Here is another interesting roundabout. Where are you going to put the power on coming out of that one?

Tom

Ah, the Hemel Magic Circle!! When it was busy the quickest way around that used to be anti-clockwise, because everyone else went the normal way (clockwise)

Nope - not Hemel but The Magic Roundabout in Swindon. Have navigated the Hemel one too......

Nope - not Hemel but The Magic Roundabout in Swindon. Have navigated the Hemel one too......

Oops! Blomming system at work not giving me the full page!! Used to do that one as well!!

I don't know of any other of these type roundabouts in the uk?

I used to do MK a lot - I can tell you a JCB fastrac will beat a porsche away from the roundabouts up till about 30mph but you do have to use each of the 37 or so gears !

Tom

I try and avoid driving side by side vehicles on roundabouts to try and avoid the above.

Sensible, and good defensive driving. My sis used to feel that she was getting "nearly hit" a lot on certain roundabouts, up until I pointed out that the reason I didn't have similar issues on those same roundabouts was that I deliberately made sure I wasn't part alongside another vehicle unless they crept over my off-side rear corner.

When i did my Emergency Service Response training i was taught that straight lining roudabouts is perfectly okay in non-emergency circumstances, as long as the following conditions are met:

1) Should be no vehicle following you immediatley onto the roundabout (recommended gap was that you should be about 100yards ahead)

2) The next entrance to the roundabout (on left) should be clear of any traffic approachng or queued (dont want anyone pulling out, thinking your going to turn right)

3) Any traffic already on the roundabout, should be clear from it by the time you enter, or should be in such a position that you will not come into conflict with it when straight lining

So basically, yes it can be done without issue, however for it to be safe the roundabout needs to be free of nearly all traffic.

Cheers

When i did my Emergency Service Response training i was taught that straight lining roudabouts is perfectly okay in non-emergency circumstances, as long as the following conditions are met:

1) Should be no vehicle following you immediatley onto the roundabout (recommended gap was that you should be about 100yards ahead)

2) The next entrance to the roundabout (on left) should be clear of any traffic approachng or queued (dont want anyone pulling out, thinking your going to turn right)

3) Any traffic already on the roundabout, should be clear from it by the time you enter, or should be in such a position that you will not come into conflict with it when straight lining

So basically, yes it can be done without issue, however for it to be safe the roundabout needs to be free of nearly all traffic.

Cheers

Cheers for that mate; in fact, that's the general rule for any straight-lining, that you must not do it if it would bring you into conflict with other vehicles.

Surely the real danger with straight lining roundabouts is when it gets to be a habit. Then you are likely to just do it without checking it is safe first.

Ken's point about diagonal positioning is one which needs to be applied in most circumstancess - always leave yourself an escape route!

Rob.

Edited 5 October, 201113 yr by keystonedriving

As long as it's done at a safe speed (not going like an idiot!) it's fine, I was taught it on my driver training and I do it every day when the roundabout is quiet enough.

Due care and attention would be the wrong offence anyway. It would probably be careless and inconsiderate driving as you wouldn't be showing consideration to other road users if you made them alter course due to your manoeuvre, that's what I would go for anyway.

Is it better to approach the roundabout in lane 1...

...or lane 2...

Edited 11 November, 201113 yr by silver1011

Is it better to approach the roundabout in lane 1...

...or lane 2...

For me it is best to use lane 1, this minimises the amount ot turn you have to apply and so a straighter line is produced. The diagrams you have posted don't show it well as on both the daigrams the approaches and exits cross both lanes, that said my computer skills wouldn't even allow me to produce those.

Enter in Lane 1, cross the roundabout into lane 2, back out Lane 1 on the otherside.

This produces the straightest line (on a two lane roundabout anyways) and thus less turning and carrying more speed. It also means that if you have to abort the straightline and cross the roundabout as normal, your in the correct starting lane lane to do so.

That is what I thought, the opening post and a few other posts in this thread mentioned approaching in lane two which didn't make sense to me...

Many of the roundabouts where it will be quiet enough for you to achieve a straight line will probably be the one lane on, one lane off type also

The reason for my question is I drive along a stretch of dual carriageway both ways on my commute to and from work, there are three roundabouts along this quiet stretch.

I've been a mpg hunter recently and much prefer a drop from 6th to 4th (no brakes) and hug the apexes in an effort to minimise the amount of speed I have to loose.

Can still straightline on two on two offs of course. Although I appreciate the quest for better mpgs I'd have to say 4th is too high a gear for transversing a roundabout, you need a gear that will allow you to be in control of the cars speed and be responsive should you need to get out of harms way, even in larger roundabouts that are totally clear that's 3rd gear tops for me, then block shift back up to 6th once your clear of the roundabout. Cheers

I'm guessing the gearing on my TDi vRS may be a little different to yours, 4th at 40mph provides more than enough grunt to get me out of harms way if required at the same time as offering enough engine braking to get me down from 60mph without having to brake

Enter in Lane 1, cross the roundabout into lane 2, back out Lane 1 on the otherside.

This produces the straightest line (on a two lane roundabout anyways) and thus less turning and carrying more speed. It also means that if you have to abort the straightline and cross the roundabout as normal, your in the correct starting lane lane to do so.

I'd agree with this approach too. No pun intended.

As long as you don't try this variety all should be well:

Other thing i would mention is that the advanced instructors i had all recommended an entry speed of around the 25mph mark for roundabouts, on the basis that it is easier to add speed when you get onto the roundabout and can see it is clear, wheras it is a hulluva lot harder to take speed off once your commited onto the roundabout and about to come into conflict with someone else.

Other thing i would mention is that the advanced instructors i had all recommended an entry speed of around the 25mph mark for roundabouts, on the basis that it is easier to add speed when you get onto the roundabout and can see it is clear, wheras it is a hulluva lot harder to take speed off once your commited onto the roundabout and about to come into conflict with someone else.

Which is all the reasoning you need for approaching in Lane 1; your sight line is wider, and the angular duration of your entry turn is less, so you can brake harder or accelerate earlier depending on circumstances.

This has got to be my biggest pet hate.

Do it during a DSA driving test and you immediately get a serious fault and fail.

It is fine when there really is no other road user around 2am, but there are so many idiots out on the road who straight line roundabouts when the roads are really busy. You are turning right and the muppet in lane 1 is going straight.... into the side of your car.

My personal opinion, if you are going so fast at a roundabout that you feel the need to go straight, then you are probably going too fast. How much effort does it take to ease off the power and turn the steering wheel to follow the lane correctly?

I think it has to be done safely and only at appropriate times, but is an excellent technique and is very beneficial to car balance rather than swerving all over the place, I think it appropriate under topic of racing etc.

Police should not have too much of a problem with it as they are taught it and use it as part of everyday driving.

For me it is best to use lane 1, this minimises the amount ot turn you have to apply and so a straighter line is produced. The diagrams you have posted don't show it well as on both the daigrams the approaches and exits cross both lanes, that said my computer skills wouldn't even allow me to produce those.

I go from 2 to 1 back to 2, the diagram shows this to be the smoothest turn and is the reason I do it.

As an advanced driving IAM senior observer I encourage lane 1 to lane 2 back to lane 1 if a roundabout (laned or not) can be safely straightened and does not encourage others to follow like sheep

1 2 1 is deffo the straightest line - putting a ruler on a map shows that !!

The DSA style is designed to keep a driver as safe as possible at all times so that viewpoint is correct in that sense but advanced driving is about moving on from the DSA and using what is safely available without being illegal or enticing others who may not be ready to progress from the DSA style into a possible incident