What the exam asks here: Most beginners say: 'I'm driving a car, so I go first.' The CBR exam designer counts on exactly that.
Many learners think: A turning car may always go first, even if a cyclist is going straight ahead.
The rule is: Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road, including the cyclist
Most beginners say: 'I'm driving a car, so I go first.' The CBR exam designer counts on exactly that. The rule is not about who has the biggest vehicle — it is about who is turning and who is going straight. And 'straight-ahead traffic' is broader than you think.
Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road — and that includes pedestrians (Book p.110). It applies both to traffic coming towards you and to traffic riding beside or (closely) behind you.
The rule is a give-way duty, not a priority rule for the whole junction: it only applies to traffic on THE SAME road as you, not to traffic on the crossing road (which has its own priority rules). When turning right: the cyclist or moped rider going straight beside or behind you goes first. When turning left: the oncoming straight-ahead traffic goes first. The exception exam designers like to test: pedestrians count too, even though they walk rather than ride. A practical addition from the book (p.109): just before you turn — especially to the right — you check to the right once more. The straight-ahead cyclist easily sits in the blind spot there.
The straight-ahead cyclist beside a turning car is often in the blind spot — cutting them off when turning right is one of the most common and dangerous crashes at Dutch junctions, precisely because drivers assume the car goes first.
At a junction in Leiden you are turning right. A cyclist is riding straight ahead next to you. What do you do?
Explain: who exactly must a turning driver give way to, and why does traffic on the crossing road not fall under this rule?
Whoever turns, waits. Straight ahead — car, cyclist, pedestrian — on the same road always goes first.
At a junction in Delft you want to turn right. A cyclist next to you is riding straight ahead, in the direction you are currently in. Who goes first?
Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road — and that includes pedestrians (Book p.110). It applies both to traffic coming towards you and to traffic riding beside or (closely) behind you.
Correct answer: The cyclist, because they go straight ahead on the same road
Why learners get this wrong: A turning car may always go first, even if a cyclist is going straight ahead.
Correct answer: False
Why learners get this wrong: Pedestrians are not covered by 'straight-ahead traffic' when a driver turns.
Correct answer: Look to the right once more for a cyclist going straight ahead
False — You skip the look to the right. Just before turning, look to the right once more: a cyclist or moped rider going straight ahead easily disappears into your blind spot there
Why learners get this wrong: The rule only applies to oncoming traffic, not to a cyclist going straight next to or behind you.
Correct answer: A pedestrian crossing straight ahead on the same road; An oncoming car going straight ahead; A cyclist going straight ahead beside or behind you
Why learners get this wrong: The turning rule (turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic) also applies to traffic on the crossing road, just like an ordinary priority rule.
Correct answer: You let the moped rider go straight on first and turn afterwards
False — You only count oncoming traffic. The duty to let straight-ahead traffic go first also applies to traffic riding (close) behind you, like this moped rider
Why learners get this wrong: The rule only applies to oncoming traffic, not to a cyclist going straight next to or behind you.
Correct answer: False
Why learners get this wrong: The rule only applies to oncoming traffic, not to a cyclist going straight next to or behind you.
Correct answer: I let the cyclist go first and wait.
Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road
Why learners get this wrong: A turning car may always go first, even if a cyclist is going straight ahead.
Correct answer: True
Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road, including the cyclist
Why learners get this wrong: A turning car may always go first, even if a cyclist is going straight ahead.
Correct answer: This rule specifically concerns traffic ON THE SAME ROAD as the turning driver.
This rule specifically concerns traffic ON THE SAME ROAD as the turning driver. Traffic on the crossing road falls under the separate priority rules (right-of-way rule, signs, equal/unequal junction)
Why learners get this wrong: Pedestrians are not covered by 'straight-ahead traffic' when a driver turns.
Correct answer: True
This rule specifically concerns traffic ON THE SAME ROAD as the turning driver. Traffic on the crossing road falls under the separate priority rules (right-of-way rule, signs, equal/unequal junction)
Why learners get this wrong: The turning rule (turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic) also applies to traffic on the crossing road, just like an ordinary priority rule.
No. Turning traffic gives way to straight-ahead traffic on the same road, including the cyclist
No. The duty applies both to oncoming traffic and to traffic that is (close) behind you
No. The text explicitly adds it: '(so pedestrians too!)'
No. 'Also look to the right' is stated explicitly, precisely because the straight-ahead cyclist/moped rider easily disappears into the blind spot there
No. This rule specifically concerns traffic ON THE SAME ROAD as the turning driver. Traffic on the crossing road falls under the separate priority rules (right-of-way rule, signs, equal/unequal junction)