The intersection is a place of increased danger, as it intersects traffic flows moving in different directions. Traffic at an intersection requires special care and attention.

When approaching an intersection, slow down gradually, but not prematurely. Slowing down too early will delay the movement of vehicles following you and may result in a collision on the way. Early reductions in speed may be unexpected for other drivers or contribute to dangerous overtaking. At the same time, the speed reduction before the intersection should not be late (not less than 30 m), otherwise, if necessary, you will not be able to stop in front of the intersection.

When approaching an intersection, follow the signs indicating the direction of traffic in the lanes. Late departure into the correct lane is a common cause of tangential collisions when approaching intersections.

If you are driving straight through an intersection, try to stay in the middle lane (unless otherwise indicated by road signs) or on the left when driving on a road that has two lanes in the same direction. Moving in the middle lane, you will avoid conflicts with traffic turning left and right.

If you intend to turn at an intersection, take the appropriate lane in advance and give a warning signal.

When approaching an unregulated intersection, follow the traffic signals or directions from the authorized official.

If there is a sign "ST0P" in front of the intersection, stop in front of it, inspect the situation at the intersection and start driving only if there are no obstacles.

When approaching an intersection with traffic light regulation, try to predict the duration of the cycle, its operation.

Remember that the green arrow turned on together with the red traffic light obliges you to move in the direction indicated by it only having passed the vehicle moving at the permitting traffic light.

When approaching an intersection, watch first of all traffic moving in the intersecting direction to your left, in particular, pay attention to cars that are overtaking or advancing. Remember that they may not be visible due to other vehicles driving in the right-hand lane of the road.

If another driver ignores your priority right of way, do not insist on him, but give him the way.

Watch out for cars turning left at the intersection. If you see that the driver of the turning vehicle does not have time to complete the turn, slow down and allow him to complete the maneuver.

Do not enter an intersection if the vehicle ahead will obstruct your passage.

Watch out for pedestrians. When pedestrians appear on the road, slow down and be ready to stop.

When approaching intersections with limited visibility, be especially careful and careful. Choose a driving speed that will allow you to stop the vehicle in the event of an unexpected danger.

Avoid changing lanes when driving on an intersection. If you forget to give a turn signal, keep driving in a forward direction as your maneuver will come as a surprise to other drivers and may cause an accident.

Avoid stopping at the intersection. If there is a threat of a collision with a vehicle approaching from the left, quickly increase the speed of the movement to quickly get out of the path of its movement or turn sharply to the right, this will reduce the severity of the consequences of the impact. Braking combined with forward driving in such a situation usually results in an accident.

When turning right, try to take the extreme right position in order to exclude the possibility of overtaking you on the right. Turning to the right, enter the lane closest to the sidewalk edge. Do not change gear when cornering. Turn steep enough not to enter the left lane, but also not to enter the right rear wheel onto the sidewalk.

When making a turn, do not slow down too much, as this can interfere with the flow of traffic, delaying it and thereby increasing the likelihood of a collision.

When making a left turn, go to the leftmost lane of the road into which you would be turning and only then change to the lane you need.

Test 11. At the crossroads
1. When you are approaching an unregulated intersection, you must:
a) increase the speed of movement and give a warning sound signal;
b) reduce the speed of movement so that, if necessary, be able to stop at the intersection;
c) stop in front of a pedestrian crossing;
d) move without reducing speed.
2. If you want to turn at an intersection, you must first of all:
a) take the appropriate lane and reduce speed;
b) take the appropriate lane and give a signal with a direction indicator;
c) reduce the speed of movement and occupy the appropriate lane;
d) reduce the speed and then give a signal with the direction indicator.
3. Before starting a turn, you must give a warning signal:
a) immediately after starting to reduce speed;
b) only if other drivers are following you;
c) at least 30 m before the intersection;
d) immediately before the start of the turn in order not to mislead other drivers.
4. If, approaching an unregulated intersection, you see that a vehicle is approaching in the opposite direction, you must:
a) increase the speed of movement in order to be the first at the intersection;
b) stop and wait a while to understand what the driver of the oncoming car will do;
c) be ready to stop if the driver of an oncoming car starts to turn left;
d) continue to move at the same speed.
5. If a car approaches an unregulated intersection at the same time with you, you must:
a) look only forward, avoiding observing the situation on the right and left;
b) continue to move at the same speed, since you have the right to go through the intersection first;
c) be ready to stop, for this move your foot on the brake pedal;
d) increase the speed in order to pass the intersection first.
6. If you are approaching an intersection where the view of the situation is limited by standing buildings or plants, you must:
a) stop near the center of the intersection and continue driving if there is no danger;
b) sound a signal to warn drivers who may not see you;


7. If, having approached the intersection, you saw that you have taken the wrong lane to make the turn you need, you must:
a) give a signal to warn drivers driving behind and make a turn from this lane;
b) get to the next intersection and make a turn there;
c) move without reducing speed;
d) stop at an intersection and then slowly move forward, observing the situation.
8. When approaching the intersection, you must:
a) be ready to stop when the vehicle in front suddenly brakes;
b) go to the intersection, even if you see that you will not be able to complete the turn;
c) avoid looking at the situation in front of the leading vehicle;
d) move as close to the right side of the road as possible.
9. If a vehicle moving in the opposite direction begins to turn left at an intersection, interfering with your forward movement:
a) stop and let the driver of this car complete the turn;
b) give a warning signal and keep driving;
c) try to go around the turning car on the left;
d) try to go around the turning vehicle on the right.
10. When you approach an intersection, you must first take a look:
a) to the left;
b) to the right;
c) back;
d) on the speedometer.
11. It is necessary to reduce the speed of movement at an intersection if:
a) pedestrians are standing near the intersection;
b) a car is moving behind you at a short distance;
c) when the yellow traffic light comes on, you are in the middle of the intersection;
d) the driver of the car moving behind him gives a sound signal.
12. When you are at an intersection you should:
a) complete the turn you need, even if you forgot to turn on the turn signal indicator;
b) stop if the yellow signal is on at the traffic light;
c) complete the started turn, even if you changed your decision to turn;
d) give a signal if you want to make a turn at the next intersection.
13. You can stop at the crossroads only:
a) to receive information from a traffic police officer;
b) when driving conditions require it;
c) to check the signs of the direction of movement;
d) when a red light comes on at a traffic light.
14. If you want to drive straight ahead at the intersection, you must:
a) go to the intersection only after all oncoming cars turning left complete the maneuver;
b) go to the intersection only when you can pass it without any hindrances;
c) do not stop to let pedestrians cross the road at a red light;
d) use only the leftmost lane.
15. If you are about to make a right turn at an intersection, it is very important to watch out for:
a) a traffic flow moving to the intersection on the right;
b) traffic flow approaching the intersection on the left;
c) oncoming traffic turning left;
d) oncoming traffic turning right.
16. Before making a left turn at an intersection, it is very important:
a) make sure that your maneuver does not interfere with oncoming traffic;
b) start turning the wheels of the car before the traffic light turns on;
c) move as close as possible to the vehicle moving in front, as well as turning left;
d) press the brake pedal lightly several times.

RIGHT ANSWERS

1 - b; 2 - b; 3 - c; 4 - c; 5 - c; 6 - d; 7 - b; 8 - a; 9 - a; 10 - a; 11 - a; 12 - c; 13 - b ;, 14 - b; 15 - b; 16 - a.

In this article, we will analyze the rules for driving unregulated intersections of equal and unequal roads. Consider the example of the simplest intersection with the intersection of two carriageways. Having understood and memorized how to properly pass such an intersection, you can easily figure out more complex intersections.

When approaching an unregulated intersection, you need to look at the priority signs and determine who needs to give way. At such an intersection, we can go in four directions, namely: right, straight, left and in the opposite direction. Other road users approach us from three directions: to the left (blue car), to the right (black) and from the opposite direction (green).

When considering the situations depicted in the figures, we will assume that all cars are moving in the same direction as we are. Those. if we turn right at an intersection, then the blue car goes straight, green turns left, black turns around. Also, in other directions of our movement, we will always have points of intersection of trajectories with all cars.

There is a sign "Main road" in front of the intersection

When we are driving on the main road, only cars will have to give way, which are also moving along the main road and will approach us from the right side.

1. When turning right, we do not give way to anyone.
2. When driving straight ahead, we are also not inferior to anyone.
3. When turning left and making a U-turn, we give way to oncoming vehicles (green car) moving in our direction (in this case, we reach the middle of the intersection and wait for them to pass), because they are also on the main road and are a hindrance for us on right. If the oncoming ones turn to the left, then in a friendly way we disperse with them on the right sides.

The main road turns left

Sign "Main road" in conjunction with the sign "Direction of the main road".

1. When turning right, pass the intersection first.
2. Also when driving through an intersection in the forward direction.
3. We are not inferior to anyone when turning left.
4. And only when making a U-turn will have to give way to the vehicle on the left (the blue car turns to the right), because they are also driving along the main road and will be a hindrance for us on the right.

If the blue car is going straight, then at first we will be a hindrance to it on the right (i.e. we have an advantage), and, having reached the middle of the intersection and turning in the opposite direction, we ourselves will turn the right side to it and will have to yield.

At narrow intersections, it will be difficult to part in this way, therefore, when making a U-turn, it is advisable to give up your advantage to the blue one and perform a maneuver after he goes straight.

The main road turns right

1. If you are planning to go to the right, feel free to go first, because this is the only direction in which you do not have to give in to anyone.
2. When you go straight, do not forget to look to the right and give way to a black car, which is also moving along the main road and approaching us on the right.
3. Moving to the left, you also have to give way to vehicles on the right, which are driving in the forward direction or turning left. If a black car turns to the right, then we will not interfere with it and can make a turn at the same time. You just need to make sure that he really started to perform a turn, otherwise, maybe he will go straight with the turn signal turned on.
4. Turning around, we act in the same way as when turning left.

A sign "Give way" is installed in front of the intersection

When passing the intersection, we give way to everyone who drives along the main road, as well as to those who are on the secondary road.approaching us on the right. Yielding the road, we stop at the intersection of the carriageways.

1. When turning to the right, we give way to vehicles on the left (blue car), because they are moving along the main road. If the blue car has turned on the right direction indicator and began to turn, then you can drive along with it. In the event that a black car (on the right) decides to turn around at an intersection, you will have to give way to it too.
2. Passing unregulated intersections in the forward direction, we give way to cars on the left (blue) and right (black).
3. When turning left, besides the fact that you have to give way to cars on the left and on the right, you will have to miss oncoming vehicles, which, like us, are on a secondary road, but will be a "hindrance to the right" for us.
4. If you decide to make a U-turn at an intersection, you will also have to give way to all vehicles.

Main road on the left

1. When turning to the right, we give way to the vehicle on the left (blue car) and oncoming vehicles (green), if they are going in the same direction as we are.
2. Moving in a forward direction, it is necessary to give way to the left, to oncoming ones, because they are driving along the main road, and also to the right (black car), although they are also on the secondary road, they are a "hindrance to the right".
3. When turning to the left, we also yield to everyone.
4. Not the most the best way for a U-turn, but if there is no choice, we perform, yielding to all vehicles.

Main road on the right

1. Before turning right, you should make sure that no one is driving from the opposite direction in our direction, and also that the black car (on the right) is not going to turn around at the intersection.
2. Moving straight ahead or to the left, we will also give way to green and black cars, since they are driving along the main road.
3. When making a U-turn at an intersection, you will have to give way to the blue car, because, performing this maneuver, we will tuck its right side. But at the same time, when approaching the intersection of carriageways, we ourselves will be a "hindrance to the right" for him and therefore have an advantage.

Travel rules for unregulated intersections of equivalent roads

When driving through an intersection of equivalent roads, we are guided by clause 13.11 of the traffic rules, i.e. give way to cars approaching from the right.

1. When turning right, we do not need to give way to anyone.
2. Passing the intersection in a straight direction, we give way to the right (black car). In the case when black, green and blue cars also go straight, the drivers will have to decide for themselves who will go first, because the rules do not regulate this situation.
3. When turning left for us, both black and green cars will be a hindrance to the right.
4. When making a U-turn, you will have to yield to all three directions. At the same time, blue will have an advantage only when we go in the opposite direction from the middle of the intersection.

Let's generalize the rules for driving unregulated intersections

1. At the crossroads of equivalent roads, we look at who will approach us from the right.
2. If the sign "Give way" is installed, let those who are driving along the main road, then those who are approaching us on the right side of the secondary road.
3. Sign "Main road" - we are second only to those who are also approaching us on the right along the main road.

