Mini Roundabouts Cause People Problems

Mini roundabout shouldn't cause the problems they do on UK roads. This is down to a variety of reasons that we explore in this video. Have a look at the pinned comment on this video that gave me the inspiration • Driving Fail November ... .
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[@reecejones7215]

That awkward moment when everyone’s giving way to each other 😂

[@atkin207]

Hehe I've had instances like that before. :D

[@barry-iv8ll]

Or that moment where you are sitting there with your left signal on, you look right, they are giving way to their right, which is your left, and you can't understand why this person ( to your left ) will not go since they do not need to give way to anybody but until they go you can't be sure the person to your right won't go

[@ssonytony]

In this case where no one is moving the car that was there first should go first, but no one took notice of who got there first so i go as im the only one that knows whats going on around me 👍

[@angrycyclist9387]

There's a roundabout like that that I go over quite often, if we all turn up at the same time, I just clog it and get out of the way.

[@hegotaspare]

This ALWAYS happens to me. In fact I’m still stuck now at the roundabout lol.

[@Asdayasman]

That is a _generously_ sized mini roundabout. The ones we have here are just a paint bump in the middle of an otherwise unremarkable T-junction.

[@edwardpurkis1084]

Asdayasman yes a lot by me and so small you are leaving it before a normal size car has fully entered it🤣 the ones in the video to me a full size just with the ability to drive over if you want to be silly.

[@Ultima2876]

lol yeah and you get some bellend trying to do a u-turn on them at 1mph

[@edwardpurkis1084]

Ultima2876 🤣 near me there is a petrol station with a one way road set up around it, and 2 micro roundabouts on that. And we constantly get people missing the entrance then trying to do a U turn only to find the road they cane from is one way🤣 and then trying to go all the way round in some 78 point turn🤣

[@DAFPvnk]

@@edwardpurkis1084 or if you are in a bus or goods vehicle that wont fit around a central island on that roundabout :P

[@edwardpurkis1084]

DAF Pvnk I drive a 26ton mobile crane on a Man Chassis. What mini roundabout? 🤣🤣

[@JenOnTheMove]

"Don’t forget if people do emerge poorly don’t go blasting your horn, just slow down and let them finish." But how are people supposed to get their footage to send in to the dashcam channels? ;-)

[@ashley_neal]

Nice ;)

[@frankspencer6935]

They generally do that if you are doing a U-turn, even though the Highway Code clearly states to allow for that.

[@deighton2002]

The best bet is to accelerate and catch the miscreant by going totally to the right of the dot - which I've seen on clips

[@ronjer1234]

Blast the horn, say a few expletives and send the dash cam video to the popular KZbin channels. Nuts. The more you watch those dash cam video submissions the more you realise how very much people don’t have a little patience. Blowing your horn, cursing, isn’t going to gain you anything other than high blood pressure. No time would be lost if you just slow down and show some courtesy to an otherwise ignorant fellow driver in front of you.

[@appletree8441]

You meanije my girlfriend....in bed

[@EssexBadDriving]

It does my nut when I see comments on bad driving videos saying, 'they entered the roundabout first, they have right of way'.

[@Ericbryanmr]

The dashcam cjannels are full of dash cam owners who drive over the center of the round about just to beep the person who was already on it.

[@OscarJamess]

*2019 Theory test* What does this blue sign mean A. No turning left B. Mini round about C. dRiVe oVeR aBOuTs

[@masseyscottanthony]

I believe they are called throughabouts

[@masseyscottanthony]

@Mackenzie Stanton not as catchy hehe

[@derekdelboytrotter8881]

I've seen a couple times that when cars get to the mini roundabout at the same time and everyone's giving way to each other and no ones moves, kinda funny really.

[@shaunsheppard3936]

Derek Delboy Trotter we have one near us, and on one of the entries it has a give way sign, which I think means if three cars are sat at the roundabout, the one with the give way sign has to wait.

[@derekheeps1244]

In that situation , I will usually beckon to the person to my right to move and that will break the deadlock .

[@jgdooley2003]

Or they move together slowly and make contact.......

[@westendwickedadria]

Honestly I think the 'who gets there first' mentality comes from busy mini roundabouts when cars are coming from all directions at very similar times. You then get to a stage where everyone tries to give way to the right and nobody goes! I think having a basic understanding that the first vehicle to get there would take priority (in that particular situation) keeps the traffic flowing and stops that annoying stalemate! Though it also makes people rush to be the first hmmm

[@ashley_neal]

Just a little reminder that in that “stand off” situation that you talk about the car from your right isn’t moving. Move yourself and just be ready for the car from the left to go 👍

[@DAFPvnk]

@@ashley_neal I love the situation where three arrive at once, especially when in an HGV. It almost always results in me getting through first :P

[@jcskyknight2222]

Of course if three cars enter slowly at the same time and stick to the outside rather than the centre the other cars will be gone by the time you get to their position. The problem is that no one wants to regulate their speed, its either stationary or the speed limit for some reason.

[@robinbennett3531]

with a standoff, If they all just went at once and went ROUND the thing there'd be no problem

[@robinbennett3531]

instead they like to go straight over. shallow mounds might help?

[@BlackBeltBarrister]

Huge congrats on your 100K!!! 🥳 I'm going to link this video of yours with one of my clips today - many people a) do not understand the give way process and b) some people get unjustifiably angry halfway up the road!

[@ashley_neal]

Nice one Dan 👍🏼 Look forward to your video.

