Practical Driving Test Tips - Crossroads
| Problem | Reason | Solution |
| As you emerged you almost went into the kerb turning left | Because you didn’t straighten up early enough | Straighten up as you’re about two thirds of the way round the corner |
| As you emerged you veered towards the wrong side of the road turning left | Because you drove forward too far before steering / didn’t follow the curve of the kerb | Steer left, following the curve. At a sharp corner, start steering as soon as the car begins to move. The sharper the corner the more you need to steer |
| Turning right, you cut the corner | Because you turned too early | Turn later, say, half a bonnet length, when the front of the car is level with the middle of the road you’re turning into |
| Turning right, you cut the corner | Because you took a chance and rushed across | Approach at such a speed that you give yourself time to check ahead and into the new road clearly and effectively, before turning |
| Turning right, you cut the corner | Because you thought it was clear | Turn at the correct point every time. Cutting the corner could become a dangerous habit. Although it might appear to be clear there could be hidden dangers. Also, at night and in adverse weather, you could not be 100% certain that there weren’t pedestrian |
| You (almost) went into the opposite kerb | Because as you emerged you didn’t steer briskly / enough | Take large rapid movements of the steering wheel as you emerge |
| You (almost) went into the opposite kerb | Because you turned too late | Turn once you have crossed the give way / kerb line, and at least by the time you get to the middle of the road |
| You (almost) went into the opposite kerb | Because you emerged too quickly | Emerge at a steady speed such that you can steer sufficiently to make the turn |
| You changed down through the gears on approach to the crossroads | Because you thought it was acceptable; you’d been told that it was OK to do so by a relative | Use the brakes to reduce the speed and then select the most appropriate gear - generally one application of brakes and one gear change should be all that is required |
| You checked the wrong door mirror | Because you didn’t know the correct sequence | Use the interior mirror first, then the appropriate door mirror, left for left, right for right |
| You coasted on approach | Because you put the clutch down, unnecessarily | Put your clutch down just before you change gear / about a car length from the crossroads. Coasting will give you less control of the car and can cause you to approach the junction at a higher speed than you intended |
| You coasted on approach | Because you put the clutch down too early | Put the clutch down later, say, a further 2 - 3 car lengths |
| You coasted on approach and while emerging | Because you changed gear but didn’t bring the clutch back up | Bring the clutch up fully and smoothly as soon as the new gear has been selected |
| You coasted on approach and while emerging | Because you put the gear lever into neutral | Keep a gear engaged all the time the car is moving |
| You coasted on approach and while emerging | Because you approached too - quickly and didn’t give yourself enough time to go through the MSPSL sequence | Start reducing your speed earlier, say, 2 - 3 car lengths, so that you can fit in all elements of the system |
| You confused waiting pedestrians | Because you were uncertain how to deal with them | Drive at a low speed, walking pace or less. Don’t be hesitant. Be positive but not pushy. |
| You crawled up to the crossroads | Because you thought it was safer. | Start reducing your speed later, say, 3 car lengths. Slowing too much / too early can alarm or inconvenience other road users |
| You crawled up to the crossroads | Because you didn’t know when to start slowing down | Assess the crossroads and regulate your speed to fit in with others. Take into account how busy the junction is |
| You crawled up to the crossroads | Because you braked too harshly | Use progressive braking; start off braking lightly and then increase the pressure before finally easing off and changing gear or stopping |
| You crawled up to the crossroads | Because you selected the lower gear, first or second, too early | Use the brakes first, to reduce speed, and then select the most appropriate gear. Match the speed to the vision and the gear to the speed |
| You crossed approaching traffic unsafely | Because you misjudged its speed and distance | Use the guideline: if you could walk across, you could drive across |
| You crossed approaching traffic unsafely | Because you misjudged its speed and distance | Complete the turn and have the back of your car completely in the new road by the time any traffic drives by on the major road |
| You crossed approaching traffic unsafely | Because you misjudged its speed and distance | Consider the type of vehicle: m/cycle sports car / LGV/ PCV and so on. It’s also more difficult to judge speed and distance at night and in adverse weather conditions |
