This podcast provides an overview of Roundabouts - their purpose and 5 core aspects which often cause issues in negotiating them.
The presentation starts with the purpose of roundabouts and then the 5 core aspects which we teach students, covering
1.Approach - Speed / Gear / Positioning
2.Key Decision Making Process – LADA / Assessing Gaps
3.Lane Selection / Lane Discipline
4.Signals / Timing - On/Off
5.Strong Observations / Awareness & Discipline
Extract from our presentation on roundabouts:
Always Discuss the main Purpose of Roundabouts with your Learner - ask what they know!
•Meeting of two or more roads – to keep traffic moving
•Simple and Complex / Multi-lane
•Traffic light controlled and non controlled
•Don’t confuse with mini-roundabouts (separate session)
•Clockwise direction around island
•Give way to right
•Speed and Approach important
•Assessment of Safe Gaps to Join
•Method Important (Signals / Lane Selection / Discipline)
1. THE APPROACH – MSPSL
•Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed/Gear – Look and prepare as you approach the roundabout.
•Slow Down Early – Buy Yourself Time
•Low Gear (usually 1st or 2nd – depending on situation)
•Look for Signs / Markings – well in advance
•Remember look for exceptions to normal positioning (often by advance signs and markings, examples in Salisbury ring road)
•Position for lane selection – plan and anticipate
•Observations – look well ahead to see what's happening
2.KEY DECISION MAKING PROCESS – LADA!
●Look / Assess / Decide / Act – The Process
•Move Your Eyes: Right and Ahead
•Start Assessing Early
•Assess Traffic Speed and Volume from the right
•Look for Safe Gap (come in slow = better decision)
•If No Safe Gap, You Need To Stop!
•Don’t Assume The Driver In Front Will Go!
•Don’t Follow Other Drivers / Make your own decision!
3. LANE SELECTION / DISCIPLINE
•Look / Assess / Decide / Act
•Look at signs on approach to guide you
•Observations Critical
•General
•A: Turning Left (first exit) – left lane on approach
•B: Ahead (2nd exit) – left lane (unless directed otherwise)
•C: Turning Right (3rd exit) – right lane on approach - Inside / Outside principle
4. SIGNALS AND TIMING
•Signals / Signal Timing = Key To Safety
•Informs what you are doing, so all others know
Dear Listener
Thank you for taking time to listen to our podcasts we hope they are of use and welcome your feedback. Series 1 was very much for students and parents - but we found trainee instructors also liked the materials. Series 2 is a response from Potential Instructors who want to know what they need to know to become effective instructors (the what and how of teaching) and to pass DVSA qualifying exams.
For further resources and advice please see our facebook group for parents - teaching a learner to drive on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/524645638669371
For instructors see our facebook group for instructors on:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/931188437661404
We update our facebook page with regular legal and DVSA updates - please follow us on our Drive Hart facebook page on: https://www.facebook.com/DriveHart
Thank you again for listening to our podcasts we hope they were of use in your teaching a learner to drive. If you have any queries please email us on admin@drivehart.com
Sarah Jane Hart & Jac Clayton
Directors at Drive Hart Ltd