jakethesnake:
What you talk about is not a new thing Winseer. It may be newish in the HC but it all started when box trailers were introduced for tests.
The problem is a lot of drivers are probably unaware of what can go wrong when turning right at a roundabout as you did in your assessment.
The problem is in an articulated vehicle unless you have a specific mirror correctly adjusted you have a blind spot when you need to move back to the left to exit.
We are off the originally described incident, but can any mirror, however adjusted, cover the outside of a trailer when on a turn?
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Unless you’re going back wards, the vast bulk of the trailer, up to the pivot point, is moving away from whatever can’t be seen.
I beg to differ Juddian. The increasing numbers who want to overtake on roundabouts are closing & half way up the trailer before you see them as you start to straighten before leaving the roundabout. NO indication is the norm with type of driver.
Ain’t it amazing all the different theorys and views considering we all do the same job. No wonder the roads are such a shambles!
If an artic keeps to the outside of a roundabout, there is no space for a car to overtake in the blind spot. Anyone who overtakes on the inside is within view. We all know it is wrong to overtake on roundabouts, and we all know it still happens. Better to have the silly buggers in view really.
Thank goodness we have someone that knows what they are talking about!
Where as others have been doing the same things for years SO THEY MUST BE RIGHT. I will never change because I have 30 years experience
The worst thing is they come on make a comment but don’t back it up.
There seems to be a problem with older drivers (I exclude myself) that because it has been done for years it must be best and must be correct.
It’s sheer arrogance and part of the problem that exists on our roads.
If im going right at a roundabout and theres two lanes for exit, I always stay in the right hand lane till I can see down the side of the trailer again.
I know youre supposed to move to the left for exit but the number of drivers who enter the roundabout just because the left lane is clear and end up along side you means moving over when you cant see anything but bulkhead in your mirror isnt an option
So the way some east europeans do it on UK roundabouts, ie going for the 3rd or 4th exit by going to the very outside of the roundabout describing the widest circle possible, whilst dozens of other vehicles swerve wildly, sometimes having to go around the roundabout again to avoid getting crushed is the new way we should all be negotiating roundabouts from now on, and that’s in the highway code?
Thanks for clearing that up, we’ll all start doing that soon as we go back on shift then, what could possibly go wrong.
Meanwhile i’m investing my hard earned in body/paintshops.
Funny old thing here, you speak to those who have been using sensible common sense roundabout approaches for all of their driving lives, ie keeping generally to the right to turn right, or in the centre/left lane if it’s obvious two lanes follow the dual carriageway main route which is turning right at said roundabout…yes using one’s bloody loaf to suit the circumstances of the moment …you’ll find their accident rates are among the lowest out there, but don’t let the truth and common bloody sense get in the way of new think please
As Snowman explains well, there comes a point when the vehicle goes from turn to the straight ahead or even the turn the other way, that’s the moment you check for anyone who’s got themselves in that sector.
Surely this shouldn’t need explaining on a bloody professional lorry driver’s forum, anyone with an ounce of sense has been doing this since their first days out.
Back in the office and stood on the carpet, I apologised profusely and tendered my resignation, and my boss, Neil, said “What’s the matter, lost your bottle have you?”
Fair play for getting back in a truck after that pal
peirre:
After reading the original post I swear it’s either Dozy’s new nom de plume, or and episode of carry on “up the Stobart” with Dozy taking the lead “Sid James” role
Not sure myself mate Could be a ’ second account job ’ but based on the plankton that we see steering wagons, could be entirely true. (I was one of the ’ pack it in ’ brigade)
IF this Sammy character is genuine though he sounds like Frank Spencer.
Thanks snowman, at least you have the courage to explain what you do! As any decent driver knows you need to keep learning but some seem stuck in a rut believing their methods are correct because they have been doing the same thing for years.
Yes Juddian, as I said the other day I believed it was in the HC although someone said it was not but I can’t be bothered to check. It is certainly in other driving manuals.
Does it really matter if it is there are not? Most ignore a lot of whats in it anyway and do it their own way.
