Stupid Highway code question
Discussion
Maybe someone could clear up something I cannot find in the Code book or by searching this site?
When you are at a crossroads on one of the minor roads, if there are cars opposite you, who has priority, the ones turning right, going straight over or the first one there?
Suppose I should know after 25 yrs driving!
Nick
When you are at a crossroads on one of the minor roads, if there are cars opposite you, who has priority, the ones turning right, going straight over or the first one there?
Suppose I should know after 25 yrs driving!
Nick
Don said: www.roads.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety/hc/16.shtml
Its all there...
Oh no it isn't... there doesn't seem to be a definition of who has right of way if two cars are at a junction and both have a 'give way' sign or road markings. The only pointer is, under 'turning right', 'Wait until there is a safe gap between you and any oncoming vehicle.' Which would tend to indicate that going striaght on gives you priority.
If there was an accident, since both parties were on give way markings, I guess both would be culpable since they both obviously hadn't given way.
Edited to add - its the one in the biggest 4x4 who has implicit right of way.
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Thursday 12th December 11:52
If you're both turning right, you are supposed to turn nearside to nearside. This can happen simultaneously, so neither has right of way. If you're going straight on, same thing happens, which in effect means you are turning around the back of the oncoming car.
If teh crossroads is small, this does cause a problem, as there often isn't really enough room to do it the right way, leading to people tuning nearside to nearside.
The correct way can lead to confusion when there's aline of traffic, too, as the second car in the queue can block the car turning across in front of it.
The rules were designed before the time when we had big queues at crossroads.
That is one reason for mini roundabouts.
If teh crossroads is small, this does cause a problem, as there often isn't really enough room to do it the right way, leading to people tuning nearside to nearside.
The correct way can lead to confusion when there's aline of traffic, too, as the second car in the queue can block the car turning across in front of it.
The rules were designed before the time when we had big queues at crossroads.
That is one reason for mini roundabouts.
If the car opposite is going straight on or turning to his left and you are turning right, he has right of way over you, even if you were there first, and vice-versa. If you are both turning right, then it's down to common courtesy who goes first, but usually who's first at the junction gets to go first. General rule of thumb is to view it the same as if you were both on the major road.
Andy
Andy
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