When I was little there was a mini roundabout at the top of my Grandma’s street. You could only get on to it from one road so it was basically just a turning circle.
When it was empty (as it normally was) my dad would drive round it the wrong way and we’d all sing the Magic Roundabout theme tune from the back sheet. Happy days.
Actual roundabouts, however, awaken less rose-tinted emotions in me. For my first few lessons staying in lane while going straight was a bit of an issue so the idea of doing this while having to drive in a circle took the same amount of concentration as telekinesis (I imagine.)
My spatial awareness isn’t great (insert clichéd joke involving the words 6 inches here) and this combined with the fact that cars keep appearing, disappearing and changing their minds means I’m never 100% sure I’m in the correctlane. Which, by the way, are imaginary because there are no markings – which doesn’t help in the least.
In order to combat this apparent inability to be able to work out where my car is meant to be when moving clockwise Steve took my on a lesson full of roundabouts and the technique of bombarding me with the bloody things seemed to pay dividends eventually.
Until he asked me to turn right off one, at which point I nearly destroyed a hubcap by scrapping it along the edge of the island, On the other hand, rather I do that then drive too far the other way and nearly destroy Steve by smashing into another car.
Another problem I encountered during my circular driving was the fact that a lot of people randomly move between the unmarked lanes on a whim.
Which puts me in mind of my dad yet again – specifically some words of wisdom he offered me before I ever got behind the wheel.
“When you’re driving, treat everyone you see like an idiot – even if it is me.”
P.S
Hi Dad!
Ah yes, roundabouts, the accelerator is your friend here. If you can carry a bit of speed onto the roundabout you can get off it more quickly and avoid any messy lane changing or dodging of idiots who don’t know what lane to be in. One thing you learn when learning to drive is that very few other people actually stick to the rules of the road and you need to find ways of anticipating what these people will do next. Drivers who wear a hat at the wheel are especially worthy of extreme caution.