Ask an expert


32688i

Hi there,

I'm sitting my Restricted drivers licence test quite soon but would like to clarify a few things first.
1) Left External (wing) mirror. Especially during the parallel parking manouvre the left mirror is a great help when angled down towards the ground to see how far my car is from the curb etc. However, during regular driving and for changing lanes its probably better to have it positioned so that I can see the traffic. My driving instructor permanently has the left mirror pointing down towards the ground (and tells me not to adjust it). In the test, should I adjust the mirror before (from the control inside the car of course) and after doing the parallel park?
2) Roundabouts. I've learnt that I need to indicate when leaving the roundabout in any circumstances. When going straight ahead, indicate left as I am passing the exit prior to my intended exit path. On some roundabouts, going straight ahead is the first possible exit (rather than turning left). Should I indicate left immediately after entering the roundabout approximately a few seconds before leaving the roundabout?

These are my questions so far, any other tips would be appreciated.

ABayliss

Hello,
I've run your question past our AA Driving School team who have provided the following reply;

"You can adjust your mirror in the test, just don’t do it while in the middle of the road. You would need to signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take".

To clarify what they said regarding roundabouts, as the senario you are talking about has no exit prior to the straight ahaed exit you wish to take, you should indicate left once on the roundabout.

Hope this is of some help. Good luck with your test.

32688i

Thank you very much for clairfying that. Just one last question.

This roundabout is near the testing office (aa porirua) so im bound to travel through here. Say I am travelling North on Titahi Bay road and want to turn right onto Hagley street. I go into the right lane on Titahi Bay road as I'm turning right. However, in the direct path, there is a dashed line that I will cross. Does this mean I would need to (indicate and)change lanes in the middle of the roundabout? or can I cross the dashed line?

photo and google map link here:
https://goo.gl/maps/Qc5OX
http://i.imgur.com/H9fo6Ox.png (Should I drive following the green path, or the red path?) Assuming i am turning left again at the roundabout on hagley street.

Sorry for so many questions and poor explanations. I've heard this is the place where a lot of people fail - Nerves are setting in as i get closer and closer to the test day :/. Thanks again for the help. Really appreciate it!

ABayliss

It's a little difficult to establish from the Google map images shown, but you should get into the correct lane at the earliest opportunity, so I don't know that you should be in the right hand lane at all if the left lane continues around the roundabout.
So, it looks like you should remain in the left lane around the roundabout, indicating right until you have passed the last exit, then indicate left.
However, I'm a little concerned that you're about to take the test and don't really understand the rules which apply to roundabouts. I'd suggest you have some professional lessons prior to taking the test. A professional instructor will advise you accordingly.