Turning Left Major to Minor
Using the Mirror Signal Manoeuvre /Position Speed Look routine.
Assume you are driving in 4th gear at a speed of 30mph+
(Mirror Signal) The first thing to do is check the interior mirror and if safe give a left hand signal.
(Manoeuvre into Position) This may be necessary if your vehicle is not positioned in the left hand lane, for example you have just overtaken a stationary vehicle, in this case you would have to move you vehicle back to the left.
(Speed) This is really important, if you don’t get the speed down the car will be going so fast when you get to the turn that you will not be able to steer properly and could create a serious problem. To do this you will have to take your foot off the gas pedal at an early point and rest your foot on the brake pedal roughly to a point where you can feel slight pressure on your foot. You have to practice this, if you don’t brake enough you will still be too fast and if you use too much pressure it will slow down too much. You need progressive braking whereas the speed drops gradually from the point that you start braking all the way to the corner. At a point where you are roughly 2 bus lengths from the turn, travelling at around 22mph, put your hand on the gear lever and keeping the same pressure on the brake change the gear from 4th into 2nd. Slowly release the clutch, now going around 15mph, release the brake slowly.
(Look) As you near the corner, check your left-hand door mirror for cyclist, be ready to stop for pedestrians who could be crossing the road, also try to look into the street for any parked vehicles especially if you are turning into a narrow street with a sharp left corner. If you are sure it’s clear, you can now gently steer round and start reaccelerating.
Turning Right Major to Minor
Using the Mirror Signal Manoeuvre /Position Speed Look routine.
Assume you are driving in 4th gear at a speed of 30mph +
Mirror Signal Manoeuvre Check the interior mirror plus the right-hand door mirror at an early point, if it’s safe to do so give a right-hand signal whilst keeping the car straight in the left-hand lane. Manoeuvre right to take up position close to the white line in the centre of the road.
Position Hold the vehicle straight in the right turn position.
Speed This is really important, if you don’t get the speed down the car will be going so fast when you get to the turn that you will not be able to steer properly and could create a serious problem. To do this you will have to take your foot off the gas pedal at an early point and rest your foot on the brake pedal roughly to a point where you can feel slight pressure on your foot. You have to practice this, if you don’t brake enough you will still be too fast and if you use too much pressure it will slow down too much. You need progressive braking whereas the speed drops gradually from the point that you start braking all the way to the corner. At a point where you are roughly 3 bus lengths from the turn, travelling at around 22mph, put your hand on the gear lever and keeping the same pressure on the brake change the gear from 4th into 2nd. Slowly release the clutch, now going around 15mph, release the brake slowly.
Look Just before making the turn re-check your right-hand door mirror at the same time making sure that no pedestrians are crossing the road you are intending to turn into, at this point be aware of stationary vehicles just around the turn and consider the safest steering path to take. Before making the turn you will have to check to ensure there are no oncoming vehicles. If there are you will have to stop in a position slightly back from the actual steering point. Go back into 1st gear and when it is safe, complete the right turn from this position.
Approaching a Major Road going from Minor to Major
Using the Mirror Signal Manoeuvre /Position Speed Look routine.
When you approach a main road from a side road (minor to major) you have to give way to traffic on the main road.
You need to check in both directions looking right left and right again before emerging onto the main road ensuring its safe enough as regards passing traffic.
Give ways with a good zone of vision where you can see the main road
clearly well before the end.
You don’t have to stop, for example, if you slow down early enough and you can see clearly in both directions before reaching the end of the road you may be able to keep the car slowly on the move.
If this is the case, you can possibly change into 2nd gear and release the clutch in the same way as approaching a major to minor left or right turn. You can always make a stop if necessary if other vehicles appear and you have to wait.
Give ways with a poor zone of vision where you can’t see much of the
main road until you are at the end of the road.
If you can’t observe the main road as you approach, you will have to stop then when you can see its safe, move off in 1st gear.
You might have to creep forward slowly using clutch control.