| You crossed approaching traffic unsafely | Because you were unsure about which way to cross, right-side to right-side or otherwise, when an oncoming vehicle was intending to turn right | Turn right-side to right-side (of the car), where practicable, or unless signs say otherwise. This is the safest method as it allows you to see the oncoming traffic. Turning left-side to left-side can block your view and also the view of the other driver |
| You didn’t act on what you saw in your mirrors | Because you glanced at them too quickly | Take twice as long to look in the mirrors and act sensibly on what you see: how close is following traffic? Is it likely to overtake, and so on |
| You didn’t check your door mirrors | Because you felt you didn’t have time | Start the sequence earlier, say, 2 seconds, to give you time to get in the necessary door mirror checks |
| You didn’t check your door mirrors | Because you weren’t aware of the reasons for doing so | Check the door mirrors so that you’ll be aware of traffic coming up on either side; especially two-wheelers |
| You didn’t check your mirrors once you entered the new road | Because you were too concerned with controlling the car | Check your mirrors as soon as the car is straight in the new road and before you accelerate |
| You didn’t check your mirrors once you entered the new road | Because you didn’t know the reasons for doing so | Checking the mirrors immediately you’re straight in the new road will let you know the speed and distance of following traffic |
| You didn’t give way to pedestrians crossing the mouth of the crossroads | Because you didn’t see them | Look, and listen, actively for pedestrians, especially the more vulnerable ones |
| You didn’t give way to pedestrians crossing the mouth of the crossroads | Because you didn’t know / forgot you had to | Give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are leaving and / or entering |
| You didn’t give way to pedestrians crossing the mouth of the crossroads | Because you approached too quickly | Regulate your speed, reduce it by, say, 5 - 8mph, so that you can stop safely if necessary |
| You didn’t look as you approached the crossroads | Because you stared straight ahead | Take early effective observation; start looking, right / left / ahead / right about 6 - 7 car lengths from the crossroads |
| You didn’t signal on approach | Because you didn’t see the need to | Signal each time before you turn from one road into another |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you started looking too late, about one car length from the crossroads | Start looking earlier, say, 2 - 3 car lengths earlier than you did. Early vision - early decision |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you looked only once, and too early | Start your observation as soon as you’re aware of the crossroads and keep looking as you get closer |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you looked left (right) only | Look right / ahead / left / ahead right regardless of in which direction you’re turning i.e. scan from right to left and back again |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because, although you looked, you didn’t act on what you saw / heard | Use the information you receive and act accordingly (give examples) |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you just had very quick glances | Take longer, say, 2 seconds in all, to look, and take in what you see |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you stared in one direction | Take early, effective observation, checking (by looking and listening) all sources of danger |
| You didn’t take effective observation as you approached the crossroads | Because you weren’t looking far enough up and down the new road | Look as far up and down the road as you can see (the limit point - explain) and scan back from side to side |
| You didn’t use the MSM sequence in the correct order | Because you didn’t know the importance of doing so | Check the mirrors first. Then decide when to signal. If you signal first, without checking mirrors, this could endanger or inconvenience others |
| You didn’t use the MSM sequence on approach to the junction | Because you weren’t concentrating | Check your mirrors and use the sequence as soon as you see the crossroads |
| You emerged onto the wrong side of the road turning right | Because you turned too soon | Turn once you have crossed the give way / kerb line, not before |
| You emerged unsafely | Because you misjudged the speed and distance of traffic approaching from the right / left / ahead | Look and assess the speed of approaching traffic. Ask yourself if you could emerge without causing drivers on the major road to do any of the 4 S’s: stop, slow down, swerve or swear |
| You emerged unsafely | Because you misjudged the speed and distance of traffic approaching from the right / left / ahead | Consider that different types of vehicles .are likely to approach-at varying speeds: LGV’s / PCV’s / sports cars / motorbikes etc |
| You emerged unsafely | Because you misjudged the speed and distance of traffic approaching from the right / left / ahead | Take into account the width and speed limit of the road you’re emerging into |
