Afternoon, Rog. Fancy seeing you on here

Chris

Afternoon, Rog. Fancy seeing you on here

Chris

I do get around a bit Chris

Sometimes 2 to 1 to 2 can be even better

(but check the roundabout's empty first)

Sometimes 2 to 1 to 2 can be even better

(but check the roundabout's empty first)

Not necessary. The Highway Code has a new addendum that states that if you get your bonnet in front of the other chap as you enter the roundabout then you have the racing line. The other driver must brake and take evasive action while admiring your dazzling car control.

Ah, irony - like goldy and bronzy, only it's made of iron

I find I've actually posted the same thing twice on this thread - it's been going so long. Perhaps my first post made the point more clearly, where I explicitly said "planning to stop, looking to go" - the "planning to stop" bit being the more important...

I passed my IAM (motorcycle) test in 2000 and was taught to straightline, provided it is safe, e.g. no risk of someone overtaking whose path you may cross. Reasons given included; safety - a bike is more stable and has more rubber on the road when upright, and making progress - the idea of roundabouts is to maintain the flow of traffic where possible. On a related issue, they teach, "Plan to stop, look to go". As opposed to the people who pull up to a roundabout, stop, look, see there's nothing approaching and set off again.

As for driving test fail, a number of things taught in advanced training may be a fail, e.g. using the whole lane for view, not signalling when not required and exceeding the speed limit. I don't think they teach the latter any more (presumably for political reasons), but I know of someone who did >80 in a 60 during an overtake and was complemented by the examiner on a good, safe overtake (they passed). Ditto being briefed to go with the flow of traffic on a motorway, up to 85 mph.

As for driving test fail, a number of things taught in advanced training may be a fail, e.g. using the whole lane for view, not signalling when not required and exceeding the speed limit. I don't think they teach the latter any more (presumably for political reasons), but I know of someone who did >80 in a 60 during an overtake and was complemented by the examiner on a good, safe overtake (they passed). Ditto being briefed to go with the flow of traffic on a motorway, up to 85 mph.

I did my IAM bike test in 2007 and speeding was a definite fail, even to enable a safer overtake and miminise exposure time. However when out with the police doind a bikesafe check ride, they were firm on the limits for built up areas but more flexible on the open road.

When I did my IAM car test there were a couple of driving instructors on the course and they were warned that many of the techniques could lead to a fail on the standard test, as mentioned abve.

Agree that the straightlinig is an approved technique for roundabouts but you have to be certain that all around you is clear as the natural assumption by other users will be that you stick to your lane. A woman a while back straightlined a roundabout as my wife was going round and took out the front of our car. She was fully to blame in the eyes of the insurers.

I did a Police advanced driving course a few years ago & this was one of the topic I asked about. Their opinion is that as long as the roads are clear then no problem, it saves fuel, wear & tear on the vehicles, but is only to be practiced when you are completely sure that it's safe to do so. But & this is a BIG BUT, that was then & might not be seen in such a favourable light in these very congested times.

Safe driving. (If you want to see some fast & safe ( mostly) driving, see my post in the motorsport discussion forum re. Jim Clark Rally. 5 or 6 years ago, Tim McNulty from Ireland in an ex-works Scooby was clocked at 142 mph down the main road out of town during the rally!!!)

Sorry to kick up an old thread but I've just been talking to someone who is adamant that straight-lining roundabouts is practically as bad as murder. Providing it's clear and I don't impede anyone I've always done it. Just as I'll use all the road if the visibility is good and there's no solid white lines. Car is kept more stable, no need to slow down so better economy. On the way home in the evenings the roads I use are clear and this is often the case. I'd never do it at rush hour or when there's lots of traffic about.

Is it illegal now though? I know it was quietly introduced that if you drove straight over a painted mini roundabout they could do you for it but I've never heard of this happening.

I accidentally straighlined a roundabout wide enough for two cars on my driving test years ago and didn't fail, therefore it must be legal 

It's taught by the IAM as one of the advanced techniques as part of the skills for life course, which can/should be used depending on circumstances. So if you know what you are doing and can do it safely then there's nothing wrong in doing it- The IAM would expect you to do it on your advanced test where appropriate

It's taught by the IAM as one of the advanced techniques as part of the skills for life course, which can/should be used depending on circumstances. So if you know what you are doing and can do it safely then there's nothing wrong in doing it- The IAM would expect you to do it on your advanced test where appropriate

Cheers that's good enough for me

In the pictures above you would normally  approach in lane 1. what's vital is to do a shoulder check to make sure there's no one in lane 2 as you reach the roundabout before you move across and another before moving back across to the inside to again exist in lane 1. That's what they taught me anyway!

