People are always asking me which lane to use at traffic lights and roundabouts.
It seems reasonable to assume that when you turn left at a traffic light then you would use the left hand (nearside) lane.
If you turn right at a traffic light then you would use the right hand (offside)lane.
But, which is the best lane when going straight ahead?
That seems to be the confusing bit.
The general rule is that you use the left lane to go straight ahead, even if there are three lanes!
The middle lane, and right hand lane are to be used either for overtaking, or turning right.
However, sometimes you may need to use some judgement, and look for clues which may compel you to use a different lane.
There are a few features in the previous example:
The Bus Lane blocks the left hand lane, so it would be better here to use the right lane (offside lane) to go straight-on, avoiding an untidy merge.- The car turning right blocks the way, so here it is better to use the left lane to go straight.
- Here the right lane is better, as there is a narrowing on the left further on. (If you are not first in the queue, make sure the car in front isn't going to get stuck while turning right.)
Here the left lane MUST be used, as the right lane is for right turns only
Your level of safety (and stress levels) will be greatly affected by your ability to anticipate potential problems. At multi-lane junctions you can solve problems before they appear, by looking way ahead, and selecting the best lane based on the visual information presented to you.
If you end up snookered in the wrong lane, don't worry, everybody does from time to time! Take a deep breath, perhaps say something rude to yourself, and find a safe way through the problem. If that means taking a different road from the one you intended, then so be it. Just stay safe.
Bye for now
Congratulations!
Two more Passes this week!
Danvan Sayer & baby! (Good Luck with the Birth!)
Matt O'Sullivan. Matt may have had a bit of trouble with the windscreen wipers, but his driving is nevertheless excellent.
If you want some more driving test info, check my website at:charltondriving.com
If you need to email me about anything driving related then please do. Please do not cancel lessons via email though, as I may not receive the notification in time. neil@charltondriving.com
For further information still, this is a great website: smartdriving.co.uk