Roundabout

Roundabouts

From the short survey that I have carried out, roundabouts appear to be one of the biggest concerns. In the UK there are two different types of roundabouts, Mini-roundabouts, and Roundabouts with a central reserve.


All follow the same basic rule the difference is that a mini-roundabout has only markings and no central island you MUST travel around the central marking clockwise and avoid the central white area. 



With the larger roundabouts deal with them in four separate operations in this example you are dealing with a four-exit roundabout. 

Approach 

1. Approach before getting to the roundabout you should know which exit you are taking ( see later on how to deal with a traffic roundabout that you do not know which exit to take) 

On the approach to most roundabouts, you will have an advanced sign. This sign is an exact replication of a plan view of the junction, with you always entering from the bottom and the juctions off will be represended as they appear on the road.



The road numbers in brackets indicate that this is not in this case the A358, but this road will take you to the A358 however left and right is the A38 main road 


once you can read this sign, and this should be before you are at the sign, you should be migrating to your lane.

 for turning left you should be in the left lane  

for going straight on the middle or left-hand lane (depending on road markings) and turning right in the right-hand lane 

To get into these lanes

Mirror, Signal, Manoeuver

Use the arrows on the road as an indictor, if you drive over the point of the arrow in the direction you are turning this will probably be your best position  



GIVE WAY 

At the commencement of the roundabout, you should be traveling slow enough to stop at the give-way line, however if it's clear to your right continue onto the roundabout. see below about coming in too fast.

In my experience of teaching foreign drivers who have already driven, without fail they have always come into a roundabout MUCH too fast.  If you come in fast and something changes you run the real risk of being hit from behind. Approach slowly and your decision-making is spread over a greater time. You will know you are getting it right, when you are able to keep going without stopping more times than you have to stop at the give way line. Do not be intimidated into going too fast.

   

At this point, you MUST give way to any vehicle, coming from the right and already on the roundabout, you must not cause it to alter direction or speed it is perfectly acceptable to pull onto a roundabout immediately behind a vehicle if its clear to do so. 

EXIT

If you are going left enter the largest circle (the one on the outside) of the roundabout with a left indicator and leave at the first exit.


If you are going straight on and are in the left lane (because the arrows tell you) keep in the outer circle and indicate left immediately after you pass the first exit, do not in this case indicate before as it will give an incorrect message to anyone waiting at the first exit.

After passing the exit before the one you want you can make your way slowly to the larger circle.

If you are turning right enter the roundabout in the right lane with a right indicator as you move past the first and second exit you should be moving to the outside of the circle so as you get to the exit you are in the largest circle, again signal left when you have passed the junction immediately before the one you want. rememebr that you should only be moving to the left lane one lane at a time.

​Once you have entered a roundabout other traffic entering the roundabouts from junctions ahead of you Should and almost always give way to you, don’t be tempted to be polite and allow them to move in front of you, they will not be expecting it and could cause dangers from cars behind you not expecting you to stop try and keep rolling at a slow speed. 

Drive around the roundabout if possible at a steady and constant speed moving to the outside of the circle immediately after passing the junction BEFORE YOUR exit.


IF YOU DONT KNOW WHICH EXIT   

If you have missed the signs and do not know which junction to take. go as is your going RIGHT as described above, if it's the first or second junction that you wanted go all the way around and treat as above. its better to go around the roundabout a couple of times rather than make a quick change of direction which will bring you in  conflict with other traffic.   


Try and travel around the roundabout is 

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