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Question

Difficulty: MediumReversing and Turning

You are following a long articulated lorry on an urban road. As it approaches a narrow left-hand turn into a side street, the driver signals left but moves over towards the right side of the road before turning. What should you do?

  1. A
    Overtake the lorry on the left while there is an open gap along the kerb
  2. B
    Drive up close behind the lorry so oncoming traffic does not block your lane
  3. Stay well back and allow the lorry sufficient room to complete its turnAnswer
  4. D
    Accelerate past the lorry on its right before it starts steering into the side road

Answer

Stay well back and allow the lorry sufficient room to complete its turn
Long and articulated vehicles need extra road space to negotiate sharp turns. To prevent their rear wheels from mounting the kerb, drivers often have to swing out in the opposite direction before turning. Drivers behind must hold back, remain visible in the lorry's mirrors, and give them ample space to complete the manoeuvre safely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the vehicle type and its indicated manoeuvre
Recognise that a long articulated vehicle needs a wide turning radius to clear the kerb safely
Articulated vehicles have rear trailers that 'cut in' during turns, requiring the cab to swing wide in the opposite direction
2
Assess the swept path and blind spots around the turning vehicle
Identify that the open gap on the left is within the lorry's swept path and blind spot
Entering the nearside gap would place your vehicle directly in the path of the turning trailer
3
Select the appropriate driving response
Hold back at a safe separation distance until the manoeuvre is complete
Staying back ensures you remain visible in the lorry's mirrors and gives the driver the required space to turn

Key Concept

Understanding long vehicle turning arcs and swept path space requirements
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Reversing and Turning

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