Topic 14. Traveling at intersections (traffic rules, chapter 13). General rules. Regulated intersections.

What is an intersection?

The intersection is different from the exit from the adjacent territory. Clause 8.3. Traffic rules indicate that in relation to the road, the adjacent territory is always secondary. Leaving it, you must skip everything vehicles and pedestrians whose path is crossed.

According to statistics, more than 30% of collisions occur at intersections. This is 13-14% of the total number of all road accidents. In this case, only incidents with the dead or wounded are recorded. Collisions without casualties are not taken into account by the reports. If you believe unofficial data and take into account minor accidents, there are 8-10 times more collisions at intersections. In Moscow alone, more than 15 thousand such cases occur every year, more than forty a day on average.

The main reason for road traffic accidents at intersections is non-observance of the sequence of passage. The driver must thoroughly know the rules and technology of crossing intersections, be able to quickly navigate already when approaching the intersection, determine his turn and give way to those who have an advantage. These rules are universal and interrelated. They are applicable to intersections of any configuration, with any number of intersecting roads, with any traffic volume.

When driving through an intersection, you should be attentive, careful and focused. Rushing can easily lead to a mistake that can lead to an accident. A hesitant driver can also create a traffic jam or an emergency, delaying not only himself, but also other road users. That is why actions when driving through an intersection must be clear, conscious, timely and understandable to others. Courtesies to other road users are unacceptable, as they can put them in a difficult position or be misinterpreted and ultimately cause confusion on the road.

Sequence of actions when driving through an intersection

The process of crossing an intersection consists of three successive stages. Each of them is carried out separately, but in a specific order.

The procedure for driving through an intersection begins even before the driver enters it, namely, with the definition and understanding of its type. Each type of intersection has its own driving rules. An error at this stage will entail the application of false rules and the development of an incorrect movement sequence, which in turn may cause a collision with another vehicle.

All intersections are divided into regulated and unregulated. Unregulated intersections can be equal and unequal. Among the unequal, in turn, there are intersections with a turn of the main road and without a turn. The type of intersection is determined by a set of specific features.

Traffic conditions through this or that intersection can be very different. The type and equipment of an intersection is determined by the number of vehicles passing through it per day or per hour, that is, by the intensity of traffic. Lightly loaded roads, on which vehicles rarely meet each other, usually have unregulated equivalent intersections. This is the simplest type. Unequal intersections are encountered on roads with medium traffic. One road passing through them is the main road, and the other is secondary. At unequal intersections, priority signs are installed to help drivers find their way around which road. The risk of collision at such intersections is less than at equivalent unregulated ones.

A regulated intersection is in demand at high traffic volumes. It is equipped with traffic lights. Such an organization of traffic can provide a fairly safe interaction of large traffic and pedestrian flows intersecting in one place and branching in different directions.

At the second stage of the process of overcoming the intersection, it is necessary to enter it correctly. If there are several vehicles, it is important to determine who needs to give way, and who, on the contrary, will have to let your car pass. After waiting for your turn, you can enter the intersection.

The third stage is the exit from the intersection. The sequence of movement in this case is determined by the direction of further movement (straight ahead, U-turn, right or left).

At any intersection, a situation may arise in which the driver who entered it first exits last and vice versa.

Chapter 13 of the SDA describes in detail all actions related to the passage of various intersections.

General rules for any intersection

Clauses 13.1. and 13.2. Of the Rules contain requirements common to all intersections. In particular, according to clause 13.1. when turning, drivers must give way to pedestrians and cyclists moving in the same or opposite direction and continuing to move straight. This requirement is mandatory regardless of the presence or absence of a pedestrian crossing, cycle path, traffic lights or road signs. There are only two situations to keep pedestrians or cyclists out of a corner when making a turn. Firstly, while driving on a signal from a traffic controller. Secondly, at intersections with pedestrian traffic regulated by a separate pedestrian traffic light.

Clause 13.2. regulates the actions of the driver in the event of a traffic jam immediately behind the intersection in the direction in which he was moving. In this case, the Rules allow entry to the intersection only for travel in another free direction. If the driver is unwilling or unable to change the route, entry to the intersection is prohibited even with a green traffic light. It is recommended to stop in front of the stop line, wait until there is a free space behind the intersection and, if there is a permit signal, move in the intended direction. Failure to comply with these requirements may cause blockage of traffic in the lateral direction and interfere with the movement of other vehicles or traffic jams due to the fault of the driver who entered the intersection and failed to release him in time.

Signs of a controlled intersection

Regulated intersections have more traffic. In order for everyone to be able to pass, some vehicles must stop and allow others to pass. This is traffic regulation. Such a task is performed either by a traffic controller or a traffic light.

Clause 13.3. Traffic rules call regulated only such an intersection at which there is a valid traffic light or traffic controller. In a situation where the traffic light does not work, is faulty or switched to a flashing yellow mode, and the traffic police officer is resting or simply monitoring the traffic and does not give any signals, the intersection should be considered unregulated. Accordingly, its passage is made according to the rules for unregulated intersections.

There are no major or minor roads at regulated intersections, and priority signs at the corners are irrelevant. Obviously, when determining the type of intersection, first of all, it is worth paying attention to the presence of a traffic light or a traffic controller and classifying it in this case as regulated. In their absence, the intersection is considered unregulated, and then the question of priority signs, main and secondary roads becomes relevant.

Entrance to a regulated intersection

The right to enter a regulated intersection is granted by a permitting signal of a traffic light or a traffic controller. Clause 6.10. The rules establish the requirements according to which different signals of the traffic controller allow you to move in all or only in certain directions. Traffic lights work in a similar way - turning left, right, making a U-turn, sometimes the traffic is directly regulated by separate and additional sections with green and red arrows. If there are no additional sections at the traffic lights, the main green signal permits passage in any directions not prohibited by signs and markings. Usually the green light is on at the same time as the vehicle moving towards it. At the same time, there is no movement on the crossed road.

If there is tram traffic at the intersection, then even if there is a permitting signal, the queue of other vehicles will never be the first. Clause 13.6. Traffic rules indicate that when a tram crosses the path of a tram following in any direction to the green light, and another vehicle, the vehicle must give way to it.

In addition to the green signal of the traffic light, admission to the intersection is provided by a combination of the red (yellow) signal with an active additional green arrow. According to clause 13.5. you can only move in the direction of this arrow, while giving way to all vehicles crossing the intersection from other directions. In such a situation, not only drivers of trackless vehicles should give way, but also tram drivers.

If the movement is carried out on a green signal with an additional arrow on, then when entering an intersection, except for a tram, no other vehicles need to be passed. At this time, traffic signals either prohibit them from moving, or oblige them to give way.

Exit from a regulated intersection

The third stage of crossing the intersection, namely the exit from it, depends on the direction in which the further movement of the vehicle is planned. The order of departure is described in clause 13.4. Of the rules. When a green light of a traffic light is on, a roadless vehicle moving towards you and your own movement in a forward direction or when turning right, the road should not be given up. On the other hand, when making a left turn or making a U-turn, you must give way. This is how trams determine the order of passage between themselves, and trackless vehicles after trams between themselves. This requirement is based on the rule of interference from the right. After the started maneuver to turn left, the oncoming vehicle, which is in the same conditions and also moving towards the green light, will be located to the right of your vehicle.

As a result of combining the requirements of clauses 13.4. and 13.1. the following order of exit from the intersection is obtained:

It is obvious that it is much easier to exit from a regulated intersection in a straight direction or to the right than to the left or to a U-turn.

The sequence of passage when switching traffic lights

This issue should be considered from two sides, namely, recommendations and requirements for entering an intersection when the traffic light switches from green to yellow, and the rules for leaving the intersection in a similar situation.

Quite often, the actual number of vehicles intending to pass through a controlled intersection is much larger than the number that a traffic light can pass in one cycle of its operation. As a result, there is a queue in front of the traffic light. When the green light comes on, only a part of it has time to pass the intersection, then the yellow light turns on, and then the red traffic light. This situation is especially relevant for narrow streets with heavy traffic. The question arises: until what moment is it allowed to enter the intersection in the current conditions.

Clause 6.13. The SDA contains clarifications on this issue. So, it says that when a prohibiting signal is given, the driver must stop in front of the stop line, and in its absence, before entering the first intersection of carriageways. It is prohibited to enter an intersection if the yellow light comes on before this border is crossed. In this case, it is necessary to stop at the indicated places. If the traffic light is switched when the driver has already left the stop line or is at the intersection of carriageways, this is not considered a violation of the Rules. From this moment on, the traffic light does not allow anyone who is behind such a driver to move, but does not touch him, since he entered the intersection at a permitting signal. In a situation where there is a traffic jam ahead, even with a permit signal, you cannot enter the intersection of carriageways, you should definitely stop and skip the next traffic light cycle.

If the signal of a traffic light or a traffic controller changes when the vehicle is at an intersection, in no case should you stop and block the path to those who should be given a permission signal and who are already ready to start moving. So, paragraph 13.7. obliges drivers who have entered the intersection to release it regardless of the color of the traffic light. The same provision applies to the situation with the change of the signal given by the traffic controller.

However, some drivers abuse this rule and drive through the entire intersection at yellow and sometimes even red lights.

Worth turning Special attention the fact that if the driver sees ahead of a yellow or red traffic light or a traffic signal prohibiting traffic, he is obliged to stop in front of the intersection. Clause 13.7. describes situations when the vehicle has already entered the intersection or is in the immediate vicinity of it and does not have time to stop before the stop line or the edge of the intersected carriageway. If the driver can stop without applying emergency braking, the continuation of movement through the intersection will become a passage to a red traffic light and will result in a fine of 1,000 rubles. A repeated violation of the same kind, committed within one year after payment of the fine, threatens the driver with a new fine already in the amount of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights for a period of 4 to 6 months (Article 12.12. Of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

Clause 13.8. contains a requirement addressed to the vehicle not to enter the intersection until other vehicles and pedestrians have released it, even if the red light has already changed to green. Accordingly, the permission signal is a necessary condition for starting the movement, but not the only one. The driver must first make sure that all vehicles and pedestrians moving through the intersection from other directions have cleared at least the required half of the road. In what happened in the described situation, an accident will not be to blame for the one who did not have time to clear the way, but the one who started moving too early, not allowing those leaving the intersection.

The driver completing the intersection is driving at high speed, otherwise he could stop when the signal changes in front of the stop line. It is for this reason that he cannot avoid a collision with a vehicle that has driven out in the cut. A driver who has just started driving and has not yet managed to pick up speed can quickly stop in case of danger. The likelihood of a collision will depend on his actions.

A vehicle that leaves an intersection ahead of time will be severely damaged in a collision as a result of side impact from someone who was moving at high speed in the lateral direction. Side passenger car is one of the most vulnerable spots. A collision of this kind can often have serious consequences, which are exacerbated if the machine rolls over. Obviously, the road user who is in greater danger should be more interested in preventing accidents.

It is very important to remember about pedestrians when starting traffic on the just lit up permission signal. The situation when the driver approaches the stop line, and at that moment the green light comes on for him, and in the neighboring lanes there are vehicles that drove up to the traffic light earlier, is very dangerous. An inexperienced or inattentive driver can immediately increase the speed, without taking into account the fact that pedestrians may be in front of neighboring vehicles, completing the crossing of the carriageway. At the same time, they do not see a moving car and can easily find themselves in its path, and then under the wheels. This is why you must first make sure there are no pedestrians.

It has already been said above that at a regulated intersection with heavy traffic, it is much easier to drive in a straight direction or to the right than to turn around or leave to the left. The main problem in this case is that before making a U-turn or a left turn, it is necessary to give way to all oncoming vehicles, which quite often move in a continuous stream at the green light. When the stream ends, it turns out that a yellow or red light is already on and the movement in the transverse direction is ready to begin. A common mistake in such a situation, it becomes an attempt to slip right in front of the oncoming vehicle. Obviously, you need to act differently. Clauses 13.7. and 13.8. The rules will help you deal with this problem. When solving it, you can be guided by the left turn process and take similar actions.

Thus, a green traffic light signal allows you to enter a free intersection. The driver is allowed to reach its center and, when the path is closed, will stop further, taking the extreme left position and leaving the left turn indicator on. After skipping the oncoming traffic and waiting for the traffic light to switch to yellow or red, you can complete the turn behind the last vehicle.

