Key points
- 'Junctions: turning right' is on the DVSA's list of the most common reasons for failing.
- Judging the speed of oncoming traffic is hard for new drivers, and right turns combine positioning, observation and judgement all at once..
- Drill: Position check.
- Your DriveSQ Student Portal tracks this skill lesson by lesson.
Right turns are where you cross the path of oncoming traffic, so the examiner watches position, timing and judgement closely. It's a regular entry on the DVSA's list.
What the examiner is looking for
Correct position (just left of the centre line, or in the right-turn lane), the correct point of turn, and judging gaps in oncoming traffic safely — without cutting the corner or waiting when it's clearly safe.
What it looks like on test
- Staying too far left so traffic behind can't pass.
- Turning across an oncoming car that's closer than you thought.
- Cutting the corner and ending up on the wrong side of the new road.
- Not noticing pedestrians crossing the road you're turning into.
- Hesitating with a large, safe gap.
Why it happens
Judging the speed of oncoming traffic is hard for new drivers, and right turns combine positioning, observation and judgement all at once.
How to fix it: drills we use
Position check
At every right turn, ask: could a car pass on my left?
Gap judgement
Count 'one thousand, two thousand' as an oncoming car passes a fixed point; learn what a safe gap feels like.
Pedestrian check
Since 2022, give way to people crossing or waiting to cross the road you're turning into.
Where it catches learners in Greater Manchester
Right turns at lights on Bury New Road near Cheetham Hill, Wilbraham Road near West Didsbury, Walmersley Road at Bury and Manchester Road at Bolton. Our test-route guides list the exact roads.
Self-check before your test
Can you tick all of these?
Be honest — if not, tell your instructor and practise it on your next lesson.
In the DriveSQ Student Portal your instructor marks "Junctions: turning right" as its own skill after each lesson, so you can watch it move from "introduced" to "independent" before you book.
DriveSQ Student Portal
Every SQ Driving School learner gets the DriveSQ Student Portal free — so you always know where you stand, not just how many hours you've had.
- 23 driving skills tracked after every lesson
- Theory library and 50-question mock tests
- Test-readiness checklist and instructor messaging
Why SQ Driving School?
SQ Driving School is owned and managed by DriveSQ — the Greater Manchester driving school behind the Student and Instructor Portals.
- Manual & automatic, same price: £35/hr
- 10 hours £350 — £320 for NHS staff, students and M16/M18/M19
- Door-to-door pick-up across Greater Manchester
Frequently asked questions
Is turning right at junctions a common reason for failing the driving test?
Is a junctions: turning right fault always a fail?
How do I stop making turning right at junctions mistakes?
How many minor faults can you have and still pass?
Sources
- GOV.UK — Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test
- GOV.UK — DVSA reveals top driving test faults
- GOV.UK — What happens during the driving test
- The Highway Code (GOV.UK)
- Highway Code — Rules 170–183, road junctions
Published by SQ Driving School, a brand owned and managed by DriveSQ. Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and test centres change — always confirm on GOV.UK before you book.