Which shoulder check when exiting roundabout?

[chupacabra]

Just a quick question; which shoulder check you should do when exiting roundabout?
I always thought it should be left, to check for bicycles, but as far as I remember my instructor said it should be only the right shoulder check, to check for cars that want to exit from the inside lane.
What is the right answer?

[arry]

The right. Point being if you've got your lane position correct when exiting then nothing could be up the inside - whereas from the right you could have a car trying to jump in front and cut across you

[Stalk]

I've always checked the biggest bit of road, then the other side to be sure. 99 times in 100 unnecessary. 1 in 100 lifesaver as there is always another twat out there trying something, could even be another biker

[MCN]

You check the left before you exit. Same as any left turn.

Ask your instructor again.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[chupacabra]

Like arry said, that was an explanation of my instructor.
But when I'm taking an exit from the roundabout, do I also need to keep close to the left side? I know that what you should do on the exam but in real life, I'm sure a lot of morons will want to overtake centimetres away from you on your lane, or even try to take the same exit.
Similar to when you turn left at the traffic light and you supposed to turn left. A lot of time some idiot will line up right next to you and sometimes even turning left driving along side you.
What is the point of keeping close to the left when turning left?

[MCN]

[Rogerborg]

Answer: it depends.

Sometimes you'll want to be close to the left when you exit, sometimes, you'll be towards the right. Depends on the roundabout, the traffic and where you're going next. There's no magic rule.

I've had a pedalist shoot through a roundabout at the bottom of a hill and overtake on the left. If I hadn't looked left and given him room, I've had had him embedded in me.

It depends.
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[Val]

[rubyhorse2]

As a few above have already mentioned, roundabouts can be a real danger for bikers.

My 2 rules are, dominate the lane you are in, ie dont hug any edges and be a timid little mouse (if cars see more space they tend to think they can use this space). Your a vehicle just like any other. and the second rule is be overly observant, do shoulder checks to both sides and be aware of where all vehicles are and what they might be about to do.

[MCN]

There is no real need to look right if you are turning left off a roundabout. If you are in the correct lane for the exit it is a simple left turn off the roundabout and the left shoulder check is all you need.

You will look right when entering the roundabout.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Rich Bryce]

Left at whatever exit in case another motorcycle, scooter or fast cyclist has crept inside you without you having noticed.
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[andyscooter]

I was always taught

left hand as you go past a junction to make sure nothing is coming out of it and right as you pull off to check nothing has come straight over in the wrong lane and is turning into the same turning as you
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[JonWal]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I was also told to check my right shoulder when taking a left exit off a roundabout.

I queried this with the instructor afterwards and had the explaination that a car could be trying to get past you on the exit.

If you're coming off a dual (or if another motorist is for that matter) and exiting onto a single, then you could effectively have two lanes squeezing into one. In this situation a right lifesaver could be the difference.
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[talkToTheHat]

Didnt we go over this last week?

Look to the side the vehicle that is about to kill you is coming from. Or look towards the tarmac not the kerb. Possibly do a cyclist check to your left as well.

Enter roundabout from the left and turing left, look right.

Going straight on, if you stay to the left, look right. If you took the right hand lane through the roundabout, look left as you exit.

Turning right, staying right through roundabout, look left as you exit.

If spiral or many-lane roundabout, all hell can be unleashed.
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[Val]

[Barnoe]

As already said, do as your instructor says and get your licence.

Then as you ride more you will gain experience and more awareness... this means you learn that riding by the book isnt always safest.
95% of the time the books you read are right... but certain conditions mean you have to adapt

https://www.mc-ams.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/RA_rAbout-Car-Straight-Ahead-Left-Lane-copy.jpg

The above example for instance.... which shoulder is best to check
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[Lord Percy]

Don't base it on which lane you're in or which lane you're supposed to look at. It's not really about any sort of prescribed rule for where you're expected to mechanically crane your neck to pass the test. It's supposed to be about saving your skin. Just check anywhere a life-threatening hazard might be coming from. The idea is to get a feel for where these dangers might be.



( Personally I even do sly shoulders checks when I'm out walking on the footpath now, I can't help it any more )

[pinkyfloyd]

For a standard roundabout with 3 exit points as you approach it goes a little like this:

1. First exit left. Left shoulder check before exiting the roundabout. You should be in the left lane.

2. Second exit straight ahead, Right shoulder check, there is no harm in looking left also but the important one is the right check. You should be in the left lane unless the road markings/signs say otherwise. If the signs say right hand lane I would check both shoulders.

3: Third exit right. Left shoulder check. You should be in the right hand lane for this.
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[The Disapproving Brit]

tl;dr: Look whereever things might come from. If you're in the outside lane on a roundabout and you're passing or using an exit, check right to make sure nobody is taking that exit from the inside lane. If you're in the inside lane and moving into the outside lane, check left to make sure you're not moving into anyone's path.

It's just about understanding where other traffic is likely to come from, and making sure there isn't anyone there.
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[MCN]