As I said no wonder the roads are such a shambles when some won’t change because they do not agree believing their way is better. Maybe yourself included.
jakethesnake:
As a matter of interest DD what’s your interpretation of the common sense way?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
sorry bud,im not always glued to this thing,however…left lane for turning left…left lane for going straight on…right lane for turning right past the 12.00 position as a general rule …no indicating when im exiting a roundabout as il be in the obvious lane to be doing so,and no tee boning cars because i cant drive properly and shoving them along with the front of the cab for a few hundred yards.
if its a big mega roundabout,then make sure i make my own space and not be taking the side out of anything whilst doing so even if i have to turn into wally hooligan and take the nose of a few herberts in doing so.
my misses passed her test a few years ago and indicates right at the point of joining the roundabout then indicates left to turn off it when going straight through it…bizzare practice to me.
anyone agree or disagree that the rules are now ■■■ over ■■■,or even want a handbags at dawn fight??
i dont think though that the rules have ever said…"dont look when crossing a lane to the right and take the side out of a car with the front offside corner of your unit£ …though as always i stand to be corrected once roymondo does his usual pedantic nitpicker of the year award again…
jakethesnake:
Thanks snowman, at least you have the courage to explain what you do! As any decent driver knows you need to keep learning but some seem stuck in a rut believing their methods are correct because they have been doing the same thing for years.
Yes Juddian, as I said the other day I believed it was in the HC although someone said it was not but I can’t be bothered to check. It is certainly in other driving manuals.
Does it really matter if it is there are not? Most ignore a lot of whats in it anyway and do it their own way.
As I said no wonder the roads are such a shambles when some won’t change because they do not agree believing their way is better. Maybe yourself included.
Sad state of affairs.
Well as you’ve included me as one of the wrong uns, here’s my method for you to take issue with.
We’ll assume for this that all roundabouts have 4 exits, we’ll also assume the roundabout is wide enough to allow cars and vans at least to be alongside you whenever possible on said island, we all know there are some islands where it’s not advisable to have cars alongside during the negotiation, but for the purposes of this discussion we’ll assume a decent sized road not requiring the lorry driver to take part of the other lane out in order to stop people from putting themselves in harms way, i’m not even considering the bone heads in parcel type artics who think their vehicles take as much road space up as the berlingo van which was the largest vehicle they drove till 5 minutes ago.
1.Two lanes approaching r’bout, i’m turning right onto a single carriageway road, the major road goes straight ahead, i indicate right and get in the RH lane when possible, indicating right until the correct obvious moment.
Two lanes approach, i’m turning right onto a dual carriagway which is the continuation of the major route i am approaching on, in most cases its accepted by everyone that both lanes can be used for this, so to allow faster vehicle to make normal progress i approach in the LH lane indicating right and stay in that lane all the way around, only cancelling indicator as i go past the straight ahead exit exiting into the left hand lane.
Two lane approach, i’m going straight ahead exiting into single lane, left hand lane all the way the only indication used is LH indicator as i pass the left turn.
Two lane approach, two lane exit, more care needed here due to drivers of Audis in particular being unable to keep within their lane, presumably the car too big for them to cope with, so left lane all the way through, again indicating only left only after passing the left exit.
Nit pick that, a system which almost every British commercial driver practices in Britain, and tell us what we should be doing instead.
Juddian, I am not telling you anything and I really can’t be bothered reading your rules.
You seem adamant you are correct as many do on here.
All I am saying is if we as lorry drivers stuck to using the same methods car drivers may be a little less confused than they are now.
Many on here regularly criticise car drivers but when one wagon does one thing then the next does another its not surprising they have a low opinion of our driving.
Its the usual story of drivers being arrogant and thinking they know better.
We have to have rules on the roads but drivers need to abide by them to improve standards.
All I can say is TF I am retired and don’t have to put up with the chaos on the UK roads any longer.
jakethesnake:
Juddian, I am not telling you anything and I really can’t be bothered reading your rules.
You seem adamant you are correct as many do on here.
All I am saying is if we as lorry drivers stuck to using the same methods car drivers may be a little less confused than they are now.
