Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users in particular may be hidden from your view.
Advice, not law. This rule is not written in capitals, so breaking it is not an offence in itself — but it can still be used in evidence in court to establish liability. The rules that say MUST or MUST NOT are the ones backed by law.
5 theory test questions on this rule
From the DVSA revision question bank. These are not the questions asked in the real theory test. Each one shows the answer, the explanation, and our own note on why every other option is not it.
Car
Lorry & Bus (LGV/PCV)
- What should you check just before you turn left? Restricted view
- How should you let other vehicles overtake when you're driving a slow-moving vehicle along a narrow road? The driver
- You're waiting to turn left at a junction. In your mirror you can see a cyclist moving up between the kerb and the nearside of your vehicle. How should you deal with the cyclist? Other road users