Guide 4: Roundabouts for Motorcyclists

Roundabouts are a common area for learner riders to struggle with on the CBT. With the right understanding of rules and best practice for roundabouts, your CBT training and road riding will be a lot less stressful and more safe. Read on for an introduction and top tips to roundabouts.

Give way

At a roundabout, you MUST give way to oncoming traffic, which will always be approaching from the right.

Turning left

When approaching a roundabout, if you intend to take the first exit to the left:

1. On approach, check your mirrors.
2. Signal left
3. Check your left shoulder blind spot
4. Move to the left lane
5. Check for oncoming traffic from the right
6. Proceed onto the roundabout when safe, continue to signal left, stay to the left
7. As you pull onto the new road check your right shoulder for cars trying to overtake
8. Cancel signal, check mirrors and continue on the new road

Turning right

When approaching a roundabout, if you intend to take an exit to the right or go full circle:

1. On approach, check your mirrors.
2. Signal right
3. Check your right shoulder blind spot
4. Move to the right lane
5. Check for oncoming traffic from the right
6. Proceed onto the roundabout when safe, continue to signal right, stay to the right
7. As you pass the entrance to the road before your turning, switch your indicator to signal left and check your left shoulder
8. As you pull onto the new road check your left shoulder for cars trying to undertake
9. Cancel signal, check mirrors and continue on the new road

Travelling straight ahead

When approaching a roundabout, if you intend to follow the road ahead:

1. No signal is required on approach

2. Keep left (unless road markings state otherwise),

3. As you pass the road entrance before yours signal left as you approach your exit

1. As you pull onto the new road check your right shoulder for cars trying to overtake
2. Cancel signal, check mirrors and continue on the new road

This is just a basic introduction to how roundabouts work. They are one of the more challenging elements for new riders to master and hence a lot of time will spent around the whiteboard getting to grips with how to stay safe whilst riding on them. Read on for guide 5 of 6: traffic lights.

Guide 5: Traffic Lights