Turning right onto a dual carriageway

Turning right onto a dual carriageway

Author
Discussion

qualitystreet

Original Poster:

26 posts

131 months

Monday 1st June 2015
quotequote all
Specifically, a very busy, fast one. In this case, turning R (north) onto the A19.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ingleby+Arncli...

1. Having looked for a gap in the southbound traffic, and looked left to see that no northbound traffic is likely to be turning right across my path, I pull out to the central reservation.

2. Where do I position myself? No markings for me, so snuggled up as far right as possible (out of the way of any potential northbound traffic approaching from the L and waiting to turn R) but with a good view of the northbound carriageway.

3a. Wait and wait and wait for a gap - preferably one with no traffic at all, so I can slip across into lane 1 and accelerate at my leisure, but to no avail.

3b. Wait some more until there is a suitable gap to enter in lane 2, having squinted into the distance to be sure there's nobody hiding behind a lorry in lane 1 about to enter lane 2.

4. Enter lane 2 and drive it like I stole it.

Is that the best approach? (Other than, say, to turn south and wait for a more gentle opportunity to turn around.)

I've also seen people smack bang in the middle of the junction, obstructing any traffic turning R off the dual carriageway, which could be fun if the deceleration lane backed up.

Dixy

2,913 posts

204 months

Monday 1st June 2015
quotequote all
Looking at google earth there is a junction 100 yards south where you can do a far safer change of direction, and probably quicker.

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
I would be on the far right on the central reserve

DocSteve

718 posts

221 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
qualitystreet said:
Specifically, a very busy, fast one. In this case, turning R (north) onto the A19.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ingleby+Arncli...

1. Having looked for a gap in the southbound traffic, and looked left to see that no northbound traffic is likely to be turning right across my path, I pull out to the central reservation.

2. Where do I position myself? No markings for me, so snuggled up as far right as possible (out of the way of any potential northbound traffic approaching from the L and waiting to turn R) but with a good view of the northbound carriageway.

3a. Wait and wait and wait for a gap - preferably one with no traffic at all, so I can slip across into lane 1 and accelerate at my leisure, but to no avail.

3b. Wait some more until there is a suitable gap to enter in lane 2, having squinted into the distance to be sure there's nobody hiding behind a lorry in lane 1 about to enter lane 2.

4. Enter lane 2 and drive it like I stole it.

Is that the best approach? (Other than, say, to turn south and wait for a more gentle opportunity to turn around.)

I've also seen people smack bang in the middle of the junction, obstructing any traffic turning R off the dual carriageway, which could be fun if the deceleration lane backed up.
I think these kind of junctions are quite dangerous. If you choose to enter lane 2 in the circumstances you describe then despite what you say about assessing the risk of someone hiding behind a lorry there is always going to be a potential hazard of a vehicle deciding to commit to an overtake without considering what you may do. They might be looking behind in their mirrors etc, go for it, by which point you've already pulled out into lane 2 and they are unable to slow in time to avoid a collision. If there is only one vehicle in lane 1 then you will potentially have a safe option to pull out as you describe in option 3a once it has passed anyway. The second issue with pulling into lane 2 is that even if nobody on the northbound carriageway intends to pull into lane 2 to overtake or for any other reason, your manoeuvre might reasonably concern a driver in lane 1 as they don't know what you are planning to do. They may worry that you are about to pull across into their path and haven't seen them rather than what you actually intend to do; this could cause them to do something unpredictable e.g. brake heavily and cause a following vehicle to pull out into lane 2 (having not seen you or why the vehicle in front was braking, again causing a dangerous conflict with you) or even move over into lane 2 where you intended to position yourself...

My advice is that joining lane 2 where it would clearly not be safe to pull into lane 1 is dangerous and that if you choose to use that junction you should just wait until a safe opportunity presents itself, even if that turns out to be many minutes. It's unusual in fast flowing traffic for there not to be a gap at some point. Even if 3 minutes (for example) does seem like an age, it's better than taking the risk for the reasons I've just mentioned.

I will be interested to hear other opinions as this is not an uncommon scenario...

Steve

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 7th June 2015
quotequote all
Dixy said:
Looking at google earth there is a junction 100 yards south where you can do a far safer change of direction, and probably quicker.
I think that's what I'd do too. The best way of making a dangerous situation safe is to avoid it.

Trax

1,527 posts

231 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
At least they seem to have removed most of these dangerous junctions from the A1, there was loads north of Doncaster. Try doing it in the 80's in a cold, fully loaded metro with the choke still out, oh yes, and uphill.

Thinking back, I had to turn right across a dual carriageway on my driving test...... It was about 100 yards into the test as well. There was only a small area in the middle, so hard to wait without the rear sticking out. I pulled into the middle, and as there was only one car coming in lane 1, I pulled into lane 2. As the car came past in lane 1, on my inside, I was about to indicate left to move over, but the tester said to remain in lane and take next right..... It is now a traffic light junction. (Opposite Doncaster racecourse for the locals).

This would have been late 80's, and not a fast dual carriageway, but a 40 limit. I passed, and the examiner never mentioned it, though I was thinking I made a mistake all the through the next 20 mins or so.

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
I drive the A90 quite often Dundee to Aberdeen, and it really gives me the heebies seeing someone waiting to pull out from the central reserve at a junction. I'd fking hate it if someone pulled out into lane 2 when I was approaching in lane 1, too.