The requirements set out in clauses 13.7. and 13.8., are appropriate in relation to small intersections, but not always relevant for the intersection of wide roads with dividing stripes. It can take so long for such an intersection to clear that the traffic lights switch from green to red again. In order to solve this problem, intermediate traffic lights with stop lines can be installed between the intersections of carriageways. With such an organization of traffic, when switching traffic lights and finding the driver at an intersection, he can only reach the nearest stop line. Before it, you should stop and wait for the next enable signal. If there are no intermediate traffic lights and stop lines on the way, you can drive through the intersection to the end without stopping.

At such an intersection, the rules for turning left are also different from the generally accepted ones. If there is an intermediate traffic light, the driver making a left turn loses time, since he is forced to additionally wait until the signal switches, standing in the gap in the dividing strip. However, he significantly wins in safety due to the absence of the need to skip oncoming vehicles, calculate the distance to them and their speed. This left turn is done in two steps. The second of them starts as soon as the red light of oncoming vehicles turns on. In the absence of an intermediate traffic light and stop line at the dividing lane, the turn is performed, as usual, in one step, with the need to give way to everyone who is driving towards.

Thus, if the road has a dividing strip, then when approaching an intersection, you should definitely pay attention to the presence or absence of stop lines and intermediate traffic lights in front of each intersected carriageway.

Traffic Laws:

6.10. The traffic controller signals have the following meanings:

HANDS OUT TO THE SIDE OR LOWERED:

• from the side of the left and right sides it is allowed to move ... trackless vehicles straight and to the right ...;
• from the side of the chest and back, the movement of all vehicles ... is prohibited.

RIGHT HAND EXTENDED FORWARD:

• from the left side it is allowed to move ... off-road vehicles in all directions;
• from the side of the chest, all vehicles are allowed to move only to the right;
• from the side of the right side and back, the movement of all vehicles is prohibited ...

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Traffic Laws:

6.13. With a prohibiting signal from a traffic light or a traffic controller, drivers must stop in front of a stop line (sign 6.16), and in its absence:

• at an intersection - in front of the intersected carriageway ... without interfering with pedestrians ...

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Traffic Laws:

13.3. An intersection where the sequence of movement is determined by signals from a traffic light or a traffic controller is considered regulated.

In case of a yellow flashing signal, non-working traffic lights or the absence of a traffic controller, the intersection is considered unregulated, and drivers are required to follow the rules for driving through unregulated intersections and priority signs installed at the intersection.

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Traffic Laws:

13.4. When turning left or making a U-turn at a green traffic light, the driver of a trackless vehicle must give way to vehicles moving from the opposite direction straight or to the right. Tram drivers should be guided by the same rule.

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Traffic Laws:

13.7. A driver who has entered an intersection with a permitting traffic light must leave in the intended direction regardless of traffic signals at the exit from the intersection ...

13.8. When the permitting signal of the traffic light is turned on, the driver is obliged to give way to vehicles completing the movement through the intersection, and pedestrians who have not finished crossing the carriageway of this direction.

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RF Code of Administrative Offenses:

Article 12.12, part 1

Driving on a prohibiting traffic light or a prohibiting gesture from a traffic controller, with the exception of cases provided for by part 1 of Article 12.10 of this Code and part 2 of this Article, shall result in the imposition of administrative fine in the amount of 1000 rubles.

Article 12.12, part 3

Repeated committing of an administrative offense provided for in Part 1 of this Article shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 4 to 6 months.

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Priority signs at a signalized intersection

Traffic signals may contradict the requirements of priority signs installed at the same intersection. However, there can be no main and secondary roads at a regulated intersection - the current traffic light always allows traffic on one road and prohibits on another, which intersects with the first. Therefore, when the traffic light is on, no priority signs are valid and have no meaning. They are installed only in the event that the traffic light breaks or turns out to be turned off, due to which the intersection will become unregulated.

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Excerpts from the book by Alexei Gromakovsky "TYPICAL ERRORS OF BEGINNING DRIVERS"

Almost all novice drivers are guilty of inability to adequately and correctly assess the current situation on the road. In this chapter, we will look at the most common mistakes beginners make when assessing traffic conditions.

Failure to recognize danger in a timely manner

Many road traffic accidents occur due to the fact that the driver failed to recognize the danger in time and did not attach due importance to unfavorable circumstances.
A typical example. The road has two lanes for movement in this direction: on the right lane, one after the other, two cars are driving, and on the left, there is another car nearby. Driver rear car in the right lane decides to overtake. Literally half a minute ago, in the rear-view mirror, he noticed that another car was driving in the adjacent lane and the distance to it was quite sufficient to perform a maneuver.
The driver decides to start overtaking without looking again in the rearview mirror or turning around just before performing the maneuver to make sure that there are no obstacles (which should be done). At the same time, he was guided by approximately the following considerations: they say, I recently looked in the rear-view mirror, there is only one car driving in the neighboring lane, and it is far behind, which means that you can start performing the maneuver. But as soon as he started changing lanes to the next lane, he heard a loud sound signal and felt another car "crash" into his car.
The reason is simple: the driver of the car moving in the left lane, for some reason, decided to increase the speed. Therefore, at the time of the beginning of overtaking, he was no longer far behind, but in the immediate vicinity of the car, which had begun to rebuild. As a result, he did not have time to react, and a traffic accident occurred. If the driver driving on the left lane did not exceed the speed allowed on this section of the road, then the driver who started overtaking without making sure that there was no interference will be found guilty of the accident.
One more example. Suppose you are driving on a suburban road that has one lane in each direction. The road is straight, you can see it well, and you see that a car is moving ahead in the opposite lane, and another car is overtaking it, being in your lane. This situation is potentially dangerous: you must slow down and take as much to the right as possible. However, this is often neglected by drivers and the result is a head-on collision.
NOTE
As the results of the studies show, with the same probability of occurrence of two different road situations, the driver considers the event that he can better control as more likely. But this is not always the case, and such bias is often the cause of road accidents. The driver must be ready for any development of events and be able to adequately respond to any change in the traffic situation.

Many psychologists have repeatedly said that a person tends to underestimate the likelihood of certain unlikely events, especially if such events or their consequences are undesirable for him. And in road traffic there are very often situations when there is even an insignificant probability of a hazard (for example, at any moment a pedestrian may run out onto the roadway), but the drivers do not attach any importance to this. In support of this, I will give a few examples that are the results of the research.
The suburban road, one lane for movement in each direction (the total width of the carriageway is about four meters), has a sharp turn, and trees grow along the road on both sides, almost completely blocking visibility around the corner. This section of the road was not characterized by heavy traffic, and it was on it that it was checked what speed the drivers choose when overcoming this dangerous turn.
The research results showed that drivers for whom this section of the road was unfamiliar (that is, they were driving on it for the first time), adequately assessed the possible danger and chose such a speed that would allow them to quickly stop the car in case of an unexpected appearance on the road of an oncoming vehicle. funds. But those drivers who often had to drive on this section of the road chose an unreasonably high speed, which, in the event of an unexpected occurrence of danger, would not allow them to quickly stop the car and thereby avoid a traffic accident (or at least reduce its negative effects). Why? Because these drivers knew that the traffic on this section of the road is low and the likelihood of oncoming vehicles is low. But that such a possibility still exists, none of them remembered. Oncoming passing at such a speed would have been impossible, which would certainly have led to an accident when oncoming vehicles appeared at a turn.
Another research was carried out on the example of such a dangerous maneuver as overtaking with an exit into the oncoming lane. Those who carried out the research were in the overtaken car and photographed the vehicles that were overtaking (of course, the drivers of the overtaking cars had no idea that they were participants in the experiment).
The research results showed the following. Drivers of cars, as a rule, did not risk starting overtaking by entering the oncoming lane if oncoming vehicles were moving along it (and regardless of the distance to these vehicles). However, when the car with the people conducting the experiment approached a sharp turn, the drivers of the cars moving behind often went to overtake, despite the possible danger. These studies illustrate very well what we talked about above: in most cases, a person adequately assesses a real and obvious danger (in this case, an oncoming car, which he sees well), but the probable (in other words, potential) danger is often neglected or just doesn't know how to recognize it. A sharp turn is a dangerous place, but the driver does not see oncoming cars (that is, he does not feel an immediate danger), and he considers the likelihood of their appearance during overtaking with leaving the oncoming lane to be small. When this probability does materialize, a serious road traffic accident (head-on collision) occurs.
Driving into the oncoming lane is one of the most dangerous maneuvers, and you must be very careful when performing it, no matter what your driving experience may be (Fig. 2.1).

Rice. 2.1. Dangerous situation: to bypass a standing truck, you will have to drive into the oncoming lane

In addition, the researchers conducted experiments on how drivers are able to choose the optimal speed mode when driving at night and in conditions of limited visibility. First, we found out at what distance in the dark the driver is able to notice a pedestrian moving along the road ahead or suddenly appearing on the roadway. Then a large number of drivers measured the speed with which they moved in the dark. As a result, it turned out that the overwhelming majority of drivers were driving at a speed that would not allow them to stop the car before a possible collision with a pedestrian, if he suddenly appeared on the roadway. Hence, two conclusions can be drawn: either drivers consider the probability of a sudden appearance of a pedestrian on the roadway too insignificant, or they do not know how to correctly determine the braking distance of a car and the distance from which a pedestrian or other obstacle can be seen in the dark. In any case, many road traffic accidents occur precisely as a result of such an unlikely hazard.
Why do drivers tend to underestimate the unlikely danger when making certain decisions?
The first reason lies in the psychological characteristics of a person. Its essence lies in the fact that if the probability of occurrence of this or that event is below a certain level (this level is individual for each person), then it is simply ignored. In other words, a person does not consider it necessary to spend his attention and concentration on some little thing that most likely will not happen. Needless to say, there are no trifles in road traffic and everything that the driver notices is worthy of attention!
Another reason is also psychological. It lies in the fact that a person tends to overestimate the likelihood of a desired event, on the one hand, and underestimate the likelihood of something undesirable, on the other. In other words, the overwhelming majority of drivers tend to pass off "wishful thinking", and this applies even to those who in other circumstances (that is, not driving) know how to really look at things and adequately assess the situation.
In fig. 2.2 - illustrative example of the above: the driver of the car hardly expected a motorcycle to follow the bus.

Rice. 2.2. Danger when turning left: the driver does not see the motorcyclist following the bus

By the way, the age of drivers has a significant impact on how they assess the danger associated with driving speed. According to the results of the polls carried out among drivers, only 15% of young drivers under the age of 25 consider high speed to be the main cause of road accidents, and among drivers over 25 - more than 43% of respondents. The conclusion suggests itself: young drivers do not know how to adequately assess the danger associated with high vehicle speeds. Moreover, many of them mistakenly believe that they can compensate for this danger with their skill and skill. Needless to say, at the age of 25, it is inappropriate to even mention any driving skill and skill.
Other driving situations in which drivers tend to underestimate the danger are:
overtaking with an exit to the oncoming traffic lane;
driving through unregulated intersections;
driving through intersections of equivalent roads;
driving on a slippery road;
overcoming sharp turns;
overcoming ups and downs;
movement through railway crossings.
Statistics show that most road traffic accidents occur because drivers underestimate the occurrence of unlikely events.

