In this video we're going to look at observation at junctions and roundabouts
now observation is different to mirrors
when you're checking mirrors you're watching out for any traffic
or danger behind as you change position on the road up ahead
observation is about looking and watching ahead
and giving way to any traffic/road users on the main road you wish to enter
or in the case of a roundabout, giving way to the right or anybody already on the roundabout
so in simple terms mirrors is about moving your eyes
whereas observation is about moving your head
and that's the key point, keeping the head moving
not looking the one way too long
and understanding the one last look
so approaching the roundabout watch out for any markings/signs to ensure you are in the correct position
and as you're approaching the white line
just give lots of quick looks to the right
quick, short, frequent looks to the right
and that will help avoid drifting into the other lane
because if you stare to the right too long
there is a good chance you may drift over into
the other persons lane or at least straddle the white line here
especially considering a lot of roundabouts are curved to the left when you get down there
so lots of quick looks, and just when you get over your white line
let's say half a car length over the line approximately
you would then give one last look to the right
and that would be just a confirmation look, double checking that everything is okay
so let's say you are going straight on the roundabout, 12 o clock straight
It's always good to get, as well as middle and left mirror
but you would check the right side mirror here as well
just in case a car overtakes you and proceeds in the same direction as you
so this is a T-Junction here
so presuming you're taking a left, mirrors indicate left
and keeping left here at the junction as it curves off to the left
stopping at the line presuming you need to stop
keeping the head moving both ways
constantly giving good checks left and right
no staring the one way too long
even though you're going left, don't just stare to the right all the time
because you could end up missing this pedestrian here that may cross the road
so keeping the head moving and just as the front wheels go over the white line
say a couple of feet over the white line
you would then give one last look to the right
just a confirmation look to the right to make sure everything is okay
so here we have a right turn
red car is turning right so he would check his mirrors, indicate
and then move over to a right of center position in his lane to take the right turn
now even though it might be a give way or yield sign
because of the broken white line
you would still stop here because it's too blind
you're blinded by the wall here and you're blinded by parked cars here
so stop and then just edge out bit by bit
just slowly using clutch control
edge out in order to give you a better zone of vision
that's what it's all about here
once you have a good zone of vision, once it's safe to go
you would then make the move
but just as you are beyond your first white line
but well before this white line
before halfway across your lane
you would then give one last look in the direction of the red car
just to make sure everything is okay
a confirmation look because you're joining the red cars lane
so many quick looks and then one last look
at the same time watching out for any pedestrians, children or cyclists that could be around the junction
so as you can see, if turning left it's one last look right
and if you're turning right, like here, it's one last look to the left
so let's have a look at some practical examples now
of me when I was out driving over the last couple of weeks
where you will see me deal with some junctions here
firstly a roundabout, then a t-junction and then some traffic lights
and notice the observation
the fact I'm keeping the head moving and getting the one last look
so here it is
so this time I'm going to take the second exit on the roundabout to go straight
checking the mirrors, having a nice gradual slow down
getting down to second gear, taking up position in the left hand lane
and I'm trying to preview the roundabout
making sure everything is okay, looks fine
one last look to be sure
keeping in the left hand lane
when I get level with the island indicate, checking mirrors as i come off
Okay so we're going to be taking a right turn here
where I can demonstrate the one last look
and how important it is
because we're going to be coming onto quite a major/busy road here
so right, mirrors and signal right
double check the mirrors again
aiming to keep right here, very very close to the right side here
it only says yield but I'm going to stop anyway
because I'm crossing two lanes taking a right turn
now the job is to creep out nice and slowly, leaning forward
so getting lots of quick looks, looks okay now
looks fine and one last look to be sure
and everything looks fine there to go
so that was a demonstration of one last look
on a right turn, purely a confirmation look
just to make sure everything is okay to complete my right turn
coming up to a set of traffic lights here now
so I'm going to make sure that I follow the rules for traffic lights
as well as get the one last look
so I'll be taking a right so mirrors signal right
just slowing down as there's a bit of a tight gap
slowing down but still plenty of room though
now there's an oncoming car and I must let that oncoming car go
so I roll into the middle
get my indicator back on there
no oncoming car now, all safe
one last look to be sure
and off I go then
so I get that one last look there just to be sure
now there should be nothing coming from my left
but you never know with emergency vehicles
and cyclists, somebody could break the red light
or a pedestrian could be coming
even though I have the right of way, it's good to get the one last look just to be sure
so that's all for now
I hope this video helped you gain a greater understanding
of observation at junctions and roundabouts
if you enjoyed it you may also enjoy another one of my videos
that I made recently
called 5 things you should know about roundabouts
and in that video I cover lots of things
not just observation like we did today
but also position, signals and lots of other stuff
I will leave a link to that video in the description below
so please have a look at it, let me know what you think
and I will see you very soon
for another driving lesson video, thanks for watching.