Roundabouts are great, they are safe and efficient
when used correctly
but they can be a source of confusion and frustration
which is why I'm making this video
5 things you should know about roundabouts
Number 1, slowing down early and gradually
It's so important to do this
especially if the roundabout you're approaching is on a downhill
It's perfectly okay to use the brake and clutch together
as you're coming down the gears
so you would stay on the brake as you are coming on and off the clutch to change gears
slowing down like this early and gradually
helps you plan, assess and decide much easier
This roundabout here is quite a steep downhill
and as mentioned it's so important to be braking
so I'm braking at this stage about 100m from it because it's such a downhill
going left, so check mirrors (middle and left side) and signal
just double check the mirrors again
now I'm continuing to brake as I go down the gears
down to 3rd gear, off the clutch but still braking
checking the right early and often
down to 2nd gear, off the clutch so I'm not coasting
still braking, yielding to the cars
just going to stop and go to 1st because there's a couple of cars I'm not sure of
looks like I'll be stopped a while so I'll apply the handbrake
watching the right, there may be a gap now
one last look to be sure and It's all fine
first exit to the left
no pedestrians here and away i go
so that was a very steep downhill roundabout
so important to brake early, consistently and gradually
to help me make a better decision when I get there
Number 2, understanding the 12 O clock rule
this means that if your destination on a roundabout
is to the right of 12 o clock
you should indicate right and use the right hand lane
if there is one available
so here Arthurstown is clearly to the right of 12 o clock
so we would use the right lane and indicate right here in this situation
So at this roundabout here then
we have the sign on the left clearly stating that the
second exit is to the right
Arthurstown
second exit to the right, so checking mirrors
indicate right
getting down the gears
looking early and often, down to 2nd gear
looking, one last look
into the inside lane that's clearly marked
staying inside, mirrors indicate left when I get level
with that island, double checking mirrors
and off I come, so that's the 2nd exit to the right there
at that roundabout because it was clearly marked out
that the second exit was to the right of 12 o clock
So this next roundabout here
I'm going to be taking the 2nd exit to the right
now there's no sign telling me that the 2nd exit is
to the right but as I approach it
I can see the 2nd exit is clearly
not straight, it's very much to the right
of 12 o clock, so I've checked my mirrors and indicated
slowing down, looking to the right
car coming, not sure so I'll go into 1st gear
bit of a hill so I'll apply the handbrake
all clear now, get the bite
few looks, last look and I go
indicating right, staying reasonably close to the inside
checking mirrors indicating left
and I exit the roundabout then
that roundabout there was the 2nd exit to the right
As I approach this roundabout we're going to see an exception
to the 12 o clock rule
because the sign states that I should be in the right lane for going
straight whereas normally I'd be in the left
but as the signs and markings say otherwise I must be in the right lane
so I'm gradually coming over to the right lane now
slowing down, getting down the gears
looking to the right early and often
that's the key- observing the right, down to 2nd gear
slowing down, looks like a safe enough gap there
one last look and I'm on the inside lane
for this roundabout going straight, when I get level
with the island, mirrors indicate
double check mirrors, quick shoulder check
all good and I continue on
that was the 2nd exit to go straight
using the right lane which is different to the normal course
Number 3 mini-roundabouts
It's important to focus on the right more
at mini-roundabouts
and not get distracted by traffic coming from the left
be aware of pedestrian crossings
and road markings such as cycle lanes
hatched markings
and the white centre circle in the middle
in which case you should make a good effort to go around it if there's room
Approaching a mini-roundabout here now
focus will be on observing the right more-so
now I can certainly be aware of the left
to make sure my way is clear and not blocked
but the right is the priority and watching for markings
going right, mirrors indicate right
2nd exit to the right that is
down the gears, slowing gradually
aware of pedestrian crossing, I'm focused on this green car
on the right and the white van more-so
I'm going to roll into 1st gear
keep rolling, fine on the right
fine on the right, aware of the left
nothing really there
turning, avoiding centre circle
mirrors indicate, keeping away from hatched lines as well
no pedestrians so clear to carry on
so that's the key, focus more on the right
instead of the left, don't treat a mini-roundabout like a t-junction
watch for traffic on the right more-so
and watch out for road markings
such as pedestrian crossings, hatched lines and cycle lanes as well
Blind roundabouts
In some cases roundabouts
and especially mini ones
you could be blinded by a wall
a hedge
parked cars or other obstruction
that could make life difficult for you
as you approach the roundabout
it's important to slow down
go into 1st gear
and creep out, leaning forward
to get a better view so you don't accidentally pull out in front of someone
This roundabout here is going to be greatly affected
by the wall on my right
going to be taking the 3rd exit to the right so mirrors indicate right
the wall is going to make the roundabout very very blind
going to have to do it in 1st gear
down to 2nd gear
trying to preview the roundabout
not too worried about what's straight, aware of straight but more worried about
the black car on the right
in 1st gear, going to creep up
giving way to white car
little gap, stop for him, he's not hanging around
creeping up a little bit more
not rushing it
looks okay but this guy is coming
there's another car behind him, waiting patiently for my gap
not sure about the car coming from straight so let him go
still conscious of the right
letting the blue car go
there may be a gap but no not yet
this person has the right of way
looks like I've enough of a gap to go now
3rd exit, going around so when level with 2nd exit
mirrors indicate left
watching for road markings and pedestrians there
This is another roundabout that is quite blind
and small so the building on the right
is going to blind me, going straight
drop her into 1st gear
black car coming so I'll stop and apply handbrake
she has right of way
get a little bite then
creeping up a little more, looks like a safe enough gap
last look to be sure and keeping an eye on these pedestrians as well
and indicating left leaving it
and that's how we do a blind roundabout there
in that example
Number 5 the word spot
try remember the word spot
to help you remember all the things you have to do on a roundabout
S refers to slowing down
P is for position
O is for observation
and T is for the timing of the signals
so let's do it now as I approach this roundabout here
using the spot
S is for slowing down so I'm slowing gradually
check mirrors as I slow
using the brake, getting down the gears
P is position
indicating left, position for a left would be
to stay in the left lane if it opens up into two
it does, staying left
O is observation, plenty of looks
bit of a gap there, one last look
T is timing of signals so making sure
the signal stays on as I exit
so that's the first example of the spot technique
And finally at this roundabout I'm going to use the spot technique as well
third exit to the right this time
S is for slowing down gradually
braking early and gradually, slowing down
P is position
(third exit to the right)
the position here is fairly central
a little right of centre as it's only a one lane roundabout
I'm conscious not to stop on that pedestrian crossing too if
there's a car in front of me
O is observation
just go into 1st gear, not sure about this black car so let her go
keep the old head moving and one last look
that's O for observation
as I come around I must get the timing of the signals right
when I get level with the island of the 2nd exit
check mirrors indicate left
and that's T for timing
so S for slowing down
P for position
O for observation and T for timing of signals
as I exit the roundabout
that's the spot technique there
So that's it for now folks
I hope this video helped you gain a greater understanding of roundabouts
if you enjoyed it please give it a thumbs up and a share
so we can spread the word
and as always thank you for watching.