[@CBikeLondon]

Dan I don't think your latest video is right in one sense, perhaps Ashley can clarify. Yes you give way to your right of course, as well as to the vehicles already ON the roundabout. This, in most cases is the same thing so it's odd for you to say you don't give way to vehicle already on the roundabout..

[@BlackBeltBarrister]

@@CBikeLondon what I mean is it is not correct for someone to assume that just because they are on the roundabout, all of the vehicles should give way - because this encourages the mentality that being "first" to the roundabout trumps all, which it doesn't.

[@CBikeLondon]

@@BlackBeltBarrister If you've come onto the roundabout whose exit was clear and without causing any other traffic including those from the right to slow for you then you do have priority whilst on the roundabout as you are to the 'right' of anyone else from their perspective. There is a recent Ashley video where the cammer gets hit by a coach from the right on the roundabout which illustrates my point as the cammer emerged with his right apparently clear, but the coach came in at dual carriageway speed cutting straight across the lanes to connect the straight line. A good example of how the cammer had priority and bus at fault despite being on the 'right' in my opinion. Of course the cammer could have done better to avoid the situation, but pretty certain fault will go to the coach alone.

[@ashley_neal]

No blame, even from the Police was apportioned to the coach driver.

[@kilerscn]

If somebody is already on a roundabout, even if they are to your left, they are actually to your right, as the roundabout travels in a singular clockwise direction. You aren't giving way to the left, because that would be the person at the give way lines. Don't forget, you should never enter a roundabout if your exit is not clear, so as not to clog it up. Or as the highway code puts it: "Watch out for other road users on the roundabout" and "Check the traffic has moved off in front of you before you proceed to enter the roundabout". This avoids any confusion with "giving way to the left" if somebody on a roundabout is blocking your exit, as in this case, you shouldn't be entering, you were actually in the wrong. Saying you don't have right of way when on the roundabout is dangerous as it gives people the mentality that they can run in to somebody and it is fine.

[@ChrisCaaa]

Do the opposite of every one of these points and you'll be fine.

[@kilerscn]

@@ChrisCaaa funny way of saying dead.

[@ChrisCaaa]

@@kilerscn one of my favourites was "even if they are to your left, they are actually to your right"

[@morbideddie]

I'm glad you've said this. The "give way to traffic on the roundabout" mentality seems really prevalent on KZbin. Every time it comes up I link to rule 185 and 186 which clearly states you give priority to traffic "approaching from the right" and ask for some sort of HC reference that backs them up, every time there are crickets. I'm not sure if there has been a rule change but in the 10 years I've been driving it's always been give way to the right. Not that it forgives the people who speed towards the offending car, blaring their horn and cutting the corner, but it agree that the race to be first past the line is a dangerous mentality that encourages people to enter before the have considered the hazards.

[@gavjlewis]

You seem to have been selective with rule 185. What about the part "watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout"? As there is a broken white line this is a 'give way' line. So you are entering a new road. You should check the road is clear and move off only when it is safe to do so (159). Which you can't as there is already a car on that piece of road. At the end of the day always presume somebody will do something stupid and be aware. Don't be in the accident in the first place and there won't be the argument of who was in the wrong. Drive safe. 👍

[@morbideddie]

@@gavjlewis Exactly, watch out for vehicles entering, just as you should watch out for cars emerging from a side road. If you are approaching from the right you have priority over cars to the left, but you should still consider that other road users may not always yeild or behave predictably. It's better to be 2 seconds late than risk being 10 minutes late with an insurance claim on your hands.

[@deighton2002]

I think the highway code implies you give way to vehicles on the roundabout. One extreme is a vehicle bombing towards a roundabout thinking that no one he will encounter to his left dare ever enter it. before he's blasts around it. The other extreme is a driver who thinks he's on the roundabout an instant before another on the right, so then he can do what he likes. I don't think either is right

[@morbideddie]

@@deighton2002 Giving way to other vehicles on the roundabout is sensible, but there is a difference between that and them having priority. If two vehicles are at the give way lines the one to the right has priority, if the other car pulls out a millisecond before that doesn't transfer priority. A good driver should know when to yeild, even when they have priority.

[@OB1KXB]

on a roundabout, everyone is approaching from the right. it's just that the circular shape of the roundabout means they might have come from opposite you. so on a busy one, you might be stuck sitting there as people that are coming from the opposite side are all turning right (left for you). you just have to wait for an opening in traffic from people going in other directions or until everyone has passed.

[@hard2bear3110]

Ashley, i'm just going to continue watching your videos, your breakdowns are excellent and helping me on my journey as i continue to learn to drive. Also still do Theory tests regularly to refresh the old brain and make sure i'm staying sharp with the highway code. Many thanks!

[@elliotpole2585]

People seem to forget the basic rules of roundabouts when it’s on small scale, it becomes more of a ‘who gets there first’ which causes major chaos especially at busy times.

[@jacintarene_]

Elliot Pole to be fair, in Australia the rule is ‘give way to traffic already on the roundabout’, so technically it literally is just who ever gets there first.

[@elliotpole2585]

jacintalovesart yeah that makes sense if it’s how you’ve been taught but this is completely different in UK

[@Jivvi]

@@jacintarene_ I wish more people in Australia understood that. A lot of people here think it's just give way to the right, and think they have right of way when they don't.

[@grahvis]

@Captain Insano Shows no mercy . I would beg to differ, not giving way to vehicles approaching from the right but only those already on the roundabout, albeit they may be just in front of an approaching vehicle, is simply encouraging drivers to speed up to get over the line first and gain priority.

