Priority at junctions

[agamad]

Every day my route to work takes me to a crossroads. I have to give way as does any traffic opposite me (are you with me so far?!) I am turning right and the vehicle opposite me is going straight on. Who gives way to who if we both decide to move off simultaniously?

[derekpara]

You do, because you are turnng across his path. But always a tricky situation.

[Panic Button]

Ettiquette would suggest that the person who arrived at the junction should be allowed to go first, but I don't suppose many people would follow that.
The nearer you are to London, the less likely you are to see such courtesy

[agamad]

Derekpapa, surely the same could be said of him crossing my path too?

[Toureman]

So agamad, you would expect to have equal right of way if you were in the middle of the road waiting for the oncoming traffic to stop and let you make your right turn into a side road?

[derekpara]

No, Aga, You are the one who is doing the turning - he is going straight ahead,.But I agree with Panic Button, courtesy should prevail in these situations. However, drive defensively and be ready for the unexpected at all times.
By the way, I think it's great that someone ie you, is actually thinking about their driving. That's the key to improvement.
Good luck.

[agamad]

Toureman, the point i was making is that neither of us has right of way because we are both giving way to mainstream traffic. However I take yours and Derekpapa's comments about crossing the path of traffic coming straight across.

I actually give way if i'm going straight across and allow the person opposite to turn right. I also am aware that the other person may not be on the same wavelength as me. Thank you both for your input.

[Panic Button]

I know what you mean Agamad, I come to a similar junction. I don't think either person has right of way because neither is on the main road yet. You could argue that the first to move off and get onto the main road has right of way.
I hate that particular junction. It is made worse because you cannot tell if the person opposite is going ahead or has forgotten to indicate.

[diode dug]

I consider the person holding more traffic up ! I think that makes sense, but i would think the driver turning should gave way to oncoming vehicles unless giver the nod to go first.

[bobmcnam]

i used to face this situation daily, so investigated priorites. its quite simple, the rule is to think of the two minor roads connecting to the main road as one major road.

this means that obviously if you are turning right and someone is coming straight on that they have the right of way.

similarly if you are turning left and someone is turning right from the other side, you have priority.

http://www.learnerdriving.com/Aids/LD_Lesson_B riefs/7__Crossroads/body_7__crossroads.html

[agamad]

Excellent stuff people. Thanks for the link Bobmcnam, looks cut and dry there.

Looks like i'm gonna have to rethink how I view priorities. I'll let you know if it don't work !

[Panic Button]

Yep thanks bobmcnam, I'm not too proud to admit I was wrong. I have learnt from that.

[watteee]

how did you pass your test?were you not taught this when learning to drive?let me know when your out in your car and i will stay in!!

[Panic Button]

Yeah. And you are perfect.

[testmonkey]

No he's probably not but he does have a point if not very well put.

This particular case of the rules is one of the more slightly obscure but when you see some of the rules that are broken on our roads through ignorance its astounding. It's a strange quirk of the law that it's not a legal requirement to know the highway code but you can get prosecuted for breaking the rules within it. As road users we all have a moral responsibility to know the rules of the road that apply to our vehicles.

When I was a bike instructor I would regularly teach car drivers who couldn't even tell me the sequence of traffic lights without a bit of prompting - scary! How many people do we all know who use the roads everyday but have failed the theory test when they've had a go at it - and they think it's a laugh? I'd be all in favour of random road side theory tests where you get an instant 14 day ban if you fail. Knowing the rules doesn't help when the person who's just hit you doesn't though :(

That said, all credit to those of you who come on here and ask such questions in order to educate yourselves.