Driving Lesson Notes #12 Position and traffic

Driving on the bends:

Right bend: be positioned on the left side of the lane

Left bend: be positioned in the center of the lane

 

Oncoming traffic:

Understanding where to stop and who has priority:

(i) Where can I stop for oncoming traffic:

There are gaps found in parking spaces or near connected roads. Sometimes you can stop next to the gap opposite from you, so that the other traffic can go around you.

Who has priority on meeting traffic?:

• Blue give-way signs indicate you have priority.
• Priority is given to the side of the road that has an obstruction (i.e. cars are parked, roadworks).
• If both side has obstruction, then no one has priority. Usually the first person who reachs the narrow spot will go through first.
• Stop to let other vehichle pass, especially with large vehicle.

Who has priority when passing parked cars?

Sometimes there’s enough room for two-way traffic to navigate past a parked car—but often there isn’t. In these cases, there are two rules for working out who has right of way when passing parked vehicles. The first is communicated in Rule 163 of the Highway Code:

give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles

In practical terms, that means:

• If the parked cars are on your side of the road, then you should give way to oncoming traffic
• If the parked cars are on the opposite side of the road, you have priority

However, this rule is qualified by another rule: commitment. If you’ve already started your overtake, oncoming traffic should give way to you. Likewise, if an oncoming driver has committed to an overtake, you should give way to them. In either instance, which side of the road the vehicles are parked on doesn’t matter. You’re committed if you:

• Have started the overtaking manoeuvre
• Are too close to the parked car to move back in behind it and then back out again safely
• Would have to reverse in order to let the oncoming driver through

Of course, if you’re both committed, one of you will have to reverse. That should be the driver who will be least inconvenienced. Usually that’ll be the person who has the shortest distance to reverse, but you should also take into account whether either one of you has traffic behind you. One car moving backwards is less inconvenient than a line of drivers having to reverse.

Passing parked vehicles opposite a junction? Drivers emerging from the junction should give way to you—but just be careful, in case they haven’t seen you or don’t know this rule.

Double parking:

Double parking is where there are cars parked on both sides of the road. On narrow streets, where there isn’t enough room for you both to overtake the parked cars, you’ll have to decide who should go first. The rule in this instance is first come, first served. Whoever gets there first has priority, and can begin their overtake. If you arrive at the same time then try to establish eye contact with the other driver to gauge their intentions. There’s no right or wrong, but once someone has started the manoeuvre and is committed, the other driver should give way. You should use these rules even if the parked cars are staggered, rather than directly opposite each other.

As the driver of the red car with the yellow parked cars on the opposite side of the road, you have right of way. However, if an oncoming vehicle has already committed to the overtaking procedure whilst you are approaching, you should give way. It’s essential during a driving test that you look well ahead whilst before and whilst passing parked cars for this type of situation and be prepared to give way even if it’s your right of way.

If a situation such as this occurs during a driving test and you did not give way, either you or the other vehicle will need to manoeuvre out of the way. If there are no gaps within the parked cars for the blue car to enter, it may require one you needing to reverse to a point in the road where you can pass. This situation certainly isn’t ideal during a driving test and mounting the pavement to allow a vehicle to pass will certainly fail a test.

The key is to observe the parked cars well before you reach them, gently slow the car and look well ahead for oncoming vehicles. Whilst passing the parked cars, look out for gaps in the within the cars that are large enough for an oncoming vehicle to pull into. If the road is narrow, be prepared to stop and wait for the oncoming car to pull into the gap and allow you to proceed.

Flashing headlights

Now, you might already know that drivers shouldn’t flash their headlights to communicate with others, other than to simply let them know that you’re there. It’s not always totally clear what someone intends by flashing, and we should aim for clarity on the roads, rather than confusion. The reality is, though, that plenty of drivers do use their headlights to communicate more widely. If an oncoming driver flashes you when you’re facing parked cars or another obstruction, they will usually mean that they’ll wait while you go first. Just remember that there’s always room for misinterpretation when signals are used like this.

Crossroad junction traffic:

Highway code recommends turning after you pass each other but it is not commonly done in real life at traffic light junctions. Most people turn before they pass each other. However, turning after each other is more common on crossroad junctions without traffic lights.

Nearside/nearside: pass in front of the vehicle

Con: restricted vision

 

Offside/offside: go around the back