[@samclench1992]

The Highway Code states that you should “Watch out for other road users on the roundabout” and “check the traffic has moved off in front of you before you proceed to enter the roundabout”

[@derekheeps1244]

That is really more intended to avoid the classic roundabout crash where car in front starts to move ; next driver looks right and crashes into car in front , which has stopped after a couple of feet , often for no apparent reason . Most important thing is not to go until you are SURE you are going and then don't stop .

[@tgooda4672]

You seem to be confusing ‘watch out for’ with ‘give way to’ Someone could pull out or walk out in front of me anywhere… they’re in the wrong but I’m still not going to crash into them if I can help it (and I really shouldn’t need the highway code to tell me this)

[@OliverPascoe]

That’s Interesting, in NSW Australia the rule for roundabouts is to give way to vehicles on the roundabout, so you have to slow down and if necessary stop to avoid collision

[@michaeltempsch5282]

Same for Sweden (but left/right reversed). Only traffic approaching from the (left) is traffic already in the roundabout as it is considered a separate road, circular with a series of t-junctions. We e explicitly give way to traffic already in the roundabout.

[@steveskipper6473]

We have some really "mini mini" roundabouts near where I live I always find it amusing when all three vehicles have to give way to each other in a classic Mexican standoff.

[@shereenlawford3220]

Thank you Ashley you've helped me understand different road situations and helped me see things in a different light. I think more when driving. Thanks

[@CantBeFucked69420]

In Australia at least, you must give way to all traffic that has entered the roundabout before you, before you may proceed. "At a roundabout you must give way to vehicles on the roundabout."

[@keith6400]

The part "You must give way to all traffic that has entered the roundabout before you may proceed" (in Australia) can be interpreted by idiots that if you race to get on first you do not give way to traffic which approaching but is a few feet short of the roundabout. Similarly "At a roundabout you must give way to vehicles on the roundabout" Again idiots are thinking that would not include the vehicles approaching from the right which I have raced to get on the roundabout before they do and now they must give way to me as i am on the roundabout by racing ahead of them. This is the problem drivers racing to get to the start line first as these people perceive it.

[@flammenjc]

@@keith6400 Doesn't matter to you if you're approaching from their right though. If they want to plow into the back of someone already on the roundabout whilst you're sat laughing at them then so be it. You have to approach mini roundabouts with caution, on your left, right, or whatever and just watch that cars actually stop. Like you would at a regular crossroad junction. It's served me well

[@pirateadam3686]

THANK YOU! This has bugged the crap out of me for ages and so many people get it wrong - give way to traffic *approaching* from the right. Otherwise the give way sign just becomes a race line and whoever screams over it first wins. Until everyone does that and then they crash...

[@na-up6gs]

Thanks Ashley for this great video. I sometimes don't know where to look at mini roundabouts which causes me problems 😑

[@AppleTom9091]

I live in NSW, Australia. We are constantly told - "Give Way to cars already in the roundabout, not those approaching from the right, i.e., not yet in the roundabout". Most people take the cautious approach and give way to those coming from the right because they don't want to be hit. And there you have it, people tend to approach roundabouts at too hign a speed.

[@AppleTom9091]

"high", not "hign".

[@AppleTom9091]

I didn't watch all the way when I left the first comment. The case where the grey car enters from the left is the way we are supposed to do it! The grey carwas in tne roundabout first, so you, being outside MUST GIVE WAY TO IT, according to our rule. Your UK rule is much better, I don't know why our rule is the reverse of yours.

[@mickyg1953]

In South Africa the rule was changed to give way to the first vehicle that crosses the line into the mini circle as we call them. In effect they are like a rolling Stop Street but majority don’t know how to use them and approach way to fast, plenty of near misses on them.

[@karlwells1576]

I've had experiences a few times at mini roundabouts where I've stopped to give way to the right, they've stopped to give way to me, so we end up sitting there for a few seconds until they go. There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding mini roundabouts so a good video to do about it, it does boil down to "it's a roundabout, give way to the right" but some people do seem to forget this :)

[@roberttaylor465]

I find the speed of approach is the main issue with mini roundabouts, well actually all roundabouts, most approach far too fast which gives no time for reactions, bit of patience goes a long way. You have to make a attempt to drive around the centre of the roundabout but many vehicles cant, that's why they are flat, can't drive around them if towing etc, that's why all users should approach with caution.

[@jgdooley2003]

Especially with long wheel base vehicles like busses, rigids etc. which have no choice but to oversail the middle bump as they make a turn on the roundabout.

[@robinbennett3531]

What about speedbumps can't they drive over them too? Surely it's possible to drive over a central bump if not going fast?

[@angrybirdsandy5041]

TWO Mini Roundabouts together 😳usually = Mayhem ‼️ 😂😂😂

[@crazyt1483]

I know I saw a learner who was still nervous and didn’t have that future planning observation down and stoped before the first one then stopped before the second e eventhough in both situations I was the only car preparing to enter from their left of the second roundabout and the other entrances where clear

[@RushfanUK]

One of the main reasons why I bought a dash cam as the constant cut ups on a mini roundabout in my home town are so close, by the way you should try the Magic Roundabout at Hemel Hempstead I worked there for about 5 months back in 1999 and had to use it daily.

[@jgdooley2003]

Or the 6 road, three lane roundabout at Walkinstown, Dublin, Ireland with NO traffic light control.