Examples of typical hazardous situations

In this section, we will look at several examples of common hazardous situations on the road.
Unexpected overtaking
Suppose you are driving on a road that has one lane in each direction. Two cars are approaching you in the opposite lane, and the first of them clearly slows down, although there are no apparent reasons (obstacles on the road, etc.) for this. At the same time, he does not give any signals (the direction indicators are off, the hazard warning lights also do not work, the driver does not give hand gestures).
At this time, the driver of the rear vehicle begins to shift slightly to the left, clearly intending to overtake the vehicle in front.
The danger is quite obvious, although many beginners ignore it for some reason (which leads at least to a difficult situation on the road, and in the worst case - to a traffic accident). It consists in the fact that the driver of an oncoming car, which is moving second and intends to overtake, can partially or completely enter your lane. Of course, if you are in the immediate vicinity, it clearly violates the Traffic Rules, but in this case it does not change the essence of the matter: the situation is dangerous and requires an immediate response.
The most typical signs of such a hazard are listed below:
the presence of only one lane on the road for movement in each direction (if the road has more lanes, then there will be more room for maneuver);
an obvious and significant difference in the speed of oncoming oncoming vehicles;
changing lanes to the left of an oncoming car, which is driving second, and often without turning on the corresponding direction indicator (its driver does not plan to completely enter the oncoming lane, which, however, does not reduce the danger).
In such a situation, you should slow down the speed of movement, take it to the right, and if necessary, pull over to the side of the road or into the adjacent territory for a complete stop. It should be remembered that not every shoulder is suitable for an exit.
Dangerous return of an oncoming vehicle from the curb to the roadway
Another common hazardous situation is as follows. The oncoming car, after passing with a large-sized vehicle (for example, a combine harvester), drove out at a relatively high speed with its right wheels onto a damp roadside and is trying to return to the roadway.
Here, the danger arises due to the fact that the driver can turn the steering wheel too sharply towards the roadway and at the same time press the gas hard (such mistakes often happen among beginners). Such illiterate actions can lead to the fact that the car will move from the side of the road into the oncoming lane, which will be a complete surprise for the drivers of oncoming vehicles (they may simply not have enough time for an adequate response).
The most typical signs of this dangerous situation are listed below:
the carriageway has one lane for movement in each direction;
low coefficient of wheel adhesion to the roadside surface;
the carriageway is located above the shoulder;
the driver of the oncoming vehicle strives to enter the carriageway without reducing the speed of movement.
If you see that someone on the opposite side of the road got into a similar situation, reduce your speed and be prepared for any surprises. By the way, no less dangerous is the situation when the same happens in the course of your movement.
Danger from an oncoming road train
Let's say you are driving on a suburban road uphill and you see some kind of damage in the oncoming lane (for example, a large pothole). At the same time, a road train is moving towards you.
The danger in this case is the following: the driver of the road train will notice the damage on the roadway too late and will start to brake sharply. As a result, the road train can "fold" and stand across the road, completely blocking the roadway. If your car is moving at high speed, it will be very difficult to avoid a traffic accident. The situation is aggravated if all this happens on a road with a slippery road surface(both the road train and your car can skid if you start to brake sharply or turn sharply wheel).
Typical signs of this dangerous situation:
the road train moves downhill at a sufficiently high speed;
there is damage on the oncoming lane along the road train, which is difficult or impossible to “skip” between the wheels;
the distance between the road train and your vehicle is relatively short.
In such a situation, you should reduce the speed of movement as quickly as possible (but without blocking the wheels, otherwise the car can be brought in and the consequences will be generally unpredictable), and if there is a nearby adjacent territory or a crossed road, try to move there in order to avoid a collision. Please note that the road train may not only stand across the road, but also continue to move in this position (this happens especially often on roads with slippery road surfaces), so it is very advisable to move somewhere to the side, if possible. Considering the fact that the road train has blocked the roadway, you can turn off the road either to the right or to the left.
Danger from a truck trying to turn into a narrow passage
The dangerous situation that we will consider in this section is often ignored not only by beginners, but also by experienced drivers. Seemingly harmless, it can cause a serious traffic accident.
Imagine that you are driving in a village along a road that has one lane for movement in each direction. In the oncoming lane, you notice a large truck, the driver of which clearly intends to turn right onto a narrow road (for example, into a courtyard or into the surrounding area): he turned on the right turn indicator and slows down, preparing to start a maneuver.
In this case, the main danger is as follows: since the road on which the truck driver plans to turn is rather narrow, he may need additional space to perform the maneuver. How do drivers of large vehicles act in such cases? That's right, they make a kind of "swing" to the left, for some time finding themselves in the lane of oncoming traffic.
It is at this moment that a collision can occur: the driver of the truck needs to look in the mirrors, and on the sides, and around the corner, and he can lose sight of the car that is approaching him in the oncoming lane.
If this car is close, then for its driver, the truck's departure into the oncoming lane is completely unexpected: after all, it will have a right-turn indicator on. The driver of the truck believes that a short-term exit into the oncoming lane (usually this takes just a few seconds) will not lead to anything bad (he simply does not attach any importance to this).
Here are the most typical signs indicating such a danger:
the carriageway has one lane for movement in each direction (that is, there is clearly little room for a large vehicle to maneuver from the extreme right position);
despite the fact that the right turn indicator is on for the truck, its cabin begins to shift to the left;
low speed of the truck before turning into a narrow passage.
If you see that the driver of a truck, which is moving in the oncoming lane, clearly intends to turn right into a narrow passage (the right turn indicator is on, the speed is reduced), be prepared for the fact that for a few seconds he may enter the oncoming lane, and slow down. Note that in the event of a traffic accident, the driver of the truck will be found guilty of committing it, however, more serious damage will undoubtedly be received by the passenger car that collided with it (the truck may be limited to a scratched bumper).

Problems with parked cars
Here is another common situation that often leads to road safety hazards.
Suppose you are approaching a signal intersection in the middle lane at a speed of approximately 40-50 kilometers per hour. On the right and left lanes there are vehicles that completely or partially block your visibility of what is happening at the intersection. You see that a green light is on at the traffic light, and you continue to move at the same speed (or even slightly increase it), intending to pass the intersection without delay when the traffic light is allowed.
In this situation, the danger lies in the fact that from behind the vehicles standing in front of the intersection, another car may appear that is moving along the intersected road and completing the passage of the intersection. If you jump out at the intersection at this moment, a collision will not be avoided, and it will be you who will be found guilty of the road traffic accident. At first glance, it seems that this is not so (after all, you entered the intersection at a permitting traffic signal), but the Rules of the Road say: the driver who entered the intersection at a permitting traffic signal (in this case, this is the one whom you have not seen from behind the vehicles standing in front of the intersection), must leave in the intended direction regardless of the traffic lights at the exit from the intersection (if stop lines or sign 6.16 do not meet in the direction of its movement). Therefore, you should have given him the opportunity to complete the passage of the intersection, and since you did not, you will be found guilty of the accident.
Here are the most typical signs of such a danger:
vehicles standing in front of the intersection significantly limit your visibility area, and you cannot observe what is happening at the intersection at the moment;
a green signal has just turned on at a traffic light (therefore, at a traffic light that is installed on the intersected road, it stopped lighting only a couple of seconds ago);
vehicles standing in front of the intersection are in no hurry to start moving, despite the permission signal of the traffic light.
In such a situation, it is strongly recommended to slow down and enter the intersection only when vehicles standing on the left and right lanes begin to do so.
Approaching an intersection on a slippery road
Consider a situation that is often the cause of road traffic accidents in winter time.
Let's say you are driving in a populated area on a slippery road at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour, approaching an intersection with a red traffic light and other vehicles in front of which are waiting for a permit signal. When there are about 50–70 meters to the intersection, a green signal comes on and you think that you can not reduce the speed, since the vehicles standing in front of the intersection are about to start moving.
The danger lies in the following: on a slippery road (and in front of an intersection the road is usually more slippery than in other sections - this is due to frequent braking of vehicles in this place) cars standing in front of the intersection cannot start moving quickly - for this they need for a while (fig. 2.3). When you figure it out, it will be too late: the remaining distance to the front standing car not enough to stop in time. Ultimately, you hit him from behind and you will be found guilty of the road accident (recall the well-known rule: "the back is always to blame").

Rice. 2.3. On a slippery road, the driver of a turning vehicle may not start immediately.

slippery road surface and, as a result, low coefficient of wheel adhesion to the road;
there are cars in front of the intersection, and if necessary, it is impossible to bypass them;
in spite of the permission signal of the traffic light, the vehicles standing in front of the intersection do not start moving (although usually, as you know, already when yellow is turned on simultaneously with red, cars start to move).
In such a situation, you should reduce the speed of movement (recall that on a slippery road, you should, if possible, not use the brake pedal, but apply engine braking) and, if necessary, stop at a sufficiently safe distance.
Problems associated with large oncoming traffic
Here we will consider a situation that is quite common on Russian roads and, unfortunately, it often ends up hitting a pedestrian.
You approach an intersection and enter it at a green traffic light. An oversized vehicle (truck, road train, bus, etc.) is driving in the oncoming lane, which you will most likely miss at an intersection. A pedestrian is standing behind an intersection on the opposite side of the road and clearly intends to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing.
In this case, the danger lies in the fact that a large-sized vehicle partially blocks the visibility zone of a pedestrian and he may not notice your car. At the same time, you can also lose sight of the pedestrian - the truck will close him from you. Therefore, if a pedestrian begins to cross the road, then, most likely, it will be under the wheels of your car.
Here are the signs that indicate the occurrence of such a danger:
between your car and a pedestrian on the opposite side of the road behind an intersection, there is a large vehicle that prevents you and the pedestrian from seeing each other;
you notice that the pedestrian's attention is clearly focused on something else (for example, on the same large vehicle);
narrow carriageway with only one lane for movement in each direction (that is, there is clearly not enough room for maneuver).
In such a situation, despite the fact that you are moving at a permitting traffic light, before the pedestrian crossing (Fig. 2.4) you need to slow down and be extremely careful.
Be prepared for the fact that at any moment a pedestrian may appear in front of your car, and think about possible ways out of a dangerous situation in advance.
Danger of turning left in winter
Consider another dangerous situation that often occurs at intersections in the winter.

Rice. 2.4. A pedestrian crossing is always a place of increased danger

Suppose you need to turn left at an intersection. The intersection is regulated by a traffic light, in which there are no additional sections. - therefore, in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulations, you need to go to the center of the intersection, pass vehicles moving in the opposite direction, and then complete the maneuver. At this intersection, the traffic is intense, and the situation is complicated by the fact. that the road is slippery, and it may also be snowing heavily.
The danger here is as follows: your car can accidentally be hit by another vehicle that is moving behind and is trying to go around you while you are standing at the intersection and let oncoming cars pass. This likelihood increases in poor visibility conditions (due to snowfall you may be noticed late), as well as in slippery road surfaces (the braking distance of cars increases). If someone hits you from behind, on a slippery road from the impact, you can jump out into oncoming traffic. This is already fraught with a head-on collision, the consequences of which can be very grave. The culprit in this road accident will be the driver who hit your car from behind and provoked a head-on collision, but the heaviest damage will be in the cars that collided head-on (by the way, their passengers can also get serious injuries, unlike a car - the culprit of the accident).
Signs of such a danger are:
the fact that your car is temporarily an obstacle in the way of other vehicles;
the wheels of your car are turned to the left, and it itself is slightly directed to the left side (therefore, when hitting from behind, it will jump to the left by inertia, that is, into the oncoming lane);
slippery road surface, which increases the likelihood of errors on the part of drivers of other vehicles and in which the braking distance of any vehicle is greatly increased.
Therefore, when standing in the middle of an intersection and letting oncoming vehicles pass, always try to control the situation behind your car. If you see someone approaching from behind at too high a speed and may not have time to go around you or stop in time, take action. It is best to drive straight through the intersection, even if you are only allowed to go left from your lane on it (sometimes it is more expedient to violate the Traffic Rules than to get into an accident). True, at the same time, make sure that your lane does not end behind the intersection, otherwise you can get "out of the fire and into the fire." If there is no way to go straight out of your lane, align the wheels so that they are not directed to the left, but straight ahead (then after the impact, most likely, you will be carried not into the oncoming lane, but forward). You can trim the car if it is pointing to the left by aligning the wheels and driving the car forward slightly.
True, even after taking precautionary measures, there remains the possibility of a collision after a rear impact with a vehicle that makes a left turn from the opposite direction. But this is still better than a head-on collision with a vehicle moving straight ahead: no one is driving at high speed when making a left turn, so the consequences of a traffic accident will be less severe.
Unexpected obstacle when turning left
Here we will look at a situation that looks quite harmless, but can lead to an accident even in good weather with a dry and clean road surface.
Let's say you are approaching an intersection on the left lane at a speed of about 50 kilometers per hour, intending to drive in a forward direction. On the same lane, in front of the intersection, there are two cars with left turn indicators on: they clearly want to turn left when the traffic light is allowed. Since it is allowed to move both to the left and straight from this lane, you decide not to change lanes: the green light at the traffic light turns on simultaneously with the green arrow in the left additional section, therefore, vehicles turning left do not need to pass oncoming cars, therefore, they will not detain you. Since there is still some distance to the intersection, you decide that the speed can not be reduced: until your car reaches the intersection, the vehicles standing on it will have time to turn left and the road will be free.
The danger lies in the following. It is possible that the driver of the car who turns first at the intersection will have to let pedestrians pass (this happens all the time, this is a completely natural and normal situation). Then the second driver, turning left, will also be forced to stop - and thereby block your road. This will come as a complete surprise to you, and since you have not slowed down, it will be very difficult to avoid a collision. It is unlikely that you will have time to stop, at best you will be able to rebuild into the right lane, but only on condition that it is free. Let us remind you that if you hit another car from behind, you will definitely be found guilty of a road traffic accident.
Here are the most characteristic signs of the approach of such a danger:
you are approaching an intersection at speed, and the distance to the front car is too short (if it brakes sharply, you may not have time to stop);
on the left, pedestrians began to cross the carriageway of the crossed road at a permitting traffic light;
traffic in the right lane is quite intense, and you are unlikely to be able to "wedge" into it if necessary.
In order not to get into an accident, be sure to slow down when approaching an intersection, even if the traffic light is on and at first glance the situation is harmless. Remember that any intersection is an area of ​​increased danger, so you need to be constantly prepared for a sudden change in traffic conditions.
Bright sun is a hindrance to the driver
Sometimes, clear, sunny weather can cause a car collision at an intersection. Let's look at a specific example.
You are approaching an intersection with a green traffic light and intend to drive in a forward direction. It's evening outside, the sun is setting to your right and is already quite low. Another car is approaching the intersection on the intersected road on the right.
In this situation, the danger is as follows. Due to the bright sun, which shines directly at the traffic light, traffic signals may be poorly visible, and the driver of a car approaching from the right may think that the traffic light is not functioning at all, therefore, you need to follow the rules of passage for unregulated intersections. Moreover, since in this case the obstacle is to your right, he can enter the intersection at speed, being completely sure that he has an advantage over you. Of course, the driver will be found guilty of committing a road traffic accident if he has entered the intersection at a traffic light, but the consequences of such an accident can be quite serious (in particular, passengers can be seriously injured).
Here are the signs that this danger is approaching:
a car approaching from the right on a crossed road is moving at high speed and is clearly not going to reduce it;
the traffic light, which is facing the driver of this car, is illuminated by bright rays of the sun, and its signals may be invisible;
the absence of priority signs in front of the intersection (the driver of an approaching car from the right has the impression that he has an advantage over you);
the presence of priority signs in front of the intersection, according to which, when the traffic light is off, the road to be crossed is considered the main one (again, the driver of a car driving on the right will assume that he has an advantage).
In such a situation, when approaching an intersection, reduce the speed of movement, even if the green light is on at the traffic light, and make sure that the driver of a car approaching on the right adequately assesses the situation and slows down with a clear intention to stop. If you see that no one is going to give way to you, it is better to slow down and let the offender pass: perhaps he does not even suspect that he is violating the Traffic Rules.
"Undercut" when performing a right turn
A right turn is one of the easiest and most harmless maneuvers. Nevertheless, in some cases, it is during its implementation that road traffic accidents occur, mainly due to the lack of foresight and inattention of novice drivers. Let's consider a typical example.
Suppose you are approaching an intersection, the road in front of which is muddy and covered in puddles. You intend to turn right, so stand in the right lane. But in order not to splash puddles and mud on pedestrians standing on the sidewalk, you stop about one and a half meters from the sidewalk and stand in anticipation of a permitting traffic signal. The situation is quite common and, in general, at first glance, it is completely safe.

However, there is a danger, and it is as follows. The distance you have left to the sidewalk is sufficient for a two-wheeled vehicle (motorcycle, scooter, moped, bicycle) to pass. When the light turns green at the traffic light, you will begin to turn right and move closer to the right edge of the carriageway, where, for example, a motorcyclist may well be. Usually such a development of events is a complete surprise, especially for novice drivers: since the car is parked in the far right lane, the driver does not expect that someone may be even more to the right. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is not always possible to see a motorcyclist in the right rear-view mirror (Fig. 2.5): he can be in the so-called "blind zone" and is visible only if the driver of the car turns around.

Rice. 2.5. Even a well-adjusted right rearview mirror does not cover the blind spot

Here are the most typical signs of such a danger:
a long distance from a car standing in the extreme right lane to the curb, which is sufficient for a two-wheeled vehicle to pass;
dirt-sticky direction indicators of the car, due to which the driver of a two-wheeled vehicle may not notice the included indicator and not suspect that the driver of the car intends to turn right;
the small size of a two-wheeled vehicle, due to which it stays in the "blind spot" longer than regular car.
Therefore, if you stop far from the edge of the carriageway with the best of intentions and intend to turn right, be sure to make sure that the driver of the two-wheeled vehicle does not intend to do the same on your right. To do this, not only look in the rearview mirror, but also turn your head to the right to make sure there is no interference.
Unexpected appearance of an oncoming vehicle while making a left turn
Unlike a right turn, a left turn at an intersection is a much more dangerous and difficult maneuver, especially if the intersection is unregulated or there is no additional left arrow section at the traffic lights. Many road accidents happen exactly when making a left turn, and often novice drivers are the culprit.
Imagine this situation: you intend to turn left at an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light. There is no additional section with a left arrow at this traffic light, so you, as prescribed by the Road Traffic Regulations, enter the intersection at a green traffic light and stop to let vehicles in the opposite direction pass. A yellow signal lights up at the traffic light, but you intend to complete the maneuver, since the Traffic Rules allow this to be done in such situations (that is, if the movement was started on a green light, then the maneuver can be completed at any signal if there are no stop lines along the route or sign 6.16). At the same time, you rightly believe that the drivers of oncoming vehicles who did not have time to pass the intersection at the green light will stop and wait for it to light up next time.
However, in reality, this is not always the case, and the danger is that one of the drivers moving in the opposite direction will try to "slip" the intersection before the red light turns on at the traffic light. Therefore, if you do not wait at least 1–2 seconds after the yellow signal lights up at the traffic light, you can get into an accident. And who will be guilty of the road traffic accident is difficult to say right away. The traffic police will figure it out: either you did not miss the oncoming vehicle when making a left turn, or the driver of this car drove through a red traffic light and collided with yours.
Here are some telltale signs that this danger is approaching:
high traffic intensity in the oncoming lane;
an oncoming car approaching the intersection clearly does not intend to slow down, despite the fact that the yellow signal has already turned on at the traffic light;
a short distance from an oncoming vehicle moving at high speed to an intersection.
In order not to get into an accident in a similar situation, be sure to make sure that no one is stopping you from completing the maneuver, and only then turn left.
Danger of turning in the "gap" between other vehicles
Here we will look at a fairly common hazardous situation that often occurs at unregulated intersections.
Suppose you are approaching an intersection with a main road on a minor road, intending to turn left. A continuous stream of cars is moving along the main road, in which a "gap" has suddenly appeared - two large vehicles (trucks, buses, etc.) clearly intend to turn to the right. It will take them some time to complete this maneuver, and you believe that you will have time to complete your maneuver, since other cars on the main road will have to wait for the trucks to turn and clear their way.
In this case, the danger is as follows. Once you start driving, you will not see vehicles that are on the main road behind the trucks. Therefore, if the driver of one of them does not want to wait for the trucks to turn and start overtaking them, the trajectories of your cars will intersect. It will be almost impossible to avoid a collision in this situation.
The main signs of this danger are:
large dimensions of trucks, which severely limit the view and do not allow you to control the situation on the crossed main road;
high traffic volume on the main road.
Note also that at intersections, the Traffic Regulations allow drivers of vehicles driving on the main road to overtake.
Therefore, if in such a situation you decide to take advantage of the "gap" in the traffic flow, which moves on the main road, and turn left, make sure that no one is going to overtake trucks turning right.

Failure to comply with the speed limit

Very often novice drivers make mistakes when choosing a speed limit. On good road surfaces (especially on suburban roads), they become overly self-confident (Fig. 2.6).

Rice. 2.6. On a good track, there is always a temptation to accelerate ...

At best, it ends with the driver breaking into a cold sweat and taking a breath in relief, avoiding an accident. At worst, it leads to serious road accidents, in which other road users can also be injured.
A typical example. The driver moves at a speed of about 50 kilometers per hour in the village. At the public transport stop there is a bus that passengers get on and off. As soon as the driver approached the bus, a pedestrian suddenly appears in front of the car, who, in violation of the Traffic Rules, decided to bypass the bus not from behind, but from the front (note that children often commit such a violation). As a result, the driver of the car has very little time to make a decision: either to enter the oncoming lane (where one can collide head-on with an oncoming vehicle), or to hit a pedestrian (which is fraught with tragic consequences).
I would like to emphasize that in this situation the driver did not violate the Traffic Rules. V settlements movement is allowed at a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour. The only offender here is a pedestrian who, firstly, bypassed the bus on the wrong side, and secondly, before entering the carriageway, he was not convinced that there were no vehicles on it and, thirdly, tried to cross the road in the wrong place.
However, it cannot be said that the driver was completely right. When choosing a speed limit, he clearly did not take into account the fact that a pedestrian might jump out onto the road from behind a standing bus (Fig. 2.7).

Rice. 2.7. The driver did not see a pedestrian who suddenly appeared due to a stopped vehicle

ATTENTION
Any vehicle standing by the side of the road, especially a large one, is a potential hazard. Because of it, a pedestrian can run out at any time, his left door can suddenly open, garbage can fly out of the window (especially if there are children in the cabin), etc. Therefore, when driving past vehicles standing by the side of the road or the edge of the carriageway always be extremely careful and try not to lose sight of anything.
In this situation, the driver should slow down and drive the stationary bus slowly, for example, at a speed of 15–20 kilometers per hour. In this case, he would have had a chance to stop before the point of a probable collision with a pedestrian. Of course, there would be no need for him to enter the oncoming lane.
The following factors contribute to the likelihood of a collision with a pedestrian in such a situation:
high speed of movement;
large mass and dimensions of the car;
windshield contamination;
increased tire wear;
Night time;
limited visibility and adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, fog);
small width of the carriageway;
high speed of movement of a pedestrian;
slippy road.
Here is an example of another common situation where the wrong choice of speed mode causes a collision with a pedestrian. Suppose that a driver is driving a car on a road with one lane for movement in each direction, approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing. A large vehicle (e.g. a truck) that has just passed is moving towards crosswalk and therefore obstructs the driver of a passenger car from visibility on the left side of the carriageway - just in the place where pedestrians are preparing to cross the road. The driver of a car, not seeing the danger (we will assume that there were no pedestrians on the right side of the road), approaches the pedestrian crossing at the same speed, and suddenly a pedestrian appears right in front of him from behind the truck. In such a situation, there is simply no time to prevent a collision (there is not enough human reaction or technical capabilities car).
Again, strictly speaking, the driver of the car did not violate the Traffic Rules: he was moving at the permitted speed. But the pedestrian just showed inattention: as you know, having reached the middle of the roadway, you need to look to the right, which was not done (otherwise, he would have noticed an approaching car).
But we will not say that the driver of the car is right either. It is no secret that any pedestrian crossing is fraught with potential danger, therefore, each driver should be especially careful when approaching a pedestrian crossing, when driving through it and be prepared for any surprises. Obviously, this was not done in this case. And if we take into account the fact that the driver did not see the situation at the pedestrian crossing on the left side of the carriageway, he simply had to slow down to make sure that there was no danger. In such a situation (that is, when part of the pedestrian crossing is outside the visibility zone), it is recommended to move at a speed of no more than 15–20 kilometers per hour - only in this case you will have time to adequately respond to the unexpected appearance of a pedestrian.
The likelihood of a collision with a pedestrian in such cases increases with slippery road surfaces, narrow carriageways, bad weather conditions, and in poor visibility conditions.

Mistakes when choosing a speed limit can cause a traffic accident when driving through a controlled intersection. Let's consider a typical example.
Suppose that a car is approaching in the right lane on a road that has two lanes for driving in a given direction. At this moment, at the traffic light, the yellow signal changes to green - therefore, you can pass the intersection without stopping (especially since the car is moving at a speed of about 50-60 kilometers per hour). On the adjacent (left) lane there is a bus that blocks the driver's view on the left (that is, what is happening on the left side of the intersection, the driver of the car does not see). As a result, when a passenger car appears at an intersection, it collides with another vehicle, namely, the one that completed the intersection on the intersected carriageway. Obviously, the driver of a car will be to blame for the commission of this road accident: in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulations, he had to give way to vehicles completing the passage of the intersection in the direction crossed.
The main reason for the accident will be the fact that the driver did not foresee the possibility of other vehicles on the road being crossed. He could not see them (since the bus standing at the crossroads blocked his visibility on the left), but he had to take measures to detect the possible danger.
In such a situation, you can enter the intersection at a speed of no more than 20-25 kilometers per hour. The driver, nominally not violating the Traffic Rules (he was driving at the speed allowed on this section of the road), in reality became the culprit in the traffic accident, since he made a mistake when choosing a speed limit.
In such cases, the likelihood of a road traffic accident increases when the yellow traffic signal changes quickly to green, when the intersection is wide, and when there is high traffic intensity at this intersection.
In addition, novice drivers often do not know how to choose the optimal speed mode when driving on a suburban highway. As a result, the car can be driven into the oncoming lane or on the side of the road (especially when passing sharp turns) - this is one of the most common consequences of an incorrectly selected speed (Fig. 2.8).

