19A Dual carriageway roundabouts.
Two lane roundabouts
Introduction
Once you have been on the dual carriageway and started to build your speed to 50 and 60MPH, started to use 5th and 6th gear and have a good understanding of the Hazard and L.A.D.A routine's when overtaking slower moving vehicles and maybe been turning left on the dual carriageway roundabouts with little or no support from your instructor you will then move onto two lane roundabout and use the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th exits with busier traffic.
The problem with driving lessons in Grimsby is that the driving test centre is just off on one of the dual carriageway roundabout so you are guaranteed to be on the dual carriageway at some part of your driving test. This brief is here for you to learn who you need to give way too and to know where the vehicle's are going in certain lanes this will hopefully help you plan to know where the vehicles ahead and right (of you) with their road positioning.
Teaching Strategy
On this lesson your instructor will reduce their instruction on topics previously covered and give you as much support on this lesson using the M.S.P.S.G.L & L.A.D.A. routine's on the approach to one and two lane roundabouts. You will be working out the timing of gaps, who you need to give way to on the roundabout, improving lanes discipline and the correct lane needed on roundabouts for the correct direction. These routine's will be broke down to help you develop your skill to organise and negotiate gaps
when approaching different types of roundabout.
Lesson aims
The aim of today’s lesson is to incorporate the hazard & L.A.D.A routine's on the approach to two lane roundabouts
and then develop onto faster (A180) more complex roundabouts. The main teaching point will be learning how to take early observations to ensure you approach the roundabout in the correct lane, correct speed, gear while working out the timing of gaps in the traffic, judging the speed, distance of approaching traffic to your right and in particular to determine the size of gap necessary to join the traffic streams without impeding the progress of other road users (plan to go, not to stop).
Objectives
Your objective will to be as independent as possible on your general drive. You will receive as much help as needed on the new topic brief and by the end of your lesson be able to negotiate different types of roundabouts, using early observations to see if the roundabout is open or closed, work on the timing of gaps in the traffic and improve your lane position and effective use of your hazard/L.A.D.A routines (with little or no help from your instructor).
Subject brief
Two/three lane roundabouts are a lot more complex, faster and busier at certain times of the day. For example from 07.00 when people are going to work, when parents are taking their children to school and picking them up, lorry drivers picking up and dropping of their cargo and many more reasons.
Who do we give-way to at a roundabout? Yes the person on your immediate right.
Early observations
In the diagram below you can see the highlighted area so if you look, assess, decide & act early you will know if you are approaching an open or a closed roundabout.
You can plan early and be able to see if you have any vehicles coming from ahead (12 o'clock) and if they are going straight ahead as they will slow down the vehicles on your immediate right.
Giving way to your immediate right
In the next diagram below you can see the highlighted area again, as you approach a roundabout and the vehicle that is on the right or even ahead is further back from you from the roundabout it will probably safe to continue.
Lane positioning on a two lane roundabout
The main dangers on a roundabout are driver error, not keeping lane discipline and also their approaching speed. The only safe way (on a town roundabout) is to be at 10/12mph (on an open roundabout) and under 10mph (on a closed junction).
Remedy
Best way to keep on the outside lane and keeping a good positioning is following the curve of the lane, take a look at the below video clip to see if it helps.
Colour of signs
Dual carriageways, roundabout and traffic light signs represent your location
- White is non primary
- Green is primary
- Blue
is motorway
White information signs are in town area’s 30mph unless signs dictate otherwise, green signs will be above 30mph normally 50mph+ and blue signs are on motorway. Always pay attention to your road marking and signs when you’re on your driving lesson and obviously once you have passed your driving test as you are on probation for two years once you pass and will lose it if you get 6 or more points.
Information on a roundabout sign
The below roundabout sign is white and remember we always approach from the 6 o'clock position.
As you can see:-
- 9 o'clock is sign posted Waltham
- 12 o'clock is sign posted Lincoln but there is a difference it also says A46 on a green back ground the sign is informing you are going the direction of a primary route
- 3 o'clock it’s showing the directions for Immingham and the Humber Bridge with a green border say A180 and a blue sign with M180
Remember the new driving rule by law you can train on the motorways with your instructor but NOT any other person your training with.