[@DashcamLeicester]

It's great to hear this from a driving instructor. I've had similar comments on my videos to the one you received about the grey Astra. I've been saying exactly what you said for months now so it's nice to hear the same mindset coming from someone else. Lots of people refer to the Highway Code stating "Give way to road users already on the roundabout" but to me, that refers to large roundabouts (similar to the one at 6:18 but also much larger roundabouts such as ones on dual carriageways - so you give way to cars that are already circling around). I could be wrong but after checking on the Gov website they seem to have changed the wording to "watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all" which would definitely refer to larger roundabouts. I was always under the impression you give way to cars APPROACHING from the right so it doesn't matter if they're at their give way line or not.

[@RibzRobins]

It’s like this in my area, I wait to give way to the right but nobody else is doing that, there is two particular roundabouts (1 normal, 1 mini) that people just don’t abide by the rules. This video is helpful as I did exactly the same as you. I’m glad to have you to reassure me that I did the right thing 🙂

[@davids3539]

I winced when the pupil went over that first speedbump.

[@FrankAyresUK]

I have a mini roundabout near me and when I go around it, I have to go all the way around and nearly everytime, someone nearly hits me as they don't stop and don't presume I am going all the way even though I indicate right!

[@jdunn101ify]

Highway code says "Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts"

[@dangerousdeo5113]

This is what I put up with on mini-roundabouts all the time. Same characteristics where they think the minute they are on the roundabout it's their priority. This video you created about them is amazing fair play!

[@hugoburton5222]

In Australia, the official rule is give way to anyone on the roundabout. So if even someone cuts you off, you have to give way to them.

[@robinbennett3531]

Aussie rules roundabouts

[@djwindhoek]

The other thing, something you touched on, is when vehicles drive right across the circle that is the roundabout. I always make the effort to drive around it and rarely if ever have I failed in this regard in my Polo. Longer vehicles may need to drive across the circle but sadly, not all car drivers make the effort to drive around. Compound this with 'I'm on the roundabout first' attitude and we then have car crash potential.

[@sassyboofle6983]

Thank you so very much for this , there is not enough awareness of other not so visible or readily seen users of the road. My husband rides a cycle to work and so is very aware of how people do not see him . He wears a high vis jacket has so many lights of flashing and non flashing kinds ,so to catch eyes , but mostly remembers that people do not see him . So keep up reminding us all that we need to just be more aware .👍👑 🚲👀🧠🦻

[@RickP2012]

I think the main problem is around the definition of 'approaching' from the right. To me I would say that means 5m or less from the roundabout. There are situations were drivers can be 50m or more away coming from the right and think that they can carry on driving at 30mph and not slow down for the roundabout because people are joining on the left. The Clio is a perfect example - he goes a little too quickly.

[@dedistaulapanodki6293]

Only pull out onto the roundabout if you are not going to inconvenience the vehicle approaching from the right and cause them to take any avoiding action. Same as if you are emerging from a T-junction, really, in terms of not causing others to have to avoid you. Simples!

[@JonTheComputerDoctor]

Cars driving over mini-roundabouts are dangerous, obviously, depends on the size of the vehicle and roundabout but for a large majority, there is no excuse.

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Have several mini roundabouts in my locality. When negotiating these with 13mtrs of coach driving around is pretty impossible but all other rules should be applied and yet still I see many struggle. Observation is the biggest downfall of many. They make none or very little until they arrive at the junction then stop when it is perfectly clear to proceed. This completely defeats the purpose of a roundabout, that is to aid traffic flow. So..... observation, observation, observation!

[@DisleyDavid]

A very good point Gary. Road design takes little account of larger vehicles. I have driven buses and the required approach to some junctions is bizarre.

[@mhoward181]

People already on the roundabout have priority. Hence why I won an insurance claim with witnesses. However It depends how close each person is to the roundabout. no one will ever be right or wrong in this as everyone thinks there right. Everyone’s perception will be biased. A few seconds from junction. You should give way to right. But what if the person approaching from the right is speeding and not slowing on the approach. That’s why I won my claim. Most people drive too fast and don’t slow before the junction. Too many people in world now. Too many people allowed to have unlimited kids. Too many cars on road. This problem will get worse. Feel sorry for our children.

[@tgooda4672]

You have to give way to the right. It literally couldn’t be simpler.

[@SCOHunter]

5:50 Not gonna lie was so confused when you said: "When I'm on the roundabout I've then got priority" (taking about what people think) then, later on, understood what you meant lol, Great vid.

[@bernardwills6737]

‘There’re not call drive overabouts’😂 Ash, I love this comment, it’s so true. I’ll deffo be using it when I qualify as an ADI😊

[@InclusiveDriving]

I have a few learners who really struggle to remember who has priority at a mini roundabout. A red blob of whiteboard marker on their right index finger and a green blob on their left index finger helps. Point at the road to the right and they see a red traffic light on their finger.

[@OscarJamess]

3:34 something about this transition is hilarious

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

Another great video Ash. The main issue I find with Mini Roundabouts are motorists whizzing through in 2nd gear. Having asked some about this , they say " it's a roundabout innit, so 2nd gear " no, it's a junction like any other. If it's a closed junction, slow speed, 1st gear prepare to Give Way. In my opinion that's what that Focus on Prescott retail park you recapped did.

[@kylemenzies4447]

I was one of those 'whoever gets to the mini-rounabout first' people. I was aready to come into the comments and say you were wrong but I checked the highway code and see I got it totally wrong. Good video!

[@ashley_neal]

Great job Kyle. That's the whole point of most of my videos; to make people think. Thanks for your honesty :)

[@gdinfinity1325]

Brilliant little video so many drivers get these roundabout's wrong but to me they are simple 😁 thanks

[@josephcroft4268]

i can see why the guy wrote in , myself i have always followed the rule of giving away to the right with traffic already on the roundabout not traffic approaching the roundabout

[@derekheeps1244]

If I can see into other roads and I determine that someone approaching from the right will arrive at roughly the same time as me , I will just lift off and slow slightly to let them go ahead ; it is just good observation and planning . What I do hate is when idiot road planners deliberately obstruct sight lines across roundabouts , forcing everyone to slow to almost a stop when one could proceed safely if one could see the road to be clear . Planting trees or bushes in the middle of roundabouts , erecting huge chevrons and other needless street furniture simply wastes taxpayers money and dumbs down the roads to the lowest common denominator ; experienced and advanced drivers can observe traffic on the approach and adjust their speed to safely proceed without needless braking and fuel wasting acceleration to regain speed afterwards .

[@janiceN4Nugs]

I've found this video a helpful reminder of what should do on a mini. There is a mini roundabout near me I pass most days and I have stopped in the past with the assumption "well they got there first" (even though they are on the left). Only for them to do the correct thing and wait for me. Resulting in us both waiting. Me clearly in the wrong.

[@Cliffjumper24]

That comment left at 7:38 "The guy in the car park has right of way over you" is completely wrong! There is no such thing as "the right of way" because it simply doesn't exist. The Highway code says so in the overview for rules 103-158: "The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others. Always give way if it can help to avoid an incident" It's that kind of posessive ownership that is the cause of many collisions because they've flipped the concept of 'giving way' and revised it into "If you're supposed to 'Give Way', then I have the 'right of way'!"

[@flybobbie1449]

A lot of mini roudabouts seemed to have been designed for Mini Metros to drive around. The few around here would be difficult for a modern vehicle to remain off the white bit in the centre when taking the 2nd exit. And we have one like a figure of eight, often vehicles just shoot straight across both.

[@davebhoolee2184]

6:36 The car from the left should’ve stop as there’s an obstruction. We don’t normally give way to the left but we look left, we normally give way to the right on mini roundabout like you do on a big or normal roundabout.

[@Alltehgudnamesrgon]

Any chance of a night driving vid, Ash. As a pretty new driver, driving at night is a bit daunting. Especially with the early nights at the moment. I also live in a pretty rural area, so many roads are unlit. Cheers mate.

[@ibs5080]

Just as the clocks were about to change for winter a few weeks ago, I had suggested a "How to drive like a driving instructor - Night Driving" video. At the time, Ashley commented that it was a great idea and so hopefully will be making such a video in the not too distant future. Right Ash? :)

[@olliebonugli8881]

Something I like about night driving is that you can often spot other cars much earlier than you can in the day, due to being able to see their lights. Makes it much easier at junctions with poor visibility etc.

[@Sylvander1911]

@@olliebonugli8881 Assuming they have their lights on of course

[@olliebonugli8881]

Colin Harris It’s surprising how many people don’t

[@ibs5080]

@@olliebonugli8881 I remember a former co worker of mine saying he loved driving the narrow country roads at night as he could tell if another car was around any blind bend. But he also went on to add it would get interesting if someone was out taking their dog for a night time walk!

[@steamhammer2k]

I don`t like it when drivers cut across mini roundabouts, it is basically going the wrong around the roundabout. They would never do that if there was an island in it. Then they blast their horn when you are in their way because they got close to you only because that took a short cut across the roundabout and would never be there if they used the correct route as it takes longer.Lack of indictors when turning left on their approach to a mini roundabout is another thing I don't like. It helps everyone including the driver turning left because it encourages other drivers to move onto the mini roundabout and block traffic from their right that they would have to give way to they got onto the roundabout.

[@mynameisralph2954]

The confusion probably comes from the fact that it's not the same in every country. In France, the "code de la route" (Art. R415-10) states that anyone trying to enter the roundabout must give way to cars already on the roundabout, and nothing about priority to the left (yes, we drive on the normal side of the road here). Not sure what it means for mini-roundabouts where 2 cars can enter the roundabout at the same time and still be very close to each other, though.

[@jackferris4584]

As I use it every day on the way to college take Swindon’s magic round about one round about at a time makes it so much easier

[@endybear3750]

I love how people forget everything they learned then grow a massive ego then when they are in the wrong they give the most stupid comments without even getting any evidence or looking at the highway code Ashley I wish u were my driving instructor sometimes and u taught everyone the world would be a better place to drive in and didn't have "morons" everywhere

[@philhunt9297]

I was thinking along the line of "You can't fix stupid" IMHO the driver in the clip either saw "the L plates/signs" and thought, as previously pointed out by Ashley and witnessed by many safe drivers, that they are senior/f**k this the learner is going to learn to respect 'us' qualified drivers or as Ashley pointed out they didn't even look - how could they...with that building in their way. It's all about common sense and respect, respect other road users, respect the laws and drive to the conditions - both are endangered species

[@garyhalsey7693]

I agree with both Endy and Phil, but Endy, you have hit the nail on the head. Most people looked at the Highway Code when they were learning and then completely forgot all about it!!

[@derekheeps1244]

@@philhunt9297 I think they just were not looking and intended to blast across ; note how the nose of the car dips when he sights Ashley's car coming from his right , then he lurches forward in an attempt to go first . Just bad driving , no more to say .

[@DW-indeed]

They should bring back those public service adverts from the 80s. I'm not a driver, but even I remember the tag line "Treat it like a roundabout, although it may not look like one!"

[@nebulanebula7345]

Make sense, thank you very much

[@courtneyrobinson1297]

I've been driving just over 1 year and have already had 3 experiences where people have drove over the mini roundabout or drove the wrong way around it. It's so annoying as it's just so dangerous

[@alanhindmarch3228]

There is a mini roundabout near my home that some years ago was a T junction. Because of what was originally the main road being straight very few people give way to the right or to people turning right into what was the junction, so for safety sake I almost have to treat it like a junction to make sure Drivers are going to give way as they should. I have on many occasions been overtake on a mini roundabout by drivers straight lining them. The idea of some mini roundabouts is not only to help with the flow of traffic at the junction, but in some cases to slow the traffic, but this is not always the case.

[@flammenjc]

In the end, you give way to a potential crash highway code or otherwise. You don't give way to others when you're ON the roundabout. So by default, that means people not on the roundabout have to give way to traffic ON the roundabout before they worry about giving way to the traffic approaching from the right. Of course people squirt it to get past give-way lines before other people approaching from the right have a chance to move but then other people drive into an occupied roundabout because they're proving the point "you have to give way to the right". So realistically both people are the same as each other in-terms of the agro and potential fender benders that ensue. I will always give way to the right if stationary or arrive after traffic on my right but if I'm travelling up to speed and they're not yet at the give way line by the time I am, I'm not going to slam on for them, like this car on the retail park would have had to do for you. Granted, I wouldn't have cut the corner like they did. As stated, roundabouts are what they are for a reason and by taking the longer turn you allow more space for people approaching from the right to get into the roundabout and start their manoeuvres.

[@Ryan_P]

Curious as to what should be done at a mini roundabout near me. Let’s say it’s the same as the main one in your clip in that it doesn’t have the extra give way sign you can sometimes get. Entering from the bottom and going straight across is one A road, and coming from the right is another A road. Both are very busy and it is often the case that a car will arrive at each give way line at the same time. The usual scenario is car coming from the bottom wants to turn right, the car coming from the top is going to go straight across (towards the bottom), and the car from the right wants to turn right towards the top. Does any particular car have right of way in this scenario?

[@angrybirdsandy5041]

Too many drivers see a mini roundabout as a 🎯 🎯🎯 to aim at 🙄

[@dakrontu]

If she drives that fast over speed bumps she is going to knacker the suspension of every car she drives. The whole point of speed bumps is to make people slow down so they don't suffer the jarring effect they produce when you go too fast over them.

[@MadBiker-vj5qj]

There is a growing tendency to cut across and drive over the r'bout when turning right... it is getting SO bad that many people have actually started going the WRONG side of the r'bout, effectively going anti-clockwise round it. Most horrifyingly of all I have seen police cars, driven by police, going the wrong way round them... and not on an emergency call so no excuse. I would have reported them but I don't fancy getting pulled up every time I go out.

[@ssonytony]

Alot of people think thay can fly onto and round a roundabout at 30 because the road is a 30

[@initialyze]

Roundabout near Swinderby on A46. Traffic approaches at 60.slows a little. Sees nothing coming from the right then accelerates across the roundabout.. Traffic trying to emerge from the smaller side junctions doesn't stand a chance 🤔

[@reecejones7215]

But have you ever done a double mini roundabout with a zebra crossing in the middle? 😱

[@COL-1]

You should try the "Magic Roundabout" in Hemel Hempstead... If you don't know, Google it!

[@derekheeps1244]

One of my friends designed the one formerly at Barnton in Edinburgh ; it had crossings surrounding it , but not in the middle . It has since been replaced with a fairly complex looking traffic light controlled junction ; I wouldn't like to be the one to work out the phasing of those lights !

[@timhoward8313]

I'm pretty sure that the rules have changed over the years. I recall that it was OK to drive over the painted spot, especially as some are unrealistically small to drive around (unless you're in a Smart Car!), as long as you honoured the roundabout give-way principles. Maybe it's just been clarified now, ie: drive around unless your vehicle is incapable of doing so. The other problem is that the rules for mini-roundabouts are defined basically to be approached in the same way as normal roundabouts. But many drivers assume they can speed straight through a mini-roundabout as if it wasn’t there, making it impossible for a driver emerging from the left to judge if it’s safe to do so. And of course, if you're a KZbin dash-cammer or Audi driver, you have the ultimate right to accelerate into anyone with your horn blaring! ;-)

[@Cream147player]

I was taught that you have to make some effort to honour the roundabout i.e. don’t just drive over it like it’s not there, but it’s no big deal if your tyres are on the paint or whatever (and as you alluded to, it’s not even always possible to go completely around).

[@derekheeps1244]

@@Cream147player If there is other traffic around then I will always obey the rule ; but if you are the only one there and you have good sight into all the other roads , knowing there is no one around , then I see no harm in just straight lining across ; it saves fuel , tyre wear and suspension wear .

[@robinbennett3531]

sometimes I've turned right on a mini roundabout, signalling, gone round the centre, then been cut off by someone assuming I was going left who went straight over and right, overtaking me. I'm all for central mounds : if buses and lorries can't handle a slight bump at low speed we're fucked, really....

[@TMCNJ]

If I can sense a vehicle is approaching from the left with no intention of stopping just as I’m entering a mini roundabout, would that be a good time to use the horn?

[@blotski]

Not sure I fully understood what you said about indicating left but one good reason for doing so as you approach a mini roundabout is to allow traffic to your left waiting to let you pass know that you are actually going to turn left into where they are and will not be crossing their paths.

