This article summarises Rules 170 to 173 and 179 to 183 on junctions and turning, and Rules 200 to 203 on turning round and reversing, all published on GOV.UK. It leaves out the rules on traffic lights, box junctions and roundabouts, which the site covers separately. The Highway Code’s introduction says it applies to England, Scotland and Wales, so Northern Ireland is not covered. It is general information. “MUST” rules are legal requirements and “should” rules are advice.
Extra care at junctions (Rule 170)
Rule 170 says drivers should take extra care at junctions and lists specific points:
- watch for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, including powered wheelchair and mobility scooter users, who are not always easy to see and may not have seen or heard a vehicle approaching from behind;
- give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which the driver is turning, since if they have started to cross they have priority;
- stay behind cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motorcyclists at junctions even if they are waiting to turn and are positioned close to the kerb;
- watch for long vehicles that may have to use the whole width of the road to turn;
- not assume that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn; and
- look all around before emerging and wait for a gap large enough to cross or join safely.
Stop and Give Way (Rules 171 and 172)
Rule 171 says a driver MUST stop behind the line at a junction with a “Stop” sign and a solid white line across the road, then wait for a safe gap before moving off. Rule 172 says the approach to a junction may have a “Give Way” sign or a triangle marked on the road, and a driver MUST give way to traffic on the main road when emerging from a junction with broken white lines across the road.
Dual carriageways (Rule 173)
Rule 173 says that when crossing or turning right at a dual carriageway, the driver should first assess whether the central reservation is deep enough to protect the full length of the vehicle. If it is, each half can be treated as a separate road, waiting in the central reservation for a safe gap in the second half. If the central reservation is too shallow for the vehicle’s length, the driver should wait until both carriageways can be crossed in one go.
Turning right (Rules 179 to 181)
Well before turning right, Rule 179 says drivers should:
- use their mirrors to know the position and movement of traffic behind;
- give a right-turn signal;
- take up a position just left of the middle of the road, or in the space marked for traffic turning right; and
- leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left, if possible.
Rule 180 says the driver should wait for a safe gap between themselves and any oncoming vehicle, watching for cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users. They should check the mirrors and blind spot again to make sure they are not being overtaken, then make the turn without cutting the corner. The Code advises great care when turning into a main road, where traffic must be watched in both directions.
Rule 181 covers crossroads where an oncoming vehicle is also turning right. There are two methods. In the first, drivers turn right side to right side, keeping the other vehicle on their right and turning behind it, which the Code says is generally safer because of the clear view of approaching traffic when completing the turn. In the second, they turn left side to left side, turning in front of each other, which can block the view of oncoming vehicles, so extra care is needed because cyclists and motorcyclists in particular may be hidden. The Code says road layout, markings or the other vehicle’s position can determine which course to take.
Turning left (Rules 182 and 183)
Rule 182 says drivers should use their mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before turning left. They should not overtake just before turning left, and should watch for traffic coming up on the left before making the turn, especially in a large vehicle, because cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users may be hidden from view. Rule 183 says that when turning, drivers should keep as close to the left as is safe and practicable, and give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane, cycle track or tramway from either direction, including when they are passing slow-moving or stationary vehicles on either side.
Turning round and reversing (Rules 200 to 203)
Rule 200 says a driver who needs to turn the vehicle around should wait for a safe place and try not to reverse or turn round in a busy road, finding a quiet side road or driving round a block instead. Rule 201 says not to reverse from a side road into a main road, and, when using a driveway, to reverse in and drive out if possible.
Rule 202 says a driver should look carefully before reversing by:
- using all mirrors;
- checking the blind spot behind the vehicle; and
- checking that there are no pedestrians, particularly children, cyclists, other road users or obstructions behind.
The driver should then reverse slowly, checking all around, looking mainly through the rear window and remembering that the front of the vehicle will swing out when turning. The Code adds that someone should guide the driver if they cannot see clearly. Rule 203 says a driver MUST NOT reverse further than necessary.
The bottom line
Rules 170 to 183 and 200 to 203 ask drivers in England, Scotland and Wales to give way to pedestrians who have started crossing, stop behind Stop lines, take a position just left of the centre when turning right, check mirrors and the blind spot before completing a right turn, and reverse only as far as necessary, slowly and with full all-round observation.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “The Highway Code: Introduction”
- GOV.UK, “The Highway Code: Using the road (159 to 203)”