Learning How to Turn at a Junction – Turning Right
Turning right can be challenging for a learner driver due to hesitation and not being confident or fully understanding when they should wait or go.
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Locating a Right Turn
As with left turns, locating the right turn at the earliest opportunity will give you plenty of time to prepare and make the correct observations.
Check for right turn road signs, but some turns can be difficult to see.
To help, look for gaps in houses, bushes/trees or parked cars that may indicate the right turn is ahead.
If you’d like these skills walked through calmly in the car, our lesson packages cover turning routines step-by-step.
Right Turn Rules for the Driving Test
How to make a right turn
There will be many right turns that you will be taking during the driving test. For each one, you will be expected to use the MSPSL (Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look) routine. Here’s how it works:
- MIRROR – Upon locating the right turn ahead, look into the interior mirror, followed by the right wing mirror.
- SIGNAL – Signal to the right immediately after checking the mirrors.
- POSITION – Position your car just to the left of the centre of the road. If there is a centre line, do not position your car on or over it.
- SPEED – Speed depends on whether you need to stop and give way to oncoming traffic, and how open (or closed) the junction is. If you don’t need to give way and the turn is open, 2nd gear at 10–15 mph is usually fine. If it’s closed, 1st gear at around 5 mph may be better.
- LOOK – Look to decide if the right turn is open or closed and check the junction is clear of cyclists and pedestrians.
AMDI teaches clear reference points so you know exactly when to wait and when to go.
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If you’re unsure about MSPSL, our beginner-friendly lessons break everything down into simple steps.
Turning Right – Point of Turn
Line the very front of your car up with the centre line of the road you intend on taking. This “point of turn” helps prevent turning too early (cutting the corner) or too late (hitting the kerb or mounting the pavement).
Give Way to Oncoming Traffic
If you need to give way, ensure you stop at the point of turn.
A helpful rule: imagine you are a pedestrian standing exactly where your car is positioned. If you would feel safe walking across the road to the right, it’s usually safe to turn. This applies to residential and city roads with a 30 mph limit.
Right Turn Hazards
Be careful of hazards whilst turning right
Turning right may involve giving way to oncoming traffic, but in some cases it can be easier than turning left. Your view of the road you intend to take is much clearer, making hazard spotting easier.
Hazards to be aware of include pedestrians crossing the road at the junction, cyclists, and parked cars close to the junction line.
If you’d like to practise spotting right-turn hazards with an instructor next to you, you can send us a message here.
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Making a Right Turn – Tips
- Try to locate the turn as early as possible using road signs, markings or gaps in buildings.
- Use the MSPSL routine on the driving test.
- Stop at the point of turn to avoid cutting the corner or hitting the kerb.
- Check for hazards such as pedestrians, cyclists or parked cars before making the turn.
Right Turn Signs
Whilst driving, especially during a driving test, locating a right turn in plenty of time gives you more time to prepare.
The examiner may ask you to “take the next available road on the right”. Be careful: the next junction may be no entry and will be marked with a no-right-turn sign.
Right turn junction ahead warning sign
No right turn ahead sign
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Want to Learn This in Real Lessons?
Turning right becomes much easier when someone shows you the timing and reference points in person.
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