Spiral or Gyratory Roundabouts

[@iniehawk4472]

Best advice I've heard, I heard it from my dad, my instructor, Ashley and a few car and bike vloggers. Give people space to make mistakes Then their mistakes don't hurt you

[@jimg492]

Hey Ashley, I have always struggled to get my head around spiral roundabouts, despite having driven for many years. And as such I have found this video very helpful indeed, so thank you! Having said that, I do feel you have missed one important thing.... if in doubt, stay in lane and follow it through. You can always turn around when safe, come back and take the exit you required 🙂

[@fluffyfetlocks]

18:21 was a bit worried about that ford with such a full boot XD

[@dalmo001]

My personal experience is that the majority of spiral roudnabouts I've encoutered usually have 3 lanes. 2 lanes that will carry you round the roundabout, and an exit lane, which is usually lane 1 (sometimes 2 but this is usually, in my experience, a slip road onto a motorway, and lane 2 can also be used to drop to lane 1 after you pass the exit). If we use Ashley's vid as an example, he is taking the 5th exit to Huyton on a 3-lane sprial roundabout. 5 into 3 doesn't go. Therefore he would need to stay in the right-most lane for two exits. After the second exit he was in lane 3. After the third exit this became lane 2, and after the forth exit he was in lane 1, and ready for his exit from the roundabout. If you can remember that on a spiral roundabout after every exit, your lane number is reduced by 1, navigating them is much easier . This is a general rule of thumb, but always read the roadsigns as not every roundabout is the same.

[@ToadyBloyster]

Good video. The only thing I’d do differently is not indicate on approach. Rather I tend to indicate separately to imply each lane change to the right until reaching my required lane, similarly to lane changes on a motorway. I think indicating right from the start might confuse people around you and could even make people unfamiliar with the roundabout think they are approaching a standard roundabout.

[@dencrothers3529]

This is great. I had an accident on a spiral roundabout because I had no idea what I was doing. Thank you 👍

[@hybridangel3403]

I was taught how to use a very simple one because it was on my test but I still am scared but they were high speed road linking in Birmingham.

[@1024sofia]

@John McTim Ashley did say they don't teach u much about spiral round abouts

[@dencrothers3529]

Yeah I can honestly say I never come across a sprial roundabout on any of my lessons. I know at the time learners didn't need to use them as they weren't allowed to access motorways, but its beneficial to learn them as you're undoubtedly going to come across them after you pass your test

[@steamhammer2k]

I have been aware of the different types of roundabout, never knew they had a names though. I think they must have been invented after I passed my driving test (that was many years ago in my case) I did not know about the lane marking order on the road was a guide to the fact that you will/will not have a lane change for your destination. Proof that you never stop learning road craft. Excellent video

[@paulcollyer801]

I’ll be honest, while that’s how I use these roundabouts exactly, I’ve never viewed it as different to other roundabouts. It clearly IS different, but I’ve never viewed it as such. I’ll be passing a link for this video on. Excellent video again.

[@stephen5608]

Another great video Ashley, I've been driving for just over 2 years now and I didn't even know those roundabouts were called Spiral or Gyratory roundabouts. Its good that you are teaching your pupils how to use them because im sure there are many people like myself where when I started to drive I found those roundabouts difficult when in fact they are actually easy, when I come access one of these roundabouts for the first time In a new area I like to leave extra room in front then what I usually would so I am able to give myself plenty of time to see road markings and signs

[@AndyBradley1984]

Passed my test 5 years ago, never had these spiral roundabouts explained to me at all, didn't even know what they were called. Always hated it when I found myself on one as the "usual roundabout rules" don't really apply. Thanks for sharing!

[@tauseefrahman6699]

So easy way to get understand the complicated spiral roundabout .first i have 10 to 20 percent understanding after this video it jump up to 70 to 80 percent. Weldon Ashley keep it up.

[@TimpBizkit]

Ahh, the dreaded "swiss-roll" about, foils the plans to go round again if you miss your exit, and the plans to "play it safe" in the left lane. They are far easier when the road is not busy and cars don't cover the lane markings.

