[Ross PK]

I've only been driving for a few weeks, but I find when it comes to multi lanes and crossings (like what you get in towns), and big roundabouts, I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing and it feels it'll only be a matter of time before I end up having a crash in one of these situations.

Even though I've read up on these things it still doesn't help.

So basically because of this I'm not really able to drive far like to another town or city.

Is this normal since I'm a new driver, is it the same for most other people who are new to driving? Or shouldn't I have a license at all?

Thanks.

[Lew1275]

Don't worry mate, I was exactly the same, and to be honest still am at major junctions with lots of lanes! I cant help but think someone is gonna cut me up when they are only a couple feet away from me or im gonna converge with someone else. Still find it nerve racking. Your not alone, things can only get better! :)

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by Lew1275

Don't worry mate, I was exactly the same, and to be honest still am at major junctions with lots of lanes! I cant help but think someone is gonna cut me up when they are only a couple feet away from me or im gonna converge with someone else. Still find it nerve racking. Your not alone, things can only get better! :)

Thanks Lew, I was begining to think it was just me with this problem. :)

[98selitb]

The more you drive and the more experience you get, the less of a problem it will be. I can't speak for anyone else but I think it's safe to say we have all been nervous about some things when we had just passed our tests (if at different situations - we are all different and all have our own personal driving strengths and weaknesses).

While you yourself may feel nervous at those multi-lanes and crossings, I guess there are other parts of driving where you feel comfortable? Likewise, another new driver may find your multi-lanes and crossings no problem but instead have a lot of difficulty in another area where you personally don't have a problem.

I've been driving for nearly three years and I'm happy to admit there are still some areas where I am definitely not very good and have to be careful, but I am also improving all the time (hopefully!).

Happy motoring;)

[tommytwotanks]

if you treat all other drivers as idiots, you wont go far wrong lol,
one piece of advice i was given when i was learning was, when driving, if you can read the number plate of the car youre behind, youre too close lol

:D

[smudger]

Originally Posted by tommytwotanks

if you treat all other drivers as idiots, you wont go far wrong lol,
one piece of advice i was given when i was learning was, when driving, if you can read the number plate of the car youre behind, youre too close lol

:D

Aye! the "two Second Rule" is a goodun!......if you can say.... "only a fool breaks the two second rule" in the time it takes you to reach a point which the car in front of has passed, (a lamp post or drain cover and such)
then you are a safe distance away from him;)
Cheers, Smudger.

[phils landy]

welcome to the world of driving mate! if you have only just started then relax a little bit but not to much try to let everything flow.

when it comes to big roundabouts that you are not sure on where your going i ALWAYS get in the right hand lane that way you can relax a little and drive right round the roundabout even a couple of times this gives you time to read the exit signs and indicate at the juction before the one you want to take. ive found this system more than useful on many ocasions.

the more you drive the better you will get so for god sake dont get scared or put off by these things just keep on driving.

me and LEW_1275 are best buddies and we go out driving everywhere together between us i think we are just short of 100,000 total life miles in 2 years of driving i love it and i cant get enough!

drive drive drive drive drive you never ever stop learning.

also look into futher training too such as pass plus, police driving courses and IAM too.

take care all the best phil.

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by phils landy

welcome to the world of driving mate! if you have only just started then relax a little bit but not to much try to let everything flow.

when it comes to big roundabouts that you are not sure on where your going i ALWAYS get in the right hand lane that way you can relax a little and drive right round the roundabout even a couple of times this gives you time to read the exit signs and indicate at the juction before the one you want to take. ive found this system more than useful on many ocasions.

the more you drive the better you will get so for god sake dont get scared or put off by these things just keep on driving.

me and LEW_1275 are best buddies and we go out driving everywhere together between us i think we are just short of 100,000 total life miles in 2 years of driving i love it and i cant get enough!

drive drive drive drive drive you never ever stop learning.

also look into futher training too such as pass plus, police driving courses and IAM too.

take care all the best phil.

I'm still really worried about when turning off, that someone from behind comes up at the side of me as I turn and we crash.

Does it really matter what lane you go in? I'm thinking to avoid crashing it'd be better to just always stay in the left lane no matter where you're turning off, it'd be the least stressful for me too.

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

I'm still really worried about when turning off, that someone from behind comes up at the side of me as I turn and we crash.

That is a risk we all take while driving I'm afraid. But if that happened, it would be their fault, not yours.

Originally Posted by Ross PK

Does it really matter what lane you go in? I'm thinking to avoid crashing it'd be better to just always stay in the left lane no matter where you're turning off, it'd be the least stressful for me too.

If you're somewhere where you're not familiar, that's a good idea. E.g. if you're on a dual carriageway and you think your exit is coming up soon but you're not sure exactly when, it would be silly to go into the right lane to overtake someone in case you can't get back in to the left lane and you end up missing your exit. Personally if I'm somewhere I don't know very well, I stay in the left lane unless the signs direct me otherwise.

[RoverV6]

There will always be times when you are unsure of the lanes in strange towns. We have a cracker in our town 5 lanes and nearly everyone new to it gets it wrong. Just be patient and keep your eye on everyone ahead and behind and to the sides. Easier said than done I know if you are not a chamelion. Don't worry if you get the odd horn honked at you and don't retaliate. Sometimes a gentle wave of the hand saying sorry can do wonders, even with the idiots out there. You will be more experienced in a few months. Get into the correct lane as early as you can and indicate lane movements. You will be surprised how it will all fall into place.

