Welcome to “Dr.iving Skills” my name is John Atkinson-Brown, I’m a fully approved DVSA driving instuctor. 

The name of my driving school is Dr.ive. Please visit my main website www.dr-ive.co.uk 

My aim in these pages is to explore just what it takes to become a confident driver. If that’s your aim too, why not join me on the journey?

Roundabouts

Love them or hate them, they are here to stay. It’s no surprise when my pupils say the one thing they struggle with most are roundabouts. One instructor friend of mine even referred to the ”science of roundabouts!” But are they really so complicated that we should be filled with panic as soon as we begin our approach to one?

Over the coming weeks I am going to explore further the whole topic of Roundabouts, meanwhile if you have any questions regarding them please send me a message.

Directions / Instructions

I suppose the first thing as a learner driver to get your head around concerning roundabouts is the direction you will be given, either by your instructor or on test, your examiner. It’s very important that you fully understand just what is expected of you. It is how you intrepret the directions that will lead to your intented lane positioning and signalling, whether on approach to the roundabout or actually on or exitting the roundabout.

A typical direction sounds like: ”At the roundabout, follow the road ahead, it’s the first exit, sign posted Town centre.”

As in the photograph shown above. Or also above ”At the roundabout go right, it’s the second exit, sign posted Euxton.”

Another example (not shown) could be: At the roundabout, go left, it’s the first exit, sign posted Blackburn.

From these directions you need to work out your use of the MSPSL routine on approach to the roundabout. For example: left first exit would mean checking the centre mirror followed by the left side mirror and if all is well signalling left, you”ll then keep your position left if road signs / markings and conditions allow. You would then reduce speed again in accordance with prevailing traffic conditions and your zone of vision. Directly connected to your speed is your choice of gear.

This is where the fun or not truly begins: the way you judge whether to go or give way to existing traffic on the roundabout. Remember we give way to traffic from the right so your observations to the right as you approach the roundabout should begin as early as possible. A good phrase to learn here is: ”Early vision, early decision.” 

Another wonderfully phrase to keep in mind at this stage is: ”Plan to stop, look to go!”

Use your foot brake progressively as you approach the roundabout in order to give yourself enough time to gather information from all directions. Starting firstly on your immediate right and then ahead and finally to the left so you have the whole picture of the scene in front of you. If your path is clear, emerge safely onto the roundabout. Keep your lane (position) discipline and avoid changing lanes or position unless you have first checked it’s safe to do so. Mainly checking yours mirrors and especially before signalling to exit the roundabout.

Basically the whole idea behind roundabouts is to allow traffic to keep flowing. Ever stopped at a red traffic light waiting for non-existing traffic wishing the planners had built a roundabout? (Well, probably not!!)