Transportation Tuesday TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY What needs quick thinking and concentration? Intersection, junctions, roundabouts & U turns all require your full attention and defensive driving skills.

Transportation Tuesday What should you do at intersections and junctions? One of the most dangerous place to drive is through an intersection. The risk of an accident occurring at intersections is high because a driver encounters four types of potential danger: On-coming traffic Cross traffic Turning traffic Pedestrians When approaching an intersection with or without traffic lights: Slow down and proceed with caution. Try to avoid a rear end collision. Do not take the right-of-way until clear. Always stop for pedestrians even if they don’t have the right-of-way.

Transportation Tuesday When faced with traffic lights! Green Light means ‘go’ but many drivers see the light and accelerate before the light changes. They don’t check if the junction is clear. Why should one check? Because there might be vehicles or pedestrians that should not be there. Yellow/amber Light means ‘caution’. Be careful, the signal is about to change. The traffic from the other directions are preparing to move. Red Light means ‘stop’. Once green, count a few seconds before stepping on your accelerator. What should you do at intersections and junctions?

Transportation Tuesday What should you do when turning? Left and right turns To avoid an accident when turning, signal your intentions well in advance and check your mirrors for traffic from behind. Do not turn until oncoming traffic is cleared. If there are vehicles in sight, use your judgement carefully!! If in any doubt, wait until it’s safe to make your turn. U turns The difficult aspects of attempting a U turn is to decide whether it is safe to turn and to judge the speed and distance of traffic accurately. When attempting to U turn, use your mirrors to check following traffic, indicate early, slow and stop at a suitable point, give way to traffic, and once the road is clear, proceed with the U turn.

Transportation Tuesday Entering freeways.. It is important to let on-going traffic proceed. Watch for an opening, signal and merge smoothly with traffic. As you approach and enter the lane, increase speed to match that of the vehicles in the lane. Usually drivers on the freeway should allow room for those emerging but sometimes they don’t. It is better if you give way and then merge.

Transportation Tuesday Roundabouts… On approaching a roundabout watch traffic all around you including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings. Decide as early as possible which exit you need to take. Give the appropriate signal so you don’t confuse others. Get into the correct lane. Adjust your speed to fit traffic conditions. Be aware of the speed and position of other vehicles around you. Watch out for vehicles already on the roundabout and beware, they may not be signalling correctly or at all.

Transportation Tuesday