Left Turns

1. Road signs: red-bordered warning triangles tell you that you’re approaching a      junction
2. Road markings: you’ll see them on the left of the road ahead
3. Buildings: a gap in a row of buildings could indicate a junction
4. Parked cars: a gap in a row of parked cars could indicate a junction
5. Moving cars: cars emerging from the left could indicate a junction

When you’ve spotted the junction at which you want to turn left, follow the MSPSL routine.

Mirrors

• Look into your rear-view mirror and left side mirror (shows you what’s happening behind you and on your left side).

Signal

• In towns, make your signalling clear. If you signal your intention to turn left too early, people may think you’re pulling over to stop. If you signal too late, other drivers won’t have time to react. Be guided by your speed. If you’re travelling at 30mph, six car lengths is about right; at 10–15mph, two car lengths is more appropriate.

Position

• Take a safe driving line – about 1 metre from the kerb. That gives other drivers a chance to pass on your right. It also confirms to other drivers that you intend to turn left.

Speed

• Your speed should be neither too slow nor too fast. Adjust it by easing off the accelerator and gentle use of the foot brake.

• If you go too fast, you’ll struggle to get round the corner – you may end up on the wrong side of the road.

• If you go too slow, you’ll encourage other drivers to overtake you close to a junction, which could be dangerous.

• The gear you choose depends on how much you can see into the minor road and how sharp the turn is. As a general rule, the sharper the bend, the lower the gear. Whichever gear you choose, engage the clutch at least one car length from the corner. Avoid coasting.

Look

• Take a final look into the left side mirror to check for cyclists.
• Look as far as you can into the road you are about to turn into. Look for emerging traffic, obstructions, and pedestrians. If you see pedestrians, try to interpret their movements – do they look like they might cross the road?