When turning right in this situation

Explanation

You pass through the junction first.

At this junction there is no priority sign and no traffic light, so the roads are of equal status. Your right indicator is on and you are turning right; the red car opposite has signalled left and wants to turn left, that is, you are both entering the same street and your paths cross.

The rule is clear: at a junction, a driver turning left or making a U-turn must give priority to vehicles coming from the opposite direction going straight or turning right. So the red car must wait and you pass first. The motorcycle emerging from the street on the right does not cross your path either, because you are entering the near lane of that street and it is travelling in the opposite lane.

Remember the safety reason for this rule: a right turn is short and follows the edge of the carriageway, but a left turn cuts across the full width of the junction and stays inside it longer. The law places the burden of waiting on the one whose movement carries more risk. The exam trap is "since the car is opposite, it has priority"; whereas what decides is the direction of the turn, not merely being opposite. Even so, when turning right, also check your mirror and your right-hand blind spot.

• It seems logical because the red car is coming from the opposite direction; but that car is turning left, and by law a vehicle turning left gives way to the oncoming vehicle turning right or going straight.

Sources and content coverage · Report a content error