Many on here regularly criticise car drivers but when one wagon does one thing then the next does another its not surprising they have a low opinion of our driving.
Its the usual story of drivers being arrogant and thinking they know better.
We have to have rules on the roads but drivers need to abide by them to improve standards.
All I can say is TF I am retired and don’t have to put up with the chaos on the UK roads any longer.
So you can’t nit pick, fair enough, thanks for confirming.
I’m also glad you’ve retired
If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you. Although it’s a cliché, if I can’t see down the side of my trailer in the direction I’m turning I don’t turn and hope someone won’t try to sneak through. On a small roundabout I stick to the nsl and indicate before the exit I’m taking. In practice, on the day everyone obeys the rules so will I. Each to their own, and not highway code, but safety first.
For what it’s worth (and ji know it’s very little), there is no discernable blindspot around the cabin, as long as your mirrors are properly adjusted, and you are using them. Not noticing something the size of a car means you didn’t look.
And if you hit a car on the approach of a roundabout, you are both not using your mirrors, and not using the lanes properly.
Just skimmed through this thread tbh (if only for the reason that Jakes superior pontifications never cease to amuse me ) and seen we are now discussing roundabout procedure.
Way I was told way back in 79 and the way I’ve done it since is…
Exiting anything and including up to 12 o clock.
Approach in left hand lane and maintain it.
If intending leaving at 1st exit approach with lh indicator, if leaving 12 o clock, no indicator, but lh indicator at point of no return of 1st exit.
Anything after 12 o clock, approach in rh lane with right indicator, after the ‘point of no return’ at the exit you intend to leave, change to lh indicator and exit.
All blind spots covered with kerb mirror, windscreen mirror, lower mirror tilted right down, and a fresnel for good measure, especially in a left ■■■■■■ obviously.
(Only problem is when I want to turn right from 12 to 3 o clock …it takes me 3 hours )
So come on Jake, never hit a car or killed a kitten or bambi on a r/about since…so where am I going wrong.
Please tell.
I love it on here. One day we are complaining about all the blind spots we have which makes our job incredibly difficult to notice cars and cyclists then suddenly when we are turning right at a roundabout they are all covered by mirrors.
Dubious eh?
So now you’re refuting that you can virtually cover all blind spots (or at least enough of them) in the way I state, to successfully negotiate a roundabout are you?
I would have thought that all you top guys in the Advanced drivers club would agree with me tbh…, or maybe me being an amateur in comparison, I’ve got that one way off eh?
robroy:
Dubious eh?
So now you’re refuting that you can virtually cover all blind spots (or at least enough of them) in the way I state, to successfully negotiate a roundabout are you?
I would have thought that all you top guys in the Advanced drivers club would agree with me tbh…, or maybe me being an amateur in comparison, I’ve got that one way off eh?
Not in the slightest. If you think you can move back safely from right to left using a kerb mirror it just proves you are maybe not a good as you think you are?
robroy:
Dubious eh?
So now you’re refuting that you can virtually cover all blind spots (or at least enough of them) in the way I state, to successfully negotiate a roundabout are you?
I would have thought that all you top guys in the Advanced drivers club would agree with me tbh…, or maybe me being an amateur in comparison, I’ve got that one way off eh?
Not in the slightest. If you think you can move back safely from right to left using a kerb mirror it just proves you are maybe not a good as you think you are?
Now come on Jake, mate, I’m dissapointed, even a man of your (self confessed) superior knowledge, can surely admit he’s wrong if only just for once on here, instead of copping out by selectively quoting my points just to make one of your own.
The kerb mirror is used in conjunction and in concurrence with the 3 other facilities available to me, as (I thought) clearly stated …and that you well know.
If you are unable to use these methods yourself without fearing a full on ■■■■ up scenario, then maybe also you are not as good as you think you are…perish that thought eh?
…you’ll find their accident rates are among the lowest out there, but don’t let the truth and common bloody sense get in the way of new think please 
Could be a ’ second account job ’ but based on the plankton that we see steering wagons, could be entirely true. (I was one of the ’ pack it in ’ brigade)
