Box Junctions

Box junctions will seem to appear with no warning from under the car in front. A good reason to obey that 2 second rule and ensure you have plenty of space between you and the car in front. There aren't many rules to a box junction but like fight club, the first two are the same, don't stop in a box junction. Strictly speaking you can, but we will get to that.

The example above is a beauty, as you can see from the cars on the right of the picture, it is probably 4 or 5 car lengths in size, uphill to some traffic lights with only a few spaces at the far side. If you blindly follow the car in front into the box junction there is a good chance of getting stuck in it.

Step 1 - Keep your distance from the car in front

• Even for a driver of 20 years box junctions can come out of nowhere especially if your concentration lapses for a moment or, typically, you are too close to the car in front.

Step 2 - Don't be tempted

• Even if it looks like the traffic is going to flow through the box junction don't be tempted to enter it. Wait until your exit is clear. Our example above is on a potential test route and is a classic example of where it can go wrong, the traffic is flowing and then it stops at the lights there are only 3 or 4 cars in front but that's enough to block your exit.

Step 3 - Be patient

• Wait for your exit to be empty, don't worry about those around you or the guy behind that keeps edging towards you.

A quick recap on the rules of a box junction there are only two:

1. Only enter the junction if your exit is clear and you can fully exit the box, this applies to rule 2 also, you shouldn't stop in the box.

2. You can only stop in the box if you are turning right and the traffic coming from the other direction forces you to stop.

Have a look at our guide to learning to drive pedestrian crossings. A part of the road where people appear from nowhere and step into the road at the last second.

Pedestrian Crossings