Rice. 2.8. There is a sharp turn ahead - it's time to slow down

Sometimes beginners come across passing vehicles, here we can talk not only about the incorrectly selected speed, but also about neglecting the safe distance. But on a slippery road, mistakes in choosing a speed are especially dangerous: the car can behave unpredictably, and almost every newcomer in such a situation loses his composure and generally loses control over the car.
Not all beginners know about that. that driving at high speed on a gravel road or on a road with crushed stone is very dangerous (Fig. 2.9). Experts do not recommend developing speeds of more than 55 kilometers per hour on such roads.

Rice. 2.9. It's not worth driving fast on such a road

The fact is that at high speed the wheels of a car can lose traction, as a result of which it becomes completely uncontrollable (by analogy with a skid on ice). This is due to the fact that the surface of most gravel roads resembles a washboard, which does not improve the grip of the wheels with the road surface. Wet gravel road is especially dangerous.

Failure to maintain a safe distance
One of the most common mistakes novice drivers make is not keeping a safe driving distance. In many cases, this will result in a vehicle coming from behind hitting the front vehicle. The driver of the car, who was driving behind, because he did not observe a safe distance from the front car, is unambiguously recognized as guilty of committing such road accidents.
Let's consider a typical example. Suppose that the driver of a car is approaching an intersection, while another car is moving ahead at a distance of about five meters. A green light comes on at the intersection and the driver rear car the speed does not decrease, as it plans to pass the intersection in the forward direction. The front car also moves without slowing down, but just before the intersection, it suddenly turns on the right-turn indicator and brakes sharply (for example, to let pedestrians crossing the carriageway into which it is turning at a permitting traffic light). The driver of the rear car does not have time to stop and hits the front car from behind. The main reason is non-compliance with a safe distance: the available distance to the front car was not enough for the driver. In order to stop in time, he had to notice the danger, react, plus the braking distance of the car - the available 5 meters is not enough for this even when driving at low speed.
In fairness, we note that the driver of the front car was also wrong: it is necessary to turn on the direction indicator in advance, and not immediately before performing the maneuver. However, when analyzing the circumstances of the traffic accident, this fact still needs to be proved, but the blow from behind does not require proof - it is obvious. Therefore, most likely, the fault for the accident will be entirely assigned to the driver of the rear car (this happens in 99% of cases).
The likelihood of such traffic accidents increases on a road with a slippery road surface, at high speeds, in conditions of poor visibility and at night, and also depends on braking performance rear car.
Here's another example of a common situation. A passenger car moves behind a large vehicle (for example, a bus), which obstructs its view from the front. Having chosen the moment, the driver of a passenger car decides to overtake with the exit into the oncoming lane. He accelerates, turns on the left turn indicator and drives into the oncoming lane, where he immediately notices a vehicle moving in the opposite direction. Since the distance is sufficient, he has time to slow down and return to his lane. But at this moment, the bus moving in front of him begins to sharply reduce speed and stop (due to an obstacle that suddenly appeared in front of him, for example a pedestrian). A driver who has just returned to his lane is too close to this bus (in such situations it happens - it will take time to ensure a safe distance), therefore, he does not have time to react and hits him from behind with his car. Perhaps the bus will not receive any serious damage (especially if it is some old LAZ or Ikarus), but the car will get a lot, besides, the driver and passengers can get serious injuries. Of course, the driver of a car will be found guilty of committing a traffic accident if he did not observe a safe distance and hit the bus from behind.
Sometimes in a similar situation, newcomers begin to panic and make a mistake fraught with the most serious, even tragic consequences: trying to avoid a collision with the front vehicle, they try to bypass it, leaving on the oncoming lane, which can lead to a head-on collision, which is known to be , to one of the most serious road accidents. In this case, the driver who drove into the oncoming lane will be found guilty of the accident. And if you already choose between two evils, then a passing collision is better and safer than a head-on collision.
The likelihood of such traffic accidents increases when driving on a slippery road surface (note that in such conditions it is generally not recommended to overtake with an exit into the oncoming lane), when the carriageway narrows or if its width is insufficient, with improper braking and high speed of movement. In addition, much can depend on the braking performance of the rear vehicle.
Often, side-by-side collisions occur when driving in a dense traffic stream (Fig. 2.10). Moreover, the participants in such road accidents can be not two, but three, four, five or even more cars. After all, it's no secret that when driving in such conditions, few people maintain a safe distance, and as soon as someone gape, he immediately strikes front car... In turn, he immediately receives a blow from behind, since the driver of the rear car did not have time to react to a sudden stop, the next car hits him from behind, etc. Such "chains" in dense traffic flows occur quite often, and the only consolation is that they rarely cause serious injury or death.
But when driving on a track in poor visibility conditions (for example, in thick fog), passing collisions are very dangerous. After all, cars are moving at high speed, and it turns out something like this: someone did not have time to brake and hit the front vehicle, the drivers stopped to call the traffic police. However, the vehicles driving behind are driving at high speed and too late they notice an accident on the road, they do not have time to brake and become its new participants. These road accidents are very dangerous: firstly, due to high speeds, cars hit very hard, which often leads to injuries and death of people, and secondly, any of the cars can catch fire, which will lead to a massive fire of all involved in car accidents and generally to the most unpredictable consequences.

Rice. 2.10. Driving in heavy traffic requires a lot of skill and skill

It is especially important to maintain a safe distance not only in poor visibility conditions, but also when driving on a slippery road: the braking distance of the car increases many times over.
Remember: in all road conditions, maintaining a safe distance is extremely important from a road safety point of view. Do not recklessly and in no case "hang on the tail" of the car in front (as some only "fledgling" drivers sometimes like to do).

Errors made when maneuvering
Almost no novice driver can do without at least sometime making a mistake related to maneuvering and positioning the car on the roadway. In this section, we will provide a few examples of newcomers acting in error and this can lead to a traffic accident.
Let's imagine the following situation. A car driver approaches the T-junction on a secondary road, intending to turn left. On the main road there is a truck on the right and a bus on the left. The driver of the car believes that he will have time to pass the intersection before these relatively slow-moving vehicles have time to approach it. However, when he drives into the middle of an intersection, he hears a truck driving on the right beeps, demanding to give way. The newcomer gets lost and, trying to clear the way for the truck, taxies into the oncoming lane, where he collides with a bus moving along it.
In this case, in addition to the maneuvering error, the driver of the car incorrectly estimated the distance to the vehicles moving along the main road, as well as their speed. Obviously, in this situation, he should have stopped in front of the intersection, let the bus and truck pass, and only then make a left turn. In addition, he was too harsh on the steering wheel, which indicates poor steering technique.
The main reason for errors is the lack of proper skills in determining the distance to other vehicles, as well as their speed. Note that the occurrence of such road accidents is facilitated by the relatively small area of ​​the intersection, as well as the high speed of movement of vehicles.
Here is another example of a common situation where an inexperienced driver makes mistakes when maneuvering. Suppose a passenger car is driving on a road that has one lane in each direction. Suddenly, he notices that a minibus is moving in the opposite direction, which unexpectedly drives into the oncoming lane (that is, the lane along which a passenger car is driving). The driver of a car, trying to avoid a collision, is taxiing into the oncoming lane. However, at this time, the minibus returns to its lane, and a head-on collision occurs. The driver of a car will be found guilty of committing a road traffic accident, since the collision took place in the oncoming lane. Subsequently, it turns out that the driver of the minibus drove into the oncoming lane only in order to avoid an obstacle on the road, and would have had time to return to his lane before the collision. However, the driver of a car, unable to understand the situation, taxied into the oncoming lane in order to leave the minibus, which ultimately led to the exact opposite result.
By the way, this decision is dangerous and wrong for another reason: if even the minibus did not return to its lane, then another vehicle could move along it and the driver of a car, avoiding a collision with the minibus, would collide with it. Of course, in this case, he would also be found guilty of the road traffic accident. Many people mistakenly believe that the driver of the minibus should be recognized as the culprit of such an accident, because he was the first to enter the oncoming lane and provoke the accident. From a moral point of view, this may be so, but from a legal point of view, everything is much more complicated. Firstly, he may simply not stop and drive further (after all, he is not a participant in an accident, and it is hopeless to look for him as a witness of an accident if no one remembered his number plate), and secondly, the collision did not occur in the oncoming lane for him movement, therefore, legally, he is, as they say, "out of business."
Surely the reader will have a question: if in a similar situation the oncoming car drove head-on, how to act so as not to make a mistake?
In such cases, the only correct decision is to reduce the speed of movement and take as far as possible to the right, and, if necessary, stop completely. You can turn into the adjacent territory or pull over to the side of the road (of course, if this shoulder is reliable). But before that, it doesn't hurt to look at the oncoming traffic lane: perhaps there is some obstacle on it (pothole, bumps, etc.), and the driver of the oncoming vehicle just goes around it.
Very often, novice drivers make mistakes when changing lanes. The most common of them are performing a maneuver without turning on the appropriate direction indicator in advance (often they simply forget about it), as well as the inability to notice a car moving from behind in the same direction in the lane into which you want to change lanes (Fig.2.11).

Rice. 2.11. The motorcyclist is wrong: when changing lanes at the same time, he must give way (rule "obstacle on the right")

Remember: you cannot completely trust your rear-view mirrors, and before performing a maneuver, be sure to look back and see if another car is driving next to your car. The fact is that it may be in the "dead zone" and you will not see it in any mirror.
Mirrors allow only in general terms to control the situation behind and on the sides of the car, but in no way provide the driver with complete information about what is happening around and in the immediate vicinity of his car. In other words, the view of the rear-view mirrors is very limited.
Imagine that a car is moving behind you, which decided to overtake you in the next lane to the right or left. You can see it perfectly in the rear-view mirror, which is located on the windshield, and after changing lanes, the car is visible in the corresponding Side mirror... However, as it gets closer to your car, it moves out of the rearview mirror's field of view and into the driver's side vision field. But this does not happen immediately: first, the car is “lost” from the rear-view mirror, then for some time it is not visible either in the mirror or with peripheral vision, and only after that it enters the field of your peripheral vision. The distance when the car becomes "invisible" is called the "dead zone", which we talked about above. You can only see what is in the "dead zone" by looking back.
If you start changing lanes in the direction where another car is in the "blind zone", you will cut it severely, which can lead to an accident.
By the way, if an inexperienced driver finds himself in such a situation (that is, he goes to overtake, and at this time they cut him off), then, avoiding a collision, he can make a maneuvering mistake and thereby provoke another traffic accident. The most typical example is an attempt to bypass a car suddenly appearing in front in an adjacent or even in the opposite lane. This is the first instinctive desire that most drivers have in a similar situation, and it is completely in vain. After all, even if you come across an overtaken vehicle, its driver will surely be found guilty of the accident. And if you collide with an oncoming car or a passing vehicle that is moving in the adjacent lane, you will be found guilty of the road accident, and no one will be interested in the fact that you tried to avoid another collision.
Another common mistake newbies make is "losing" their lane when driving through intersections. Considering that not all Russian roads have normal road markings, it is not difficult to get confused, especially when driving through roundabouts. If you are having difficulties and you feel that you are "losing" your lane, focus on how other road users are moving. Do not under any circumstances make sudden movements trying to “find your place” - without first turning on the direction indicator, these actions will be unexpected for other road users. On the other hand, turning on the turn signal at an intersection can be misleading.
Sometimes beginners "lose" their lane not even at intersections, but simply on the road. Everything is simpler here: look at the location of other cars on the roadway and take the appropriate position. But again, don't do it abruptly and make sure you don't cut anyone.
Often inexperienced drivers provoke the occurrence of road accidents when starting from the side of the road. Here they make about the same mistakes as when changing lanes: they forget to turn on the direction indicator and make sure that there are no other vehicles behind in the immediate vicinity.

