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Question

Difficulty: HardRoundabouts

As you follow a long articulated lorry onto a multi-lane roundabout, the lorry approaches in the nearside lane while indicating right and begins to straddle the circulatory lane markings. What action should you take?

  1. A
    Move into the offside lane alongside the lorry to overtake it before it turns
  2. B
    Accelerate into the open space on the lorry's nearside before it completes its swing
  3. Stay well back and allow the lorry sufficient room to manoeuvre across the carriagewayAnswer
  4. D
    Flash your headlights repeatedly to instruct the lorry driver to clear the lane markings

Answer

Stay well back and allow the lorry sufficient room to manoeuvre across the carriageway
Under Highway Code Rule 187, drivers must give plenty of room to long vehicles (including articulated lorries) which may need to take a different course or straddle lanes on the approach to or when negotiating roundabouts. Keeping well back ensures you stay visible in the driver's mirrors and allows the vehicle full use of the road width.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the vehicle type and recognize its physical manoeuvring limitations
Recognize that long articulated vehicles have extended turning circles and swept paths that prevent them from staying strictly within a single lane
Highway Code Rule 187 states that drivers must watch out for long vehicles which might have to take a different course or straddle lanes on approach to or when negotiating roundabouts
2
Assess the hazards associated with the vehicle's position and indicators
Anticipate trailer off-tracking and substantial blind spots around the cab and trailer flanks
Passing or undertaking a straddling lorry risks entrapment under the trailer or an unavoidable side-swipe collision
3
Select the appropriate following distance and lane positioning
Maintain a generous buffer zone behind the lorry until it completes the turn and clears the junction
Staying well back keeps your vehicle in the driver's mirrors and provides adequate room for the lorry to negotiate the junction safely

Key Concept

Highway Code Rule 187: Giving space and anticipating unconventional positioning for long vehicles at roundabouts
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Roundabouts

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