How to Negotiate a British roundabout (turning right)

[eemoscrashed]

Wow, roundabouts in Australia.. Well, New South Wales, are so different to yours. Here the inside lane always goes straight or turns right and exits on the right exit. The left lane always turns left or goes straight and exits on the straight. Changing lanes on a roundabout in New South Wales is illegal and you would be fined for doing so, and you'd probably loose some points off your licence. Then again you don't need to change lanes because the lane will take you where you need to go.

[04smallmj]

@eemoscrashed I think most roundabouts here you have to change lanes in, but we have some multi lane roundabouts where the routes are marked in each lane and you just pick a lane and stay in it. They also tend to have traffic lights on them... We're allowed to change lanes in those type of roundabouts too. We also have mini roundabouts here which I don't think you have.

[eemoscrashed]

@04smallmj No, we don't have mini roundabouts, we only have normal sized and then a few big ones. But just around the corner from where I live we have a figure 8 one (it's not really a figure 8. but close enough), I think its really pointless though, I don't see the benefit of it whatsoever. I'm actually going to the UK next year (I'm not sure how long for) I was a bit scared about your roundabouts, but I think that its something that you actually need to do in order to become confident.

[04smallmj]

@eemoscrashed Yeah, I would say that's the case. Driving a manual car looked complicated to me but after practice it's easy now. Same with roundabouts LOL.

[Gavestonful]

Do you honestly believe that the Americans could ever cope with the system of roundabouts that have existed in the UK for very many years? Would they be able to comprehend the requirements necessary for their use? I wonder...... Anyway, I hope they do manage it as it's a far better system than the one they have at present. Traffic flows more easily, the "islands" can be very picturesque and think of all the lovely names then can give to individual roundabouts, like ours over here in Britain.

[SophiaVonHelgastein]

@Gavestonful I live in the U.S. and we have 2 roundabouts in my town, I like them very much

[thomase1]

You didn't mention checking your blind spot before turning off....which is something you do need to do to pass a driving test :)

[04smallmj]

You don't have to, especially on smaller roundabouts but it is a good idea if you have enough time! And I've passed my test and will be doing pass plus soon :-)

[thomase1]

@04smallmj well, not mini roundabouts, but any other one it's definitely worth doing.

[quatlen]

In Michigan where I live these are being built and they're good in most cases, the problem is that american drivers simply don't know what to do when it comes to round-a-bouts.

[04smallmj]

Yeah, they are good, but people need to know how to use them!

[quatlen]

Ye they're better then stop signs lol. Near me there are these Round-a-bouts that are connected, so to get from east to west you must use both and it is a Difficult and intimadating procces. Are Dual or connected road-a-bouts common in the U.K.?

[04smallmj]

We have dual mini roundabouts. These are quite rare though (there aren't any around here) and you should also google "magic roundabout swindon" This is a roundabout surrounded by smaller roundabouts. It looks easy once you figure out how it works lol.

[shmuli9]

@04smallmj I always envisioned driving in the "magic roundabout" in Hemel Hempstead (quite similar to the one in Swindon) would be nerve-racking, but once you get there, it makes perfect sense and is easy to navigate, though perhaps a BIT slow.

[ardvarkkkkk1]

@quatlen Plus they make them very small here. Impossible to use smoothly.

[Bryant5493]

I'm with Andres -- good lesson. I wished we had more roundabouts over here in the States. The ones we have, folks don't know how to maneuver through them.

[04smallmj]

Thanks B. The US seems to be a bit behind with road design. Roundabouts are much better, as long as people use them correctly.

[Bryant5493]

You're welcome, man.

I agree.

[shmuli9]

@04smallmj The US (and Canada) is "behind" in roundabout construction, but "ahead" in certain other road designs, though I am glad that more and more places are getting roundabouts.

[rextinctione]

that was pretty smooth and a good lesson!

[04smallmj]

Thanks!