Junctions and roundabouts

From the Rules of the Road published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). iTest.ie is not affiliated with the RSA — check rsa.ie for the latest edition. Read in the app (contents, picks up where you left off) →

This section outlines the correct way to approach and drive at junctions and roundabouts.

Junctions

If you see a ‘Stop’ sign (shown below), you must stop at the sign or at the stop line on the road, if provided, even if there is no traffic on the road you would like to enter.

If you see a ‘Yield’ sign or yield line (shown below), you must slow down, but you do not have to stop completely unless you need to wait for any oncoming traffic to pass.

Section 6 has more information on these and other regulatory signs.

Right of way

• Traffic travelling straight ahead in either direction along a major road generally has right of way at all times.
• If you are at a junction where the roads are of equal importance, the traffic on your right has right of way. You must let that traffic pass before you move on. It is important to understand that the right of way is not an absolute right. You must proceed with caution while showing regard for other users of the road.
• If you are approaching a T junction, the traffic already on the road you are joining has right of way. This means any traffic on the road ending at the junction must wait for the other traffic to pass before turning left or right.
• If you are turning right at a junction, the traffic coming straight through the junction from the opposite direction has right of way.
• If you plan to turn right at a junction and a vehicle from the opposite direction wants to turn into the same road, the vehicle that is turning left has right of way. If yours is the vehicle turning right, you must wait for the other vehicle to turn first.
• If you are approaching a junction with a major road, you must yield to other traffic. This means giving right of way or letting them pass before you enter the road you are joining.

Vehicles do not have an automatic right of way on the road. The overriding rule is, in all circumstances, to proceed with caution.

You must always yield to:

• pedestrians already crossing at a junction;
• pedestrians on a zebra crossing;
• pedestrians on a pelican crossing when the amber light is flashing; and
• pedestrians and traffic when you are moving off from a stationary position (for example from your position at a stop sign or a parking space).

To avoid doubt and in the interest of road safety, a vehicle should always yield to pedestrians.

You must also yield to:

• traffic already turning at a junction;
• traffic in another lane when you wish to change lanes; and
• traffic on a public road when you are coming out of a private entrance.

Stop, look, listen, and look again. This is your duty when entering the roadway.

Motorists should watch for cyclists emerging from the end of a cycle track, and watch for mopeds and motorcycles emerging from junctions. Bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles might be difficult to see because of their small size.

It is important to understand that the right of way is not an absolute right of way. You must proceed with caution, having regard for other road users.

Turning right from a major road onto a minor road

• Check your mirrors well in advance and check blind spots, if appropriate, for traffic following behind you, and give a right hand signal.
• As soon as you can do so safely, take up a position just left of the middle of the road or in the space provided for right-turning traffic.
• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left.
• Do not turn the steering wheel until you are ready to make the turn.
• When a safe gap occurs in oncoming traffic, finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road into which you are turning.
• Do not cut the corner when you turn. Do not make a ‘swan neck’ by passing the correct turning point and then having to turn back into the road you want to enter.

Turning right from a minor road onto a major road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you and give a right turn signal.
• As soon as you can do so safely, take up a position just left of the middle of the road.
• If you are at a junction controlled by a Stop or a Yield sign, wait at the entrance to the junction until the road is clear in both directions.
• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left.
• When a safe gap occurs in traffic coming from both directions, finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road onto which you are turning.
• Be alert for road markings which direct you to follow a certain course.

Turning right at a crossroads

When turning right at a crossroads and a car coming from the opposite direction is also turning right, if possible you should both try to turn back to back (pictured below). This allows you and the other driver to see oncoming traffic and allows the traffic to see you.

If you cannot do this, you may turn near-side to near-side if necessary. This means starting the turn while the vehicles are still facing each other.

Turning right from a one-way street

Drive as close as you safely can to the right-hand side of the one-way street. Look out for areas where two lanes may be allowed for turning right.

Turning left from a major road to a minor road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you.
• Give a left-turn signal and, when safe, slow down.
• Keep as close as you safely can to the left-hand edge of the road, using your mirrors to watch for cyclists or motorcyclists coming up on your left.
• At a controlled junction, watch for flashing amber arrows that allow you to proceed to the left if no traffic is approaching from the right.
• Where possible, leave room for other vehicles to pass on the right.
• Make the turn, keeping close to the left-hand edge. Do not hit or mount the kerb.

Turning left from a minor road to a major road

• Check your mirrors well in advance for traffic following behind you.
• Give a left turn signal and slow down.
• If you are at a junction controlled by a Stop or a Yield sign, wait at the entrance to the junction until the road is clear.
• At a controlled junction, watch for flashing amber arrows that allow you to proceed to the left if no traffic is approaching from the right.
• If a left-turn slip lane is provided, you should use it.
• When it is safe, finish your turn so that you enter the left-hand side of the road onto which you are turning.

Take care not to swing wide when you turn and always give way to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the junction before you start any turn.

