I have been watching your videos for over a year now to help me get back on the road after a medical licence suspension due to a seizure in 2019 (luckily never happened again and DVLA judge me fit to drive!) In many ways it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had been on the road for 30+ years prior to my suspension but when my licence was returned I made it my goal to become the best driver I could be - "re-booting" my driving style as if I was learning again. Bottom line, I think I have become a much more sensible and "road aware" driver and so do the people in the car with me. I also do not get wound up by other drivers like I did in the past, for example, today I was driving at 25mph in a 30 zone because the road was bendy with many joggers and cyclists out for their Sunday morning exercise (also 3 sets of Pelican crossings to contend with). The Audi behind me was tailgating big style and honked me then overtook and shot off at at least 40mph - I was like "whatever". I have the whole thing on Dashcam, I have considered passing the footage on to plod, but given there was no accident I have decided to leave it! 10 years go, I would have been that muppet but no longer! So thanks Ashely, you videos should be watched by all drivers not just learners!

One very relevant general point that Ash made: Namely, that the same junction might require a very different way to handle on each occasion. I think there is a habit for drivers to treat familiar junctions / roundabouts etc in the same way every single time, especially if that approach applies the majority of the time. I myself have fallen victim to this, a classic example of which is when selecting the "lane of least resistance" along a particular stretch of road. I have tended to do this by habit based on my past experience...and occasionally found it was not at all the lane of least resistance. Better advanced observation and planning and basing my decision each time on that rather than what's happened in the past would have served me better. No harm done of course and all that it meant was that I didn't make as good progress as I could have done (whilst still remaining safe and legal of course) but it does illustrate Ash's comment.

The 4 Stages Of Approach: denial, anger, depression and acceptance?

It amazes me how many people approach roundabouts and other junctions with a give way with the mentality of "I'm just going" it's almost like people panic about having to set off again from a stand still. In most if not all scenarios of junctions other than those that are super clear and you can see someone approaching from a long way off is slow down and expect to stop. The face on some people when I've approached a junction or especially a roundabout their planning has them in a panic where they have the look of fear where they shit a brick and floored it to escape danger because they've approached a roundabout still doing atleast 30 with no capability to stop. I do drive in London so that's a given that people in general are terrible impatient drivers

9:28 I love that - approaching slower than the silver car but getting away earlier!

I do few learners these days, concentrating on company car and van drivers. Most of the drivers I see, whether they've been driving for just a few years, or for many years, will still focus on the give way line until arrival. So many stops when they could have kept moving. The person who is scanning and planning their emerge, is always behind you, not in front. Stop when unnecessary, the danger is behind you.

Nice informative video, as a motorcyclist as well as a driver I’m always reading the road much further ahead and anticipating what drivers are going to do and after 45 years of doing this I seem to have developed a sixth sense but the most important thing is never be complacent someone or something will always catch you out

I passed my car and bike test in the late 80's, when you were pretty much just taught to pass the test. 3 years ago I did some advanced riding, culminating in gaining my IAM advanced rider qualification. This introduced me to IPSGA (information, position, speed, gear, acceleration) this was a revelation for my riding but also driving. This is similar to what you are describing here. Its all about taking the information and then planning based on that info, you see so many drivers who dont seem to have any clue what is happening around them. But when you get this kind of technique to be instinctive, its much easier to adapt to others poor driving, especially important on 2 wheels.

Stage E check out the caterham !!. On a serious note at 9:37 the Kuga is a great example of what you shouldn't do , too fast up to the line, brake harder using the pads and more fuel and then have to accelerate away when you look at the last minute. Great video as usual.

Love the channel even though I've been driving a fair few years its good to look back at the things I was taught and the bad habits I have picked up. I had a massive lucky escape at a pelican crossing a few years ago, nobody died, nobody was prosecuted but it woke me up and made me realise that your life can change in a second. One second would have seen me doing a stretch for manslaughter I'm sure. I was four up taking workmates home and a scooter in front, lights go orange about 10 feet from the crossing and I think the scooter is going to go but he stops on a sixpence, I was looking at the lights as he stopped and when I look back at the road I yanked the wheel to the right out of sheer instinct and missed him by inches. My luck carried on as the oncoming lane was empty and we all got home alive.

Not only left and right turns but T-junctions and roundabouts? I'm impressed! Great video, btw.

Really enjoy your videos. I’m a HGV driver and I still learn something from each one of your videos. Keep up the good work Ash

8:30 sorry Ash but I have to disagree about 1st gear on mini roundabouts only being if you are turning right and it’s tight. Round my area, there’s a lot of mini roundabouts that have been installed that were previously Give Way junctions and they are on blind corners. If you try going through in 2nd, it’s way too fast to assess properly, they are 1st gear and creep. Too many Full Licence Holders fly through them without proper Observations as they have the “ it’s a roundabout so 2nd gear “ attitude. Hope you understand the point I’m making mate 👍

One thing I am coaching myself to do more on the approach to roundabouts: As well as advanced observation as to what's on the roundabout or approaching it from the next entry road to my right, I also observe what's approaching on the next entry road to my left. And together with this is to consider if my approach speed is appropriate to anyone that might be approaching on that next entry road to my left so as not to catch them by surprise. You may all remember that very recent viewer submission whereby they were struck on a roundabout by a National Express coach that wasn't visible till the last moment and likely approached the roundabout at considerable speed, as well as straight line-ing it to maintain a high speed throughout. There's also the consideration as to whether your exit road is clear, including of any pedestrians crossing it.

Hello mate, just wanted to thank you for your videos. I managed to pass my test on Thursday, your videos are/were a godsend. Thank you for making these and covering the range of topics/subjects you do. I'm still watching your every upload despite my pass, and I'm sure I will continue to do so.

Big fan of this new driving angle. Keep up the great videos.

I love being able to judge whats coming before cars in front, driving should be like second nature, if you think too hard whilst driving or be nervous driving in certain places, you shouldn't be on the road. Good vids mate and good too see you driving round my local area 👍

Really good video, certainly a different and easier way to think on approach

Really useful video thank you! I passed my test in Feb however have recently been having a few issues that's really knocked my confidence, my anxiety takes over I panic and make everything 100 times worse. Thanks for the video has made me take a step back and think about what I'm going to do again, I need to remember I'm not an experienced driver!

One of your best so far for me, variable, staged awareness approaching junctions/roundabouts is a big issue for a lot of drivers I find. It is also reassuring to drivers around you, along the lines of 'body language' of vehicles kinda theme. Love your vids mate, a great service you provide.

Hi Ashley. I have watched your videos for a while and love your outlook and passion for driving, safety and people in general, and can definitely say I have learned a lot from your videos and although I would say I am a fairly competent driver I have still done lots of reflection using your videos and learned a lot. I am currently reading roadcraft for an upcoming response driving course at work (blues!) And hope to take lots of your knowledge with me to continue learning, thank you!

Excellent video. 👍👍👍👍😁😁😁 At every stage you are assessing and adapting to change into the most appropriate action. As you approach you position and plan for what seems appropriate, and as you progress at each and every stage you are giving yourself the option to change depending on the next set of assessments. So no mater what the condition you find yourself in you have options to change into because you have already planed for it. *Brilliant*

Not only this video was helpful, but *ALL* of your videos are also helpful.

Morning Ashley, what is your view on the partition boards put up at some roundabouts to prevent an early view? Obviously it is designed to slow the traffic down on the approach but prevents further observations and during busier times can cause the flow of traffic to slow through those particular roundabouts as people become more reactive as they are unable to observe effectively. Brilliant video as always can't wait for the next one.

You reminds me of another driver instructor that I follow and that wrote few famous books, Ross Bentley. He has the same philosophy of keep learning, keep improving 👍

Thanks for formalising a rule set for something I do, I don't arrive and look, I look further down the road . The way I've been thinking about it is a particular r'about which breaks a 70mph dual carrageway. I approach with a little bit of speed and I ask 'If someone was to come round and block my path, would I be able to stop in time?'. When I confirm that my route is clear, I will go. If there is someone coming round I slow further and go behind In regards to Lights, I play a game. I approach and try to avoid coming to a complete stop. If there is a red light ahead there's no point in rushing to a queue of traffic, breaking hard and waiting for the guy ahead to move. You won't get further!

Good points as usual. Being a cyclist, whenever I approach a junction of any kind I think and look for bikes first. Way too many drivers tank into roundabouts too quick to properly see and plan.

100% helped me on my lessons and day to day driving

nice video ... very useful. Particularly the point about looking down the road beyond the current junction/hazaard to the next one...

One of the benefits of planning - instead of reacting - is that you can often utilise a gear change instead of relying on the brakes which, unless I'm mistaken, can also help with fuel economy. I'm not saying that this works in every scenario by any means but keeping momentum is a subject I believe you covered in an earlier upload. Taking a slightly slower approach can also allow more thinking time. Stay safe everyone 👍.

Congrats on the 100+k....... you educate and improve people who really want to understand and be more proficient, unfortunately the drivers who really need this type of education don't watch these sort of channels. Great job tho! 😁👍

And then the fifth stage is acceptance

Prediction is always better than reaction. Even if ones prediction ends up completely wrong, it can help ones reaction immeasurably if necessary.

Very helpful information thanks

You can learn these stages on a motorcycle by seeing if you can complete a journey without dabbing let alone stopping with both feet down. You have no option but to look ahead, be aware, read the road , check other vehicles out and select a route. And hone your riding very slowly skills. Also as Hubnut was talking about the other day, smooth driving is energy efficient

9:30 The way you caught up to that car and still approached at the same time was a perfect example of someone rushing there, then observing. Where as you did it more on an early approach.

Re: traffic light sensors. Had a great one the other day, some numpty had parked his car by the "stop here when red light shows" sign for some sensor controlled temporary lights. As a result, they were only flowing in one direction. Took me taking a risk and going when it was quiet to trigger the sensor otherwise we would have been there for some time.

My pet hate is when folk emerge left from a junction and are not looking in the direction of travel 🙄

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying (I advise ALL my students to subscribe to you) but I find that when students choose a gear, they tend to stop breaking once they’re in that gear. I’ve found it’s far better to get them to get their speed down to match the situation, then change gear to match the speed. You wouldn’t be able to choose a gear if driving an automatic, you get your speed down for control etc to match the situation.

9:30 Case in point the SUV that came past, had to brake quite hefty and you jus read the roundabout, hardly had to brake and put a lot less stress on the mechanicals of your car. There is a roundabout on my commute that you cannot see vehicles approaching from the right until you are over the give way line, thankfully most drivers are aware, they have recently put the give way signs on the entrances to the roundabout.

As if by magic at around 9:34, car on Ashley’s offside tanks it up to the roundabout then has to brake sharply because something is coming and they need to give way. Ashley goes a decent speed, observes and gets straight on to the roundabout without having to stop…

Took me a while to figure out what car you were driving there Ash. It's your red Golf GTI right? I kept thinking "That's not Ashley's Tesla" For one thing, it's a manual and that's definitely not a Tesla screen...and then the penny dropped. Your GTI definitely has loud indicators!

Roundabouts keep traffic flowing.... until the council decide to stick traffic lights in them

Plan to stop - look to go. So assume Ashley's stage C/D (dependent on expectation of long or short stop) unless through good early lateral vision it is identified that a 100% safe gap to continue is available, if so revert to stage A taking 2nd or 3rd to suit speed at the time of decision. In other words treat roundabouts & any give way scenarios in the same way as one would a red light which may or may not change to green before one arrives. It should be decision before gear selection as IAM ROSPA Police etc. advocate (both hands stay on wheel while brakes applied to reduce speed), there is always time & space for the gear selection if you plan for there to be by approaching slowly enough. So imho no "suck it and see" stage B 2nd gear on the off chance it's your lucky day, which I believe leads to some cutting it very fine chances being taken with some very doubtful gaps. Incidentally no committing to go until the vehicle in front is definitely going - no changing down on a closing gap. Remember the saying:- "I plan to stop but I look to go, I slow it down until I know, when I know I take the gear and go - and if I don't know/can't see I don't go".

Try to arrange yourself in relation to others alongside so they're not obscuring your view.

My driving instructor used to just say when we came to a roundabout “slowing to stop, ready to go”

At 4:16 you could probably boil it down to "I'm preparing to stop but I'm looking to go".

Please do a video of just driving your golf GTI, like a POV one.

language trivia: in the US we interpret "stages" as something you go through sequentially. we would call that "approach modes"

I once did a stage A approach to a large roundabout, spotted the gap for the car in front, hung back a bit, spotted my gap, selected second and went for it. The problem was that the car in front was a stop and look driver. Oops. By a strange coincidence, traffic lights appeared at that junction a few months later.

Excellent video, loved the graduated plan approach. I have learned to follow the IAM adage: "plan to stop, looking to go". In other words, plan to stop at the Give Way line but keep Information coming in through Observations - so I can amend my plan and drive on if the way is clear. By doing that, I have virtually no more of the sudden stops I used to have to make, when I would be planning to go and then suddenly discover the expected gap was not there!

Reminds me a little bit of DanDanTheFireman's the 5 Awareness Stages of a Motorcycle Rider (which I think also applies to car drivers). It's not exactly the same, but the underlying idea is similar.

Ashley, a little off topic but watching your class 2 journey inspired me to train for my licence as well. Is there any way of asking you a question as your expert opinion about a certain scenario would be really insightful. I know you’re most probably very busy but I think with your extensive knowledge of Liverpool and the surrounding areas you may be able to help? Cheers 👍🏼

Come across a few roundabouts where somebody has decided it was a good idea to deliberately erect barriers to prevent forward planning.

At the start of the video when you did your checks and it's just a brick wall, I know it's the right thing to do but made me laugh

I always thought the approach was - get the hell out of my way - I'm coming through regardless!!! :-D

Do you do the Dutch Reach when exiting your car on your driveway???

I failed my first test on Wednesday with one serious for judgement - meeting. I think what happened is I was going round some cars to turn left out of a junction, and someone turned into that same junction and had to stop on their side of the road to let me through. I believe I didn't see them in time so my awareness wasn't good enough. Also, the examiner asked me to turn right at the end of the road, and I took it as the right close to me intially, instead of the one at the end of the road, so I got a bit confused. Thanks for the video. I think I just need to start slowing it down a bit more for meeting situations and think a bit less about the give way line. Have you got any other videos along the same lines that spring to mind?

The number of times I see drivers braking for a roundabout and I am preparing to put my foot on the gas.They just don't plan ahead,they stop then look! Braking wastes fuel!

Hi Ashley, a bit off topic for the video but I was wondering if you have any advice. I’ve recently passed and since driving on my own, I’ve noticed that even though I’m going at a reasonable speed, some people get quite aggressive driving right up behind me, so I reduced my speed a bit as my instructor taught me to reduce risk but it causes me a lot of stress. I was wondering if you have any tips on how to react in this situation. Thanks!

you always seem to have quiet roads. they are never like that at any time of day near us

02:00 AN says his tips might be useful to: learners, other instructors, less confident drivers, I’d add another category lover confident drivers” [as we’ll see in seven and a half minutes]. 09:30 the car that overtakes and has to brake harshly at the round-a-bout is a great example of over confidence, I wonder if he’s a viewer? 11:00 was the first and/or the second car coming the left (from a minor road to the major road) guilty of not looking before emerging when they should have been giving AN the right of way? 12:25 did AN just drive over a “turn right” lane marking then go straight ahead? There is a road/entrance immediately to the right but I think it’s referring to the turn right further ahead. I thought I had him for a moment 😂.

Hey Ashley, what do you think about micro cars like the Aixam Coupe S, which are limited to 28mph and can be driven in the UK by 16 year olds on a moped licence? I was following one the other day and noticed other drivers being quite annoyed at the low speed, probably unaware that this vehicle could go no faster.

Is there a typo in your description? Too many people arrive at a junction and then start to look when they DRIVE or ARRIVE?

Could that van at 11:18 picked any worse of a spot to park at. So close to a roundabout and blocking visibility at a crossing. People really don’t think think.

Yeah where you have to give way not when.

Where/how do you send videos to Ashley?

hello passed my test in a 1.6 diesel now in a 1.4 petrol and i cant start off as smooth it is a 2007 car is this normal?

I get this is meant as an educational channel but did you really need to do blind spot checks when parked with a ten foot brick wall behind you … I don’t think anything will be overtaking somehow 😂😂

Morning all

You didn't mention stop signs

How come people still drive manual transmission cars? I can see it being important to learn, but as papa Elon Musk says “All human input, is error” the less drivers have to think about while driving allows more time for analyzing the road way. -Canadian viewer

Oh dear, the Kuga at Robbin's Island showing you how not to approach a roundabout.......

oh sorry. i didn't reply. hi there Ashley!

Creeps do well at junctions.

My girlfriend finds you irritating Ashley

Whenever I encounter someone who passes parked cars by barging through on the other side of the road, I know I've met someone who has zero planning (unless the whole barging thing is a strategic decision rather than tactical). On the approach to roundabouts, the worst thing that can happen to mess up your careful planning is a large vehicle arriving in the lane to your right and totally blocking the view. You just cannot plan for what you cannot see. Same applies at T-junctions, either emerging left or right.