“On the approach to roundabouts, you will normally see either a warning sign or direction sign. The only exception will be mini roundabouts, which often do not have advanced warning signs.
As you approach, you will be using your familiar Mirror – Signal – Manoeuvre routine.
To turn left, start with the mirrors. Check your mirrors early and often on the approach. initially, it’s useful to cehck all three mirrors, especially if you are on a road with two or more lanes, you will need to slow down for the roundabout and need to know how this will affect traffic behind and how they are reacting as you slow down.
Signal left, to tell the other road users that you are taking the first exit.
At the vast majority of roundabouts, you will give way to traffic from the right and so, as you approach the roundabout, you will need to glance right to look for traffic. If there is no traffic, you ccan proceed without stopping.
Keep your normal road position, using the left lane on approach. You might have to move into a dedicated left turn lane at multi-lane roundabouts.
Keep your eyes moving to maintain your road position while glancing to look for gaps in the traffic to the right. Your glances to the right must start as early as the view opens up.
Most roundabouts, especially on faster roads, will have a good open view to the right as you approach. If you are 100% sure that there is a clear road or that there is a suitable gap in the traffic, when you are about three car lengths away from the single broken give way line, you can keep going without stopping. If not, check your mirrors again and stop smoothly at the line.
It’s important to make an early decision about whether to proceed or whether to stop. If there are vehicles ahead of you, make sure they have moved before you proceed. Sometimes rear end accidents happen at roundabouts because drivers are so busy looking for a gap to the right that they neglect to check the road immediately ahead. This is why it’s important to keep your eyes moving, keep your signal on as you enter and leave the roundabout, check you rmirror and cancel the signal after the exit.
The key points are
– Check your mirrors early and then make further checks as you approach
– Give way to traffic from ther ight, except in the relatively rare situations where there are different priorities
– Signal left and keep to the left hand lane
– Glance to the right early on approach to look for a clear road or gap in the traffic
– Keep your eyes moving to ensure that traffic ahead has moved before you enter the roundabout
– Maintain your signal until after you have left the roundabout”
