Using another car as a "shield" on a roundabout

[Triumph Man]

My sister took - and failed - her driving test today, Salisbury if anyone knows it. Apparently everything went fine, apart from using a van as a "shield" at a roundabout. The roundabout in question had two lanes, her and the van were parallel, waiting to set off. The van set off, so my sister set off, in the left hand lane turning left.

I know the implications of doing this, but does that really strictly mean a "serious" driving error?

[mybrainhurts]

Why couldn't she see past the van?

I do this if the van is a lorry or bus.

[Defcon5]

mybrainhurts said:

I do this if the van is a lorry or bus.

Same

[Rubin215]

Van may have had enough time to get across the path of a vehicle turning into the exit on their immediate left, however her path may have caused said vehicle to brake to avoid running into the back of her.

I only use another vehicle as a shield if I am going the same way as them.

[Trif]

The van might set off having not seen another vehicle on the roundabout and suddenly stop. Your sister may not be able to stop in time or stop in the middle of the roundabout etc. It is a bad practice to do.


I do it all the time in the VX even with other cars, but am aware it is a risky manoeuvre.

[gazchap]

I was taught by my instructor that this was OK with larger vehicles like lorries or buses, as "nothing is going to shift one of them out of the way."

[martin84]

Trif said:

The van might set off having not seen another vehicle on the roundabout and suddenly stop. Your sister may not be able to stop in time or stop in the middle of the roundabout etc.

Well yes fair point but the OP did say she was turning left. If its a two lane roundabout with the vehicle forcing the vans sudden stop in the other lane (for a right turn, lets say) they wouldnt collide anyway. This might be easier to investigate if the OP could google map us to the roundabout in question. From what I've heard here I'm not sure I'd call it a serious or dangerous fault, although essentially pulling out from anywhere when you cant see whats coming is likely to rile any examiner.

[wst]

gazchap said:

I was taught by my instructor that this was OK with larger vehicles like lorries or buses, as "nothing is going to shift one of them out of the way."

I knew a bus driver whose was T-boned by a cement lorry while he was driving an unladen schoolbus (!). Turns out that not a lot will stop a cement lorry. Missed the driver, obviously. Didn't do the bus a whole lot of good.

[thesyn]

This whole using another vehicle as a shield thing drives me mad. A whole line of traffic is driving safely along at 40mph with 50m between cars , a car is waiting to turn L from a side turning to join the stream and one car slows

momentarily to turn off left at this side road. Then because of this he cannot momentarily see the line of cars proceeding towards so him he believes that they have somehow vanished and meanders out left at 5mph to find the

original stream of cars screaming to a halt behind him
.
Total thunders

No offence to OP's sister, roundabout is slightly different

[Trif]

martin84 said:

Well yes fair point but the OP did say she was turning left. If its a two lane roundabout with the vehicle forcing the vans sudden stop in the other lane (for a right turn, lets say) they wouldnt collide anyway. This might be easier to investigate if the OP could google map us to the roundabout in question. From what I've heard here I'm not sure I'd call it a serious or dangerous fault, although essentially pulling out from anywhere when you cant see whats coming is likely to rile any examiner.

The scenario I have in my mind they can still collide. And the OP sister may stop in the middle of the roundabout after seeing the van stop.


As far as the examiner is concerned, you shouldn't pull out of a junction where you can't see. If pulling out of a blind side road, you should edge out until you can see that the path is clear.

[Somnophore]

It's an error, it's a bad habit too, what if the van driver is being a dick and has pulled out into the path of an artic, the van isn't going to save you from that. Never entrust your safety to another motorists judgment when you can wait and look yourself.

[slipstream 1985]

i take it that im the only one that does this all the time?

[designforlife]

I only do this if the "shield" is a big lorry which I cannot see around...and I make damn sure I'm nose to nose with it when we pull out.

I would far rather the lorry on the right didn't pull so far onto the roundabout when waiting, so that I could see around it and pull out when good and ready.

[Silver]

Triumph Man said:

My sister took - and failed - her driving test today, Salisbury if anyone knows it. Apparently everything went fine, apart from using a van as a "shield" at a roundabout. The roundabout in question had two lanes, her and the van were parallel, waiting to set off. The van set off, so my sister set off, in the left hand lane turning left.

I know the implications of doing this, but does that really strictly mean a "serious" driving error?

I think the key point here is that it was while on a driving test.

It doesn't matter what you might or might not do once you've passed, but I am guessing that using another vehicle as a shield on a roundabout on your test is a no-no as you don't have visibility.

ETA: I often use other vehicles as shields at junctions or roundabouts because in the TVR, if someone in anything taller than a normal car pulls up next to me it wipes out my visibility so I don't have a problem with people doing it.

Edited by Silver on Friday 18th May 21:58

[onesickpuppy]

slipstream 1985 said:

i take it that im the only one that does this all the time?

Nope, I do it too mate.

[R12HCO]

gazchap said:

I was taught by my instructor that this was OK with larger vehicles like lorries or buses, as "nothing is going to shift one of them out of the way."

[Ultuous]

Silver said:

I think the key point here is that it was while on a driving test.

It doesn't matter what you might or might not do once you've passed, but I am guessing that using another vehicle as a shield on a roundabout on your test is a no-no as you don't have visibility

Quite... Harsh as it may sound, the examiner has to feel confident that someone (usually) quite inexperienced is capable of making correct decisions time-after-time without endangering themselves or others - it's not about how 'good' you are as a driver, it's how 'safe' you make the examiner feel unfortunately!

[Triumph Man]

Ultuous said:

Quite... Harsh as it may sound, the examiner has to feel confident that someone (usually) quite inexperienced is capable of making correct decisions time-after-time without endangering themselves or others - it's not about how 'good' you are as a driver, it's how 'safe' you make the examiner feel unfortunately!

Actually, that's a very good way of looking at it. Make the examiner feel safe.

Yes I can see the points of the van misjuding and another vehicle hitting it, thus hitting my little sister. I also explained that viewpoint. Apparently there was a sharp intake of breath from the examiner :s. Anyway, she's learnt from this, and hopefully next time will do ok. She's not a bad driver, she just made a poor decision.

[hyperblue]

onesickpuppy said:

slipstream 1985 said:

i take it that im the only one that does this all the time?

Nope, I do it too mate.

I do it often but am aware that there is an element of risk and woudn't do it in my driving test!

[martin84]

Its one of those things people do but you shouldnt do on your test. Its also another one of those which if everybody did it the way the examiner wants you to we'd have gridlock and nobody would get anywhere.