When I did my bike test I accidentally did this. The roundabout itself was massive and I was in the right hand lane where ideally I should have been in the left one so I'd be in the left lane going straight on. I just did my shoulder checked, indicated properly and moved over. Roundabout was dead at this point. I passed with one minor for a 2nd gear hill start.

Sorry to kick up an old thread but I've just been talking to someone who is adamant that straight-lining roundabouts is practically as bad as murder. .

Would they make the same claim about straight-lining or off-siding on a quiet A?

Would they make the same claim about straight-lining or off-siding on a quiet A?

Apparently you shouldn't do this either. If I didn't on my commute I'd add a considerable amount of time to the journey. Providing it's quiet and no one gets impeded I'll do it.

Apparently you shouldn't do this either. If I didn't on my commute I'd add a considerable amount of time to the journey. Providing it's quiet and no one gets impeded I'll do it.

Likewise; my criterion for "is it safe?" is "can I get back onto my own side of the road safely if someone appears coming the other way?"

 

No one there you can do it,police advanced drivers do it all the time, but must not be done with other traffic about all traffic including pedal cycles.Off course if you ride a sports bike and you want your knee slider to work this is probably the opposite of what you would do. I'm to old for all this anyway so I usually stay in lane.

Likewise; my criterion for "is it safe?" is "can I get back onto my own side of the road safely if someone appears coming the other way?"

 

Further to this, yes this (#92) means that there are stretches of road that I'll straightline or offside in one direction but not in the other because of the distance to the vanishing point. 

Too many ppl that come upto a roundabout and have to take a long look to the right to see if somethings coming that they will have to give way to.. when im looking to the right as soon as I can.. so I can plan my speed onto the roundabout.. basically im alert to all possibilities..

 

sadly many others are NOT...

^^ I mentioned that in the "What annoyed you today while driving" thread a few days ago.

People seem to have started treating roundabouts with good visibility as stop lines.

^^ I mentioned that in the "What annoyed you today while driving" thread a few days ago.

People seem to have started treating roundabouts with good visibility as stop lines.

lol.. its so annoying when your early planning gets disrupted by someone who is determined to make u engage 1st gear... when Stevie wonder could have seen the right is clear...

Too many ppl that come upto a roundabout and have to take a long look to the right to see if somethings coming that they will have to give way to.. when im looking to the right as soon as I can.. so I can plan my speed onto the roundabout.. basically im alert to all possibilities..

 

sadly many others are NOT...

I know the feeling, although there are a few roundabouts that actually do have Stop lines on an entry, or desperately short entry sightlines relative to the speed you can take them at once entered. 

Two things here,
Firstly, if you are planning on straightlining a roundabout in the Norfolk/Suffolk area, make sure there isnt something in the inside lane near you BEFORE the roundabout either. Had so many people take the roundabout "fast" straightlining it, and almost colliding into me on the inside lane going equally as fast but keeping to my own lanes!

Second, I was surprised to find myself pulled over the other day for actually NOT straightlining the roundabout! Fiveways on the A11, came on heading towards Thetford doing about 30mph, kept to the left hand A11 lane and indicated off. Then got pulled aside (after being tailgated for 2 miles by him) for aggressive driving?! Anyone else experienced this?

Topic reminds me of an episode many moons ago, coming home very late one night from a Young Farmers summer event in Lancashire. Me navigating a 110" soft top Land Rover from the left most front seat, 3+ people away from the driver, with a further 5 or 6 folk in the back. Remember this was very early 70's, pre seat belts, pre laws about every passenger needing to have their own seat, etc. Approaching a roundabout on southern end of the newly built Whalley-Clitheroe by-pass A59, I call "Straight on at Roundabout".  There were no chevrons on the grassy mound central circle then either - so you've guessed - driver proceeds to take me literally and drive straight over the top back down the other side, onto the tarmac and calmly proceed along the next stretch of by-pass.  No other traffic about, so same procedure repeated at next similar roundabout.  Much to the mirth of everyone in the rear, despite them getting bounced around a bit.  When I first read the thread title - I did wonder if that's what was meant?  Some chevrons did go up soon after, but our wheel tracks stayed there for several weeks........