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To the people of Wolverhampton, the Compton Island is just another roundabout. But to learner drivers in the city it strikes fear and confusion.
The unusual rights of way on the island have now promoted the AA to name and shame it as one of the toughest in the UK for learners.
In fact, the motoring organisation claims scores of novice drivers fail their test every year purely because of mistakes made on this single roundabout.
The Compton Island is named in a report on the impact of roundabouts on learner drivers.
Video journalist Andy Toft went along to investigate. Watch his report and post your comments below.
9 Comments
Is this a joke? If you’re too thick to negotiate this simple T-junction roundabout then do us all a favour and keep off the road. Pathetic.
Sounds more like a cheeky excuse to nip into the Swan for a swift half.
Aren’t junctions like this the reason you’re meant to concentrate when you’re driving? Expect the unexpected? Learner drivers fail because of lack of awareness and reading the road. Welcome to the real world!
This island is an absolute nightmare in the morning and evening rush hours.
It’s not just learner drivers who have problems with it either. I’ve seen many a driver fail to navigate this straight forward junction.
It’s urgently needs looking at though as it’s clearly not suitable for the heavy amounts of traffic that pass through there!
HAHAHAH…
Its confusing them..hahaha
Advice..stay at home..get a bike or take the bus.
Whingers who cant drive will be the ones complaining its a hard junction.
You want to go to Swindon and have a go at the 7 roundabouts all in one zone that interlink…especially when people not paying attention drive the wrong way around them.Compton is fine T junction roundabout..left right left right watch and cross it.
Can’t believe this one makes the most confusing list. Try the one on Birches Bridge, Codsall if you want a local horror!
A slight correction to Gaynor’s post {#5). The Magic Roundabout at Swindon is actually six roundabouts; the main central roundabout is surrounded by 5 satellites (one on each junction) allowing drivers to go circumnavigate the roundabout anticlockwise if that is easier for their exit.
It’s a menace to learners, it’s a menace to those new to the area, but you’ve not experienced its full nightmarish potential until you try to get a 40 tonne truck complete with 45′ trailer around it… at rush hour!
N.B. Hemel Hempstead also has a Magic Roundabout so drive safe.
If you think the compton is magic try the one at halesowen .
there must be a traffic light to be installed. Learners will easily fail because the island is very near to the stop line going down from holyfield across
bridgenorth. A licensed driver who is going down if is clear in the juction will not necessarily stop in the stop line. The council must remedy the situation.