Yellow box junctions

These junctions consist of patterns of criss-cross yellow lines.

An exception is when you want to turn right. In this case, you may enter the yellow box junction while waiting for a gap in traffic coming from the opposite direction. However, don’t enter the box if to do so would block other traffic that has the right of way.

Yellow box junctions can also be found at railway level crossings or tramway crossings. Never enter these yellow box junctions unless you can leave them without stopping. Section 6 has more information on traffic signs and road markings.

Junctions and dual carriageways

Dual carriageways are roads with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in each direction. The outer or right-hand lane in each direction is the lane nearest to the centre of the dual carriageway.

You must normally drive in the left-hand lane of a dual carriageway. You may use the outer lane of a two-lane or three-lane dual carriageway only:

• for overtaking; and
• when intending to turn right a short distance ahead.

Turning left onto a dual carriageway

• Drive as close as you safely can to the left-hand edge of the approach road.
• Watch for oncoming traffic.
• Take the turn when it is safe to do so.
• Keep to the left-hand lane on the dual carriageway and build up your speed to that of the normal flow of traffic, subject to the speed limits and road conditions.

Crossing a dual carriageway or joining it by turning right

• As soon as you can do so safely, take up a position just left of the middle of the road.
• If the median (the space in the central dividing strip) is too narrow for your vehicle, wait on the minor road until you can clear both sides of the carriageway, and complete your turn in one go.
• If the median is wide enough for your vehicle, when it is safe to do so you may proceed and stop and wait in the median space until there is a safe gap in traffic.
• Finish your crossing or turn into the second half of the dual carriageway and build up your speed to that of the normal flow of traffic, subject to speed limits and prevailing road conditions.

If another vehicle is already blocking the median space, wait on the minor road until there is enough space to clear the first half of the road without stopping on the carriageway.

When driving a large vehicle, it is generally not safe to treat each half of the dual carriageway as a separate road. You should remain on the minor road until you can cross both sides of the dual carriageway without having to stop.

Always take care when you are behind large vehicles or vehicles towing trailers when they are turning. Remember, a long vehicle or combination needs extra room to finish a turn. Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, in particular, should be extra careful when near these vehicles.

Turning right from a dual carriageway

• Follow the normal procedure and move into the right-hand lane. If there is a deceleration lane, move into it.
• At the junction, turn into the median space and wait for a safe gap in traffic.
• When it is safe to do so, finish your turn and move into the left-hand lane of the road you are entering.

Roundabouts

Not every roundabout is the same. They are different shapes and sizes and can have different numbers of exits. Some are controlled by traffic lights. Regardless of the size of roundabouts, the general rules below must be applied.

The purpose of a roundabout is to:

• reduce delays – traffic flows smoothly compared to the stop and go traffic at normal intersections such as at traffic lights;
• significantly reduce the risk of collisions; and
• reduce pollution – emissions from vehicles on roundabouts are less than they would be at traffic light junctions.

Golden rule

This ‘golden rule’ should help motorists to drive safely at any roundabout regardless of the number of exits:

Think of the roundabout as a clock.

• If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists should generally approach in the left-hand lane.
• If taking any exit between the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock positions, motorists should generally approach in the right-hand lane.
• If there are road markings showing you what lane you should be in, follow those directions. Traffic conditions might sometimes mean you have to take a different approach but, in the main, the ‘golden rule’ will help you to drive safely on almost any roundabout.

Approaching a roundabout

• Conditions at roundabouts may vary. When you are coming up to a roundabout, look for directional arrows, road markings or signs which might be indicating which lane you should use for the exit you’re taking.
• Move into the correct lane in good time. Use the 12 o’clock ‘golden rule’ to help you plan a safe course of action unless road signs or road markings indicate otherwise.
• Treat the roundabout as a junction. You must yield to traffic coming from the right or traffic already on the roundabout, but keep moving if the way is clear.

Making a left turn

Approach in the left-hand lane, indicate ‘left’ as you approach, and continue until you have taken the left exit.

Going straight ahead (any exit between 6 o’clock and the 12 o’clock position)

Approach in the left-hand lane (unless road markings say otherwise) but do not indicate ‘left’ until you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take. Where traffic conditions dictate otherwise, for example a long line of traffic in the left lane signalling left or roadworks in the left lane, you may follow the course shown by the red line.

When leaving the roundabout take extra care at all exits, checking for other road users – for example, cyclists and motorcyclists who may be continuing on the roundabout.

Taking any later exits (those from 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock position)

Approach in the right-hand lane (unless road markings say otherwise), indicate ‘right’ on your approach and leave your indicator on until you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take. Then change to the ‘left’ turn indicator. Move over towards the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave.

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to:

• pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads,
• traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit,
• traffic that may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly,
• motorcyclists,
• cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout,
• long vehicles (including those towing trailers), which might have to take a different course approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals.