Information


Roundabouts


General

Roundabouts_1


A roundabout is a junction with an island in the middle. Traffic travels round the island in a clockwise direction, which means it always comes from your right. Unless road markings or traffic lights indicate otherwise, you must give way to traffic coming from your right.


Approaching a roundabout


As you approach, gather as much information as you can about the roundabout. Look for signs that tell you which exit you need, and which lane you need to get there. If there are no road signs, look for clues in the way the road ahead divides into lanes. Use your usual MSPSL procedure.

On a simple, four-exit roundabout, approach in the following lanes:

Roundabouts_2



Turning left
Take the left lane. On some bigger roundabouts there is a left-turn feeder lane that by-passes the roundabout.






 

Roundabouts_3Going straight ahead
Two lanes only: take the left lane.
Three or more lanes. Usually one of the middle lanes – look for signs or road markings.




 

 

 

 

Turning rightRoundabouts4

Take the right lane. On some bigger roundabouts there may be two lanes to turn right. Where there's a choice, choose the lane
on the left because you'll find it easier to exit the roundabout – you'll have fewer lanes to cross.




 

 

As you approach, keep scanning the road ahead and the traffic flows from the right. Control your speed. Be ready to stop on the give-way
line or to slip into a safe gap in the traffic. If you get your speed just right, you may be able to time your arrival at the roundabout to coincide with a safe gap in the traffic.


Signalling

On a simple, four-exit roundabout, signal as follows:Roundabouts_5
Turning left (pale blue car and arrow)
Signal 'LEFT' as you approach the roundabout, and while you're on the roundabout. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.
Going straight ahead (pink car and arrow)
Do not signal until you are level with the exit before the one you want. Then signal 'LEFT'. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.
Turning right (dark blue car and arrow)
Signal 'RIGHT' as you approach the roundabout. Continue signalling 'RIGHT' until you are level with the exit before the one you want. Then signal 'LEFT'. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.

Roundabouts_6

Not all roundabouts divide neatly into four exits at right angles. In the six-exit roundabout below, the exits are numbered as if they were positions on a clock face. You are approaching from the bottom – from the 6 o'clock position.

 

First left exit (pale blue car and arrow)
Signal 'LEFT' as you approach the roundabout, and while you're on the roundabout. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.
Second and subsequent exits – up to and including 12 o'clock (pink car and arrows)
Do not signal until you are level with the exit before the one you want. Then signal 'LEFT'. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.
All exits after 12 o'clock (dark blue car and arrows)
Signal 'RIGHT' as you approach the roundabout. Continue signalling 'RIGHT' until you are level with the exit before the one you want. Then signal 'LEFT'. Cancel your signal only after leaving the roundabout.


Watch your lane

On a simple, four-exit roundabout, you normally leave in the left lane even if there are two exit lanes. Leave via the right lane only if traffic is heavy or there are obstructions.

If you're on a multi-lane roundabout, you may have to change lanes as you travel round it. Follow the MSPSL procedure, taking special care to check that the lane you want to move to is clear. Check your mirrors and blind spots.






The lanes on some larger roundabouts known as spiral roundabouts guide you into position. But still keep an eye out for other traffic. Other drivers may not have noticed the lane markings or they may need to change because they got into the wrong lane.Roundabouts_7








Mini roundaboutsRoundabouts_8

Deal with a mini roundabout in the same way that you'd deal with a full-size one. Follow the usual rules for signalling, and give way to traffic from the right. Don't drive over the centre circle if you can avoid it. Sometimes space is tight and you have to drive over it.

Bear in mind that you will have less time to signal as you drive round. And look out for lorries that may be too big to avoid driving over the white circle.


Double roundaboutsRoundabouts_9

Treat each part of a double roundabout as a roundabout in its own right. Give way to traffic coming from the right as you approach the first one, then do so again as you approach the second one.


 


Meeting traffic



What does it mean?


'Meeting traffic' is a technical term for a simple situation. It occurs when an obstruction makes the road too narrow for two opposing vehicles to pass. Only one vehicle can pass at a time. Meeting traffic tells you how to deal with the situation safely.acceleration_1


Don't forget MSPSL

You need good anticipation skills for the manoeuvres that follow. Always follow the MSPSL routine:
Mirror – Signal – Position – Speed – Look
with the 'Look' element broken down into its LADA constituents:
Look – Assess – Decide – Act


Who has priority?


A    Obstruction on your side of the road. If there's a car parked ahead of you on your side of the road, but the other side of the road is clear, oncoming traffic has priority. You must slow down or stop to let oncoming traffic pass first.

B    Obstruction on the opposite side of the road. If the parked car is on the opposite side, and your carriageway is clear, you have priority. Oncoming traffic should slow down or stop to let you pass. Bear in mind that priority is something that you give to others, but never take as a right. When you have priority, proceed with caution.

Neither driver has priorityacceleration_2


Obstructions on both sides of the road
When the road is narrowed from both sides, neither driver has priority. Do not assume that the other driver will give way. To take control of the situation, you should slow down or stop.
acceleration_3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try to make eye contact so that you can decide who is going first. If the other driver flashes, they could be letting you know that they can pull into a gap to let you pass.

Or they may be telling you that they think it's safe for you to proceed. Don't take this message at face value. The other driver may have overlooked something. If they didn't check their mirrors, for example, they could have missed the fact that there's another car coming from behind that could already be moving out to pass them.

So, if the other driver flashes, proceed with caution when you think it's safe to do so.

Holdback position
If you do have to stop, pull into what's known as a 'holdback position'. A holdback position is about two car lengths from the obstruction, and a safe distance out from the kerb. Adopt a half-in, half-out position which is as far out from the kerb as is safe.

acceleration_4

 











 

 

  • Being half-in, half-out gives you a better field of vision and the ability to take speedy advantage of gaps in the traffic.
  • Being two car lengths back means you'll have to do less steering to get out, and you can take advantage of smaller gaps in the traffic.
  • If you were up against the kerb, another driver might think you are parking instead of pulling over.

Passing placesacceleration_6

Passing places are wider sections of narrow roads where two vehicles can pass with caution.
A    Passing place on the left: you pull into it to let the oncoming car through.
B    Passing place on the right: you pull up opposite so that the oncoming car can pull in to let you through.

On narrow country lanes there are often designated passing places. In urban areas passing places are created by gaps in parked cars.

Lines of parked cars
Before you enter a stretch of road with oncoming traffic and lines of parked cars on both sides, you should check your mirrors for following traffic. If a vehicle follows you into the narrow stretch, and the passing place you need is only big enough for one car, there's little point using it. The following vehicle will have nowhere to go and the road will become blocked.


Acceleration senseacceleration_7
'Acceleration sense' means speeding up or slowing down so that you and an oncoming vehicle pass an obstruction at different times.

For example, you could be travelling at 30mph on a road that has a parked car ahead, and another vehicle coming towards you. If both cars continue at their current speeds, they would meet at the obstruction. One of you will have to stop to let the other through.

But if you slow down to, say, 10mph, the oncoming vehicle will have passed the obstruction before you reach it. Neither car has to stop.


Anticipation


Good drivers can anticipate the actions of other road users. They have the ability to work out what might happen next, and take action before it happens.

How do you anticipate?

The key to good anticipation is early and better observation. The further you look down the road, the more you see.

What should you look out for? Anticipation1

You should be looking out for:
pedestrians – watch their body language
cyclists – watch their speed, position, [and body language?]
other road users (cars, vans, buses, lorries, etc) – watch their speed and position

Examples

Anticipation3

The best way to think about anticipation is to work through some examples.

[In many of the examples, we don't have obvious actions, so I've made them up. I don't think we can have meaningful examples if we don't tell pupils how they should react to what they see.]

1. Observation: A pedestrian is walking straight ahead along the pavement to your left. You notice that they look over their right shoulder. What could it mean?

Action: This pedestrian could be about to cross the road. Look in all three mirrors and reduce your speed…just in case they do. You must check all three mirrors to see if anyone is travelling so close behind that you have to temper your braking.

2. Observation: You are driving along a road and a football bounces over a fence. What might happen next?

Action: Children often follow balls into the road. Do the same as before: check mirrors and reduce speed.

3. Observation: You are about to turn right into a side road. A pedestrian who is waiting to cross, smiles and waves at you. What does it all mean?

Action: The pedestrian could be thinking that you are going to let them cross. Their smile could be a thank-you signal. You cannot ignore this. You must slow down and stop to let them cross safely.

4. Observation: A cyclist is riding along the road ahead of you. They are approaching an obstruction – a double-parked van – but they don't look over their shoulder or raise their right arm. What's likely to happen next?

Action: Cyclists don't always give arm signals. Assume that they will move out to pass the van. Slow down so that you are ready for that action.

5. Observation: The road ahead is narrow. There are parked cars on either side. Another car is coming towards you. The approaching car slows and moves to its left. What does it mean?

Action: From the speed and movement, it looks as if the other driver is giving way to you. It's a subtle signal for you to pass through the gap first. Proceed with caution.

6. Observation: The road ahead is narrow. There are parked cars on either side. Another car is coming towards you. This time the approaching car moves to the middle of the road and speeds up. What does it mean?

Action: It looks like this driver intends to pass through the gap first. You must give way, even if you don't like their me-first attitude.

7. Observation: You are driving along a main road. At the bus stop ahead, a bus is parked with its brake lights on. No passengers are getting on or off. Then the bus’s brake lights go off. What could it mean?

Action: The driver has lifted a foot from the brake. Is the bus about to move off? Check your mirrors and reduce your speed. Be ready in case the bus pulls out in front of you.

8. Observation: While you are driving along the road, another vehicle overtakes you quite aggressively. Soon after passing you, it pulls in to the left. What might this unpredictable driver do?

Action: Perhaps this driver is in a hurry. Could the driver's door open and someone step out in front of you? Check mirrors and reduce speed. Allow plenty of room for an opening door.

Look 'OUT'

Anticipation2

As these examples show, anything is possible. You have to be ready for it. You have to look 'OUT'.
Over vehicles for pedestrians' heads
Under vehicles for pedestrians' feet
Through glass and into wing mirrors for passengers who could suddenly open a door.

Overtaking


Is it safe?
Is it legal?
Is it necessary?


Overtaking is a dangerous manoeuvre. It puts you on the wrong side of the road, and potentially on a collision course with oncoming vehicles. Think hard before you overtake. Ask yourself if what you're planning is safe, legal, or necessary. Overtaking3

Safe?

Can you see far enough ahead to know that you have a safe gap in which to overtake?
Would it be safe to overtake near a junction, a hill, or a bend in the road?

Legal?

Will overtaking mean that you have to break the speed limit?
Would you have to cross a solid white line to overtake? Will you be overtaking in areas where it's prohibited?

Necessary?

Is the car ahead travelling close to the speed limit? If so, it makes little sense to overtake. There's nothing to be gained, for example, if the car ahead is doing 28mph in a 30mph zone.


Is there a line of queuing traffic in front of the car ahead? If so, overtaking won't get you very far.

Are you or the car ahead about to turn off? Once again, overtaking won't make much difference.

Three steps to overtaking

Overtaking is a three-step procedure:

  • Preparing to overtake

  • Passing the vehicle ahead

  • Returning to your normal driving position
     

Preparing to overtakeOvertaking2

Think about your position. You must be at least two car lengths behind the vehicle ahead. And you must at least match its speed.

Two car lengths gives you a good zone of vision. You must check that you have enough time and space for overtaking.

Now look into your mirrors to see if it's safe to move out. If it is, signal right to let others know what you're planning. You may have to drop to a lower gear to give yourself enough power to pull ahead.

 

Passing the vehicle ahead

Overtaking4

Take a smooth driving line by moving out early in a shallow curve. Don't veer across to your right.

Overtake as promptly as you can (without breaking the speed limit) to avoid being in the other driver's blind spot for too long. As you're passing, allow at least a metre's clearance – roughly the width of an open driver's door.

As your view widens, keep a constant look-out for other traffic or pedestrians in the road ahead. They may have been hidden from view before you started to overtake.

 

Returning to your normal driving position

When you've passed the other vehicle, use your MSPSL routine to return to your normal driving position. Don't cut in too soon. Wait till you can see the whole of the vehicle in your rear-view mirror before you move over.

Check your left side mirror in case anything (a motorbike, for example) is coming up on your left. If necessary, give a left signal before moving across. Another look into all three mirrors keeps you aware of what is around and behind you.

After overtaking, take care not to slow down again. Slowing would force the driver behind to brake. And if you changed down a gear to overtake, change again to put yourself in the right gear for your new speed.

 

Adequate clearance

What is it?

Adequate clearance means giving yourself and other drivers enough room when you are driving. Think of the space you keep between you and other cars – to the front, back, and sides – as a protective bubble. It's the safety zone that you create when you are driving.

ADEQUATE_CLEARANCE_1

 

Don't forget MSPSL

You need good anticipation skills for the manoeuvres that follow. Always follow the MSPSL routine:
Mirror – Signal – Position – Speed – Look
with the 'Look' element broken down into its LADA constituents:
Look – Assess – Decide – Act



Clearance to the sides 

ADEQUATE_CLEARANCE__2


Driving at 30mph
Keep a metre away from parked cars. A metre is roughly the width of an open car door. It's also enough space to give yourself reaction time if someone steps out from between parked cars.


Narrow roadsADEQUATE_CLEARANCE__3
If the road is too narrow for you to spare a full metre, slow down. As a rough guide, cut your speed by 10mph for every third of a metre that you lose in clearance.

  • ⅔ of a metre clearance (roughly 65cm): slow to 20mph
  • ⅓ of a metre clearance (roughly 35cm): slow to 10mph


Never go closer than one-third of a metre because you're likely to clip wing mirrors.


Clearance to the front


30mph or less on dry roads

Always maintain a good distance between yourself and the car in front. The minimum distance is governed by your speed.
20mph: a minimum of 4 car lengths
30mph: a minimum of 6 car lengths

40mph or more on dry roads

Once your speed goes above 40mph, you should follow the 'two-second rule'. The two seconds refer to the time it takes you to travel from where you are now to the point that the car in front is passing.

You can judge your distance by reference to fixed landmarks such as a bridge or street lamp, and by reciting the phrase, 'Only a fool breaks the two-second rule'. It takes roughly two seconds to say it.ADEQUATE_CLEARANCE__4

Start reciting the phrase when the car in front passes the landmark.

  • If you pass the landmark after you finish, you have at least two seconds between you.
  • If you pass the landmark before you finish, you are too close. Ease back to a safe distance.


Clearance on wet or icy roads

ADEQUATE_CLEARANCE__5

When the road is wet, you should double your clearance distance.
If there's snow or ice on the road, you may need ten times the distance.


Clearance to the backADEQUATE_CLEARANCE__6

 

 

 

Don't speed up

If the car behind is too close (known as 'tailgating'), don't speed up to increase the distance between you. Remember that adequate clearance means creating a protective bubble to front and sides as well as the back. If another car is compromising your bubble from behind, you can compensate by gently slowing down to increase the clearance to the front.

By giving yourself more room in front, you give yourself more space for braking, which helps prevent multiple car pile-ups.


Clearance when queueingADEQUATE_CLEARANCE_7


When you stop behind other vehicles in traffic (at traffic lights or a junction, for example), always leave adequate clearance between you and the car in front. You should be able to see the point where the tyres of the vehicle in front touch the tarmac.

  • If the vehicle in front breaks down, you'll still have enough room to get your car out.
  • If an emergency vehicle needs to get past, you'll have room to let it through.
  • If the vehicle in front rolls back, you'll have given its driver more time to react.

More Articles...

Free Guide

Free Guide

Telephone: 0800 511 8800

Need help choosing A Driving School or Driving Instructor?

Read The FREE "Essential Guide To Choosing Your Driving Instructor".

Enter Details Below For Your Free Report.

It answers questions such as:

  • "How do I judge a quality driving school?"
  • "How many lessons should it really take to pass my test?"
  • "How much should driving lessons cost?"

Simply enter your name and email address below for instant access to the Essential Guide.

Please use this form to make an enquiry:
* Required information

Name: *
Email: *
Contact Phone: *
Booking Details: *

Privacy Statement
We will not share, rent or sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes or for any purpose unrelated to your enquiry.

If you wish to send a regular email please use
info @ wimbledondrivingschool.co.uk (no spaces)

Postal Address:

Wimbledon Driving School
114 Aylward Road
Merton Park
Wimbledon
London SW20 9AQ

©2012 Wimbledon Driving School | Registered office 139 Kingston Road Wimbledon London SW19 1LT - Company No. 6091675 | Website by Toolbox