Left and right turns
This topic looks at applying the MSM routine for doing turns from main roads into side roads.
Emerging (t-junctions)
Turning from a side road into a main road without causing traffic on the main road to slow down, stop and change direction (swerve).
Crossroads
A combination of the above two topics with the additional hazard of emerging and having to deal with oncoming vehicles at the same time. Crossroads are notorious for being accident “black-spots” as they are not as easily recognisable as t-junctions.
Roundabouts
One of the most difficult driving topics. There is a lot that you need to get right when approaching the roundabout (the MSM routine), but there is also a lot to get right while going through the roundabout (judging whether it is safe to enter, positioning, mirror checks, exit signals and exit counting).
Different types of roundabouts will be covered including standard roundabouts, mini roundabouts, large roundabouts with standard markings and large roundabouts with spiral markings!
Traffic Lights
When we start the topic of traffic lights, pupils normally ask me “what's so difficult about then?” I then ask them do you know whether you should be turning nearside to nearside or offside to offside, do you know when you can set a angle in your car when waiting in the middle and when you must keep you car straight, do you understand the two-car rule, do you know the rules for a box junction, how do you judge whether it is safe when there is a restricted view, what are filter arrows, etc…? Then we cover all that!
Dual Carriageways
Normally the topic where young lads get very excited as they think they are now going to be driving really fast. Yes – eventually we will be driving on hi-speed (70mph) dual carriageways but first we need to learn how to understand the many different designs and layouts of dual carriageways which can be quite confusing. This includes turning left onto dual carriageways and the use of acceleration lanes, turning left off dual carriageways and the use of deceleration lanes, turning right off dual carriageways and judging when to steer in the gaps in central reservations, turning right onto dual carriageways and knowing when to treat the two parts of the dual carriageway as two separate junctions or to treat the turn as one junction.
Then we will go into dealing with national speed limit dual carriageways (70 mph roads), hi-speed acceleration lanes and deceleration lanes and 3/4 lane roundabouts with motorway exits, etc.