A Cyclist, a Pedestrian Island and a Right Turn
You are approaching a signal-controlled crossroads in town at about 40 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Your light is green. You intend to turn right. On your right, a marked cycle lane runs along the road you are on, and a cyclist is alongside your rear right quarter, moving at about 25 km/h. Ahead, a pedestrian refuge island splits the road just before the junction; a pedestrian is waiting there, and a second person is stepping off the kerb on the far side. A bus is stopped in the left lane 60 m past the junction, indicating to pull out. The road is dry and it is daylight. Your mirror shows a car close behind.
1. Work through the right turn step by step. Who has priority and what must you check before and during the turn?
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Before the turn:
- Mirror and blind spot - the cyclist is at your rear right quarter at 25 km/h against your 40 km/h. You are closing on them; if you brake for the turn, they may come alongside. Check the right mirror and right blind spot before doing anything.
- Position - move right only after confirming the cyclist is not there. If they are, hold back and let them pass before positioning.
- Signal early and clearly.
Priority:
- The cyclist going straight on in the cycle lane has priority over your turning path. Turning across them is a classic collision. Wait until they have cleared the junction.
- Pedestrians on the refuge and stepping off the far kerb: if you are turning into that road, they are crossing your path and have priority once they are on the crossing or committed. The person stepping off the kerb must be given time to cross.
During the turn: keep speed low, re-check the right mirror and blind spot mid-turn (a second cyclist may be following), and be ready to stop. Do not cut the corner.
2. The light turns amber as you reach the stop line. What are your options and how do you choose?
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Options:
- Stop, if you can do so safely - you are at 40 km/h, so stopping distance on dry road is roughly 20–25 m including reaction. If you are more than about 25 m from the line when amber appears, stopping is realistic.
- Continue, only if you are so close that braking would be harsh or would risk a rear-end collision with the car close behind.
How to choose:
- Amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so. It is not a signal to accelerate.
- The car close behind argues for a gentle, early brake application rather than a late hard one - start braking as soon as amber appears, and check the mirror first.
- If you do continue, you must clear the junction promptly and must not enter it if the exit is blocked. Here the bus pulling out 60 m beyond could cause queuing, so check the exit is clear before committing.
- The cyclist may also be deciding whether to stop; do not assume their path.
Do not: accelerate to beat the light, or stop abruptly without checking behind.
3. The bus 60 m past the junction indicates to pull out. How does this affect your plan?
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Effect on the plan: the bus will need a gap in your lane. If it pulls out as you complete the turn, you may have to stop in or just beyond the junction - which risks blocking the junction if the exit is not clear.
Adjustments:
- Before committing to the turn, look through the junction to the exit and confirm there is space for your vehicle beyond it.
- If the bus is already moving out, plan to slow early and let it go rather than racing to get past.
- Do not overtake a bus that is signalling to pull out unless you can see it is safe and you have room; it may move without warning.
- Watch for passengers crossing in front of or behind the bus - a common hidden hazard.
- Keep your gap to the vehicle ahead so you can stop smoothly, and remember the cyclist may still be near your right side as you turn.
Summary: the bus turns a simple right turn into a sequencing problem - cyclist first, pedestrians second, then judge the exit gap before the bus takes it.