Second gear is absolutely fine for your average roundabout, and you can go up to third for faster ones on A-roads and
As another general rule if the roundabout is clear you would normally select 3rd gear and if it's looking busy then slow down a bit more and go into 2nd gear. If you know you will have to stop then you can wait till you get closer to the roundabout and then go into 1st gear.
At Roundabouts:
Check at least twice and give right of way to the right and approach roundabouts in second gear. Check to the right and let at mini-roundabouts even if it is clear to your right.
It's not always safe to accelerate as much and change gear if it's a small roundabout. Especially if you're driving round a mini roundabout. Staying in 1st gear would be best for control if you're turning right around these.
Slow speeds help vehicles move smoothly into, around, and out of a roundabout. Drivers approaching a roundabout must reduce their speeds, look for potential conflicts with vehicles already in the circle and be prepared to stop for pedestrians and bicyclists.
To aid moving off quickly at a roundabout, once you have found the bite point, just before moving off, increasing the gas will allow you to release the clutch faster reducing the possibility of stalling. The more gas, the faster you can release the clutch and so the faster you will move from a stationary position.
Pulling away in second gear is not generally recommended for engines below 1.8l. Note: Since I wrote this article there has been a revolution (ho-ho) in engine/gearbox design such that many small cars with engine sizes up to 1.6l can comfortable reach 60mph and more in second gear.
Don't leave the car in gear at stoplights.
You also don't want to leave it in first gear while stopped. So, always keep your car in neutral at a light or longer stop and just keep the brake pedal engaged.
There is no legal limit to the number of times that you can travel around a roundabout. However, circling a roundabout more than twice may be considered careless driving. You should always try to exit a roundabout correctly after you first enter it.
1. It all begins with your approach. Slow down really early and look as early as you can into the road on your right, and across the roundabout itself. By watching the traffic flow really early, you can sometimes manipulate yourself an opportunity to go, by timing your arrival at the roundabout when there is a gap.
No, you do not have to depress the clutch when turning corners. The normal procedure would be to be in the gear you want to exit the corner. What this means is you would change gears entering the corner so that you have the transmission and engine spinning together so that you can accelerate away if a problem occurs.
Only make the final decision and commit to entering the roundabout at the entrance to the roundabout. Approaching in 2nd gear and off the clutch, will enable you to: accelerate into the roundabout if it stays clear, slow down to allow a single car pass then proceed, or brake and stop smoothly to wait for a gap.
The easiest way to remember which lane you need to be in on a roundabout, is to think of the roundabout. As a clock. We split the roundabout down the middle. If the exit you require is 12 o'clock or before you need the left hand lane.
The yellow sign advises that you are approaching a roundabout. The blue arrow advises you to keep left (i.e. drive around the roundabout clockwise). The give way sign advises you to give way to drivers from your right. Sign D is a derestriction sign, meaning the open road speed limit is valid.
Hesitating at a roundabout
A short delay may be marked as a driver fault. If you miss a clear opportunity where there was plenty of time to proceed you may fail the test as a serious fault could be marked.
Roundabout accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, including driver negligence, lack of signage and visibility, poor road conditions, and excessive speed. Drivers may fail to yield to oncoming traffic or attempt to pass another vehicle while traveling around the roundabout.