Wet roundabout with a cyclist and a tailgater
It is dusk and raining steadily. You approach a two-lane roundabout at 55 km/h on a road posted at 60 km/h. Your tyres are in good condition and the road surface is wet but not flooded. A cyclist in a high-visibility vest is riding in the left lane ahead of you, signalling right to stay on the roundabout. In your mirror, a ute is following at roughly one car length and has done so for the last two kilometres. You intend to take the second exit, which is straight ahead. As you near the give-way line, the ute edges closer and flashes its headlights. The cyclist is now level with your front bumper on your right side.
1. What is the safest sequence of actions as you enter the roundabout, and why?
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The controlling facts are the wet surface, the short following distance behind you, and the cyclist keeping to the left lane to continue around. On a wet road your stopping distance is roughly doubled compared with dry conditions, so any action that forces the ute to brake sharply risks a rear-end collision. You should therefore slow early and smoothly rather than braking late at the give-way line, giving the ute time to react. Do not enter the roundabout beside the cyclist: a cyclist travelling in the left lane to stay on the roundabout will cross your path if you accelerate into the right lane. The correct approach is to hold back and let the cyclist clear the exit you want before moving into position, then proceed when there is a safe gap. The headlight flash should not be read as an invitation to hurry; treat it as impatience and prioritise the gap and the cyclist.
2. The ute overtakes you on the approach and cuts in front. How should you respond, and what does this tell you about your following distance?
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If the ute cuts in, ease off the accelerator and re-establish a safe gap rather than braking hard or sounding the horn. On a wet road you need at least a four-second gap to the vehicle ahead, not the two-second dry-weather guide, because your braking distance is longer and the ute may brake suddenly for the roundabout. Do not attempt to 'close the gap' or retaliate; the aim is to keep your own stopping distance clear. The event also reveals that the ute's driver is willing to take risks, so increase your margin further and be ready for unpredictable braking. If the ute then stops abruptly at the give-way line, you should already have enough space to stop without locking up.
3. Why is the cyclist's road position significant, and how does it change your lane choice?
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A cyclist signalling right while in the left lane of a roundabout is indicating an intention to continue around the roundabout, not to exit at the first opportunity. Cyclists are entitled to use the lane and may need to stay wide to avoid drain covers and painted lines, which are slippery in the wet. If you choose the right lane to go straight ahead, you risk a side-swipe or left-hook as the cyclist's path curves across yours. The safer choice is to stay in the left lane behind the cyclist, match a slow speed, and only move to the right once the cyclist has passed your exit. Never overtake a cyclist on the approach to or within a roundabout when their signal shows they are continuing around.