What does the examiner want to see at "Two left-turners facing each other"?

Interior mirror, left mirror, indicate left in good time. Move over towards the centre. Shoulder check left before turning. Turn in front of each other (tangentially), without going round the centre of the junction. If the traffic situation or the layout of the junction (such as markings) requires it, I only turn once we have passed each other (behind each other). Let oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car. Let pedestrians in the target road go first.

What counts as a severe mistake at "Two left-turners facing each other"?

Counted as a severe mistake: Let oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car. Let pedestrians in the target road go first. Turn quickly because the other car hides what comes behind it.

Two left-turners facing each other in the German driving test: what the examiner looks for

Q: You and an oncoming driver both want to turn left. A marking on the road forces you to go round the centre of the junction. How do you turn?

Behind each other, following the marking. The junction layout, here the marking, is the exception to the rule: you follow it and turn behind each other.

In short: At "Two left-turners facing each other" the examiner mainly wants to see: Interior mirror, left mirror, indicate left in good time; Move over towards the centre; Shoulder check left before turning; Turn in front of each other (tangentially), without going round the centre of the junction. A severe mistake that can end the test: turn quickly because the other car hides what comes behind it.

Junction with traffic lights and no left-turn arrow, both directions have green. You want to turn left. Opposite you waits a second car that also wants to turn left. Behind it more oncoming traffic goes straight on. Pedestrians cross in the target road.

The examiner says„Biegen Sie an der Ampel bitte links ab.“
"Please turn left at the lights."

What you have to show

Interior mirror, left mirror, indicate left in good time
Move over towards the centre
Shoulder check left before turning
Turn in front of each other (tangentially), without going round the centre of the junction
If the traffic situation or the layout of the junction (such as markings) requires it, I only turn once we have passed each other (behind each other)
Let oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car
Let pedestrians in the target road go first

The right order

Mirrors, indicate left in good time, move over towards the centre
At green, enter the junction and wait, wheels straight
Let oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car
Seek eye contact with the other driver, turn in front of each other (tangentially)
Shoulder check left, let pedestrians in the target road go
If the traffic situation or the junction layout requires it, turn only after passing each other (behind each other)

Typical mistakes

Always drive round the centre of the junction to be safeThe rule is to turn in front of each other. Behind each other is the exception, when the traffic situation or the junction layout requires it.

Turn quickly because the other car hides what comes behind it severe mistakeHidden oncoming traffic has priority. Only turn once you can see it and endanger nobody.

What the examiner records in the protocol

The examiner files every situation under five competence areas in the electronic test protocol. This is how the points of this situation are spread:

Observation of traffic

Shoulder check left before turning
Let pedestrians in the target road go first severe mistake

Positioning of the vehicle

Move over towards the centre
Turn in front of each other (tangentially), without going round the centre of the junction
If the traffic situation or the layout of the junction (such as markings) requires it, I only turn once we have passed each other (behind each other)

Adaptation of speed

Let oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car severe mistake

Communication

Interior mirror, left mirror, indicate left in good time

How the examiner grades: the electronic test protocol explained →

A strong answer

I check the interior mirror and the left mirror, indicate left in good time and move over towards the centre. At green I enter the junction and wait with the wheels straight. I let the oncoming traffic going straight on through, also the traffic behind the other car. The other left-turner and I turn in front of each other, tangentially, without going round the centre of the junction. If the traffic situation or the junction layout, such as a marking, requires otherwise, I turn behind each other. After a shoulder check to the left I let the pedestrians in the target road go first.

What the law says

§ 9 (1) StVO: whoever turns left moves over towards the centre and watches the traffic behind before moving over and again before turning. § 9 (3) StVO: let oncoming vehicles through (sentence 1); take special care of pedestrians, wait if necessary (sentence 3). § 9 (4) sentence 1 StVO: also let oncoming right-turners through. § 9 (4) sentence 2 StVO: oncoming vehicles that each want to turn left must turn in front of each other, unless the traffic situation or the layout of the junction requires them to turn only once they have passed each other.

Legal text: § 9 StVO (gesetze-im-internet.de)

Quick check

You and an oncoming driver both want to turn left. A marking on the road forces you to go round the centre of the junction. How do you turn?

In front of each other anyway, the rule always applies
Behind each other, following the marking
Not at all, you wait for red

Show the answer

B. The junction layout, here the marking, is the exception to the rule: you follow it and turn behind each other.

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