Driving In And Around Ipswich Roads.
Use These Video's For Private Practice To Familiarise Yourself With Signs And Road Marking & Various Approaches.
This Video Shows You Taking The Second Exit Into The Exchange, Also Known As The Ransomes Euro Park.
Travelling towards the Euro park on Nacton Road, you'll find the signs at the roundabout quite daunting!
The first sign shows main routes towards the Hospital and the A14 towards Bury Saint Edmunds, Felixstowe and Colchester.
The second small sign shows lane discipline for Euro Park /A14 left lane, and it is hidden, so make sure you don't take the right lane for the Ravenwood estate, when your navigator says at the roundabout take the 3rd exit.
The left lane is for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd exit only.
This Video Shows You travelling From Burger King Down Ransomes Way.
Once you exit the roundabout, you'll find yourself in the left lane, notice there is no giveaway at the Sainsbury's roundabout for this lane.
Traveling down Felixstowe Rd (A1156) is a 40 mph limit so be careful not to do 30 mph or you may get a minor fault on your driving test, for appropriate speed.
Approaching St Augustine's roundabout signal late here, since you're not signalling for the shops!
Taking the 1st exit, look far enough ahead to notice two lanes, keep left for Cobham Road, straight ahead for the Town Centre, and signal early if you want the town centre lane, to change lanes safely.
If you find yourself in the left lane and don't have time to make the appropriate MSM routine, take the left lane don't swap late, this could be considered dangerous driving.
On your driving test you are not marked down heavily for going in the wrong direction!
As long as you drive safe, when taking a wrong turn.
This Video Shows You Pulling Away From The Side Of The Road, (Cobham Road and turning right at the traffic lights)
Notice the No Entry on the right so don't turn here!
At the Traffic Lights (a slight hill) don't stop in the Cycle Box, and don't roll back significantly when you pull away. It is a bit of a U bend so make sure you keep over to the left for your lane and over the the bridge.
While approaching the Saint Augustine's roundabout you'll notice the new 40 mph sign, so check Centre Mirror, Right Mirror keep to the right side and signal a little closer to the roundabout since you're not turning into the shops before.
Take the 3rd exit at the roundabout to Felixstowe Road and make good progress and be careful not to do 30 along here otherwise you may get a minor fault for Appropriate Speed on your Driving Test!
You'll often turn left into Sainsbury's for Forward Bay Parking before you finish your Driving Test.
This video Shows You Coming From Ipswich Past The Burger King Roundabout Turning 3rd Exit At The Sainsbury's Roundabout And Out Past Trinity Park.
Notice that the Murrills Road roundabout near Trinity Park, the 3rd exit is for following the road ahead, so be careful not to signal right here since it may be confusing to oncoming traffic, (that your turning right) and they may slow down as you face them to take your 3rd exit.
At the Seven Hills roundabout, approach it in the normal driving lane and exiting 2nd exit in the right lane (overtaking /making good progress lane) again be careful not to signal when leaving here since you aren't changing over to the left lane, and there is no other option. (It is a national speed limit roundabout so make good progress as you pull away and try to reach 30 mph for the exit, and this will help you make good progress in the overtaking lane.
Make good progress check your left mirror and signal... wait until it's safe to change back to the normal driving lane.
You can either follow Nuffield Hospital signs down to Foxall Road or continue straight ahead to Lowestoft.
When following Foxall Road (50mph) and approaching the stadium at the Foxall "dip" (30mph) be careful not to speed downhill and maintain your progress uphill.
You'll often pull over to the left along Foxall Road while following the Satellite Navigation. Check your Blind Spots, be careful to move off safely.
This Video Shows A You Travelling Down Foxall Road And Turning Right InTo Bell Lane.
(this route is sometimes used when school is on half term or summer time, it extends the route so as not to come back early since the roads are quieter when pupils are on their summer holidays or half term)
Noticing the reduced speed before Penzance Road and following through to the main road A12/A14 where it continues to be a 30 mile an hour limit.
Taking the normal driving position at the Heath Road roundabout and keeping good lane discipline for the Town Centre.
Only signal when necessary as not to confuse other drivers.
This Video Shows Coming Up Against Traffic, So A Detour Was Needed Through Dobbs Lane, And Turning Right On To Foxall Road, Finishing On Arundel Way in Ipswich.
Coming off at Junction 58 towards Lowestoft and Woodbridge, you'll find yourself in the left lane of the slip lane entry into the A12. Notice it has NO Give Way markings, so change to 3rd gear for the corner and make progress, following the signs to Lowestoft.
Pay good attention to the road markings, and be careful when pulling away at the roundabouts, (keep good Lane Discipline!) and then follow to Kesgrave at the Traffic Light Controlled roundabout.
(Notice how the Student deals with the Police Vehicle, and slows down to give way)
This Video Shows Taking Junction 58 Slip Road And Turning 4th Exit At The Seven Hills Roundabout.
Make sure you keep to the inside until the 3rd exit where you can check your Centre Mirror, Left Mirror and change lane safely, for the 4th exit.
