🔄 MSM Routine: Mirror – Signal – Manoeuvre

1. Mirrors

Check your main interior mirror, then your left door mirror to assess traffic behind and any cyclists/pedestrians on your left.

2. Signal

Signal left in good time—not too early (to avoid misleading others), but early enough to give a clear warning.

3. Position

Move into a normal driving position close to the left side of your lane—do not swing wide like you’re turning right.

4. Speed

Ease off the gas and begin to brake gently. You’ll typically need to slow to about 10–15 mph, or even slower if the turn is sharp or visibility is poor.

5. Gear

Select the correct lower gear (usually 2nd gear, or 1st if it’s very tight or uphill) before the turn.

6. Look

Check the junction for hazards:

• Pedestrians crossing

• Parked cars or obstructions on the new road

• Traffic emerging from the minor road

• Cyclists on your inside

• Road markings or signs

7. Turn

Steer smoothly into the minor road.
Keep left and avoid cutting the corner.
Watch for any oncoming traffic turning into the same road.

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🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Turning too fast or too wide

• Failing to check mirrors before signalling

• Not looking for pedestrians or cyclists

• Braking or changing gear mid-turn

• Misleading others with an early or late signal

Can You Drive With A Dog In The Car?

If you’re caught driving with a dog in the car and it’s not properly restrained, you can be fined and even lose your insurance cover in some situations. Here’s a clear breakdown:

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🚫 What the Law Says (UK – Highway Code Rule 57)

“When in a vehicle, make sure dogs or other animals are

suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you if you stop quickly.”

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❗ If You’re Caught with an Unrestrained Dog

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✅ How to Transport a Dog Safely

1. Use a Pet Seatbelt Harness

2. Put them in a Crate or Cage

3. Use a Dog Guard (in the boot area of estate cars or SUVs)

4. Never let them sit on your lap or stick heads out of windows

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🧠 Why It’s Important

• An unrestrained dog can become a missile in a crash.

• Even at 30mph, a 20kg dog would hit the front with the force of a small motorcycle.

• It also distracts drivers, just like a mobile phone would.

Turning right from a major to a minor road can be tricky, especially with oncoming traffic. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it safely and correctly:

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✅ Steps to Turn Right from a Major to Minor Road (UK)

1. Mirrors – Signal – Position (MSM routine)

• Check mirrors: Centre mirror, then right mirror.

• Signal: Right signal in good time.

• Position: Move just left of the centre line (or into a marked right-turn lane if available).

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2. Speed – Look – Assess

• Slow down: Use your brake gently to reduce speed.

• Look ahead and to your right for oncoming traffic.

• Assess the situation: Be patient and wait for a safe gap.

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3. Give Way to Oncoming Traffic

Only turn when it’s safe and clear. Oncoming vehicles have priority.

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4. Turn when safe

• Steer smoothly into the left side of the minor road.

• Avoid cutting the corner (don’t swing too early).

• Watch for pedestrians crossing the minor road.

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5. Cancel your signal

Cancel your signal (if needed) and check mirrors again as you complete the turn.

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🔺 Tips for Safety

• Do not hesitate too long once it’s safe – this could confuse other drivers.

• Be aware of cyclists or motorbikes filtering on your right.

• If in doubt, wait – better to be safe than rushed.

If you’ve booked your first driving lesson or are currently considering your options, you’re probably wondering what happens on your first driving lesson. We’re here to help and have outlined what generally happens from start to end on your first driving lesson.

There are myths that you can spend the whole one or two-hour lesson stationary and the car doesn’t move. We have heard of companies out there that do that, but it’s not something we practice at Orange Driving School.

Our goal at Orange Driving School is to get you driving as quickly as possible on your first lesson without compromising your safety.

Here’s generally what happens from the beginning to the end of the lesson:

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1. Meet & Greet

Your instructor will introduce themselves, check your provisional licence, and confirm your eyesight (you’ll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres).

They’ll explain the plan for the lesson and reassure you — nobody expects you to drive like a pro on day one.

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2. Getting to Know the Car

• Seating position – adjusting the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel so you’re comfortable.

• Controls – going over pedals (accelerator, brake, clutch in manual), steering, gears, handbrake, indicators, and dashboard symbols.

This is sometimes called the “cockpit drill”.

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3. Basic Safety Checks

Learning about blind spots, mirror checks, and how to make sure the car is safe before moving.

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4. Moving Off & Stopping

On quiet roads or a safe area, you’ll practise:

• Starting the engine.

• Using the correct procedure to move off (mirror-signal-manoeuvre).

• Steering control.

• Gently braking to a smooth stop.

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5. Very Basic Driving Practice

You might only drive a short distance at first — just enough to get the feel of the car.

Your instructor will guide you through every step, talking you through what to do.

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6. Recap & Feedback

At the end, your instructor will review what went well and what to work on next time.

They’ll answer questions and book your next lesson.

💡 Tip: Wear comfortable shoes, bring your provisional licence, and don’t stress — the first lesson is all about getting familiar with the car, not passing the test.

Dealing with crossroads safely and correctly is a key part of driving. Here’s a clear and structured guide to help you:

🚦 What is a Crossroad?

A crossroad is where two roads cross each other (like a “+” shape). Traffic may approach from ahead, behind, and both sides.