| You kept your hand on the gear lever between gear changes | Because you weren’t aware that you were doing it | Replace your hand on the steering wheel between each gear change. This will give you 100% control of the steering |
| You only checked your mirrors once on approach to the junction | Because you weren’t aware of the need to check them more | Check all mirrors at least twice on approach to the junction, more if necessary |
| You rushed up to the crossroads | Because you braked too late | Brake earlier, say, 3 car lengths earlier |
| You rushed up to the crossroads | Because you didn’t know what was a safe and controlled speed | Regulate your speed by a reduction of, say, 5mph |
| You rushed up to the crossroads | Because you slowed the car down with gears | Use the footbrake to reduce the speed of the car |
| You rushed up to the crossroads | Because you were unaware there was a crossroads there | Look well ahead and seek out the clues that will tell you that you’re approaching crossroads: traffic crossing, signs, breaks in the houses / buildings, white lines and so on |
| You rushed up to the crossroads | Because you didn’t realise what the consequences would be | Approach at a safe and controlled speed, such that you could stop safely, if necessary. Rushing up could alarm and confuse others, especially pedestrians |
| You signalled too early / late | Because you weren’t sure when to signal | Signal about 6 - 7 car lengths from the crossroads, as a general guideline, in a 30mph limit |
| You stalled as you moved away from the crossroads | Because you moved away in the gear you’d approached in | Select first gear when you’re about a car length from the crossroads |
| You stalled as you moved away from the crossroads | Because you selected the wrong gear; 3rd instead of 1st, 4th instead of 2nd | Use the correct hand position on the gear lever to ensure you select the correct gear |
| You stalled, as you pulled up at the crossroads | Because you didn’t put the clutch down / early / enough | Put the clutch down just before the car comes to a stop, say, within a car length from the crossroads |
| You stopped and waved / flashed / signalled pedestrians to cross | Because you thought it was helpful | Make eye contact with pedestrians but don’t wave or signal them to cross. You could be waving them into danger. Let them make their own decision as to when to cross |
| You used the MSM sequence too late | Because you weren’t sure how early to use it | Scan the road ahead and look for the junction. Start the sequence earlier, say, 2 seconds |
| You were hesitant emerging | Because you didn’t look until you got to the crossroads | Start looking earlier, say, 6 - 7 car lengths, so that you are ready to emerge as soon as you can see it’s clear |
| You were hesitant emerging | Because you hadn’t prepared the car | Select the correct gear and have the gas set and the clutch at the biting point before you take your final look |
| You were hesitant emerging | Because you applied the handbrake / selected neutral unnecessarily | Use the handbrake only if you’re going to be waiting for more than a moment, or due to the gradient. Select neutral if the wait is going to be longer than, say, 20 seconds. |
| You were hesitant emerging | Because you applied the handbrake before selecting the gear | Select first gear first, as a general guideline, if you’re the first to arrive at a give way / unmarked crossroads |
| You were hesitant emerging | Because you were looking for too long, almost wanting something to appear | Look and go, if it’s safe. If you wait unnecessarily it is likely that something will appear |
| You were incorrectly positioned before turning left | Because you veered in / out on approach | Maintain your position, keeping a constant distance from the kerb, as you approach the crossroads. |
| You were incorrectly positioned before turning left | Because you veered in / out on approach | Follow it round keeping a constant distance from the kerb, If the corner is shallow |
| You were incorrectly positioned before turning left | Because you veered in / out on approach | Turn the steering wheel a quarter of a turn to the left just before stopping, If it’s a sharp corner |
| You were incorrectly positioned before turning right | Because you didn’t adjust your position on approach / were too far to the left / right | Position the car just left of the centre of the road (advise) |
| You were incorrectly positioned before turning right | Because you didn’t take parked vehicles into account | Adjust your position to take parked vehicles / obstructions on the other side of the road into account. Such objects narrow the width of road and you should then imagine where the ‘new’ centre line is |
| You were incorrectly positioned to go ahead | Because you were too far to the left / right | Position the car in the normal driving position 1m from kerb |
| Your speed fluctuated on approach | Because you misjudged your speed, slowed down too much, then speeded up | Plan ahead, look at the distance to the crossroads; and regulate your speed so that your slowing down is progressive and smooth. Fluctuating speed can alarm and confuse others |