Driver’s ‘roundabout slingshot’ trick has people divided
Driver’s ‘roundabout slingshot’ trick has people divided
British motorists have been left divided after witnessing a so-called 'roundabout slingshot' trick that supposedly helps beat heavy traffic.
Of course, as all drivers can relate, being stuck in endless queues of traffic really isn't at all fun - especially when the queue is leading up to a huge roundabout.
Without roundabouts being very common here in the UK, British motorists will know all too well the havoc they can cause during rush hours - but one has come up with a nifty trick to beat the chaos.
Advert
The idea of the 'roundabout slingshot' is that, rather than queuing in the left-hand lane and taking your chance to turn off along with all the other cars queuing to do the same thing, you charge down the empty right-hand lane, go all the way round the roundabout and then exit onto the turning you always wanted to take in the first place.
This way you theoretically get to beat the queue, make it onto the roundabout and have your turning ages before everyone else waiting to actually get onto the roundabout itself.
TikToker @jobbertok explained in a video that it was the night before the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and he was dealing with 'absolutely slammed' roads as everyone had the same idea to pop to the shops.
Using the application of the roundabout slingshot, he was able to drive right past a whole queue of cars also wanting to head in the same direction as him and dive down his turning in a matter of seconds.
However, his slick bit of car-work has caused a bit of a split among his fellow motorists, as some thought it was terribly clever while others did the internet equivalent of putting their hands on their hips and giving someone a stern look.
Though, someone who loved the roundabout slingshot said it was 'one of my favourite things to do' and that it was a 'great idea'.
Some were baffled that more motorists didn't do it, saying it 'makes sense' as they 'wouldn't wait in that queue'.
On the other hand, others took a rather more dim view of this move, which is not illegal on the roads but certainly goes against the spirit of how you're supposed to drive.
If you're taking the first exit from a roundabout you get in the left-hand lane and prepare to turn off, that's how it works, but if too many people start doing it they could lead to disaster.
Someone pointed out that when 'everyone starts doing it then it ends up blocking the other exits', and a second added that if everyone did it then it'd 'stop traffic' at all other junctions.
Other commenters pointed out that the car right in front of the TikToker had just done the exact same thing, noting that the roundabout slingshot was becoming more common with time.
Joe Harker