How To Find Gaps On Roundabouts In Newton Abbot

Finding gaps on roundabouts can be tricky. Here are the tips we teach every pupil — they'll help you with roundabouts and with passing your test. (For the full technique, see our roundabouts tutorial.)

Approach slowly

Approaching slowly gives you more time to read the situation, assess the cars and find a gap. Rushing the approach is the number one cause of hesitation and of pulling out when you shouldn't.

M.S.P.S.L.

• Mirrors — check for traffic behind that may affect your approach.
• Signal — signal your direction to help others know where you're going.
• Position — select your lane on approach.
• Speed — adjust for the volume of traffic and your visibility.
• Look — look for traffic approaching from the right and on the roundabout.

Look early

Start looking early — the sooner you start assessing the traffic, the easier the decision of when to go becomes.

Watch for blockers

Blockers are your best friend on a busy roundabout. A blocker is a car exiting the roundabout — it blocks the traffic from your right without affecting you, creating a gap for you to enter. Balls Corner roundabout in Newton Abbot is a perfect place to practise spotting them.

Cars have eyes

Imagine the car's headlights are its eyes (go with us on this). Cars go where they're looking — if a car's "eyes" are facing off the roundabout, it's exiting. This makes reading intentions much easier, even when drivers forget to signal.

Trust yourself

If it feels like a gap, it is a gap. When you get the feeling you have a space, trust it and go. Hesitation causes as many test faults as bad judgement.

Just in case

Always do a last-moment check as you set off — for cars that have changed direction or speed since your decision to go.

Watch it in action

Here's Balls Corner roundabout in Newton Abbot. Can you spot the blockers? When would you go?

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Want to master roundabouts with an expert beside you? Newton Abbot is full of them — perfect practice. Book your lessons or read the Penn Inn roundabout guide next.