Core Subject 4 – Large and Mini Roundabouts

(Use ATS lesson plan on page 4 and Pages 16 – 19)

Teaching roundabouts is an extension of approaching and emerging at junctions. The pupil should be able to carry out these exercises with little help from the instructor. The application of the MSM, PSL routine should be well practiced without instructor prompts. Start the session with mini roundabouts turning left and, where possible taking the road ahead. Move on to a circuit turning right.

Introduce large roundabouts following the same pattern of development as mini rounabouts.

The lesson

After the recap of the previous lesson and agreeing SMART goals for mini roundabouts, offer a briefing on mini roundabouts which should be interactive lasting no more than five minutes. Some students would benefit from a demonstration by you before trying the topic for themselves.

Practical Instruction

Agree what help the pupil would like on approach to the first roundabout to turn left. Ensure the responsibility for risk sharing has been discussed. Be prepared to give controlling talk through if necessary to correct any faults and manage risky situations. Pull in to discuss faults, ask what the pupil was thinking at the time and how it can be improved.

Practice a route taking the road ahead and then turning right at mini roundabouts. Help with pupil with forward planning to keep moving whenever possible. Encourage them to look well ahead and tell you when they spot the next roundabout.

If time permits and the pupil agrees, consider a briefing and practice on large roundabouts. it is sensible to start with a left circuit, then ahead lastly turning right. Help will be required judging when to move on to the roundabout- slow speed on approach and an early gear change into 2nd creates time for early observations. Explain how oncoming “blocking” traffic can create a short time window in which to enter the roundabout safely. As usual however, if in doubt, wait at the give way lines.

Summary

There is a lot to fit in to a 90 minute lesson when teaching mini and large roundabouts. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t practiced turning in every direction or if the pupil has perfected roundabouts independently – highly unlikely in such a short time frame. What is important is that you progress at the pupil’s pace according to their ability and aptitude.

Ensure you are keeping the learning environment a safe one in which the pupil can develop their skills naturally Work with your student checking what they are thinking and how they are feeling.

Private Practice.

Practice talking yourself through both junction types – it will sharpen your instructional ability.

Tasks to Complete

• Watch the above video (Currently in production)
• Fill in the blanks on the worksheet – Large Roundabouts ( you can download it in word, complete it and upload it to your course for us to forward it to your trainer)
• Complete the same worksheet in your workbook
• Send in 10 questions on this subject (Open questions such as who, what, when , why and how) – Again complete it and upload to be forwarded to your trainer)
• Make a note of those questions in the back of your workbook.
• Arrange a Webinar / online session with your trainer and deliver them a brief on this subject.