Navigating Roundabouts With Confidence in Your HGV

The job of steering a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) can be tough to master, especially when navigating your way around the UK’s busy roads. Furthermore, for anyone wanting to gain their HGV licence, navigating roundabouts is a skill that needs to be mastered, but it can be quite daunting. 

There’s a particular approach that needs to be taken when performing this manoeuvre and it’s one that we provide some tips on here. So, keep reading to find out how to perfect your technique and fly through your test with aplomb!

Preparation & Anticipation 

As you’ll learn during your HGV training, your speed is crucial on your approach to a roundabout, so it’s important that you prepare early and begin to slow down when you see one coming. Early anticipation allows you to choose the right lane and position your vehicle correctly in line with the exit you’ll be taking on the other side. 

You should be sure to choose the correct lane as early as you can, which typically means the left lane for left turns and going straight ahead, and the right lane for right turns or a complete U-turn. When driving an HGV, however, you have to consider how big the vehicle is and the increased turning radius that it requires – meaning you may need to take a different lane in order to pass round the roundabout safely. 

Signalling, Positioning & Handling

Another important aspect involved in making your way around a roundabout is signalling, as other road users need to understand your intentions clearly. As such, you should signal left when coming to your exit and be mindful of not doing so too early, as it could lead to another driver misinterpreting where you’re heading. 

Again, positioning is also key, so you must ensure that you occupy sufficient space to manoeuvre safely, and on smaller roundabouts, this may mean a central position to avoid clipping the kerb or the central island. 

Control & Awareness 

Having slowed down to the appropriate speed on the approach to the roundabout, you should maintain a steady, controlled pace throughout the manouvre. This will ensure that you maintain stability while giving you enough time to react to unforeseen hazards and other drivers. You need more time to stop in an HGV. 

It’s important to remain vigilant of other vehicles, especially those on your near side, as there’s a chance someone could be in your blind spots – particuarly when talking about cyclists and motorcyclists who are harder to see. 

Leaving the Roundabout 

As you leave the roundabout, you need to gradually adjust your position while again checking your mirrors and blind spots, before accelerating (if appropriate) onto the next part of your journey. Naturally, you’ll need to adhere to all traffic laws and be sure never to rush your decisions, as safety could be compromised. 

Roundabout Navigation Requires Confidence, Patience & Skill 

Learning how to navigate a roundabout in a large truck takes skill, patience and a complete understanding of what your vehicle can do. When you prepare properly for the manoeuvre at the right speed, provid the proper signals and maintain awareness of your surroundings, you’ll see that the whole process becomes easier. 

This is a manoeuvre you’ll practice many times during your training, and with familiarity comes confidence, so if it’s something that gives you some concern now, don’t worry, as you’ll have plenty of time to get used to it.