[@ChickenNugget-ew6fl]

I am a new driver, and i had to go thru several spiral roundabouts. It was very scary to be honest,but somehow i managed it, even though it was the first time. Thanks for pointing about new drivers,that could do mistakes. We also need chances to improve our driving. Bless you, you are a lovely and humble person

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

This is very important valuable information that everyone needs to know and learn as like most of us, we weren’t taught how spiral roundabouts work, I like to think of them like this..lane 1 is for exits 1 and 2, if you need exit 3 move 1 lane to the right, if you need exit 4 move 1 more lane to the right etc, but that’s just a very rough guideline as all roundabouts are different..there’s a spiral roundabout close to where I live in the city where it gets you go right 3 exit from lane 1 the left lane! 🙃

[@fredashay]

I like this style of multi-lane roundabout. Keep moving to the right each time the lane splits until you're in the lane you need and then just stay in that lane. No need to cut cross multiple lanes of traffic to take your exit. As you Brits like to say, that's Brilliant!

[@ober9000]

I'm not even from the UK, but you also taught me something with this video. I only know of one roundabout of this spiral type, it's in Graz (Austria). And my first time going through it my thoughts were definitely "wtf is this". But now I get the intention behind it.

[@swolemoth]

My instructor's been good as gold, but never explained to me that they didn't operate like normal roundabouts, he just seems surprised when I get them wrong. This video is top class.

[@maureenwright7001]

Best advice I was ever given to help with navigating spiral roundabouts was keep an eye on the markings on your left side. It was a game changer for me.

[@philcaffrey]

Thanks Ashley. There are 2 of these that I use regularly, one at Jct 7 of the M62, and one on the Wirral. This video, after 40 years of driving, has taught me something new. Great stuff. I also cycle regularly and have noticed that, generally, since the highway code changes, motorists are a little more generous. Not all - I still get close passes on a daily basis, but it's better. Your videos are a real education, even for someone who tries to be a good driver every day. Thanks for your work.

[@hotnom1]

Thanks Ashley, I've been driving for 41 years and have a HGV1 driving licence and a PSV licence, I was always taught to take the left hand lane at roundabouts up to 12o/c on the sign. I watched a KZbin video from Think Driving School on spiral and gyratory roundabouts in Basingstoke as I work on the Houndmills Industrial Estate in Basingstoke. I asked in the comments section how he knew to take the right hand lane when he was taking the exit straight ahead that was the 3rd exit, he never answered just deleted my comment so I guess he didn't know either. The thing I still hate about roundabouts is when you leave a motorway and want to turn right and you get in the right hand lane only to find out as you get to the roundabout I could have turned Right in the left hand lane, it would be helpful if there was a sign when you exit onto the slip road to tell you what lane to use, very difficult in a large slow lorry.

[@ashley_neal]

I hope this cleared a few thing up for you! Thanks for watching!!

[@ibs5080]

Great video Ashley, superb tips and a great revisit from your original video. Ive learned some new things from this video and look forward to putting them in practice. Just goes to show, you never stop learning (passed my test first time in 1978).. Amazing to think you've been making these video for at least 6 years now. You've created quite something here Ash, all very very positive. I think the traffic engineers have created as many problems as they have solved with these spiral roundabouts. On the one hand, they increase the throughput or capacity of a junction by having all those multiple lanes. But on the other hand, it introduces much confusion and potential for near misses and accidents. Just a look at all the comments and opinions in this very thread, on the whole all very intelligent actually but with differing opinions on how to handle. And this is just from subscribers to Ashley's channel. Add to that the opinions of the whole general driving public and you can see how conflicts can occur, no matter how unintended. Ashley's comment about these types of roundabouts not even being mentioned in the Highway Code, nor does signage indicate on the approach the TYPE of roundabout are all very valid and add to the whole issue. Others have also commented here that learners aren't often taught how to negotiate these types of roundabouts. I sense many of us were taught only to handle what i call a "text book" roundabout, with entry and exit roads at 12, 3, 6 and 9 O clock positions or slight variations. Ashley, how often is the Highway Code revised and published and how do they go about gaining feedback from the general public on revisions? Another big omission for me is there js no mention in the HC as to how to handle a traffic light junction when the traffic lights are out of action. I've seen some motorists drive straight through without even slowing down as if the junction doesn't even exist and there is often much confusion. In other countries, you must treat it as a 4 way stop and yes I know, we don't have those in the Uk.

[@wfendick6542]

Thanks Ashley, 23yrs of driving, just starting my LGV and that's the first time I've even heard the name "spiral roundabout", I always knew I was doing something wrong, hated Tarbuck island and now (thanks to you) I understand how to approach and deal with it.

[@ashley_neal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Wayfarer-Sailing]

What is confusing is that having reached the lane with your destination painted on the road surface (10:32 and 10:44) you then have to move further to the right. This is hugely confusing, as it in effect contradicts the green signs. Combined with the lack of any prior notice that the roundabout is designed to function as a special case it's no wonder that these junctions cause difficulties and anxiety!

[@davidchilds9590]

My gripe about large roundabouts is the way instructions are communicated only by painted road markings. When the traffic is heavy and the information is most important, those marking are not easily visible, least of all in good time. Worse, the paint is often heavily worn, so the lanes cannot easily be identified.

[@MePeterNicholls]

It’s incredible how many people don’t understand these. People hardly pay attention to roads markings!

[@anonymousyoutubeman]

Thanks Ashley. These roundabouts were a nightmare for me. Not anymore. This is very clear

[@ctclothbagco]

There is a roundabout in Leicester on the A46, right lane of 3 is for going to the services, then on the roundabout there are little to no markings and you have to move over left 2 lanes half way round to get the little weird offshoot that goes to the services

[@eyelidman09]

Cheers, Ashley. Good tips for experienced drivers always welcome as we need reminding of these things. Cheers.👍🇬🇧👍

[@ashley_neal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jfergs.3302]

I've been driving 25 years, and i've never heard of these terms before! But i've used that Tarbock roundabout a zillion times... well i never, you live and learn :)

[@red2]

Good video. Best one I've seen on spirals. On the learners FB forums they don't know that you must change lanes to the right if your taking a high exit. Luckily my instructor showed me this on a small spiral roundabout we have here. It only has 2 lanes and 5 exits... so we must move to the right. Unfortunately other drivers dont know the rules of them and just drive anywhere.

[@drewwyatt1274]

I found it interesting that you didn't indicate coming off the motorway as "you don't say excuse me in an empty room." My driving instructor taught me you should always indicate regardless of surrounding traffic. As he put it "you won't wear them out", so I always use them whenever I turn. Admittedly this was in the tail end of the '80s

[@broadsword6650]

It’s about observing and thinking, being active and dynamic, not robotic and formulaic.

[@drewwyatt1274]

@James Stewart Again, interesting. The logic I was told was that, especially on junctions in built up areas, or with hedges or walls, can you be 100% certain that nobody is approaching the junction other than yourself? And if you are to err some of the time, which we all will, is it better to err on the side of indicating when it is not strictly needed, or to err on the side of not indicating when it is actually needed? Having successfully ridden motorcycles for 30 years, I understand the value of observation, but I also understand the value of erring on the side of giving everyone around you as much information as you can of your intentions, in the hope that one in a million actually pays attention. :)

[@JanZamani]

I always signal as to keep the habit of signalling, I'm less likely to forget to signal

[@peterroberts7921]

@@JanZamani Totally agree. If no one is there to see your signal so what, no harm done. But if drivers get into a habit as many these days do, they soon forget or get lazy and dont bother to indicate at all, on some journeys I can safely say that 50% or less of drivers indicate when they should do so, and I sometimes find i am one of out 5 cars that could be bothered to indicate turning off, horrible statistics.

[@jontownsend8090]

Great info there, the issue i have with some spiral roundabouts is as you pointed out, poor quality road markings and watching out for late or unnecessary lane changes. I had noticed on your video a major sign on the right that was 90% obscured by foliage,. We pay our road tax, not only to be on the road, but also a service, a maintenance program where things need to be kept in order to improve safety. I try my best to play my part in road safety, the authorities need to match it also.

[@sugoruyo]

Came to the UK from a country where roundabouts are rare and which drives on the right. 2 months in I found myself having to drive through: - The Swindon Magic Roundabout - Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction - London's Hanger Lane Gyratory all within the span of 2 weeks. One could say it was a baptism by fire. The white van man waits for no-one.

[@MK-1973]

Really useful and interesting as always, thank you. Particularly liked the ideas around 'moves to the right ' and the order of the road markings.

[@bramelsheretan]

many thanks, has made a huge difference, and yes these spiral round-a-bouts are poorly marked

[@rjds1800]

Thanks for the practical demo of what is little talked about and confusing for newbies. Really appreciate it thank you 👍

[@ashley_neal]

You're very welcome!

[@josephmarsh8235]

It's been very helpful this video Ashley. I know another online instructor who does mock test videos who also says lots of people get confused with spiral roundabouts. This has given me a good way of knowing

[@animeeddie2104]

Very good advice. I'd drive the Hanger Lane gyratory in rush hour most days and more days than not there would be some sort of accident. Give people space, give yourself time, expect that someone might change lanes suddenly. Plan and look ahead.

[@matth2681]

great video as always, always been something that makes me nervous and I feel a lot more confident having watched this!

[@iambenmitchell]

We have one of these in Poole. My driving instructor took me around it. Wasn’t sure what I was doing initially but I picked it up at the end. Didn’t even realise it was called a spiral roundabout

[@MsBabylove11]

Thanks for the video.... Have held my license for 4 years now and this video really helped explain exactly how these roundabouts work, I had never really taken the time to figure them out before because it's quite rare that I encounter one but I'm definitely gonna be better prepared on my next trip from London to bognor Regis now x 🤗 x

[@jav.611]

Incorrect road markings at 10:44 - 'H'TON A5080' is painted first (closest to car as you approach), but it should come after 'M62W'

[@iainjones537]

Chapter 5 says it should be the same information as the lane destination sign: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/773421/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-05.pdf and it is.

[@anneweston75]

I passed my test 4 months ago and I have done a couple of these roundabouts,, but I didn't have a clue what I was doing...it was a bit scary. I'm fine on normal roundabouts but as you say, it's not part of the syllabus. So thank you for a very useful video.

[@edgarsliepins5680]

THANK YOU ASHLEY NEAL

[@yepyepchris]

On the topic of motorways; I think it would be useful for you to do a video on entering motorway services, as many of them take you from the off ramp directly into a fork leading to either HGV parking or car parking, and the general layout can be confusing to new drivers. A lot of services also tend to have a shorter than normal on ramp which I’ve seen cause issues for inexperienced drivers.

[@nigelcox1451]

Nicely explained and demonstrated, thank you. Swindon has quite a few, and some are used on test routes. They are well marked and work well, if people bother to stay in their lanes. Oxford have lots, none of which are marked properly. On approach, you choose your lane based on signs and road markings, then half-way around, the lane on your left gains the same markings, and now that lane is full of locals who are in on the secret. Exiting always in the right lane makes for a competitive environment, not good on tests. On test, if approached in the 'wrong' lane due to local knowledge a driving fault can be incurred, as you effectively cut off anyone to your right who followed the signs. Pure genius. Newbury had one that did not work well. Locals ignored the markings and made their own routes. Again, difficult on test. A couple of years ago, the local authority painted it to match local custom and it now works very well.

[@DavidNewmanDr]

Dotted lines showing the connections between one lane and another for a particular route would help, like in Australia. For example, on the Hinksey Hill roundabout, crossing the A34 from Oxford, the right lane should be connected to the middle lane, the left lane to both straight ahead and the left lane going round, but cross a dotted line to go around in to Oxford.

[@KevinWMoor]

This is actually a revelation - thank you.

[@joshwilliamson3428]

Big help never fully understood them

[@Squimple]

So, that's why I've always been confounded and ended up on the wrong lane. They are a different type of roundabout, I only sporadically encounter when travelling away from home and have usually ended up in the wrong lane! Trouble is in heavy traffic you can't always see the lane markings nor the signs. I have been driving for about as long as Ashley and never knew! My driving instructors advice from all those years ago was: "At an unfamilair roundabout, just go around twice if you're not sure' doesn't really work with these.

[@robertmartindale563]

I think I was lucky with my lessons, I had sandygate roundabout, which is quite a large non motorway spiral roundabout, and West point arena which has road layouts and which is the first place my instructor to me to.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

Absolutely superb video..thank you.👍

[@neilharrison7555]

Excellent explanation/description....and I was married to an ADI....I got a lesson every time I got behind the wheel.....!

[@redlipstick1452]

Hi ashley. Only passed my test a few months ago and all had been fine untill yesterday i came to this type of roundabout and realised i didnt fully understand it. Panic set instantly but i managed to control myself and cross the roundabout safely, i feel the only thing that saved me was the fact it was traffic light controlled. My instructor never took me on this type of roundabout and wasnt a part of the driving test either. This video came at the right time for me 😂 thankyou

[@peterhurst]

Spiral Roundabouts - I never realised they had a name! I've been driving since the 80's and a lot in your neck of the woods and spiral roundabouts "just happened" you make some good points about lack of training and can see why a few people make mistakes, but it's amazing how many people just get it. As well as your point about signage before, Tarbock is to me a good example of bad lane marking, I've been round it hundreds of times so I know it but you can see people changing lanes as they realise they were following the wrong M62 on the lanes. Maybe the W should be much larger than the M62? Tarbock is one of the trickiest in this area just because it's so compressed compared to newer layouts and from my recollection got converted to spiral in the late 90's

[@amandabrown1016]

Hi Ashley i am doing spiral roundabouts on my lessor on Wednesday your video is giving me a understanding on how to use them thank you

[@ashley_neal]

Thanks Amanda. Let me know how you get on. Good luck 🤞🏼

[@bencoder]

I love these roundabouts. They're much easier to use than normal roundabouts, except for watching out for all the other people falling to use them correctly 🤷‍♂️

[@sabotage3d]

Thank you for the video. I would love to see more examples of spiral roundabouts and different exit points. What is the safest course of action if we find lost inside the roundabout?

[@SuperDirtyFrank]

I've come across a few of these spiral roundabouts and if you're in an unfamiliar area they can be extremely difficult to navigate without any issues. You get information overload from the multitude of road markings, road signs, and the other traffic that can make it feel like you're in a video game. This is even more true if you come across one in poor weather or at night and the other traffic is unsure of where they need to be. Btw, I just learned they were called spiral roundabouts.

[@freddiekb1004]

Thank you for this! I understand them much more now but obviously that doesn't mean I can suddenly do them on the road... there are so many things you need to think about and you aren't able to pause real life like you can this video :P

[@gamesmaster1060]

There's a roundabout near me were their are 3 or 4 lanes, the 1st two lanes both say m5, but if you follow the 2nd land to the m5, it leads you into a service station so idk anymore lmao

[@OldSkoolLover1996]

This is great for when I ever have to drive in the UK as we don't have these in Belgium, our roundabouts are very basic generally...

[@radishpea6615]

great explanation. i would have indicated to exit just because it makes it clear to others that I know where I am going. We often see people switch lane at the last moment and I hope my indication helps other road users. In fact Ashelys commentary at 15.00 is a good example of why you should indicate to leave, Ashley was "unsure" or "cautious" of where the van was going.

[@ibs5080]

I was thinking the exact same thing regarding 15:00 and I too always signal left for exiting a spiral roundabout to remove any doubt to others around me that I might be executing a last moment change of mind.

[@Magnate1992]

Hi Ashley, Great video as always. Could you please do more videos on spiral roundabouts? My instructor never took me to one. Thank you.

[@alanjutsum2823]

Hi ash as an Adi I've a pupil who is struggling with Hicks gate roundabout Bristol following the lines is so confusing with yellow boxes and also the pitch of the road is not good. Passed this on to my pupil. Sorted hopefully

[@nickrobinson1954]

Excellent, explained very clearly! Thank you.

[@jakerockznoodles]

Thankfully, where I learned we actually have a couple of "smaller scale" spiral roundabouts, neither of which actually connect directly to a motorway or dual carriageway. Given that one indirectly connects to an A-road that leads straight to the local test centre, new drivers up here will almost certainly make themselves familiar before getting their licence 😉

[@ysabellpp]

Funny enough I went on one of those today during my driving lesson in Edinburgh (Cameron Toll) and I did have to switch to the left lane as my lane split in two at some point right before a traffic light. It was nowhere near the size of the one on the video so it was information overload, traffic lights very close to each other and it was next to impossible to plan ahead or give enough space to other vehicles (it was a rush hour too). A proper nightmare... I would love to meet the person who designed it as surely they had a very artistic soul. If not for my instructor I would have been probably still going round it in circles...I am not smarter after this lesson at all, more scared if anything and due to its small size more dizzy... Thanks for the video tho, hopefully I’ll be able to find more normal one to practice on!

[@simpleasliam657]

I was never taught about them, even though there are absolutely loads by me. Didnt know they had a name either, but good video, I always find the ones I have trouble on are the ones I'm unfamiliar with and the spiral lanes aren't painted on properly.

[@johno4521]

Thanks Ashley, I learned something from this about the order of the exit markings in your lane. i.e. if your exit isn't first in the order, expect to have to move to the right. There's a new gyratory near me which forms part of a triple deck road junction built to alleviate years of bottle neck problems. The route I travel, to turn right you can approach in the LEFT slip road lane, which becomes the middle lane, which then becomes the nearside lane of 2 on the right exit.

[@ashley_neal]

It is a useful point about the order of exit markings but they cannot always be relied upon. Even this roundabout that I covering this video has a road marking mistake. Have a look at 10:44 where it says Huyton first on the road surface but I still have to move one more lane to the right hand side. Thanks for watching, Ashley.

[@emmabryant2939]

Im glad to see this comment as this confused me when i saw the marking and you moved right again. This is how people panic and make a bad lane change. I go the wrong way safely all the time in unfamiliar areas. ​@@ashley_neal

[@Drie237]

Excellent tips and explanation, thank you.

[@anon1903kg]

The 14:00 roundabout broke my brain a bit and I watched a few times to really understand this. I feel like I've seen spiral roundabouts before but the sign has always made sense to me for where I wanted to go. However, I would have said the Manchester road would 100% be in the left lane due to being a thicker exit on the sign (and less than 12 O'Clock) but it isn't the case here. Surely they should be putting one of those rectangular green signs before the roundabout too, it's so much clearer for which lane you need to be in imo.

[@prakashadhikari8602]

I have seen your video first time. Clear and understandable. Would be more helpful if it was in slow motion. Thank you for sharing.

[@CptnKremmen]

I didn't know that they are called spiral roundabouts. Good advice on defensive driving.

[@cactusbase3088]

I hate those mid sized three laned roundabouts that do not have spiral road markings to help guide traffic. The ones where the outer two lanes can be taken for a junction to the right but inexperienced drivers in the middle of the three lanes do not move over to the outer (left) most lane prior to the exit junction. This forces the driver in the inner lane to be stuck in the inner lane at the exit junction and cannot safely take the exit and end up having to go around the roundabout again. This is compounded when there are traffic lights at the exit junction. I try to stick to the middle lane in this situation and move over to the left most lane as soon as it is safe to do so. I feel it is not so much bad driving causing these situations but very poor roundabout design or markings.

[@KILLER.KNIGHT]

Could you make a video about going straight ahead or turning left on a roundabout?

[@lawrencepeters4139]

Great vlog been driving 40 years and only seen a very few but now better informed do very much enjoy your short videos

[@ashley_neal]

Glad you like them!

[@hybridangel3403]

Thanks. Ashley. How I passed I don't know much about them. I was taught how to use them. But not properly. And its what scares me. I live in Birmingham near the m5 n. .

[@Just-SomeGuy]

The best thing to do with roundabouts is keep an eagle eye on the road markings, keep looking around you, go as slow as is safe and give everyone plenty of space.

[@coin4791]

Thanks for a heads up

[@Hagar1302]

Some great advice Ash, although I don't necessarily agree with all of it. Mainly because your underlying statement is that they exist primarily at motorway junctions. Where I live there are many spiral roundabouts on our test routes and the nearest motorway junction with a spiral is near to 30 miles away. Great work. Just a bit too reliant on that theme and would be contradictory in a more urban/local setting, in which case, I could easily add another 10 mins of theory.

[@ashley_neal]

So just near you they aren’t primarily at motorway junctions. Does that mean UK wide they aren’t? 😂 See the bigger picture I think. How do pupils on test cope with them where you live?

[@Hagar1302]

@@ashley_neal you made the valid point that on approach there are no indications that it isna spiral so i stick to normal practice when teaching clients to consider their approach position based on 'clock face' exits then note if there are any small square markings/studs that don't exist on every roundabout but exist in spirals. It's the earliest indication I've ever seen.

[@Kromaatikse]

If you ask me, *all* multi-lane roundabouts should be set up this way. Some signage improvements, particularly the addition of gantry signs for lane guidance, might help with comprehension and planning, but the big win is the reduction in lane changes. You only change lanes to the offside (the side that's easiest to see), and only when first emerging (when you have checked for a lack of approaching traffic) and when a new lane is just opening on that side (so nobody is already in it). Alas, the only roundabout anywhere near me is a tiny one-lane affair that might have been installed purely to give the local driving schools an opportunity to teach it.

[@eurosonly]

They should color code the lane markings to let the drivers know when and where each lane exits. If you've picked a lane, you must stay in it and exit when it ends. Most people would just make a last second lane change to stay in the round about and that's how collisions happen.

[@MultiMidden]

When they're good they're great but when they're bad they are terrible. One example of a really bad one is the A48/A470 one in Cardiff, it doesn't seem to know if it's a normal roundabout or spiral.

[@owen3766]

Am I the only one still confused here? 10:44 we see the lane dead ahead taking us to A5080 HTON but then it suddenly becomes just the M62? It's not clear at all that you have to move to the right lane to find the A5080 HTON?

[@Katcycle]

Wow I never realised how these 'big roundabouts', as I called them, worked. I don't think they existed when I was learning to drive, and obviously they don't work like a regular roundabout. I've always hated them and to be honest, I could never figure out which lane to be in, I find the signs hard to follow, and the road markings just as bad. They're just so confusing. And the worst thing was everyone else causing mayhem around me because they simply wouldn't give me the time and space to figure it all out. Anyway, now I really understand how they work, which is quite neat, I've realised. But too late - I no longer drive, having decided to go car free for various reasons. I guess if I ever need to drive again , at least I'll have the knowhow! And the message about giving others time and space is important - just because so many people find them difficult,.like me.

[@Ginger_Dalek]

If people think spiral roundabouts are scary, visit Slough or Hemel Hempstead and try surviving the so-called "Magic Roundabout" both those towns have!

[@ethandennis6832]

I actually love that Slough Sainsbury’s roundabout it’s actually fun & easy, but I have to admit I would be confused visiting it for the first time

[@broadsword6650]

Signage is a major problem, especially in heavy traffic. Directions painted on the road are often faded, covered by vehicles, and can be unreadable in wet weather at night. Roadside signs can be obscured by trucks. Far better would be gantry signs.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

It doesn’t help that certain local authorities have heard the word "Gyratory" and thought "ooh, that sounds fancy, let's use that when we reconfigure any busy intersections". Hence my own local authority loves to brand non-motorway junctions as "X Gyratory". One example being Ravensthorpe Gyratory near Dewsbury which cropped up in one of Ashley's "viewer's clips" videos.

[@davidrumming4734]

Excellent. - the spiral near my workplace isn’t a motorway or even dual related. Just multiple A routes + a town centre road. This was retro fitted into a space, so a lot more narrow-leave space for buses & trucks....but the method is identical. Swindon (several miles from me) has lots of them....you really have to be on your game when dealing with one after another and another....and another! It really helps a lot to know the layout thru experience-important to remember other people may not be so familiar with it, for example - how to get to the hosp, hence some people lane change. Leave space if in doubt. I actually feel like I should have a sign in the back window.....hospital? - follow me.

[@alexdiezg]

Watching with interest, to my knowledge we don't have such roundabouts here in Sweden.

[@AppleTom9091]

I don't think we have these type of roundabouts in Australia.

[@ysabellpp]

Or in Poland...I think they are only in the UK to mess with people....

[@RickP2012]

That's a horrible roundabout if you don't know it. I can't count the number of times I've seen someone join (from the opposite direction) from the Knowsley Expressway and want to join the M62 towards Manchester and find themselves in the lane to Whiston, then quickly cut back in when they realise. In fact, I always try to leave space because 3 out of 4 times someone will do it.

[@FreddyVan]

Tarbock Island is much improved since the M62E to M57N free flow lane was built a few years ago. It used to be ten times worse with all the hgvs taking up the roundabout's capacity. 😯

[@robertsprigge5535]

Living close to a motorway I encounter a number of what, although only since watching this video, now know to be 'Spiral roundabouts'. I've been getting very confused by them and am frequently in the wrong lane. As you've described, they tend to be the ones with a large number of exits, one I use most months is considered to be the largest in the country. It has traffic lights, but those already on the roundabout have a tendency to ignore them😞

[@rontrousers4889]

Thanks for the video. First time I’ve heard the term “Spiral Roundabout”. I’ll be spending less time going around twice.

[@ashley_neal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgepotter7475]

Superb content 👌

[@royfearn4345]

I know the theory of the spiral roundabout in that it's supposed to sling you off at the right place, but it seldom works out in practice due to the number of drivers who all seem to have different ideas regarding Lane changes. It seems to me that the safest thing is to follow your sound advice but always be aware that there is a fair chance there'll be someone cutting across so drive defensively and be prepared.

[@trevorlittle3244]

Very helpful thanks

[@JackHardman]

Thank you for this!

[@ashley_neal]

My pleasure!

[@EffMTee]

My favourite is the Hanger Lane Gyratory, glorious 8 lane chaos

[@00vonryan]

So useful, understand now why you were saying “stop looking at the floor”. 🙂

[@ashley_neal]

Exactly!