Hazard perception handbook - RTA

Selecting safe gaps when turning
Making turns is often difficult, particularly when the traffic is heavy. you need to
watch for traffic, and other road users such as pedestrians, to the front, left and
right. The key hazard perception skill, is selecting a gap that is big enough for you to
safely complete the turn. This is a skill that comes with practice.
Safe gaps – turning left
Left turns seem less complicated than right turns as you do not need to look for
traffic approaching in two directions. However, left turns are sharper than right
turns and may take longer to complete. you also need time to accelerate to match
the speed of the traffic on the road that you are entering. The faster the traffic, the
more time you will need to accelerate to match the traffic speed.
Gap selection for left hand turns is a skill that takes time and practice to develop.
But here are some guidelines that may help. If you are turning left in a 60 km/h
zone you will need a gap of at least six seconds between your car and vehicles
approaching from the right.
A six second gap means that you could count from ‘one thousand and one’ through
to ‘one thousand and six’ before a vehicle from the right would be level with your
car. Of course, you need to be able to judge what this distance looks like as you can’t
use this counting tool when trying to make a left hand turn.
Choose a safe gap so other vehicles are not forced to change speed.
5
Hazard perception handbook 41