✅ Steps to Deal with Crossroads

1. MSPSL Routine (for turning or emerging)

• Mirrors: Check your mirrors early (especially the rear and side relevant to your turn).
• Signal: Signal clearly if you’re turning.
• Position: Position your car correctly (left lane for left turn, right for right).
• Speed: Slow down in good time. Be prepared to stop.
• Look: Look both ways—ahead, right, left, ahead again.

👀 Approaching a Crossroad

A. Open or Closed View

Open: You can clearly see traffic on the crossing road.

Closed: Your view is blocked by buildings or parked cars — approach slowly and be ready to stop.

B. Controlled or Uncontrolled

Controlled: Traffic lights or give-way signs help control who goes.

Uncontrolled: No signs/lights — you must judge priority carefully.

↩️↪️ Turning at Crossroads

🔷 Turning Left

• Keep to the left.
• Check for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Watch traffic coming from the right and ahead.

🔷 Turning Right (Major to Minor)

• Position just left of the centre line.
• Wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic.
• Yield to traffic going straight or turning left.

🔷 Turning Right (Crossroad, Oncoming Also Turning Right)

Make an offside‑to‑offside turn (pass right side to right side). Safer and gives better visibility.

⚠️ Watch for These Risks

• Hidden vehicles (behind parked cars, bushes)
• Cyclists or motorbikes
• Pedestrians crossing as you turn
• Cars turning from side roads
• Drivers not signaling

🧠 Tips

• Never assume others will give way.
• If unsure, stop and wait.
• Don’t block the junction.

Practise scanning: right, left, ahead again

before moving.

Uncontrolled crossroad

Controlled crossroad

Traffic light controlled crossroad 

Crossroad with yellow box junction

A Speed Awareness Course is an educational alternative to receiving points and a fine for a minor speeding offence in the UK. Instead of being penalised with points on your driving licence, you attend a course that helps you understand the risks and consequences of speeding, and encourages safer driving.

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📌 Key facts about the course:

Eligibility: You may be offered the course if:

• It’s your first speeding offence in the last 3 years.

• Your speed was just over the limit (e.g. up to 10% + 9 mph above the limit).

• The police force handling the offence offers the course.

Duration: Usually around 4 hours long, often held online or in-person.

Content: Covers:

• Why speed limits exist.

• Stopping distances and road safety.

• Hazards of speeding.

• How to avoid speeding in future.

Cost: Typically £80–£100, paid by the offender.

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✅ Benefits:

• No points on your licence.

• No increase in insurance premiums (usually).

• Promotes safer, more responsible driving.

⚠️ If you ignore or decline the offer, you’ll usually face a fixed penalty notice (fine + 3 points) or possibly a court summons.

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📊 Speed Limit & Course Eligibility

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📝 Notes:

• These are guidelines, not strict rules. Each police force may use its own policy.

• If your speed exceeds the maximum shown, you’re unlikely to be offered the course.

• Even if you’re under the threshold, you might not be offered the course if you’ve taken one in the past 3 years.

A box junction is a yellow box with yellow crosses painted on the road.
You’ll find it at junctions — usually crossroads, but also sometimes at T-junctions.

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🎯 Purpose

The box junction is designed to keep the junction clear and prevent traffic from blocking it, especially during congestion.

📜 UK Rules (Highway Code, Rule 174):

• ❌ You must not enter a box junction unless your exit is clear.

• ✅ The only exception is when you’re turning right and are stopped in the box only because oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right are blocking your path.

⚠️ If your vehicle stops inside the box when your exit isn’t clear, you can be fined (commonly enforced by CCTV in some cities).

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📝 Key Points to Remember

1. ✅ Check your exit — before entering, make sure there’s enough space beyond the box for your vehicle.

2. 🚗 Don’t follow blindly — don’t follow the car in front unless you’re sure it will clear the box.

3. 🔄 Turning right is the only lawful reason to wait in the box, and only if the obstruction is oncoming traffic.

Nearside to Nearside Turning

Near-side to near-side turning is a method of turning right at a crossroads where both vehicles keep to their own left sides of the road (their near side) as they turn.

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🚘 What does it look like?
Imagine two cars facing each other, both signalling to turn right.

In near-side to near-side:

• Each car turns in front of the other vehicle (not behind).

• They both stay on their own side of the road as much as possible.

• It’s like a short, direct right turn.

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✅ Advantages:

• Visibility of oncoming traffic is usually better.

• Simple in marked junctions where road markings guide the turn.

• More common at staggered or offset crossroads or when there’s a central island.

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⚠️ Disadvantages:

• Hard to see the vehicle you’re crossing in front of, especially if it’s a large vehicle.

• Risk of collision if both drivers turn at the same time without good observation.

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💡 Tip to identify:
Look for road markings, traffic islands, or signs that guide the turn in front of each other — that usually means near-side to near-side is expected.

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🔄 Opposite of Nearside to Nearside (Offside to Offside):
That would be offside to offside, where both vehicles turn behind each other — better for visibility but takes more space.

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🔁 What is Offside to Offside Turning?
When both you and an oncoming vehicle are turning right, you pass each other offside (driver’s side to driver’s side), meaning:

• You turn behind the oncoming vehicle.

• This often happens when there’s a central marked area or box junction.

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✅ Key Points to Remember:

1. Positioning: Move just left of the centre line of your road.

2. Wait: Stay behind the oncoming vehicle turning right.

3. Visibility: Clearer view ahead as you’re not blocking each other’s line of sight.

4. Safety: Safer at busy junctions or where there’s space to wait in the middle.

5. Road Markings: Always follow painted guides or arrows.

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↔️ Compare to Nearside to Nearside: