Roundabouts

The M.S.P.S.L routine

Roundabouts use the same routine as junctions: Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed, Look. Check how your actions affect vehicles behind; signal in good time (but not so early it misleads); pick the correct lane early — your position tells others where you're going; slow to a speed where you can control the car and assess the traffic; and look, assess, decide, act.

Three routes around a roundabout

“At the roundabout, turn left — first exit”

• •Check your centre and left mirrors.
• •Signal left.
• •Position in the left lane.
• •Slow to a speed where you can control the car and still have time to decide; match your gear to your speed.
• •Look for a safe gap to enter — keep glancing ahead to hold your position.

“Follow the road ahead — second exit”

• •Check your mirrors.
• •No signal on approach.
• •Position in the left lane.
• •Slow down, match your gear, and look for a safe gap.
• •Keep left on the roundabout, leaving room for a car on your right.
• •Once past the last exit before yours, check your mirrors and signal left to leave.

“At the roundabout, turn right — third exit”

• •Check your centre and right mirrors.
• •Signal right.
• •Position in the right lane.
• •Slow down, match your gear, and look for a safe gap.
• •Keep right on the roundabout, leaving room for a car on your left.
• •Once past the last exit before yours, check your mirrors and signal left to leave.

Priorities on roundabouts

Learning to find gaps takes time and practice — your instructor will guide you through it and gradually hand you responsibility for these decisions. The key points:

• •Give way to traffic already on the roundabout or approaching from the right.
• •Only go when it's safe and you wouldn't cause anyone to slow down.
• •Start assessing the traffic as early as possible — it gives you the best chance of finding a gap on the approach.
• •Look out for “blockers” — vehicles that hold up the traffic you'd give way to, opening a gap for you. Read more about finding gaps.

Newton Abbot's test-route roundabouts

Balls Corner roundabout

If you're taking your test in Newton Abbot, you'll need to get the hang of Balls Corner (near B&Q). It follows the same rules as any roundabout, but the extra lane on approach can be confusing: when going ahead, use the middle lane. On the roundabout itself, keep left of the red markings when going ahead and right of them when turning right. As always — mirrors, then signal left to exit.

Wear Barton roundabout

A larger roundabout on the Newton Abbot–Torquay road, so you'll need to count exits and your spiral out is more exaggerated. Traffic generally moves faster on a roundabout this size — factor that in when choosing a gap. Left turns and going ahead work as normal (left lane, signal left once past the first exit). Turning right (third exit) is trickier: start in the right lane signalling right, keep right on the roundabout, and as you pass the second exit check your centre and left mirrors, drift into the left lane and signal left, ready to leave at the third exit.

Types of roundabout

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