Millions of drivers at risk of £50 fine for common roundabout mistakes
Millions of drivers are at risk of a £50 fine due to being unaware of the rules regarding roundabouts.
Roundabouts can be a stressful manoeuvre, with many drivers admitting to not feeling too confident when it comes to them. However, recent research from Compare the Market reveals motorists are more unaware of roundabouts than we realise.
According to a recent study, almost six million drivers could be at risk of a fine for failing to give way to the right at roundabout junctions. If drivers fail to give way, they risk receiving a £50 non-endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice under Rule 185 of the highway code.
This states: “Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights.”
Furthermore, over half of UK licence holders (55%) are at risk of the same fine due to driving over mini-roundabouts. Nearly half (48%) admit to driving over a raised roundabout and almost two-thirds (62%) to driving over a flat one.
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Sections 188 to 190 of the Highway Code state: “It is important to remember that all vehicles must pass round the central markings unless they are too large to do so. You will find that when driving around mini-roundabouts there is less room to manoeuvre and less time to signal, so take extra care.”
Julie Daniels from the car insurance team at Compare the Market says: “Although you can take the same precautions at a roundabout as you would at any other junction, using a roundabout is considered a complex manoeuvre - it’s eye-opening to find out how many drivers are unaware of the correct signals and manoeuvres, or simply ignore the rules put in place to keep themselves and other road users safe."
Compare the Market also noted that a lot of drivers did not know how to signal correctly on a roundabout. The study also revealed that on average, a quarter (25%) of UK drivers don’t know how to signal correctly when using a roundabout - and some just don’t signal at all.
In fact, over 1.2 million drivers say they don’t signal before they exit a roundabout, which could be considered careless and inconsiderate driving, risking three to nine penalty points. What’s more, 3.75 million drivers only "occasionally" use their signals before they exit.
Julie added: “We encourage drivers to refresh their knowledge of proper procedures when using a roundabout junction to prevent fines and avoid any potential accidents.
“In addition to learning - and doing - the correct manoeuvres, make sure you always slow your speed and give yourself enough time to react, watch out for pedestrian crossings, cyclists and drivers crossing the roundabout in the wrong lane and remember to use the mirror-signal-manoeuvre process, which involves checking your mirrors and signalling, before making your move.”
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