Is it illegal to drive over a mini roundabout?

NO matter how long you’ve been driving, some roundabouts can be tricky.

Although mini-roundabouts can infuriate other road users, most drivers are unaware of the rules for approaching these obstacles.

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Can I be fined for driving over a mini roundabout?

It may come as a surprise to many, but driving over a mini roundabout is illegal as it must be treated as an island in the road.

Any road user caught doing this could be prosecuted and fined.

O law states that drivers of vehicles who manage to maneuver on the central island may be punished if they cross it.

This applies to both flat painted and raised mini-roundabouts.

However, the law allows vehicles that are “physically unable” to circulate on the central island, such as vans and trucks.

Furthermore, it is also an offense to ignore traffic signs, so failure to follow the signs when passing through a mini-roundabout can cause even more problems.

A fixed penalty notice will be between £50 and £300 depending on the severity and can sometimes carry penalty points, although driving on a mini roundabout is not generally seen as a serious offence.

The Highway Code Section 188 calls for caution, as there is less space to move around mini-roundabouts and less time to signal.

Who has priority at a mini roundabout?

As on a normal roundabout, priority is given to vehicles on your right.

This is always the case unless signs, road markings or traffic lights direct you to do something else.

Sometimes road markings will allow you to proceed without yielding, but you should still always look to the right first, just in case.

While driving, look for intersections in front of you, intersections on the left and right that can help you identify a mini-roundabout.

Mini The roundabout markings are either a painted circle or a white circular protuberance with three clockwise directional arrows around the inner circle.

What are the rules for mini roundabouts?

The rules for mini-roundabouts are the same as for normal roundabouts.

However, when driving around mini-roundabouts there is less room to maneuver, so you need to be extra careful.

The Highway Code establishes that when approaching a roundabout you must use the mirror-signal-maneuver process and adjust your speed depending on the traffic around you.

When taking the first exit, you should signal left as you would at a normal roundabout.

It is important to be aware of pedestrians crossing access and exit roads, as endangering pedestrians is a serious offence.

Something worth noting is that a change in law also establishes that, under Rule 186 of the Highway Code this priority should also be given to cyclists in such situations.

Due to the location of mini-roundabouts, they are more likely to be located at closed intersections.

A closed or blind intersection is where very little can be seen of oncoming traffic.

If you come across a double mini-roundabout, or a set of mini-roundabouts, you should treat each roundabout separately and continue to give priority to traffic coming from your right for each one.

The Highway Code also says that if you have to enter a roundabout without yielding, “still look to the right before entering, be careful of all other road users already at the roundabout.

“Be aware that they may not be signaling correctly, or at all, and look ahead before setting off to make sure the traffic ahead has changed,” they add.

Avoid, if possible, making U-turns at mini-roundabouts.

Because they are so small, this maneuver is considered highly dangerous.