Dangerous ignorance

Roundabout rules

I AM amazed at the lack of knowledge of the road rules for roundabouts. Not so long ago it was proved that 95% of drivers are unaware of the regulations.

We have all sat at a roundabout behind another vehicle that sits there without moving because they are able to observe a vehicle approaching from their right. This is wrong.

The moment that any vehicle enters a roundabout, they have right of way over any other vehicles approaching that roundabout, no matter from which direction they are coming – the reason being that once any vehicle is on a roundabout they are travelling in a clockwise direction, so they are immediately on the right of any other approaching vehicles.

Drivers can see a road sign with a black circle indicating a roundabout, but what they fail to note is that circle is surrounded by a red Give Way triangle.

Apart from the dangers of an accident, possibly causing serious injuries or even death, if any driver can see vehicles approaching a roundabout from their left and have the mistaken belief that those vehicles will need to give way to them, then shooting into that roundabout, they could end up in serious trouble with the law.

For those readers thinking this is incorrect, I urgently suggest that they obtain a copy of the Highway Code. It may save them their licence or even a death.

VAL JENKINS, Middle Ridge