Hawkwell driving schools: Rayleigh and the surrounding areas
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The following sections are all
written by Alan:
essentials
new pupil's page
best driving tips
driving test secrets
independent driving
driving on snow and ice
show me tell me
technique
general
control basics
safety drills
using the mirrors
left & right turns
one way streets
junctions
give way priority
giving warnings
zebra crossings
dual carriageways
roundabouts
mini-roundabouts
country lanes
overtaking parked cars
manoeuvres
general
reversing
parallel parking
bay parking
turn in the road
emergency stop
Hawkwell Driving School
www.drivingschoolrayleigh.co.uk
Rayleigh
Thundersley
Hullbridge
© 2011
Roundabouts:
The instruction:
Roundabouts will normally be described in the following ways (except whilst on the independent driving section):
• "At the roundabout: Take the exit leading off to the left / right / straight" - this tells
you which general direction you are heading.
• "That is the 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th exit." - This tell you which exit as you go around
the roundabout.
Look at the road sign on the approach to try and work out the layout. Sometimes there will be advance road markings as well. The roundabout can be thought of as a clock face. You will approach from the 6 O’ Clock direction: any exit before 11 O’ Clock will be a left turn, any exit between 11’ O’ Clock and 1 O’ Clock will be straight ahead, any exit after 1 O’ Clock will be a right turn.
Which lane?
The general rule is keep left unless you are turning right, unless road markings tell you differently, or you are overtaking (see ** below). If there are no road markings to contradict, then the following applies:
- 1st exit left:
Indicate left on the approach, and keep in the left lane. Some roundabouts allow a left turn in the middle lane (3-lane), or right lane (2-lane). Use these with extreme caution as there could be conflicting traffic on your left. You would normally only use one of these lanes if you were going to turn right immediately after your exit.
- 2nd exit, but not as far around as straight ahead; or a straight ahead exit:
No indicator on approach and keep left: Indicate left to exit.
† When there is a 3 lane entrance to the roundabout the left lane is usually left turn only (photo above). This may be defined by road markings, but may not. If there are no road markings look at the roundabout itself. If there are three lanes on the approach and there are only two lanes in the roundabout, then the left lane must be left turn only. If there are three lanes on the approach and there are three lanes in the roundabout, then you should be able to use the left lane to go straight ahead.
† An exit that is at about the One O ’clock position can often be done as a straight ahead in the left lane. This is usually OK if it is the second exit. However if it is the third exit, it can be potentially dangerous to do in this. This is because by the time you are passing the second exit someone (that you couldn't see when you initially pulled out) could have come around the roundabout quickly and be on your right hand side. They might then be trying to ram you as they head for the exit which is on your left. It is nearly always best, if you are in any doubt, to use the right hand lane to take any turn that is located to the right of straight ahead.
- Any exit to the right:
Indicate right on the approach, keep in the right lane, and indicate left to exit. Try to exit in the left lane if it is clear, if not then exit in the right lane. In extreme circumstances you may need to go around full circle if you are unable to exit safely because of traffic on your left side.
Assessing the traffic flow:
Try to work out what is happening as you approach, and try to keep moving if you can (photo above). Look at the roundabout as a whole. Any traffic coming from the left, that is turning towards you, will affect the traffic on your right, and may give you the opportunity to continue. Likewise any traffic from the opposite side of the roundabout, straight ahead of you, is likely to interrupt the traffic from your right, as it comes across. Large vehicles often provide a gap as they block parts of the roundabout as they turn.
Approach speed:
If you can try to adjust your speed on approach to fit in with the traffic flow so you don't have to stop unnecessarily. However approach at a speed so that you can stop behind the line, even if it looks like it might be clear to proceed. Then if anything takes you by surprise, you can still stop safely.
Note: Stopping when the roundabout is clear can fail you on test, because drivers behind won't expect it, and you may cause an accident (although legally it would be be the fault of the driver behind ?)
For a general simple approach method you can approach all roundabouts in second gear: Get the speed down to 20mph, and then into 2nd gear, before you get to the final approach curve (photo below). Either continue in that gear if the roundabout is clear - or stop and put it into first gear.
The most important thing is to get the approach speed right: If you don't get the speed pinned down on approach you will not be able to maintain your lane position, and you won't have time to look properly! Many people find it difficult get the entrance speed right, especially after a long straight. It is often the gear change, whilst slowing that confuses. Just remember that if you are going too fast - Stay on the brake! If necessary, change gear, AND bring the clutch up, while you are still braking. If you're going too fast - Stay on the brake!