A common newbie mistake is using the steering wheel too vigorously when cornering at intersections. For example, the driver needs to turn left. He drives to the center of the intersection, allows vehicles moving in the opposite direction, and turns the steering wheel to the left too much, as a result of which, after turning, he finds himself not in his own, but in the opposite lane. If there are oncoming vehicles on it, it is fraught with a head-on collision. For a right-hand turn, steering wheel too vigorously can lead to bumping onto the sidewalk or hitting the curb.
The exact opposite error made when maneuvering is insufficiently energetic turning of the steering wheel. For example, when making a U-turn, this results in the driver being forced to turn in three steps (using reverse motion) where this could be done in one step. As a result, the car blocks the carriageway for too long, interfering with the movement of other vehicles. And when performing oncoming traffic, insufficient steering wheel turn can cause a head-on collision.
Another well-known mistake of inexperienced drivers is the inability to predict the occurrence of obstacles on the roadway. This often forces them to maneuver sharply, which is especially dangerous when driving on a slippery road and in conditions of insufficient visibility. For example, an experienced driver knows to always slow down and pay extra attention before an intersection, even if he is driving on the main road or at the green light of a traffic light: after all, someone else can violate the traffic rules, which will lead to a dangerous situation. A beginner can drive at the same speed, being sure that nothing terrible will happen ("after all, I'm going to the green light!"). An experienced driver will be ready for any surprises and will probably have time to slow down and stop if necessary, but a beginner will not, and he will have to make sharp maneuvers to bypass an obstacle that suddenly appears.
Often, novice drivers, when leveling the car after turning or making a turn, completely release the steering wheel, as a result of which the car can jerk sharply in the opposite direction. You can't do that! Firstly, in such a situation, the car can jump out into the adjacent lane, which is fraught with a collision, and secondly, when driving on a road with a slippery road surface, the car can lose control and go into a skid.
Remember that it is strongly not recommended to enter a turn on increased speed... Even if your car remains stable (which is unlikely), you will not be able to turn the steering wheel in time, as a result of which the car will be either on the side of the road or in the oncoming lane. Also, during cornering, you must not brake or change gears.
Another common mistake inexperienced drivers make when maneuvering is going into a corner too early. This is fraught with the fact that the car will be carried over to the sidewalk, or it will hit the curb. In general, the basic skills of maneuvering, including when making turns, should be learned and consolidated even at the stage of training in a driving school, but, unfortunately, even after successfully passing the exam at the traffic police and obtaining a driver's license, many beginners are very poor at turning (Fig. . 2.12).

Rice. 2.12. With such a ride, the car's suspension will quickly disintegrate ..

Often, inexperienced drivers will enter a turn when braking hard. This is not always worth doing! This is fraught with a skid of the car, as a result of which it may find itself in the oncoming lane. A similar result will be obtained with a sharp press of the gas pedal when exiting a turn (for some reason, many beginners think that this is how they need to complete the maneuver). The payment for a mistake can be too high: many road accidents happen precisely because the culprit of the accident did not "fit" into the turn and flew into the oncoming lane, to the side of the road or into a ditch (depending on the direction of the turn).
NOTE
Sometimes a beginner manages to prevent the car from skidding and the matter is limited to the so-called "pendulum alignment", by which it is almost unmistakably possible to recognize a "teapot" while driving.
Therefore, at the final stage of cornering, be especially careful and do not make any "sudden movements".

Common mistakes when driving through intersections

In accordance with the Road Traffic Regulations, an intersection is a place of intersection, abutment or branching of roads at the same level, bounded by imaginary lines connecting, respectively, opposite, most distant from the center of the intersection, the beginning of curvatures of carriageways. At the same time, exits from the adjacent territories are not considered as intersections (Fig. 2.13).

Rice. 2.13. The driver of the car violated the traffic rules: when leaving the adjacent territory, he did not miss the motorcycle

ATTENTION
Any intersection is a place of increased danger, so drivers should be as attentive and vigilant as possible. Please note that it is at the intersections that traffic accidents often occur.
Intersections are regulated and unregulated. An intersection is called a regulated intersection, at which the sequence of traffic is determined by traffic signals or the gestures of a traffic controller.
Intersections where there is no traffic light or regulator, or where the traffic light is constantly blinking yellow, are called unregulated. When driving through unregulated intersections, drivers must follow the rules for driving through unregulated intersections, as well as priority signs (if any).
A common mistake novice drivers make is not being able to make left turns and U-turns. the main problem consists in the need to skip vehicles moving in the opposite direction: beginners often do not know how to estimate the distance to an approaching vehicle and begin to turn, creating an obstacle to it, which sometimes ends in a traffic accident. A left turn and a U-turn do not cause any difficulties for them only when the green arrow at the intersection is lit at the same time as the green traffic light. There are frequent cases of a collision with a simultaneous left turn, when a novice driver cannot determine who has priority in performing this maneuver (Fig. 2.14).

Rice. 2.14. Collision while performing a left turn

Sometimes beginners incorrectly calculate the time and speed with which they will pass the intersection. For example, the driver sees that there are 100 meters left to the intersection and a green signal is on at the traffic light. He increases his speed, trying to have time to pass the intersection, but does not have time to do this: the green light is replaced by yellow, and that, in turn, red. As a result, the car flies into the intersection at the prohibiting traffic light, and it will be very good if by this time vehicles moving from other directions have not managed to enter the intersection. A collision will not be avoided if a car from another direction enters the intersection at speed (for example, it was approaching the intersection and did not have time to stop when the green signal came on).
True, the driver has another way out: to brake quickly and sharply in order to have time to stop before the intersection. If, at the same time, no one hit his car from behind (this should be feared during any sharp braking), then, one might say, he was lucky. But if you miss a little, and the car will stop right at the intersection, at least creating an obstacle to the movement of other vehicles, and even provoking a traffic accident.
If you turn at an intersection and in the next lane the driver of a large-sized vehicle (bus, truck, road train) does the same - keep in mind that you need to observe the lateral spacing of at least one meter. The fact is that back part large vehicles are skewed to the side when cornering, therefore there is always a danger of hitting neighboring vehicles.

Rice. 2.15. A left turn at an unregulated intersection is a real problem for a beginner

Very often, beginners get lost when driving through unregulated intersections (Fig. 2.15). Sometimes you have to see how an inexperienced driver, even being on the main road and having an advantage over other road users, still stubbornly stands in front of the intersection and refuses to go, giving this right to others. And only when it becomes free at the intersection, the driver passes it.
Needless to say, this should not be done. In such a situation, confusion arises at the intersection and it is difficult for drivers of other vehicles to immediately understand why they are given way (they may think that they have not noticed a sign) and in what order the intersection should now be passed.
Sometimes the exact opposite situation arises: an inexperienced driver, who is on a secondary road, enters the intersection without letting the vehicles with advantage pass. Why? The fact is that if almost all drivers notice the traffic light, then this cannot be said about priority signs: many newcomers, already entering the intersection, start frantically looking around in an attempt to find out which road they are on: on the main or on the secondary ...
But most of all, inexperienced drivers experience difficulties when driving through intersections of equivalent roads. Here, as you know, the well-known rule of "interference from the right" comes into effect: the driver who has the obstacle on the right must give way. Beginners either forget about this rule, or cannot quickly navigate where is right and where is left, which ultimately leads to a traffic accident.
Often novice drivers forget that in the absence of priority signs and other means of organizing traffic, a hard road is always the main road in relation to dirt road... Moreover, the presence of a hard surface on a dirt road just in front of the intersection does not make it equivalent in relation to another road. As a result, situations arise like this: in front of the intersection on a paved road there is a car, and on the right, on a dirt road to be crossed, there is another one, and no one can figure out who should go first. So: despite the fact that a car on a paved road has an obstacle on the right, in this case it has the right of preferential passage, since its road is the main one in relation to the dirt road.
Newcomers often find it difficult to navigate roundabouts. In most cases, the roundabout is the main road and all adjacent roads are secondary. But this is not a dogma! The Road Traffic Regulations do not say anything in this regard, so the priority is determined only by the relevant road signs... If an intersection with a roundabout is unregulated, it should be passed, guided by the rules for driving through unregulated intersections. This must be remembered well: many drivers, even experienced ones, mistakenly believe that the circle is always the main road. It is difficult to say where this common misconception came from, but it is a fact: often drivers instinctively skip vehicles moving in a circle, even if traffic signs prescribe a different order of passage for a given intersection.
As we noted above, newcomers often "lose" their lane when driving through roundabouts. Do not lose your vigilance in the absence road markings watch other road users driving and stick to general order... Do not forget to readjust in a timely manner before leaving the circle: it is in such situations that passing collisions often occur. As a rule, the driver is found guilty if he intended to leave the intersection at the next turn (since it was he who had an obstacle on the right).

Overtaking errors
In accordance with the Rules of the Road, overtaking is called the advance of one or more vehicles associated with leaving the occupied lane. There are two typical types of overtaking.
Overtaking associated with leaving the oncoming lane. It is performed on roads that have one lane in each direction.
Overtaking, the implementation of which is not associated with leaving the oncoming lane. To perform overtaking, the driver simply rebuilds into an adjacent lane in the same direction and, at the end of the maneuver, returns to his lane (Fig. 2.16).

Rice. 2.16. Here you can overtake without leaving the oncoming lane

Note that some time ago, such overtaking was called an advance, but in the current version of the Road Traffic Regulations, these concepts are identified.
As you might guess, overtaking associated with leaving the oncoming lane is the most dangerous. If the driver performs this maneuver without going into the oncoming lane, but only by rebuilding in the next lane in the same direction, he almost does not risk getting into a serious traffic accident. In most cases, the maximum that can happen if the driver was inattentive when overtaking is a collision. This, of course, is also unpleasant, but its consequences are much easier than that of a head-on collision, which can occur when overtaking with an exit into the oncoming lane (Fig. 2.17).

Rice. 2.17. Head-on collision is one of the most dangerous types of road accidents

ATTENTION
It is when overtaking with an exit into the oncoming lane that novice drivers make a lot of mistakes, which often lead to tragic consequences.
As a reminder, in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulations (clause 11.5), overtaking is prohibited:
at regulated intersections with an exit to the oncoming lane, as well as at unregulated intersections when driving on a road that is not the main one (except for overtaking at roundabouts, overtaking two-wheeled vehicles without a side trailer and permitted overtaking on the right);
on pedestrian crossings if there are pedestrians on them;
at level crossings and closer than 100 m in front of them;
a vehicle making overtaking or detouring;
at the end of an ascent and on other sections of roads with limited visibility with an exit into the oncoming lane.
One of the most common mistakes is the inability of the driver to adequately assess the distance to the vehicle moving in the opposite direction and its speed. Unfortunately, this error appears almost always late, when it is necessary to have good driving skills, as well as composure and calmness to avoid a collision. Needless to say, the vast majority of newbies lack these qualities. And you will be very lucky if, in such a situation, the driver of an oncoming car does not get confused and still be able to avoid a collision (for example, by pulling over to the side of the road or making another only correct decision).