Observations on the approach
Unfortunately some drivers approach roundabouts as though they were approaching a give-way or stop line and only take observations at the last minute. Consequently vehicles behind may end up running into the back of them as they wouldn’t expect them to stop if the way was clear.
Therefore don’t make this mistake and do not assume that the vehicle in front will proceed even if the way is clear.
Keep observing ahead and right (at least three times) also know how close the vehicle is behind you. Nobody knows how skilful the driver is in front of you so always maintain your 2 second safety gap.
Turning right onto a dual carriageway
Throughout my years of teaching leaving in the correct line has always been an issue, just remember a LEARNER leaves to the left lane (position). Its classed as the slow lane and if for example it’s a 40mph road and you’re in the right lane and the vehicle behind you was going faster (not your fault) than you and undertakes you.
A
it’s an illegal manoeuvre and
B
it’s classed on a driving test a lane position error so you would fail your practical test.
Here are a few tips on this video.
Awareness and planning
Look as early as possible to to gain as much information on how busy the roundabout is ahead
and when you are roughly 6 to 8 car length (where the road marking start) from the roundabout look to the right (3 o'clock) and to the left (9 o'clock) to see how busy the roundabout is. If you have vehicles coming from ahead and they are going straight ahead they will potentially slow down or even stop the vehicles on your right. Also if ahead is clear and you have vehicles on your right are indicating left (into the road you are leaving) it should be safe to merge onto the roundabout. The strategy is for you to slow and flow and if possible is to merge into gaps.
Strategy
Remember to always indicate correctly to keep the flow of traffic going on a roundabout. A late signal will mislead traffic wanting to enter the roundabout; here is a diagram with red arrows to show where you are supposed to indicate to leave.
Lets look at the use of the M.S.M routine
The Yellow vehicle is taking the 1st exit so they start the M.S.M routine at the roundabout sign:-
Mirrors left
Signal left
Position left
Speed to 10/12 mph
Gear down to 2nd
L.A.D.A
proceed when safe
The Learner
vehicle is taking the 2nd exit so they start part of the M.S.M routine at the roundabout sign:-
Mirrors all
No Signal
Position left
Speed to 10/12 mph
Gear down to 2nd
L.A.D.A
proceed when safe
As you are passing the 1st exit
Mirrors left
Signal left
leave the roundabout
The Black
vehicle is taking the 3rd exit so they start part of the M.S.M routine at the roundabout sign:-
Mirrors all
No Signal
Position left
Speed to 10/12 mph
Gear down to 2nd
L.A.D.A
proceed when safe
As you are passing the 2nd exit
Mirrors left
Signal left
leave the roundabout
The Red vehicle is taking the 4th exit so they start the M.S.M routine at the roundabout sign:-
Mirrors right
Signal right
Position right lane
Speed to 10/12 mph
Gear down to 2nd
L.A.D.A
proceed when safe
As you are passing the 3rd exit
Mirrors left
Signal left
leave the roundabout
As you are learning its vital to leave to the left (slow) lane unless it is unsafe to do so. If you leave to the right lane (fast lane) and then you get undertaken as your going to slow in the fast lane its classed as dangerous so always aim for the left to leave (learner leaves to the left).
Reflect & Review
So remember your instructor is there to HELP you. So on your driving lesson if you have any uncertainties or need anything rewording or recapping to make things any clearer, just ask.
Your training vehicle is fitted with dual controls and if necessary will be used during your lesson.
These are there for your safety so we can step in to keep you safe. So don’t worry if the issues arise we will aid & guide you VERBALLY or PHYSICALLY.
Risk management
Physical control of your vehicle
The aim is for you the student to have full control of this lesson and have full talk through on the new topic. Your instructor will then reduce their support throughout with you decision making as best you can. Your instructor’s job is to analyse any faults that may occur in this lesson and put them right.
Talk about any issues that happen on the driving lesson and put issues right.
● Fault identification.
● Fault analysis.
● Remedial action.
Level of instruction on your lesson
●
Full talk through.
● Prompt.
● Independent.
End of lesson
● Feed back at the end of your lesson.
● Student’s responsibility for lesson and improvements.
● Plan for the next lesson.
Last updated on the 10.05.2024 @ 16.09
All Rights Reserved | 1st Choice driving school Grimsby 2024