[98selitb]

Do you have a green "P" sticker? This might help you, though some disagree, it depends on the driver and on who else you happen to be sharing the road with at the time. I found it helpful for a couple of months after passing, though any longer and it can be more of a hindrance.

[phils landy]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

Does it really matter what lane you go in? I'm thinking to avoid crashing it'd be better to just always stay in the left lane no matter where you're turning off, it'd be the least stressful for me too.

on a rounderbout no! you are far more likley to have a crash if you go in the left hand lane to take say for example the 5th exit! i have had sevral near misses with people doing this.

another good rule of thumb that is always useful for me. is picture the rounderbout like a clock face anything up to and including 12 o'clock is the left hand lane and anything after 12 o'clock use the right hand lane. always imagine that you are entering the rounderbout from the 6 o'clock position.

phil.

[98selitb]

As for roundabouts, the official ruling is that you should use the left-hand lane for all exits except the very last exit. That means even if there are 5 exits (not including the road you've come from) and you want the 4th exit, you should still keep left as that is NOT the final exit. Having said that though, with the majority of very large roundabouts like that there are often markings and signposts which will tell you which lane to be in.

The only times you may not have to do this are (i) when signposts/lane markings dictate otherwise and (ii) when you are on a dual carriageway and planning on continuing on the dual carriagway after the roundabout, in which case it is permissible to stay in the right-hand lane.

If everyone obeyed these very simple rules then roundabouts would be perfectly safe.

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by 98selitb

Do you have a green "P" sticker? This might help you, though some disagree, it depends on the driver and on who else you happen to be sharing the road with at the time. I found it helpful for a couple of months after passing, though any longer and it can be more of a hindrance.

How was it a hindrance?

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

How was it a hindrance?

People pulled out really close in front of me at junctions and roundabouts because they saw the sticker so they automatically thought it meant I would be going at 5mph.

Also, some people panicked and took excessively evasive action to avoid me, putting themselves and others in danger, because they saw the sticker and thought I would make a fatal mistake any second.

Also, when you are trying to assert yourself as a driver and gain experience to improve your abilities, it can feel a bit patronising to be (literally) labelled as some kind of special case that people should look out for.

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by phils landy

on a rounderbout no! you are far more likley to have a crash if you go in the left hand lane to take say for example the 5th exit! i have had sevral near misses with people doing this.

another good rule of thumb that is always useful for me. is picture the rounderbout like a clock face anything up to and including 12 o'clock is the left hand lane and anything after 12 o'clock use the right hand lane. always imagine that you are entering the rounderbout from the 6 o'clock position.

phil.

What about the people who come out of the lane before the 5th exit (so to them the 5th exit is the first exit) and therefore stay on the left? How is that less of a danger/any different? I'm guessing there must be some sort of a difference but I can't really see it.

[Ross PK]

Also, for some reason there are certain roundabouts that the 12 o'clock rule doesn't apply too, so that throws me off even more. :(

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

Also, for some reason there are certain roundabouts that the 12 o'clock rule doesn't apply too, so that throws me off even more. :(

It's not really a rule, the easiest and legally correct thing to do is keep left unless (a) you want the very last exit, or (b) you are directed otherwise by signs/lane markings.

[phils landy]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

Also, for some reason there are certain roundabouts that the 12 o'clock rule doesn't apply too, so that throws me off even more. :(

i cant think of a rounderbout that this rule of thumb wouldnt help you out with??

please explain.:confused::confused:

phil.

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by phils landy

i cant think of a rounderbout that this rule of thumb wouldnt help you out with??

please explain.:confused::confused:

phil.

There are several roundabouts in my area where you have to keep in the right-hand lane to go straight on, and can only use the left land to take the first left exit. On another roundabout I know, you have to keep left to take every single exit (including the far right one). The only time you are allowed to use the right-hand lane is if you are doing a u-turn and going back down the road you came from, which happens a lot because of the one-way system.

Again I would just keep left unless either you want the very last exit or you are directed by signs/markings to use the right-hand lane.

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by phils landy

i cant think of a rounderbout that this rule of thumb wouldnt help you out with??

please explain.:confused::confused:

phil.

There's one near where I live which has three lanes, you have to take the middle lane if you're leaving the exit which is past 12 o'clock, instead of the right one. I know this because it's a rounabout that my driving instructor took me on many times, and he'd always tell me to get into the middle lane, and then we'd take the exit which is past 12 o'clock.

[Ross PK]

Originally Posted by 98selitb

There are several roundabouts in my area where you have to keep in the right-hand lane to go straight on, and can only use the left land to take the first left exit. On another roundabout I know, you have to keep left to take every single exit (including the far right one). The only time you are allowed to use the right-hand lane is if you are doing a u-turn and going back down the road you came from, which happens a lot because of the one-way system.

Again I would just keep left unless either you want the very last exit or you are directed by signs/markings to use the right-hand lane.

Is the only reason to not stay to the left if you're taking the very last exit is because it's illegal?

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by Ross PK

Is the only reason to not stay to the left if you're taking the very last exit is because it's illegal?

I don't know if it's strictly the law but yes, that's how I was taught when learning and that's what it says in the Highway Code, so it's definitely the advised thing to do.

"Advised" in the Highway Code means even if following lane markings is not legally mandatory, you can still be found guilty of an offence if there is an accident directly caused by you being in the wrong lane (thus ignoring the advice).