Supplementary Notes Emerging at unmarked crossroads Neither road is the major road and therefore no one has priority. Consequently you must slow down on approach and be prepared to stop. Anticipating other driver's actions and driving at a speed that enables you to stop is critical. Priority regarding oncoming vehicles is not changed, if you are turning right you would need to give way to oncoming traffic turning left or going straight ahead. If you come across a crossroad where the traffic lights have failed you should treat this as a unmarked crossroad, slow down on approach, look both ways and be prepared to stop.
When following a large vehicle, such as a lorry or double decker bus, always keep well back, even when travelling slowly. This will allow you a better view of what is happening in front of the lorry and you will be able to judge when or if you can overtake it safely. Keeping well back also allows the driver of the lorry to see you in his mirrors. If you cannot see the mirrors on the lorry then the driver cannot see you.
When you want to pull up on the left just after a junction on the left is very careful not to mislead anyone with your signal. You should indicate left just as you pass the junction and not before it.
Sometimes this is not possible so the safest thing you can do is to gradually allow the gap between your vehicle and the one in front to increase to double what it should be by gradually slowing down. This will then give you more time to slow down or stop, should the need arise, without putting yourself in too much danger.
25. Motorcyclists Motorbikes and pedal cycles are not as large or as wide as a car and as such are much more difficult to see. Many accidents happen because drivers do not notice them, particularly at junctions. So always be on the look out for them. When driving in slow moving queues of traffic motorcyclists sometimes ride between the lanes. Before you change lanes make sure you have checked for bikes filtering through the traffic. THINK ONCE, THINK TWICE, THINK BIKE. 26. Following Other Vehicles When following any vehicle always leave a safe gap between your vehicle and the one in front. This gap should not be less than the overall stopping distance for the speed you are travelling. If you are travelling very slowly in heavy urban traffic then this distance can be reduced to no less than your thinking distance. As a rough guide leave a gap equal to 1 metre for every mile per hour you are travelling e.g. a speed of 50mph = a distance of 50 metres.
It may be that you find yourself being followed very closely by another vehicle (tailgating). This can make you feel uneasy and pressured into going faster in an effort to get away from it. If this happens try to stay calm and do not speed up as the following driver will only speed up as well. If you can do so safely allow him to overtake.
27. Dead Ground Dead ground is a section of road that is hidden in a dip. Vehicles in this dip cannot be seen so care must be taken before overtaking to ensure there are no areas of dead ground hiding the oncoming traffic. 28. Humpback Bridge This type of bridge is found mainly on rural roads where the road goes over a stream or a river. The 'hump' can be quite high and will sometimes hide an oncoming vehicle from view. Consider using the horn to warn any other road users of your presence before you start to go over the bridge particularily if the road is narrow. Also listen out for the horns of other vehicles warning you and watch for pedestrians using the bridge. 29. Priorities The Highway Code says that where there is an obstruction on your side of the road, such as a parked car, you should give way to oncoming traffic. However sometimes
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