NOTE:. When you are pulling away you can't get the biting point while you are on the brake - while you are slowing down you can!
Postioning for a good view:
If you are not in the right-hand lane yourself, then try not to be alongside another vehicle that is in the right-hand lane. This is because the car (or more usually a 4-wheel drive, or white van man) next to you on your right will block your view of the roundabout. Try to stay either just ahead of them so that you can see, or just behind them.
Always make sure that you can see fully and never pull out next to someone that is partially blocking your view (photo above) – they will not protect you!
A truck coming from your right that you cannot see, may miss the van (etc) next to you, and flatten you instead.
When to pull out:
Look for traffic exiting the roundabout that will create a gap for you (photo below). If you can pull out without slowing anyone down, or causing them to take avoiding action, then go. However, it is dangerous to pull out if another vehicle is moving fast enough, and is close enough to hit you, because they may not go where you think they will. So if you are in any doubt - WAIT
Make sure that you don't pull out next to someone going around the roundabout in the right hand lane, close to the centre. They won't remain in the right hand lane forever, and they may try to come off the next exit, with you next to them!
Always double-check your decision before & after pulling out. If you don't check to the right again just after you cross the give way line, you won't know what's happening on your right. And if you don't know what's happening, you can't take evasive action! But also, make sure that you pull out checking forwards as well, because if the car in front stops unexpectedly, you might drive straight into the back of it!
In Basildon there are many roundabouts where traffic can turn right from the middle lane: This can be very deceiving when you are waiting to pull out - Expect this to happen, and don't take chances.
If the roundabout is very busy, and you are waiting for ages to pull out. Don't worry. There is no time limit. If you can't go' you can't go! You will only get a fault on test if you don't go when there is a good gap. If your examiner is sitting next to you thinking "Why didn't they go then?" you have probably got a minor fault. It normally takes 4 minor faults within the same category to fail. So it's much better to miss a couple of small gaps and get two minor faults, than to go when it is not safe and get one serious (fail).
Speed control in the roundabout:
Roundabouts are just a series of bends, so to control the speed properly around them you will need to balance the gas against the steering (piece of string method). Once you've pulled away safely into the traffic flow, and got to a reasonable speed, then ease off the gas as you turn in to any curve, ease on the gas as you straighten. For each steady curve of the lane, you should have steady gas. If you just accelerate all the way through, there won't be enough time to steer properly. This will lead to not being able to stay in lane.
Keeping in lane:
When going straight ahead in the left lane it is very easy to cut into the right lane on the latter part of the roundabout (straight-lining) . To judge your lane position on left curves look to your left front side, for right curves look to your right front side. Try to keep a constant distance from the the roundabout centre, and imagine there is a truck next to you in the other lane. Roundabouts often don't have lane markings on them, but you will often see small lines of tarmac that you can use to judge where a lane should be. When going straight ahead you will see on most larger roundabouts that there is an area on the far left that no-one ever drives into. it's normally full of debris; try to avoid this area if you can.
** Overtaking:
If the queue approaching a roundabout is very long in the left hand lane, or there is traffic moving very slowly in the left hand lane, then you can overtake through the roundabout by using the right hand lane to go straight ahead. You can exit in the left or the right lane. However to be safe, only overtake through a roundabout if you are 100% sure that there is a two lane exit, otherwise you may have nowhere to go.
Frequently asked questions:
Question:
I always have trouble judging when to pull out at a busy roundabout, What can I do differently?Answer:
First of all try to be ready to go, sometimes thinking about following out behind a car that you are waiting for, is better than waiting for the gap to actually be there. Often it is not being fast that is necessary, but prompt. Try to predict where the cars coming around are going, if it looks promising start to creep, then if all happens as expected, off you go.
Question:
The car next to me pull out, but I'm still sitting there. Why can't I get out as well?Answer:
This is because the dynamics are different for each lane. The biggest danger area, where you are most vulnerable, is from the give-way line until past the first exit. There is much further to travel in the left lane before you are safe, than in the right lane.
Question:
I never feel that I have enough time to look at everything I need to at a roundabout?Answer:
A slow approach is the key, much slower than most other drivers tend to, to give yourself more time to change gear, assess the traffic flow, look ahead and to the right a number of times, and to keep precisely in your lane.Also try to hold well back from the car in front, maybe 5 car lengths, so that you can look away from them without running the risk of driving into their rear if they brake suddenly. Holding well back also means that you can see any road markings without them being obscured.