1. Road works (288)
288
When the ‘Road Works Ahead’ sign is displayed, you will need to be more watchful and look for additional signs providing more specific instructions. Observe all signs - they are there for your safety and the safety of road workers.

• You MUST NOT exceed any temporary maximum speed limit.
• Use your mirrors and get into the correct lane for your vehicle in good time and as signs direct.
• Do not switch lanes to overtake queuing traffic.
• Take extra care near cyclists and motorcyclists as they are vulnerable to skidding on grit, mud or other debris at road works.
• Where lanes are restricted due to road works, merge in turn (seeRule 134).
• Do not drive through an area marked off by traffic cones.
• Watch out for traffic entering or leaving the works area, but do not be distracted by what is going on there. Concentrate on the road ahead, not the road works.
• Bear in mind that the road ahead may be obstructed by the works or by slow moving or stationary traffic.
• Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front. To obtain further information about road works, see Conversions and further reading.
• Law RTRA sect 16

6. Reversing (200 to 203)
201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway,
reverse in and drive out if you can.

202
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should use all your mirrors check the ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)Check there are no pedestrians (particularly children), cyclists, other road users or obstructions in the road behind you.
Reverse slowly while: 

• checking all around
• looking mainly through the rear window
• being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.

Get someone to guide you if you cannot see clearly.

What are they for?

The aim of a roundabout is to keep traffic flowing whilst arriving and departing in different directions, within a restricted area.

Basic principles of dealing with roundabouts:
Wveryone will always drive clockwise round the roundabout.
Start preparing for the roundabout as soon as you are aware that it is getting close. The earlier you start preparing, the earlier you will be ready for it. The earlier you start looking at the traffic flow on the roundabout, the easier you will find it to merge into the flow of traffic.

Give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights

Normally, "Left & Ahead is the Left hand lane, Right and right round, use the right hand lane" If this rule does not apply, there will be signs warning you how to choose your lane, as you approach the roundabout.

If there are not multiple lanes on the approach road, try to show your intentions by moving towards the left or right edge of the one lane that is available to you.

When your junction is the next one on the left, check your mirrors, signal left, and start "unwinding" towards and into the left lane (or part of the single lane).

If there are two lanes approaching the roundabout, there will be two lanes on the roundabout itself, but there may not be two lanes in the exit you are leaving on.

Mini ones, normal ones, large ones, multiple ones:

Mini roundabouts are normally in very restricted, normally slow-speed areas, such as housing estates. They are normally just a circle of paint on the road, rather than a "structure". This means that, if needed, vehicles can drive onto the paint without damaging anything. It is important to remember that you should always aim to drive round the roundabout, not over it. Larger vehicles may not be physically able to turn the vehicle in such a small area, and this way, they are able to turn without damaging road or vehicle.

Normal Roundabouts are normally a 4-way junction, with a (typically) grass "hub" in the centre. There may be one or two lanes on each approach route. They can be found at the edges of towns, or through roads, taking traffic round towns, where there is more room available.

Large Roundabouts are normally found on the outer ring-roads of a town, on dual carriageways, at motorway junctions, or other major road junctions They will normally have four or more junctions, and at least two lanes on the approaches. The flow of traffic may be controlled by traffic lights onto and on the roundabout. More and more roundabouts are being changed to "spiral lanes" where you get into the lane you need as you approach the roundabout, and then that lane will spiral off at the exit you want, if you have chosen the correct lane to start with. The Golden Rule here is that once you are in a lane, you need to stay in that lane, even if it takes you the wrong way. If you start changing lanes on these roundabouts, you are likely to be putting yourself and others in danger.

Multiple roundabouts are just that... multiple roundabouts. They are not "double roundabouts"; they are two different roundabouts that happen to be close, or next to, each other. Each roundabout should be treated as a separate roundabout. To my knowledge, there will always be a Give Way line between the two roundabouts. You deal with the first roundabout, and then approach, and give way, at the next one.

Advance warning signs, and lane warnings.

Mini roundabouts often do not have any signs showing destinations. There should always be a blue circular sign with three white arrows pointing in a clockwise circle. It will be at the entrance to the mini-roundabout. It can be used to judge the location of the roundabout, as you may not be able to see the roundabout as you approach, maybe due to traffic or parked cars.

Normal and larger sized roundabouts will have destination signs as you approach: green ones are for distant destinations on major routes, white ones show local destinations, and minor roads.

