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Roundabouts
"Look ahead to steer, look right for clear"
Do you ever find yourself slamming the brakes on, when you approach a roundabout just because a car approached from the right, or was turning, 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, repeatedly. If you look only to the right you may hit the kerb, or end up in the wrong lane.
You need to keep assessing the traffic, 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 must assess the roundabout as you approach), or the less you can see, the slower you need to be going. The same applies at night, or if more than one car is coming towards you, one of them might be turning right and their signal is "hiding" behind other vehicles.
The biggest cause of accidents at roundabouts is slamming on the brakes and getting hit from behind. 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.
Like these tips? Want to book lessons? call 0118 950 3694