When making a left turn you ought to give way to

Explanation

To both the oncoming driver and the pedestrians.

The light is green, you have signalled left and the green left arrow is lit on the instrument panel. A left turn is the most hazardous urban manoeuvre, because in one movement it cuts across two independent flows: the oncoming flow, and the pedestrians crossing the carriageway of the destination street.

In this picture both threats are present at once: the green car is coming straight from the opposite direction and three pedestrians have stepped onto the pedestrian markings on the left side. So the order of work is: first let the oncoming flow pass, then enter the turn, and before reaching the pedestrian markings give way to the pedestrians.

The rule: when turning left you must give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction going straight or turning right, and after that to pedestrians crossing the carriageway of the street you are entering.

The safety reason and the most important practical point: the real danger is that you give all your attention to the oncoming car, find the gap in the traffic and enter the turn with a sudden burst of throttle; at that very second the car's front pillar and the angle of the turn hide the crossing pedestrian from your view. That is why a left turn must be performed in two stages, not as one continuous movement.

The exam trap is the two options beginning with the word "only", which force you to forget one of the two dangers.

• It is true that you must give way to the oncoming car, but the word "only" removes the pedestrians crossing on the destination street's markings. • The pedestrians really do have priority, but this option ignores the oncoming straight flow; a left turn is not permitted before that flow has passed.

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