If the lane design is NOT normal, then there should also be a white sign showing the lanes needed to get to the different exits. There should also be white information painted on the roads. If you choose and get into the wrong lane, go where that lane takes you, you can always find somewhere safe to turn round after the roundabout, and try approaching it again.

Approach speeds

Generally, you can approach the entrance to a roundabout at a running speed, and in the correct gear for that speed. Most of the traffic on a roundabout will be travelling at some sort of running speed, it may be a jog, or it may be a sprint speed. All of these speeds can normally be achieved in second gear. At this speed, you can continue onto the roundabout, mixing with the other traffic, which will be doing a similar speed. If you need to stop and wait for a break in the traffic, it is very easy to stop quickly from a running speed, in a short distance.

Look into the future for a gap that you will be able to use.

By this I mean that you should try to look ahead of yourself, so that you may be able to predict when there will be a gap in the traffic flowing on the roundabout, that you may be able merge into.

You may be able to notice that a vehicle is joining the roundabout at junction 1, with its right indicator showing, signalling that it will be turning to his right, or junction 4. That means that it will be blocking junctions 2 and 3. That, in turn, means that the traffic in junction 3 will have to give way to the vehicle coming from their right. There might well be a gap in the traffic flow that you may be able to use to your advantage.

Lane discipline.

Generally, if you are going to exit at either junction 1 or 2, you will be approaching in lane one, and staying in that lane.

If you are turning right, or right round, back the way you have come from, you will approach in the right hand lane, and stay in that lane until you pass the junction before yours. At that point you should carefully “unwind” into lane 1, to exit the roundabout in lane 1. If your exit has two lanes, you can exit straight into lane 2, but be aware that lane 2 may merge back into lane 1 within a very short distance.

How and when to signal.

The principle for signalling is to show your general exit direction as you approach it, and then signal left when your junction is the next road on your left.

If you are taking the first exit on the roundabout, then you will signal left as you approach the roundabout, and keep it on until you leave it.

If you are going right (or right round) at the roundabout, you should signal right as you approach the roundabout, keeping it on until your exit becomes the next one on your left, at which time you should signal left.

If you are taking an intermediate exit, do not signal until your exit is the next one on your left. Your lane position will indicate your general intention, until you can confirm it with a left indicator.

The "12 O'clock Rule".

Is a myth. It does not exist in the Highway Code. It is not a Rule, because it does not, and cannot, apply to all roundabouts. Many roundabouts have the second exit (the road Ahead) which is located before or after the 12 O’clock position.

At all times, be aware of pedestrians crossing near the roundabout, vehicles which may be straddling lanes, either through necessity or by mistake, motorcyclists which may be in your blind spots whilst you are turning, and for cyclists or horse-riders, who may take a position different to motor vehicles. They are generally advised to stay on the outside edge of the roundabout, nearest any pavement, even though they may be turning right at the roundabout. They should use arm signals to inform other road users of their intentions.

Above all, be aware of the movements of other road users, and how they may affect you.
Keep an eye on where you are exiting, and stay in the lane you need to be in.
Signal as soon as you can without confusing others.
Travel at a steady speed on the roundabout, so that others can make plans based on your speed and position.

Transport Research Laboratory’s report

There have been articles appearing in the media about changes to the way “Young Drivers” can learn to drive.
There has been research and questions asked about how to improve driver training.

Please remember that nothing has been decided yet, nor will anything be decided for a long time.

At present, people can start learning to drive on the public highways at the age of 17. They can take their Driving Test at 17, and once they have passed the Test, they are then able to drive on any public roads, anywhere in Britain, without any further training, or any limitations other than limitations that apply to all drivers. 
That means that a Young Driver can pass their Test, and then drive straight from the Test Centre where they live, along any motorway, at any time of day, in any weather conditions, in any traffic conditions, to any destination they wish, as long as they and the car are on the road legally.

Government Press Release. It seems that the Overhaul of Driver Training was instigated by British Motor Insurers concerned about the high insurance premiums being charged to Young Drivers, not by Bodies wanting to improve Road Safety. 
I think the priority is wrong. Surely we should be concentrating on improving the quality of British Driving because it will save lives and injuries, not because of the price of insurance? The insurance premiums should naturally reduce in time to reflect the lower risks of driving. It should not be the reason for improving Driver Safety. 

I have just been viewing the BBC website to find out what has been published by them.

They mention a minimum learning period of at least one year, including at least 100 hours of supervised driver training, and at least 20 hours of supervised driver training at night. 
It does not state that all those hours have to be with an Approved Driving Instructor.
I am a firm believer that the more hours of constructive driving experienced, the better the driver will become, regardless of age.

