that no other road users have moved into your left while you have been slowing for the junction.

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Details for turning into a junction on the right during your driving school lessons - MS-PSGL - Mirrors Signal-Position Speed Gear Look

Turning into a junction on the right

The following box contains the description of how to turn into a right junction. Read the notes below the box for further details.

Position

• For most junctions to the right you should be out towards the centreline (but not over it) just before you turn.
• For narrow streets it is better to keep slightly left before turning right as this makes the junction slightly larger therefore easier to turn.
• The position can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Speed

• If your junction is clear then you should turn in at approximately 10mph.
• The speed can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Gear

• If your junction is clear then you should turn in using 2nd gear.
• You should start to selected 2nd gear as your car approaches 15mph therefore giving time to change the gear then bring the clutch up and through the bite by the time your car reaches 10mph, and before you start to turn in.
• If there is a hazard then you might need to slow more and change into first gear.

Look

• Just before you start to turn into the junction: -
• Look into the junction to make yourself aware of any hazards in the junction.
• Use your right door mirror one more time to make sure that no other road users have moved into your right while you have been slowing for the junction.

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Details for emerging from a junction to turn left during your driving school lessons - MS-PSGL - Mirrors Signal-Position Speed Gear Look

Emerging from a junction to turn left

The following box contains the description of how to emerge left from a junction. Read the notes below the box for further details.

Position

• For most junctions to the left you should be approximately one metre out from the kerb and should follow the kerb as it bends to the end of the road.
• For some 'sharp' junctions you will not need to steer left untill you start to emerge.
• The position can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Speed

• For most junctions the speed should be reduced to a crawl as you reach the end of the road.
• For some 'open' junctions (junctions where you can see the new road clearly before you reach the end of your road) you could emerge at 10mph.
• The speed can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Gear

• For most junctions this will be 1st gear (the correct gear for crawling).
• You should start to selected 1st gear as your car crawls up to the junction and while you are doing the 'Look' section.
• For some 'open' junctions (junctions where you can see the new road clearly before you reach the end of your road) you could emerge in 2nd gear.

Look

• As you approach the end of the road look both right and left to be aware of other road users on the new road.
• Just before you are about to emerge, use your left door mirror to make sure of any other road users who might have positioned to pass on your left.
• You MUST NOT emerge if this would cause road users on the new road to slow or change direction.

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Details for emerging from a junction to turn right during your driving school lessons - MS-PSGL - Mirrors Signal-Position Speed Gear Look

Emerging from a junction to turn right

The following box contains the description of how to emerge right from a junction. Read the notes below the box for further details.

Position

• For most junctions to the right you should be out towards the centreline (but not over it) just before you emerge.
• The position can vary depending on the junction type and any hazards near/at the junction.

Speed

• For most junctions the speed should be reduced to a crawl as you reach the end of the road.
• For some 'open' junctions (junctions where you can see the new road clearly before you reach the end of your road) you could emerge at 10mph.

Gear

• For most junctions this will be 1st gear (the correct gear for crawling).
• You should start to selected 1st gear as your car crawls up to the junction and while you are doing the 'Look' section.
• For some 'open' junctions (junctions where you can see the new road clearly before you reach the end of your road) you could emerge in 2nd gear.

Look

• As you approach the end of the road look both right and left to be aware of other road users on the new road.
• Just before you are about to emerge, use your right door mirror to make sure of any other road users who might have positioned to pass on your right.
• You MUST NOT emerge if this would cause road users on the new road to slow or change direction.

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