If it is a small roundabout, maybe the cars approaching from your right are not slowing down and driving straight across the roundabout. If they haven't even reached the roundabout when you enter it, then they are suddenly trying to climb into your boot, then they are probably driving too fast, and expecting that nobody will get in their way.

We have an awkward busy small roundabout nearby, and I often pull out at the same time as a car to my right, but if they accelerate faster they are soon on my bumper. I would assume that 'give way' means to cars on the roundabout, but is that correct? Anybody...?

I would say if you can enter the roundabout without impeding a vehicle on your right, or causing it to change its course, you're fine.

The roundabout technique I see is generally terrible though -- my pet hates are dual-carriageway roundabouts at which people "straight-line" when going across (i.e. switch lanes on the roundabout itself), and the classic "all the way round in the outside lane without ANY signal"

I would advise approaching any roundabout, whether it be the mini, or large variety, by looking well in advance. Look whether anyone is coming from your right and make sure those on your left actually stop. A lot of people don't indicate on roundabouts, so always presume those on your right will come accross your path and you will have to give way.

Also, if those cars on your left have entered the roundabout, and you are able to leave at your exit, you can do so (effectively, that car is blocking anyone coming from the right anyway). If you plan in advance, there is often no need to come to a full stop. As to your question about when to give way, it is not really when the car on the right enters the roundabout - you should give way just on their approach to the roundabout. That way, you will not risk entering the roundabout at the same time as them.

So look right, double check left and if your car can make the exit before anyone on your right enters the roundabout, you are fine. Hope that helps.

Edited by newman on 12/05/2011 at 19:54

I recently had trouble on a mini roundabout, I was comming from the one direction where I did not need to give way, there being no cars comming my way, so I entered the roundabout, just after a car tried to enter it which would of gone straight into the front of me...then gave me the finger...I was not impressed.

Scandanavian Flick to line up with your exit road and then boot it through the apex?

I sympathise entirely with your predicament. I have been driving for 33 years and I have still not masterd the art of all roundabouts. My take on this if I understand you that if someone is very close to the roundabout approaching from the right or travelling at highish speed from the right, you slow down and give way.

Personally I am not so bothered by mini roundabouts, the large complex islands are the ones that get me. It seems that if you ever try to change lanes due to an error or similar people want to kill you where you sit ! However I would like to shake the hand of the traffic engineer who had the good idea of now putting dotted guide-lines on some very large and complex roundabouts, to help people navigate the system in a safer and more efficient way.