St. Mark’s Roundabout is the first roundabout that you are likely to encounter when you exit the Salisbury Driving Test Centre. Oh my! Having spent much of the morning switching lanes with a pupil, I decided to put together these notes on how to traverse it.
From the test centre, you will be approaching it from Wain-A-Long Road. That’s the road in the bottom right hand corner. Most of the difficulties occurr with exits 3, 4 and 5, so I thought I would draw some nice pink arrows.
Exit 3 – A36 Churchill Road North
Approach the roundabout in the left hand lane, then there are two options:
Option 1 – Head for the left hand lane at the first set of traffic lights, then continue along the left hand lane of Churchill Road North Like this:
Option 2 – Head for the middle lane at the first set of traffic lights, then continue along the right hand lane of Churchill Road North. When its safe to do so, move over to the left lane:
Should you choose option 1 or 2? I suggest that you choose option 1 unless the left lane at the first set of traffic lights is full. There is room for two cars or a bus to wait. If its full then go for option 2, the middle lane.
Exit 4 – St. Mark’s Road
Approach the roundabout in the right hand lane and head for the right lane at the first set of traffic lights. Take the left lane at the second set of traffic lights. Then move to the outside lane before you exit:
Exit 5 – A30 London Road
Approach the roundabout in the right hand lane and head for the right lane at the first set of traffic lights. Take the left lane at the second set of traffic lights. Then move to the outside lane. Carry on past St. Mark’s Road and take the exit:
Finally, if you find yourself in the wrong lane, its much safer to stay in that lane and go the wrong way. If you switch lanes, you will most likely fail your driving test. If you switch lanes without checking your side mirror, you will definitely fail your driving test. Whereas if you go the wrong way, even if you are following a sat nav, you will only pick up a minor at worse.
