Stupid Highway code question
Stupid Highway code question
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Discussion

aprisa

Original Poster:

1,891 posts

285 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
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

gtir

24,741 posts

293 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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The one turning right I would geuss, although if you are both turning right its the biggest vehicle!

Don

28,378 posts

311 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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deltaf

1,384 posts

284 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
If youre turning right id say the ones who are going straight over have the priority.
If you are both turning right, neither has.

mel

10,168 posts

302 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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I'd have said going straight on or turning left has the right of way, same principle as at traffic lights, if your turning right you give way to on coming traffic.

mondeoman

11,430 posts

293 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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The one who got there first ..........

Works for me!

Size Nine Elm

5,167 posts

311 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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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

aprisa

Original Poster:

1,891 posts

285 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Glad to see I'm not the only one who isn't sure.
Don, either I'm thick (good chance) or the scenario I'm asking about is not on those pages?
Nick

northernboy

12,642 posts

284 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
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.

aprisa

Original Poster:

1,891 posts

285 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Sorry Northernboy, this I am OK with its the situation given that I don't fully understand.
Nick

andyf007

863 posts

285 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
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

littlegearl

3,139 posts

284 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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no one has priority!!! no seriously!

i thought it would be like a roundabout where you give way to cars coming from the right but its a fooking free-for-all...

may the biggest vehicle win!!!