Turning right at junctions requires accurate road positioning. Incorrect road positioning can inconvenience other road users, be hazardous or even dangerous.
Faults made during a driving test in this particular area will see the examiner mark the ‘Junctions – Turning right’ box. Faults that are potentially hazardous are usually marked as serious and faults that require the examiner to take control or that become actual hazards are often marked as dangerous faults.
Using the Right Lane for Turning Right at a Roundabout
This common test failure involves the test candidate using the left lane for turning right at a roundabout. Because you’re turning right at the roundabout, you’ll be indicating right and by using the left lane, it can cause confusion to vehicles that are following you – they may think that you want to change lanes.
Additionally, for other vehicles turning right and who are in the right lane, they will need to move over to the left lane to exit the roundabout. This can be hazardous if your vehicle is directly alongside them.
If you do enter the roundabout using the incorrect lane, for safety reason, you should consider taking an alternative route. In this instance, either turn left at the roundabout or follow the road ahead and the examiner will find an alternative route. You may receive a (minor) fault for doing this, but it’s better than getting a serious or dangerous fault.
Causing an Obstruction When Waiting to Turn Right
This situation involves the test candidate waiting to make a right turn into a minor road. While waiting for approaching traffic to clear, the test candidate’s car is positioned too far over to the left-side of the road, preventing following vehicles from passing on the passenger side of the vehicle.
When waiting to turn right, position your vehicle to the far right of your lane, ensuring that your driver-side wheels are just left of the centre road line
To help with this, reference points can be a valuable learning aid. To do this, ask your supervising passenger to help you position your car perfectly for turning right. Now look where the centre road line comes down the road and stops as it ‘hits’ your car’s dashboard. You can mark this area to use as a reference point and use it for making right turns.
Incorrectly Positioned When Turning Right at a T-junction
At the end of the road, the test candidate is turning right. The T-junction has no road markings and the test candidate positions their car to the left, even though they’re turning right.
T-junctions with no road markings can be confusing and difficult to know where to position your car. On the approach to the end of the road, divide the junction into two halves and imagine a centre line. Use this imaginary line to position your car just to the left of it when turning right.