Don't take the outside lane too early for the 2nd and the 3rd exit, since that is not your normal driving position for the 4th exit, and you could fail your Driving Test, (1 serious fault Normal Driving Lane)
This Video Shows You Travelling On The A1156 (Felixstowe Rd) Taking The 2nd Exit At The Roundabout To Murrills Road.
Don't always assume the 2nd exit is for the road ahead!
On this roundabout its a right turn, and the SatNav will say only the exit number, ( "Take The 2nd Exit At The Roundabout" ) so plan ahead.
After the roundabout, you often pull over to the left curb to practice a Park on the left.
This Video Shows You Travelling From The Havens To The Euro Park.
Travelling from the Havens roundabout, change lanes safely to the right lane, and take the 3rd exit to the Town Centre (Nacton Rd).
Be careful not to speed over the 30mph, and look early for the road markings, for the correct lane you need. You will find yourself in the right lane coming off the roundabout, which is for the Hospital or Europark. ( 3rd and 4th Exit) The left Lane is for the Town Centre or Ravenswood (1st and 2nd Exit)
If you want the Town Centre (2nd exit) you must Change lanes on approach early, but not once you in the roundabout, or this will cause a serious fault on your Driving Test for Lane Discipline! (if you find that you are in the wrong lane, you can however, circle the roundabout and then take the Town Centre Exit and that is considered safe).
This Video Is Showing You Travelling On Felixstowe Road Towards The St Augustine's Church.
Keep good progress along the 40 mph road and don't do 30mph, (if the road is clear ahead) or you'll get a Driver Fault for Appropriate Speed.
Watch the timing of your signal on approach to the roundabout, since, if you signal to early, you may confuse others that your turning into the shops on the left, before the roundabout.
Look ahead early, after the exit, and either turn left on Cobham Road, or right lane for straight ahead at the lights.
Check Mirrors, and Signal if your late in spotting the direction you need..!
Sainsbury's Petrol Station. (Murrill's Rd)
Past the Sainsbury's Petrol Station, no signal required to follow left at the Traffic Island, the direction is only left. (blue sign - white arrow).
Do signal for the Roundabout either left or right after you take your position on approach after the corner, up to the Roundabout.
This Video Shows You Heading West On The A14 And Taking Junction 56 Towards Ipswich & The Town Centre.
Travelling over the Orwell Bridge on the A14, this route is usually done after the rush hour, typically after 9am, since it is a little further out of town, and doing it earlier would cause a delay in returning to the Test Centre.
Either following the Satnav or signs as you leave the Test Centre, the route is clear, but watch out for the Mini Roundabouts at the Docks, keep Lane Discipline and check your mirrors.
Changing directions to Felixstowe, you may turn towards Cliff Lane for a Hill Start on Landseer Road.
Travelling On The A14 Towards Suffolk One.
Taking Junction 55 slip road and turning right towards Ipswich.
Keeping Lane Discipline around the roundabout, and exiting in the right lane for the next right at the Pinewood Roundabout.
Approaching Suffolk One and turning 3rd exit at the Roundabout into Chantry and Left at the next roundabout, You may turn into the housing estate for a Manoeuvre.
Following The Signs For Manningtree.
Travelling on Wherstead road following the signs for Manningtree, the first roundabout has 4 exits, be careful here, and don't signal right for Manningtree since the 3rd exit is straight ahead. Make sure you follow your normal driving position and keep left for the 3rd exit.
The next Junction is a Traffic Island, so keep to your Normal Driving Lane (left) and look ahead early, since you'll need the right lane for Manningtree at the next Roundabout and make sure you check mirrors and signal to change lanes to the right as you leave Ipswich towards Manningtree. (the examiner will sometimes tell you which lane to take on approach to the traffic island)
After the exit you'll see the National Speed limit, and make good progress and again, be aware you need to stay left to avoid driving in the overtaking lane up the A137 (Bourne Hill bypass) which is a Serious Fault: for Normal Driving Lane. (of course if your following a slower vehicle, over take it in the right lane!)
The Route Changes on the A137 from Manningtree to Felixstowe, so at the traffic Island, giveway to the right and turn left down the Slip Road (making good progress) and over the Orwell Bridge.
The Havens To Nacton Village & To The A14.
Leaving the Havens, you'll change lanes for Nacton Village, and out into the countryside. Watch out for the sharp corners entering Nacton Village, so be careful and keep to the advisory 20 mph around the corners. (2nd gear?)
Left turn and left again will see you past the Primary School, but this route is usually done after 9am or out of Term Time.
Pulling over to the curb after the Village and a right turn at the T-junction sees you on the National Speed limit road. Be careful not to pull out and slow other motorists down, and Make good progress,
Approaching the Seven Hills Roundabout, try and slot in, but, if you have to stop and give way, then again, don't cause stress to another driving by pulling out and slowing down the traffic..
Turning left up the Slip Road, get up to a good speed to equal the cars on the A14, and then take the next Slip Road for Junction 57 back under the A14 to Finish at the Ransomes Euro Park.