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Roundabouts
Do you ever find yourself slamming the brakes on, or worse - your instructor hitting the brakes, when you approach a roundabout just because a car approached from the right when you didn't expect it?
The clue here, is in the word "expect". Inexperienced drivers are often surprised just how late a car can appear from your right approaching a roundabout causing you to have to stop. You have to look and assess the visibility to the right, and you have to keep moving your head, straight ahead, and to the right. If you stare only to the right you may hit the kerb. You need to keep assessing the traffic ahead and to the right, one glance is never enough. Too many drivers make the mistake of assuming they can go instead of "what if?". Look at what the first 3 letters of the word assume spellout.
The key to getting it right, is to select the correct speed and gear on approach. The busier the roundabout, or the more complicated it looks (you do assess the roundabout as you approach it don't you?), or the less you can see from the right, the slower you need to be going.
The biggest cause of accidents at roundabouts is slamming on the brakes and getting hit from behind because you didn't accurately assess the level of traffic and the complexity of the roundabout when approaching it. The reason for this? The driver behind you is looking mainly to the right, so when you hit the brakes and stop, the driver behind doesn't see that until it's too late. The most common phrase heard after the accident is "sorry mate I thought you were going".
ALWAYS look ahead before going to check the driver in front hasn't stopped.
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