All About Crossroads

Crossroads can feel more complicated than a simple junction because there is traffic potentially approaching from three directions rather than one. Understanding the different types you will encounter, and how priority works at each, makes them far less daunting.

Reviewed by Aqua Driving School. Last checked: 28 September 2026.

Controlled crossroads

Many crossroads are controlled by traffic lights or clear priority signs (such as a give way or stop sign on one or more approaches). At a controlled crossroads:

Follow the traffic lights or signs exactly as you would at any other junction.
Where one road has priority (marked by give way lines or signs), traffic on the minor road must give way to traffic on the main road.
Watch for filter arrows at traffic-light-controlled crossroads, which may allow turning traffic to move on a separate phase from oncoming traffic.

Unmarked crossroads

An unmarked crossroads, with no signs, road markings, or traffic lights indicating priority, is genuinely more hazardous, because no one has clear right of way. At an unmarked crossroads:

Slow down significantly on approach, treating it with real caution rather than assuming you have priority.
Look in all directions, since a vehicle could legally be approaching from any of the other three arms.
Be prepared to give way even if you believe you have arrived first, if another vehicle's position or speed makes it unsafe to proceed.

Turning right at a crossroads

Turning right at a crossroads, particularly where an oncoming vehicle is also turning right, needs careful judgement:

Offside to offside (passing the oncoming vehicle before you turn, each keeping to your right) generally gives the clearest view of oncoming traffic and is often the preferred method where road markings or an examiner's instruction do not specify otherwise.
Nearside to nearside (turning in front of each other) is sometimes necessary depending on the specific junction layout or where a vehicle's positioning already dictates it, but it reduces your view of oncoming traffic on the road you are turning into, so extra care is needed.
Whichever method the situation calls for, do not commit to turning until you are certain the way is clear, since a crossroads with two vehicles turning right in different directions has more potential conflict points than a standard T-junction.

Emerging from a minor road at a crossroads

If you are on the minor road at a crossroads, treat it exactly as you would emerging onto any main road: stop or slow as the signs and markings require, look both ways and check for traffic emerging from the crossroads opposite you, and only proceed when it is genuinely clear in every relevant direction, not just the one you glanced at first.

Why examiners pay close attention here

Crossroads combine several skills at once: correct positioning, accurate judgement of priority, effective observation in multiple directions, and, on a right turn, careful timing against oncoming traffic. A hesitant or overly cautious approach is far safer, and scores better, than a confident but incorrect assumption about who has priority.