Driving Lessons Guisborough – Part 5
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This blog is the half-way mark of the ten main reasons students fail their driving tests around Guisborough. Driving Lessons Guisborough – Part 5 looks at response to signs – traffic lights. The DVSA published information about the most common reasons for failing a driving test quite recently. We decided to have a look at it and bring you the facts.
For an in-detail description of what is required on the U.K. driving test, check out Pass Me Faster’s – Passing Your Driving Test – The Essential Guide.
Coming in as the 6th most common reason for failing your driving test is –
6. Response To Signs – Traffic Lights
The main fault for Response to Signs – Traffic Lights is usually not identifying the traffic lights early enough. The test candidate misses the lights changing and continues to drive through them when maybe they should have stopped. Hopefully, we all know red means stop but what does the steady amber mean? The highway code says –
”AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident.”
What that means is if the light turns steady amber and you have to slam the brakes on to stop it might be safer to continue through. If you have to accelerate through to beat the red light you probably should have stopped at the stop line.
To avoid a fail for not stopping when you should, here’s a few tips –
- Looking as far ahead as you can to spot the traffic lights early
- Get used to identifying them by road signs markings or what other traffic ahead is up to
- Try not to beat the lights by accelerating towards them quickly
- Just accept they will always change from green to red. If they don’t it’s a bonus
- Cover the brake on approach. This stops you speeding up towards the light and has your foot ready on the brake
As well as not stopping when you should many people fail for stopping after the line in the middle of the junction. If the lights change as you go over the stop line, continue through and clear the junction.
Filter Lanes
Sometimes at traffic lights it may be safe to go in one direction when another direction it may not. The main example of this is left turn filter arrows. The picture above shows it’s unsafe to turn right but you can turn left. Many problems come, again, from not spotting what the lights are doing.
The test candidate may sit and wait to turn left when there is a green left filter arrow. With eyes subconsciously watching the red light, they miss the green filter arrow. Even though the car behind usually beeps at you, by this time it’s usually long enough to have failed your test.
Not turning left if the filter doesn’t come on
Another popular fault –
At some junctions when it’s clear to go in all directions you only get a green light. The green filter arrow does not come on. If the main green light is on it’s safe to go both directions. Some people wait for the arrow when they should be going. Again if you wait too long it’s a serious fault.
Turning Right at Traffic Lights
Again there may be a filter arrow to guide you to turn right at traffic lights. Many traffic light systems have a dedicated right turn lane and right turn arrow. Straight ahead and left lights may be green when the right turn is still red. People see the green over to the left of them and continue to turn right.
No right turn arrow
If there’s no right turn arrow you may be required to wait in the middle of the junction until you can cross oncoming traffic safely. The picture below shows the green car positioned correctly to turn right. It’s only prevented from doing so because of the oncoming traffic. If the driver of the green car gets a gap or the lights change to red they can go and clear the junction.
If you are waiting in the junction and the light turns red you must proceed out of the junction. Many learner drivers decide to wait and block the junction when the light changes to red.
Many test candidates will wait behind the stop line on a green light instead of waiting in the junction to turn right. Eventually, the light turns red and they’re still stuck behind the stop line.
Driving Lessons Guisborough – Part 5
Your driving lessons will cover dealing with traffic lights in great detail when you learn pedestrian crossings, junctions, and crossroads. Even so, Pass Me Faster always recommends further training before attempting your test. A great exercise to try is to look as far ahead as possible and spot traffic lights as early as you can. Some of our students find saying –
green, green, green
On approach to green traffic lights can help keep them thinking about them until they’re safely through them.
Remember keep an eye out for filter arrows and always make sure you’re looking at the light that corresponds to your lane.
Practice your positioning for right turns and always look out for road markings and arrows that may guide you to the correct position to wait.
