How to turn right at traffic lights.
Turning right at traffic lights
can be more complicated than turning left or going straight
because it often involves rolling up into the middle
and crossing over traffic
which means you may well have to give way to traffic
so I'll demonstrate how it's done but first of all I want to show you using the pictures.
always approach the traffic light
at a speed you're able to stop at in case the light were to turn red
if you do need to stop
you should stop at the first white line, not the second/third
then when the light goes green
you should not wait here for a suitable gap
you should always roll up into the middle (provided it is safe)
you should always roll into the middle and wait for a safe gap
so up you go into the middle so the front of your car is
in line with the middle of the road you are turning into
the cars going straight and left should go first
because the cars going straight are not crossing over
the cars going left are on the near side
they have the right of way
If the car coming towards you, like the red car here
intends on turning this way (left to you but right to him)
you can both go at the same time
as this picture down here shows
you can cross side to side
like that, that's the normal way to cross
the better way to cross would be like this up here
drivers side to drivers side
it is safer because visibility is enhanced
but this is probably the more popular way of doing it
and you can both go at the same time provided
it's safe, provided there's no-one up here going straight
or could be going left
you can both go at the same time
As you may well be waiting a while
it's important that you don't stay stuck in the middle
even if the light goes amber and then red you wouldn't stay stuck in the middle
as you would be blocking traffic coming from this side or this side
when the next sequence of lights change
So stop at the first white line if you need to, roll into the middle
give way to the cars going straight and this way
you can go at the same time here and here
and you mustn't stay stuck in the middle
always keep an eye out for filter lights like the arrow here
that could give you the right of way to go right if it is safe
so that's turning right at traffic lights at junctions of this nature
I was mentioning filter lights there
two examples of filter lights here
you could have a green arrow filter light
or a flashing amber arrow filter light
the green is stronger than the amber
so this means you can go right
provided it is safe to do so
it looks like you have the right of way to go right but
but it is not a God given right, you have to make sure it is safe and clear
but this is stronger than a flashing amber so
to keep it simple that means you can go right if it is safe to do so
now this one here is a bit different
this is a flashing amber arrow light
if you just try and visualise this as flashing
this means you can go in the direction of the flashing amber arrow
which is left in this case, so you can go left
but you have to make sure that you give way to traffic
on the adjoining road or the road up ahead
so it basically means the same as a yield sign
you can go in the direction of the arrow but you must give way to traffic
on the road ahead/adjoining road
that's just a little note on filter lights which are important to watch out for at traffic lights
When turning right at lights
it's important to show good lane discipline
and be aware of arrows on the road
as I'm showing you here, there's a left arrow
so you'd take the left lane going left
this middle lane for straight
and this lane for right
so always be aware of arrows on the road
and the lanes that they represent
also be wary of cycle bays
not lanes, this is a cycle lane and this is a cycle bay
you shouldn't stop in a cyclist bay, that's where cyclists wait
cyclists can come up here and wait in front of traffic
the drivers of cars or vehicles shouldn't go into that
unless you are driving over it without stopping to go into the middle
the yellow box too is not to be feared
generally you shouldn't stop in the yellow box
but the exception is if you are turning right
such as turning right at traffic lights
Here we have an important page from the rules of the road book
page 61
about a turning box
you might see these in some places
you must never go into the turning box on a red light
you should wait behind the first white line
and then when the light goes green
you should roll forward into the turning box
to wait for a safe gap on the right turn
so that's turning boxes, also important to watch out for those
at traffic lights when you want to turn right.
Here we're going to turn right at the traffic lights
check mirrors signal
slowing down
entering the right lane, checking mirrors as I do so
and stopping at the first white line
apply my handbrake if I'm going to be stopped a while
waiting for the light to turn green
a full green is enough to roll into the centre as I'm about to do
yield to oncoming cars
as oncoming cars going straight have the right of way
so I sit here in the middle and I wait
for the oncoming cars to clear
a filter light may come on up here (a right arrow light)
and if that does I have the right of way
but I don't have to wait for a filter arrow if there's a clear gap
so traffic going left and straight has right of way
looks like I have a gap now so
I'll make sure of it
complete the turn on the full green light
I don't have to wait for the filter arrow
complete the turn and even if that light
was to go amber or red
I still wouldn't get stuck in the middle because
it's important not to stay stranded in the middle
so that's how to turn right at traffic lights
by the Talbot Hotel Wexford
We're going to try a right turn at another set of lights now
from a larger road
so as I approach the lights are green
check my mirrors, indicate, down the gears
check mirrors again as I enter the filter lane
coming in gradually and reapplying the indicator
so rolling up into the centre
not waiting back there at the first white line
into the centre of the road
so I'm in line with the centre of the road I'm turning into
into first gear and apply my handbrake
so again it's a full green light
I don't necessarily have to wait for an arrow here
I can go on a full green light
so I'm waiting patiently for my gap as I have to yield to oncoming cars
to cars going straight and cars going to my right and their left
so keeping my indicator on
ready on the handbrake
a full green light, waiting for my safe gap
to complete the turn
I see my gap now so I get the bite
in I go without crossing the hands
straightening up
and as I enter the new road make sufficient progress
and checking the mirrors as I go
that's how to turn right at traffic lights
Kerlogue in Wexford.