Roundabout are something that scare and confuse many drivers, not just learners but full-licence drivers. So here I outline the basic rules and tips for roundabouts, follow this advice and the most complicated and busy roundabout will be easy.
First, roundabouts are hard for learners, save them for when the student has a solid experience with controlling the car, understands road rules, and who has right of way in different situations.
When instructing beginners, don't worry about the rules or indicating at first. The supervisor/instructor should focus on these, letting the learners concentrate on handling and getting a feel for roundabouts. Go through a couple of quiet roundabouts, get a feel for how to car controls, then move onto this lesson.
When learning about roundabouts break it down into three steps:
1. Indicating.
2. Right of way.
3. Practice.
Indicating on a Roundabout
The rules for indicating on roundabouts has NOT changed recently. Every now and then rumours pop up that the rules have changed or are changing. Or parents/guardians read the learners booklet and think it's a new rule.
This is not the case, the rules for indicating on roundabouts haven't changed in over a decade at least (at the time of this post). But it doesn't mean we follow them, or learned them correctly. Another example is did you know it's not legal to cross a solid white line? We all do it, but it's technically against the rules.
- Turning Left
As you see below, turning left at a roundabout looks relatively easy (although it's the easiest way to crash at a roundabout, more on that later).
As you approach the roundabout indicate left, then keep indicating left on the roundabout, and exit the roundabout. Once you're out and straight turn off the indicator. There's no hurry to turn it off, but don't drive along too long indicating left.
- Going Straight
Going straight and indicating correctly will show if a driver is using correct steering techniques, because with good steering this is easy. This is why it's hard for many learners, they don't have good steering yet. Which is understandable as this requires a lot of multi-tasking with little room and little time. You can read my post on how to steer correctly here.
Below is a simple picture explaining how to go straight and indicate correctly.
So, as you approach don't indicate, then when you get to the middle of the roundabout indicate left to exit (even if there's no side street to the left). Exit the roundabout and turn off the indicator. Sounds simple, because it is.
The trick is good pull-push steering, if you're using pull-push correctly your hands are ready to turn on and off the indicator as you steer around. You can read my post on how to steer correctly here.
I'll explain more about this in detail towards the end.
- Turning Right
This is the easiest thing to do at a roundabout (the next easiest is a u-turn). Yet it scares many learners.
- Tips & Tricks
1. Steering is NOT optional, but indicating is, which should be obvious in theory but isn't in practice. Make sure your steering and speed are fine, THEN worry about the indicating. It sounds obvious, and almost every student laughs at the stories I tell of people so focused on indicating left to exit they completely forgot to steer. Then they do it!! Don't even rach for the indicator until the steering is sorted.2. You don't need to be perfect, good enough will do. Learners try to do it perfectly, indicating at exactly the right time. That's not needed, and too difficult as every roundabout is different. As long as the front wheels haven't exited the roundabout then it still counts. So even if you're a bit late to indicate, it's good.
3. Indicating left is optional but HIGHLY recommended, because technically you don't have to indicate left to exit a single-lane roundabout at all. You will NOT fail the test for this or be booked by the police. But I highly recommend it for the test, it's a way of showing off that the testing officers love. It shows them you have such control of the car and the situation you have time to easily indicate left to exit, being extra safe and cool.
I can't stress this enough, it is such a simple and easy thing to do that should be done by all learners for the test. If you can't indicate left to exit most simple-lane roundabouts then there's other more serious issues with your driving. If you're having trouble, get professional lessons and see why. Maybe your steering isn't good.
You can read my post on how to steer correctly here.
Alternatively, here's my post on how NOT to steer.
4. If the indicator to exit turns off while in the roundabout you put it on too early, which is a common mistake after people forget to indicate to exit. If you indicate left to exit the roundabout, but it turns itself off while still in the roundabout, then you simply put it on too early. Try a bit later, remember, as long as the front of the car is still in the roundabout it still counts. Too late is better than too early.
 |
| Indicate when you're at the middle of the roundabout, or side street before your exit. Even if there's no side street to the left. |
Now you understand how to indicate you can move on to the next part, who has right of way. Then you can put it all together and practice roundabouts.
Don't worry too much about indicating or who has right of way at first. The supervisor should focus on these with beginners. Instead simply drive through a few quiet roundabouts, getting a feel for how to control the car.