Teaching observation at crossroads

An easy way to teach observation at crossroads is to remember and how many roads there are to check. Easy as "One, Two, Three".

The most common observation problem at crossroads is to neglect observation into one of the roads. This can lead to fails in with L tests, ADI Part-Two and other driving tests - more importantly, it can lead to accidents.

For example, when emerging drivers can often be seen looking right left and right again, but neglecting to check the road ahead.

When turning from a major road to a minor road they will look ahead and into the target road (the road they are turning into) but will neglect the third road...

And the third road is the one that makes teaching crossroads as easy as "One, Two, Three"

Simply explain that at a regular crossroad there are always three roads to check.

The diagram above shows typical observation when emerging. The driver checks roads 1 and 2 but neglects road three (or leaves the check until after the decision to emerge has been made).

In an approaching situation turning right into road '2' it would be the road on the left.

In an approaching situation turning left into road '2' it would be the road on the right.

Next: Step 4 - Teaching priority at unmarked crossroads...