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Suggested lesson length: 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. You may want to complete mini-roundabouts as a separate lesson.
Note: If the pupil is not familiar with junctions, this lesson should not be attempted before completing and practicing the junctions lesson.
Introduction.
Roundabouts come in all shapes and sizes. Large, small, mini, 3 exit, four exit, multi-exit, contra-flow - and so it goes on. But the principle is always the same in that, unless road markings show otherwise, the over-riding rule is ‘give way to the right’. As long as a roundabout is approached with caution and as long as the ‘give way to the right’ rule is applied, all should be well.
Signaling at roundabouts is also straightforward, but needs to be learned. Incorrect signaling at roundabouts is a common cause of accidents because it causes mis-understanding.
In this lesson you will be taught using the basic 4 exit roundabout and mini-roundabouts. At the end of the lesson I shall give some tips on dealing with more complicated roundabouts but, as it’s impossible to teach every roundabout combination in the land, you will have to practice applying the rules you have learned.
In this lesson you will learn:
How to recognise a roundabout.
Approach routine - left turn
Approach routine - straight ahead
Approach routine - right turn
Roundabout priorities.
Lane use at roundabouts.
Signaling at roundabouts.
Leaving the roundabout.
Mini - roundabouts
Double mini - roundabouts
Recognising a roundabout.
It seems obvious, doesn’t it? After all, by the time you’re old enough to learn to drive, you will probably have been around many thousands of roundabouts as a passenger. But not all roundabouts look the same and not all roundabouts are large and round! It’s important to recognise a roundabout is coming up because you need plenty of time to deal with it safely.
Road signs are there to help you. On approach you will be warned of a roundabout ahead with the following sign:
If the roundabout is a mini-roundabout, the sign will be:
Direction signs also give a good clue as to the type, shape and number of exits on the roundabout. Examples are:
These signs will help you decide your road positioning and signaling on approach.
When you get to the roundabout your are likely to see a sign sending you in a clockwise direction, thus:
In addition to signs, road markings will give warning that you need to give way to traffic ahead.
Look for all these indications in good time as well as actually looking for the roundabout itself.
Approach Routines:
For this section we will assume the roundabout has three exits other than the one you are approaching on; left, straight ahead and right.
Left turn:
As with junctions, use your MSPSL.
Check your interior and left exterior mirrors. If safe, signal left.
Take the left hand lane.
Speed down. Most roundabouts are ‘give way’ - this means that, if traffic conditions allow, you may not need to stop. As you approach, look at traffic already on the roundabout and traffic that is approaching from the right. Try to decide if you are likely to need to stop. If you do, gently brake and stop just before the give way line. Select first gear. Use your handbrake if you are on a hill or if the stop turns into a wait. Keep your signal on.
When it is clear, or when you will be able to safely move away without causing other traffic to slow down or change direction, move away keeping your signal on and keeping to the left lane.
When you have completed the roundabout, check your mirror as you accelerate away. Remember to cancel your signal.
Straight ahead:
Straight ahead in this example is the second exit. Again use your MSPSL.
As you approach, check your interior mirror and begin to slow down.
As you will be going straight ahead, there is no need to signal on approach.
Keep to the left lane - unless it is blocked or unless road markings tell you otherwise.
Speed. As with left turns, decide if you are likely to need to stop or not and adjust your speed accordingly.
Look. When it is safe enter the roundabout keeping to the left lane. Make sure you keep in the left lane as you go through - do NOT cut the corner.
As you pass the exit before the one you want to take, check your interior and exterior left mirrors and signal left. This lets other road users know you are intending to take the next exit off the roundabout.
Keep to the left lane as you leave the roundabout and remember to check your mirror as you accelerate away. Cancel your signal.
Right turn:
The right turn in this example is the third exit. Again use your MSPSL.
A right turn must be dealt with much earlier as, if you are on a dual carriageway, you may need to change lanes on approach. Give yourself plenty of time to do this. Lane changing is dealt with in lesson ?
Mirrors. As you approach, check your interior and exterior right mirrors.