And further. Remember: before overtaking, you need to accelerate properly and only then enter the oncoming lane - this will allow you to minimize the time spent in the oncoming lane. Unfortunately, the following picture can often be observed on Russian roads: a car drives into the oncoming lane to overtake and only there starts to slowly accelerate. As soon as he picks up a suitable speed, an oncoming vehicle appears and the driver is forced to slow down and return to his lane again. By the way, if at this moment the car, which he intended to overtake, sharply slows down, there is a danger of a collision.
Many inexperienced drivers, intending to overtake, get too close to the car in front and drive, choosing the right moment to enter the oncoming lane. This is also fraught with a collision on the way, because the front car can brake at any time. Therefore, if you have already closed the distance - do not pull and start overtaking, and if this is impossible (for example, the oncoming lane is busy) - do not "sit on your tail", but leave a little behind.
Another of the most adventurous and dangerous mistakes: the driver goes to overtake even if there are vehicles moving in the opposite direction. This is completely unwarranted and deadly! The driver is guided by the considerations that, they say, the width of the carriageway is quite enough to accommodate three cars at the same time (overtaken, overtaken and oncoming).
Of course, it is possible that you will be able to part ways safely in such a situation, but, as inexorable statistics show, the probability of this does not exceed 2-3%. But the chance to provoke a head-on collision is very, very high (respectively, about 97–98%). In addition, if traffic police officers are on duty nearby, do not hesitate, you will be deprived of your driver's license (even if everything goes without a traffic accident).
Another common mistake is that when overtaking is finished, the driver starts to return to his lane too early. Remember: you can change to your lane no earlier than the moment when you fully see the overtaken vehicle in the rear-view mirror. It is also recommended that you turn your head to the right and see if you will interfere with his movement. Unfortunately, inexperienced drivers often cut off the overtaken vehicle, which can lead to an accident on the road.
Beginners often also start overtaking without first making sure that no one is overtaking them. In practice, it looks something like this: the driver rebuilds to perform overtaking and at this moment hears a shrill sound signal from another car from behind, which, as it turned out, started this maneuver earlier. The error lies in the fact that the driver did not make sure that there are no obstructions from the rear and side of the car before starting the maneuver. The situation is somewhat simplified if the left turn indicator was switched on in advance: in this case, the driver, who has already started overtaking, will have time to give a sound signal or blink his headlights, warning of his approach. But if the left "turn" turn on just before the maneuver (this is often the fault of novice drivers) - the likelihood of a collision will be very high. If this happens in the lane of oncoming traffic, the situation becomes extremely dangerous: the next participant in a traffic accident may well become one or even several vehicles moving in the opposite direction.
As a rule, those places on the roads where it is dangerous to overtake are indicated by appropriate road signs or road marking lines. However, it also happens that dangerous places remain unmarked (after all, you cannot put signs everywhere ...) It is on such sections of roads (for example, a sharp turn that greatly restricts the visibility zone) drivers go to overtake, believing that there is nothing dangerous here. This often leads to serious traffic accidents.
Sometimes an inexperienced driver overtakes and exits into the oncoming lane on a slippery road, as a result of which his car goes into a skid and either collides with an oncoming vehicle or flies into a ditch (falls off a bridge, into a river, flies into railways etc.). Remember: in the winter season, the crust of ice on the surface of the roadway can be completely invisible, so make sure that it is not there before overtaking. To do this, you can, for example, lightly press the brake pedal a couple of times and see how the car reacts to this. If you have the slightest doubt, you should refuse to perform the maneuver, otherwise the consequences can be the most sad.

Mistakes when driving at level crossings
A level crossing (Fig. 2.18) is one of the most dangerous sections of the road, regardless of whether it is regulated or not. Almost all road accidents involving a car and a train end tragically. Unfortunately, inexperienced drivers often get lost and make fatal mistakes when crossing railway crossings. We will consider some of them in this section.

Rice. 2.18. Level crossing is one of the most dangerous places on the road

with a prohibiting traffic light (regardless of the position and presence of a barrier);
at the prohibiting signal of the person on duty on the crossing (the person on duty is facing the driver with his chest or back with a baton raised above his head, a red lantern or flag, or with his arms outstretched to the side);
if there is a traffic jam behind the level crossing that will force the driver to stop at the level crossing;
if a train (locomotive, railcar) is approaching the crossing within sight.
In addition, the Traffic Regulations prohibit the vehicles standing in front of the crossing to go around the oncoming lane, as well as unauthorized opening of the barrier. This is not surprising: the consequences of such adventurous and rash actions can be the most tragic.
Often newcomers have trouble at unregulated level crossings. Although, in fact, there is nothing complicated here: it is enough to stop before the crossing and make sure that there is no approaching train, after which you can safely go. Even if the train is far enough away, it is better to let it pass: haste in this situation is absolutely inappropriate. By the way, there are many known cases when a car stalled right at a railway crossing, which led to sad consequences.
ATTENTION
Remember that a train moving at high speed cannot be quickly stopped. Even if the driver applies emergency braking, the braking distance of the train is still at least 1 kilometer (Fig. 2.19). The driver usually sees that there is an obstacle on the tracks, but he cannot prevent a collision.

Rice. 2.19. A train moving at high speed cannot be stopped instantly

One of the common and dangerous mistakes made by novice drivers is as follows: the driver sees an approaching train, but since the distance to it is relatively large, he decides not to let the train pass, but to drive through the crossing in front of him. However, already at the crossing, he suddenly decides otherwise, in a panic he presses the brake pedal - and as a result, the car stops right on the rails, on the way to the approaching train. Remember: braking at a railway crossing is only possible if you are sure that you will have time to stop before the tracks along which the train travels. Sometimes it is more expedient to add gas in order to have time to pass the crossing before the train appears on it.
Of course, it is pointless to deny the fact that waiting at a railway crossing is an unpleasant occupation: with an impatient glance at our watches, we all want to pass through it as quickly as possible. However, adventurism is absolutely unacceptable here, otherwise it may happen that there will be nowhere to rush ...
At regulated level crossings, the following often happens: the barrier starts to close, but cars still tend to slip through the level crossing. Needless to say, how dangerous it is.
Here is the most common example: you are approaching a move to dense stream cars, and the barrier begins to close, as they say, right "in front of the nose."
There is a temptation to pass the crossing now, and you manage to slip under the barrier. As soon as you find yourself on the tracks along which the train is moving, the car driving in front of you for some reason brakes sharply, and you have no room for maneuver: the same “rush” like you, who managed to pass under the barrier, “props up” behind , there is another car in front. The only thing that remains for you in this situation is to instantly drop the passengers and leave the car yourself. It will no longer be possible to save the car.
ADVICE
When driving over a level crossing, it is strongly recommended not to change gears in order to minimize the chance of the vehicle stalling.
If you had to stop at a railway crossing (for example, the car has stalled), but you cannot see the train nearby, disembark passengers and, if possible, send two people along the tracks on both sides of the crossing for 1000 meters (if one, then in the direction of the worst visibility of the track), explaining to them the rules for giving a stop signal to the driver of an approaching train. Themselves stay near the car and give general alarm signals, and when an approaching train appears, run towards it, giving a general alarm signal. Note that the stop signal is Roundabout Circulation hands (during the day - with a flap of bright matter or some clearly visible object, at night - with a torch or lantern), and a general alarm signal - a series of one long and three short beeps.
If you are not sure that you will be able to pass the railway crossing before the train approaches, it is better to stop and wait, even if there will be honking and demanding movement from behind you. By the way, here is another well-known mistake of novice drivers: they often succumb to provocations from other road users and do what they are not sure of and that under other circumstances they would never have done. Therefore, do not pay attention to others and act as you see fit and as you see fit. When you stop, you can turn on the hazard warning lights - let others think that your car broke down.
All actions of the driver at a railway crossing must be clearly thought out and justified by the Rules of the Road - otherwise, a disaster may occur.

A driver, passing a regulated intersection of roads, just needs to follow the orders of a traffic light or a traffic police officer. Basically, it's pretty straightforward. Driving along an unregulated intersection is much more difficult.

What is such a denouement

When approaching the intersection of roads, you should pay attention to how the order of the transport passes. Regulated and unregulated intersections have one main difference - the presence or absence of a traffic light and a traffic controller. The presence of the latter indicates and the absence indicates that you are, on the contrary, at an unregulated intersection of roads.

Signs

Traffic signs will help a person driving a vehicle to understand which intersection of carriageways in front of him and how to act correctly. So, at an unregulated intersection, the following are set - "Give way", "Main road", "Motorway", "End of the motorway", "Intersection with a secondary road", "Adjacent a secondary road" and others.

You will be able to drive correctly and without traffic accidents only by knowing how to read the signs.

Driving through unregulated intersections: rules

Before you start driving at an unregulated intersection, be sure to study all installed signs. And then, taking them into account, begin to move, taking into account the rules. An unregulated intersection will not cause you any difficulties if you know how to read the signs and remember the traffic rules.

Roadless vehicles have no advantages over trams, regardless of the direction of travel and the status of the carriageway on which they are located. Therefore, cars always let them pass, and only after that they start moving according to the established road signs.

There is a sign "Main road" in front of the road crossing

As already mentioned several times, traffic at unregulated intersections depends on the established signs. Therefore, in order to properly pass an unregulated intersection, you should know who to skip and where you have the advantage. There are several options for driving through an unregulated intersection.

It all depends on how the main road is located and your location relative to it.

1. If the vehicle is located on the main road and it continues straight, then the algorithm of movement of your car is as follows:

• If you want to drive in a forward direction, you should not give way to anyone.
• If you plan to turn right, you also have the advantage. Accordingly, go through the intersection first.
• Turning to the left - first of all, skip oncoming cars, which, like you, are on the main road. Namely, you must approach the middle of the intersection, wait until they pass, and only then continue to move. If oncoming vehicles turn left, you simultaneously drive off the right sides of the vehicles.
• If you are going to turn around, then the sequence of actions is the same as when turning left.

2. The main road turns right. Your actions:

• When driving, you remember the obstacle on the right. If there is a car, then let it pass, and then start passing the intersection.
• Turning to the right is the only direction in which you have an advantage. Therefore, you can safely fold without yielding to anyone.
• When turning left, you pass cars that are on the right and move in the direction straight or left. If yours is planning to turn right, then you are allowed to move at the same time, since in this situation you do not interfere with her movement.
• U-turn. In this situation, the same rules apply as when turning left.

3. The main road turns left. Your actions:

• If you want to go straight, you have priority, so you go first.
• When turning to the right, you have an advantage, therefore, without yielding to anyone, perform the maneuver.
• Turning to the left follows the same algorithm as to the right.
• When making a U-turn, give way to vehicles moving on the left, according to traffic rules. At an unregulated intersection, they, like you, pass along the main road, and the advantage over them is formed due to the fact that they are an obstacle for you on the right.

A sign "Give way" is installed in front of the road crossing

According to the traffic rules, if there is a “Yield” sign on your road, you first of all miss cars moving on the main road, and then those who are an obstacle to you on the right.

Stop at an intersection of roads:

• In front of you there is a sign "Give way". If you want to turn right, you miss your obstacle on the right (even if it makes a U-turn), you also miss the car on the left due to the fact that it is heading along the main road. However, if he turns to the right, you are allowed to start moving at the same time as him. When driving straight ahead, cars on the right and on the left have an advantage over you, so you give them the carriageway. When you turn left, you miss everyone. The same is true when making a U-turn.
• The main road is on your right. When turning right, the oncoming vehicle has priority. Also a trackless vehicle on the right in case of a U-turn. You also skip them if you plan to continue straight ahead and turn left. Before the U-turn, you will have to yield to all vehicles from three directions.
• The main road is to the left of your vehicle. Before turning right, you must give way to oncoming and left cars, because they are on the main road, respectively, have the advantage. Having passed cars on the main carriageway (on the left, from the opposite direction) and on the right (obstacle on the right), you have the opportunity to cross an unregulated intersection in the direction straight. You also have no advantage when turning left.
• It is better not to make a U-turn at such an intersection, but if there is no other option, then it is allowed to start the maneuver only by letting vehicles pass from three directions.

Traveling unregulated equivalent roads

In a situation where you have to pass an intersection of equivalent roads, the main rule that you must follow is the obstacle on the right.

Which ones to skip depends on where you are going. You are planning:

• Turn right. In this situation, you should not concede to anyone, since the advantage is yours, respectively, your car passes first.
• Go straight. If there is a vehicle on your right, then you let it pass, and then go by yourself. Sometimes it turns out that at the same time from four directions cars plan to cross an unregulated intersection of equivalent roads straight ahead. Traffic rules do not regulate this situation, so drivers must determine among themselves which of them will start driving first.
• Turn left. Under these circumstances, your right handicap is an oncoming and right-hand side vehicle. Based on this, you start moving only after them.
• Make a U-turn. To start this maneuver, you must skip the vehicle from three directions, and only then start moving.

Pedestrian and unregulated intersection

Since there is no regulation at the intersection, it is necessary to be very careful in situations where a person crosses the intersection. Indeed, in the event of an accident, he will be issued a maximum fine, and for you as a driver, this situation can turn into a deprivation of rights and even a prison term.

A pedestrian at an unregulated intersection, moving along a zebra crossing, takes precedence over any vehicle. If the person decides to cross the carriageway on which there is no pedestrian crossing, you do not have to skip it. But, as practice shows, it is faster and easier to give in to a negligent pedestrian.

Summarizing the rules governing the passage of unregulated intersections, there are three main points that must be followed:

• An obstacle on the right at the intersection of equivalent roads. It is imperative to keep track of whether there are vehicles on your right.
• At established sign"Give way" initially the driver draws attention to the one who is driving on the main road, then to those moving on the right.
• If there is a sign "Main road" on the road on which you are moving, then you are closely watching those who are also heading along the main road and on your right.