Pop quiz, hotshot. You are approaching a roundabout and a cyclist is signalling a right turn, but keeping to the left. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO?
An actual question and sample answers from the mock driving test, spotted by Steven Holsworth.
I’m sure you know what the correct answer really is. Right?
John Girvin is a largely waterproof recreational and commuter cyclist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Rain Miles Count Double is a blog about owning, maintaining, commuting and having fun on bikes in Northern Ireland. A place where, on average, it rains somewhere every other day.
Your host is me, John Girvin, a largely waterproof recreational and commuter cyclist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Nope – what is the answer? I know that if I am turning right I put myself in the correct lane as I would a car though.
As a driver I would drive really close and rev my engine while cursing the useless waste of space, who has no right to be on the same tarmac as I.
As a cyclist, I used to keep to the right when turning right but I always felt too exposed to impatient drivers. Now, I keep to the left and stop if cars are coming up behind me. Though I would usually carry on when on the actual roundabout, if safe to do so. Its always a bit dodgy!
Have often wondered what the correct code was for cyclists, having never bothered with the cycling proficiency test as a kid.
In the context of the question, I assume the answer is that the cyclist is slower and more vulnerable; but that likely only applies in the case of cyclists who lack confidence and road skills.
Perhaps the cyclist is signalling his intention to move across the lane (as he should), in order to turn right at the roundabout.
The cyclist looks about 12. I’d stop the car, take off his helmet and give him a good clip round the ear. He should be in school. Anyway, he’s not signalling right, he’s signalling up – what, is he gonna take off? Jump the roundabout?
Answer E: clip round the ear.
Dave – genius!
I vote E too
Surely the correct answer: Lean across the passenger seat and swiftly whip open the passenger door just in time to propel the cyclist in a graceful arc into the hedge?
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there Daren!
My general attitude to cycling on roundabouts is: don’t cycle on roundabouts if you can avoid it. They’re a great idea if everyone knows the rules and sticks to them, but that’s not always the case. Cyclists are vulnerable and hard to see and riding into a swirling maelstrom of slightly confused and distracted drivers doesn’t seem like a great idea.
OK, it’s not really that bad. Not always. I think you need to take each roundabout as it comes and try to get into (and stay in) the main flow of traffic that’s heading for the exit you need, while watching for drivers cutting across your path. Stay in primary all the way to maximise your visibility.
NuttyCyclist has a lengthy guide to cycling on roundabouts.
Matt, is that a joke?
I agree totally with you John. I’ve had two accidents invloving cars on my bike both on evening commutes home and both on roundabouts. First time the driver that hit my rear wheel as I was exiting the roundabout accused me of going too fast (I think he said I was speeding). Second time around the driver just said he didn’t see me as he hit me side on! Must have been going too fast again! Unfortunately I haven’t been signed up by Team Sky yet so I’ll have to put the accidents down to impatient, unobservant drivers rather than my sprinting skills!
Fortunately I got away with only a few cuts and bruises on both occasions. And now everytime I approach a roundabout I travel slowly through it, ensuring that I stare at the drivers about to enter the roundabout until I catch their eye to ensure that they have seen me.
I go with Architectpete on the ‘catch their eye’ comment. Roundabouts are the only thing that really scare me on my bike. Those and dinosaurs.
I like the fact that someone could pick the selected answer and still pass based on allowing them to make a few incorrect selections (I can’t remember the pass number).
Instead, I think there should be some answers where they automatically fail if they select them, this one being one.
So if you get 34 out of 35, and the incorrect answer was “rev up your engine and…” (I swear I have seen something like this), they should get a fail.