Signal. If it is safe to do so, signal right.
Position. Take the right hand lane.
Speed. As with left and straight ahead, your speed and gear will be governed by the shape of the roundabout and traffic conditions. Be prepared to stop if necessary.
Look. If it is safe to do so, enter the roundabout. Keep to the right hand lane unless road markings tell you otherwise.
As you pass the exit before the one you want, check your interior and exterior mirrors and change your signal from right to left - remember this will be two clicks of the indicator stalk.
Check your left blind spot and, if safe, move to the left lane as you leave the roundabout. If, when you check your blind spot, it is not safe to change lanes or there are road markings telling you otherwise (see the lesson ‘Complex junctions and roundabouts’), you may take the right lane as you exit the roundabout.
Remember to check your mirror and cancel your signal as you accelerate away.
Mini-roundabouts.
The basic principle of a mini-roundabout is exactly the same as a major one - give way to the right. However, there are some subtle differences and for this reason it’s a good idea to practice them as much as you can.
First of all, they are smaller. This means that, particularly when turning right, there is more steering to do because the turn itself is tighter. Therefore you should approach mini-roundabouts slowly. You must pass around the centre marking of the roundabout unless you are driving a large vehicle or towing a trailer.
Many drivers find mini-roundabouts confusing, particularly older drivers who were never taught them when they were learning to drive. So make allowance for this when you see other cars approaching. Leave greater distance to vehicles in front of you and make sure other drivers understand what you are doing before you move out onto a roundabout in front of them. Also watch out for drivers using the roundabout to do a u-turn.
Below is a diagram of a mini-roundabout. You are the red car. Note the car approaching in the opposite direction is signaling to turn right? This can be confusing because, when you’re on the road, mini-roundabouts can, at first, appear like normal junctions. So should you give way to him?
The answer is yes, because you are giving way to your right. Look at the diagram below and decide who should give way to who. Then, if you can, go and watch a busy mini-roundabout and see who gives priority to who. This can be a good way to learn without having to worry about controlling your car whilst you’re watching.
Signaling at mini-roundabouts is exactly the same as larger roundabouts except that you may not have time to signal left as you leave.
Double mini-roundabouts.
By far the best way to learn double-minis is to watch other people. Stand near a double mini-roundabout and watch how drivers get through. In particular watch what has happened when there is confusion or when a driver makes a mistake. See how it came about and learn from it without having to make mistakes yourself!
The important thing to remember about double-minis is that, although they appear joined, each roundabout should be treated separately so, depending on the layout and direction you are going, you may have to give way to the right twice.
Below is a typical double mini-roundabout. Note that if you go straight ahead at both, you will need to give way twice. If you are turning left at the second roundabout you will have to give way at the first roundabout as you go straight ahead and then give way again at the second roundabout to turn left.
If you turn right, however, at this particular roundabout you will only need to give way once.
Here is a photograph of the direction sign on approach to this particular double mini-roundabout. Notice how it shows the general layout which, in turn, gives you an indication of how many times you will need to give way - depending on the direction you are going. Always remember that signs are there to help you - make the most of them.
Photo
Multiple roundabouts.
Below is a diagram of a more complex junction. Here as large roundabout is surrounded by a series of mini-roundabouts.
You need to take extra care because vehicles can be travelling either direction around the large roundabout. Assess the situation carefully at each mini-roundabout and try to make sure you see direction signs well in advance.
Study this diagram carefully before going on the road and try to work out which way you would go round each mini-roundabout depending on the direction you want to go. Remember the ‘give way to the right’ rule at each mini-roundabout.
Conclusion.
Well done. In this lesson you have learnt:
Roundabout priorities
How to approach roundabouts
Correct signalling at roundabouts
Correct lane position at roundabouts
Mini-roundabouts
Double mini-roundabouts
Multiple roundabouts
As with all lessons in this series, there is no substitute for practice. The more roundabouts you do, the more you will feel comfortable with them. Millions of drivers negotiate roundabouts perfectly safely many times a day - no reason why you can’t do likewise.