[@TheTezz100]

Ashley, The use of mini around about I use quiet often. Most of the time I see people still driving at the speed limit on the aproch to the round about. Simular situation to the grey car, it's a semi blind view to the right. Amount of time's I've stopped/give way to my right and about to enter, there one's to my left putting their ancers on screeching. Due to the fact they wasn't at the right speed of approach. Other time's, I've used this round about to go around back on to myself to go to the opposite way to the junction I left. Looking at the drivers approaching antisapating of they've clock what I'm doing. People who I know who's learning, and seen how I drive and anticipated, planing or what ever. I tell them always you can see the front wheel's ata certain point on most round abouts if they're going into your junction or still have their wheels still turned at a certain point they're going passed in front of you.

[@fragdad]

Brilliant. The other new phenomenon is where ppl indicates right where there is no right exit and they intend to go straight over. Almost as if indication give tight if way. indication give right if way

[@dedistaulapanodki6293]

Happens a lot on "normal" roundabouts. Who teaches people to indicate right when going straight on?

[@paul6370]

Suprised how many people think a mini roundabout is an ordinary junction, and treat it as such ! Also, my experience is, the smaller the mini roundabout, the quicker you have to think as the roundabout rules are 'condensed' into a smaller area...sometimes ! Good vid' Ashley, enjoying your postings, keeping me sharp after 42 years driving :-)

[@gastube22]

A great video - thanks, Ashley. I think you answer your own question as to why mini roundabouts are harder, even though exactly the same rules apply. It's because, being smaller, you have more visibility of traffic OTHER than that already on the roundabout to your right (or coming onto it from the right), and this is distracting from applying the simple rules. Especially when traffic can be seen approaching from even more that 2 entrances to it at the same time. One thing that puzzles me, though, is why you say that traffic already on the roundabout doesn't have priority. Can you please explain under what circumstances traffic already on the roundabout would have to give way (i.e. not have priority) to traffic yet to enter it? (Other than when the traffic about to enter is an emergency vehicle on blues - obviously.) Thanks.

[@xLars_]

Ashley a question here. In my country (netherlands) when I'm behind a lorry that's driving 80kmh an hour and people are passing me with 130kmh I sometimes put on my blinker to the left side as a sort of request to merge onto the left lane to overtake the lorry. Should I be doing this? Is it a d### move?

[@deskelly9313]

My motorbike instructor talking about roundabouts: Q. What do you know when a car approaching you from the right is indicating left? A. His indicator works

[@jgdooley2003]

In Dublin many housing estates have mini rdbts which were originally "T" junctions. In some cases the people in the estates are still using historical information regarding who has the right of way. You will have people coming from your left into the roundabout without looking or caring that you have the right of way, worse still are those who yield to people on their left, enforcing the erroneous belief that the person let through has priority. I noticed once that a box junction was introduced near a notorious bottleneck near my house. For a week or two the local police parked up to observe violators stopping in the box when they should not do so. Many people were nabbed until the locals got the message. same should apply to new junction and road layouts, police presence not so much for fines but to dish out advice. It still happens that people wander into the box junction while not paying attention. Even worse are those who overtake a compliant motorist and the stop ahead of him in the box.....

[@thromboid]

I wonder if learner drivers are sometimes told "give way to traffic already on the roundabout to your right" and the "to your right" part gradually withers away. Not that "already on the roundabout" is quite right either, as you might have to give way to traffic waiting to enter the roundabout, if it's a small one.

[@dickelg]

I do find that because you’re able to drive over the white painted roundabout they see it as a continuation of their lane so just keep going!

[@EssexBadDriving]

I blame the f1/racing influence! Have you seen how much they ride the kerbs, often painted white (and red)

[@dickelg]

Essex Bad Driving Yeah when I’m cornering at 160 I make sure I go round the white roundabout rather than shave a tenth off my commute.

[@hikaru9624]

Don't drive over the "island" unless it's impossible for you not to do so. Like say you're driving a lorry or are towing a trailer, you can go over the dot of an island then. To my knowledge this is still the case.

[@ashley_neal]

Spot on ;)

[@DisleyDavid]

@@ashley_neal Or off spot?

[@geoffseavers2907]

There are a few near us in York where people on the 'main' road accelerate to deliberately get there first. Even if they are just approaching the roundabout they expect to be given way to.

[@TheRabbitFear]

I''ve had way too many close calls when turning right (and indicating right) on a mini roundabout. I'm directly in their field of view but they somehow miss me.

[@phalanx3803]

don't know about the UK but Here in Australia its give way to whom ever is in the intersection then to the right so from a legal stand point that last clip the gray car would be have the right of way in Australia it probably works better here because we don't have mini roundabouts there damn horrible roundabouts but not mini. this is one of our horrible ones www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.2274745,142.1409208,3a,75y,227.41h,73.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJIpL3gZ8q6OKkO7E2E2uag!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en no matter how wide you go a semi trucks trailer will always mount the island so the trucks jut drive right over it now. also it took our council 5 months to build that not including planning.

[@chrishayfield6557]

There's a town near where I am called Berwick Upon Tweed. There must be about 5 of these mini roundabouts all placed stupidly, and literally no one takes notice of them and just uses them as a standard T-junction. How can we drive "safely" when about 90% of the other drivers, don't comply with basic road regulations!?

[@grahamlong6870]

At a normal roundabout there is no problem to possibly do a Uturn because there is room to do so (maybe having gone past where you wanted to go) but mini roundabouts are sometimes too small to do this. The only way on one I frequently use (a micro roundabout) is either to swing well to the left to gain room (thus making the approaching driver think you are going straight on, even when signaling) or actually have to complete a three point turn. You can imagine the confusion that causes! It is a bad road junction which has been complained about for years, but nothing changes.