Once the test is passed, there will be a Probationary period, which could include a curfew, and those under 30 will be banned from carrying passengers also under 30.
I think this is unlikely to work in its present wording; how will a new father under 30 years old carry his new child to school, hospital, shopping etc?
How will the Probationary Driver be able to receive further training if their Approved Driving Instructor is also under 30?

There is talk of a lower alcohol limit for Probationary Drivers.
I think it should be at least lowered for everyone. Could it be an alcohol limit of Zero? Why not?

Statistics show that 20% of deaths on British roads involved drivers aged 17-24 years old.
That is a very high, and scary statistic, which needs to be improved drastically, and fast.

Who is driving for the other 80% of the deaths? 
Why are all drivers not being targeted to improve road safety?

According to ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents):

In the mid 1980s there were about 5500 road deaths each year. In 2012 there were 1754 road deaths.
This drop in numbers is encouraging, and shows that British drivers are becoming safer. 
Are British Drivers becoming safer, or are the roads they are driving on becoming safer?

But we still need to remember that 5 people die on British roads EVERY DAY, and that does not include all the others who are injured, or those, including close and distance family members who are traumatised. That is a horrendous statistic. It has to be changed, across the whole range of ages, not just one section.

RoSPA's Causes of road deaths in the UK states:
Common causes of these unnecessary tragedies include:
Speeding
Around 400 people a year are killed in crashes in which someone exceeds the speed limit or drives too fast for the conditions.
Drink Driving
Around 280 people die a year in crashes in which someone was over the legal drink drive limit.
Seat Belt Wearing
Around 200 lives each year could be saved if everyone always wore their seat belt.
Careless Driving
More than 300 deaths a year involve someone being "careless, reckless or in a hurry", and a further 120 involve "aggressive driving".
At-work
Around one third of fatal and serious road crashes involve someone who was at work.
Inexperience
More than 400 people are killed in crashes involving young car drivers aged 17 to 24 years, every year, including over 150 young drivers, 90 passengers and more than 170 other road users.

I think what we need to do now is to improve our skills of controlling the vehicle, and our awareness of risk factors. This is nothing more that we are trying to do at present. 
Choose an Approved Driving Instructor who can help you learn to drive safely.
Learn to drive safely, with a safe attitude, and you should be able to minimise the risks in driving.

We cannot wait until there is a new Law before we bother trying to stay safe.. that could be another two years away, or more. With 1754 road deaths each year, we cannot wait that long. 

When the Government has made its decision, we can work from there. 

Once we have "sorted" the "Young Drivers", perhaps we need to urgently start on all the other Drivers as well.

Had a good day's work today..

A number of people doing some "Outside My Comfort Zone" work, ending up fairly confident that they can work out what should be done, and anticipate what might be about to happen.

Learning to drive is all about understanding the principles of what should happen, gaining the skills to be able to do it, and gaining experience, so that we can deal with whatever may occur, with some confidence.

Good day today! well done everyone.

This will depend on if you have been getting any driving experience before meeting me.

If you HAVE had some experience prior to our meeting, then there will be some paperwork to complete, a chance to become familiar to the Fiesta’s controls and features, and then you will be going for a short drive, where you can show me what you are able and comfortable to do, and what you are not happy with.  From that point on, we can then formulate an agreed plan of action, with timescales etc.

If you have never driven before, we will spend time going through the major controls of the car; what they do, and how I will be asking you to use them.

We will get you comfortable in the driver’s seat, and adapting the car to fit you.

We will have plenty of time to practice using the foot controls, and the gear lever.

We will discuss how we can get the car to move off from the side of the road, and, more importantly, how to stop it again, safely.

Then we can practice moving off, pausing at the point where you would release the parking brake.

When you are happy that you understand how to let the car move and stop, maybe with a gear change in the middle as well, then we can allow the car to move under your control.

We can practice that a few times, and then we can start dealing with some quiet junctions.

Don’t forget, we will be practicing in a quiet safe area, and the car is not going to do anything, unless you make it do so.

Here is a link to one of my web pages:




http://www.andrewknightdriving.org.uk/basic-routines-to-use.html




It describes the sequence of events needed to safely prepare the car to move of, make sufficient observations to ensure it is safe to move, and then moving off, changing gear, and how to stop again.




Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions on driving, from applying for your Provisional Licence, to refresher or motorway techniques:




www.andrewknightdriving.org.uk