[@petercoles2070]

This has been one of my biggest pet peeves on the road. The last comment your viewer had said in essence was correct as technically they were actually at the roundabout already and I have been driving well over 30yrs and as i was taught you must approach roundabouts as you would a give way (albeit to the right) and do so by decreasing your speed on approach, just because it is clear on your right does not entitle you to increase your speed or approach at the same speed. In that clip your speed did not decrease and the car was already at the junction and onto the roundabout. It drives me nuts that drivers treat mini roundabouts like a 'T' junction still, just how much traffic does one let through from the right??. Its a roundabout not a T junction, all drivers should approach with caution and decrease speed, its really that simple.

[@thromboid]

It seems that many mini roundabouts in the UK were formerly T junctions, and I wonder if people see the general shape and assume that that's what it is (or somehow think that the roundabout rules vary depending on the shape).

[@petercoles2070]

@@thromboid I totally agree, people continue to use it as T junction

[@DavidNewmanDr]

In Australia the rule is no longer give way to the right. It is give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, left or right.

[@damienwalters9216]

There's a mini roundabout on a petrol station near me where traffic only enters from 2 points but has 3 exits. The number of times people give way to the left on it or traffic approaching from the left doesn't give way is rediculous and I have to slam my brakes on whilst going round the roundabout because they don't stop at the give way line to traffic approaching them from the right

[@jcardboard]

There is one near me which,to further complicate matters, also has a traffic calming/island thing in front of it which has a lowered bit for cyclists, designed allow cyclists to pass through safely without having to stop, because it's on a rather fast road with a bus stop at either side. So many drivers get totally confused, treating it like a standard junction. It isn't helped by the fact many people round there are old too.

[@jontownsend8090]

I have also come across situations at mini roundabouts where nobody will move out, probably because vehicles have arrived at all the entry points at the same time, may be a lack of indication has caused situations like i describe or as you say, not knowing how these junctions really work.

[@douglasreid699]

although it says to avoid using a mini roundabout to U turn as it were, at what point does not giving way to a vehicle to the left that has entered just before you then becomes give way to them as they go all the way round to exit from where they entered? in the video @7:20 if that astra was a little quicker to enter and decided to do a U turn on the roundabout, at what point doe it become give way to the right? when they pass the island to the right?

[@Owfore1]

Really what's the point in these tiny white circles painted on the middle of otherwise normal junctions? I've never seen these mini roundabouts in any country besides the UK.

[@wtsang1]

There exist roundabouts There exist mini roundabouts There exist nano roundabouts

[@masseyscottanthony]

I'm currently learning to drive and I tried turning right at a mini roundabout and some impatient driver went the wrong way around the roundabout forcing me to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them, I was signalling right. I beeped the horn as I nearly hit them and they gave me the middle finger, was I in the wrong?

[@duncansteward4331]

the real problem is when some people treat them as optional -- and ignor the rules of a roundabout. Those driving stright on just drive over them and dont give way to anyone . As you say the real problem is many think they have priority if they get onto the roundabout first.

[@Paintheshed]

very good video thank you

[@Seriously-not-Jake]

They're a new thing in dunedin, what was originally an easy great give way to all directions, but instead they put in these very very very tight painted circled roundabouts, with plastic bumps in the middle and outer awful plastic cones with only 1 bolt inserted into the ground, they're really a nuisance, and ours are twice more tighter then what I saw in your video of the smallest!

[@scottgibson7534]

When I approach a mini roudabout if turning left or right I will indicate check to right to see if it is clear, then look to left to see if any idiots try to blast through when turning right. the problem comes so elequently shown in your clip, I would have to say that you were in the wrong as the car entering the roundabout had passed his give way markers before you had reached yours, giving that vehical preceidence on the junction. It is exactaly this type of using a mini roudabout or any single road roundabout that causes much horn blowing, hand gestures, rich language, and road rage.

[@Phlash1]

Personally I find if when I want to turn left on a mini roundabout I do give a well timed signal, the emerging traffic from the left will know my intention, and pull onto the roundabout. When they emerge, if they are turning right, this will stop the traffic on my right giving me a clear route with no need to give way as no one will be emerging. Aiding the constant flow of traffic.

[@jimblack8104]

People should also remember they must not force other vehicle to slow down,stop or change direction so if they cause this while entering the roundabout they have made a serious driver fault whether they got onto it first or not.

[@Sunny.day75]

I had more than one driving instructor, all of them always tell me to look for traffic on the right and of course give them priority on the roundabout, except for one specific driving instructor who noticed I was always staring to the right on the roundabout and not so much looking at my left. He told me that I should and must be looking at my left on the roundabout, also to make sure that my exit is clear on the roundabout. He used to be a taxi driver before becoming a driving instructor. I guess he knows very well what he is talking about!!!

[@ashley_neal]

The ex taxi instructor is spot on!

[@shaun1293]

I have a question: are you permitted to do U-turns around mini-roundabouts? I work in West Yorkshire and specifically I was in Bradford. I needed to come back on myself to park in a safe area. I indicated right and slowly went around the mini-roundabout. As I turned 3/4ths, a van drove out in front of me, realised I was still turning, broke hard, honked and gave me a load of signals. After I parked up, he stopped next to me and gave me more language. Was I in the wrong or is he angry at his own mistake?

[@jdunn101ify]

Highway code says Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts.