Which lane, roundabouts
Discussion
Hi, lane discipline is usually a very basic driving skill, but one roundabout has me questioning myself.
Ill do my best to explain without pictures, the roundabout is a standard 4 exit island but north to south is a dual carriageway, east to west isn't, i come from the south, heading straight over. And usually you could use both lanes (left and right) as you come out onto a dual carriageway. However from the west there is a filter lane that goes into the first lane with a solid line meaning lane 1 is inaccessible from the south.. Now, would it be correct to use the left hand lane to go straight ahead, or the right hand lane, i use the left hand lane, as do a lot of people, but seem to get cut up a lot from drivers in the right lane.
Obviously taking full care and attention, but who in the eyes of the law would be in the wrong? If something were to happen. Im sorry if its came across as a bit of a ramble, its late
(there are no lane markings suggesting which lane is right)
Cheers
Ill do my best to explain without pictures, the roundabout is a standard 4 exit island but north to south is a dual carriageway, east to west isn't, i come from the south, heading straight over. And usually you could use both lanes (left and right) as you come out onto a dual carriageway. However from the west there is a filter lane that goes into the first lane with a solid line meaning lane 1 is inaccessible from the south.. Now, would it be correct to use the left hand lane to go straight ahead, or the right hand lane, i use the left hand lane, as do a lot of people, but seem to get cut up a lot from drivers in the right lane.
Obviously taking full care and attention, but who in the eyes of the law would be in the wrong? If something were to happen. Im sorry if its came across as a bit of a ramble, its late
(there are no lane markings suggesting which lane is right)Cheers
The only indication of which lane to use on main road roundabouts is via the advanced signing on approach.
This will indicate which lanes should be used, especially for 'filter lanes' etc.
To back the advance signing up there should also be road markings.
If neither of these exist then it could well be a free-for-all on the roundabout.
(Because as I posted a while back, the highway code doesn't really address multi-lane roundabouts sufficiently to give clear guidance on what happens when vehicles are side-by-side on roundabouts - which happens everyday).
This will indicate which lanes should be used, especially for 'filter lanes' etc.
To back the advance signing up there should also be road markings.
If neither of these exist then it could well be a free-for-all on the roundabout.
(Because as I posted a while back, the highway code doesn't really address multi-lane roundabouts sufficiently to give clear guidance on what happens when vehicles are side-by-side on roundabouts - which happens everyday).
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.444724,-1.725192...
that's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
that's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
azzzah said:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.444724,-1.725192...
that's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
If using the left lane to go from west to east the try putting on the right indicator just as you enter the roundabout then changing to left indicator as you go past the first exitthat's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
ging84 said:
seems like a bad junction, left lane should have a left arrow or the right a right arrow, otherwise you are always going to get 2 lanes of traffic merging where there isn't anywhere sensible to merge
I'd agree that is a bad junction. I use it when going to the hotel next to the Esso station.From the eastbound right hand exit lane I need to get into the left lane fairly quickly to access the hotel. If there are several cars coming from the north into the eastbound left lane quick manouvering is required.
azzzah said:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.444724,-1.725192...
that's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
Either I'm not understanding something or what you are doing makes no sense. If going from west to east why aren't you staying on the A45 rather than using the roundabout?that's the island in question.
Please note that i used the north / south etc in the initial description just as a way of describing it, when in actual fact i approach this junction from the west, heading straight across (to east).
There are no signs approaching the island, as you can see no solid white line separating the lanes, I got cut up again today
That said, this view suggests to me that people in the right hand lane shouldn't be carving up those in the left hand 'lane' who are exiting onto the A45 slip road.
Red Devil said:
Either I'm not understanding something or what you are doing makes no sense. If going from west to east why aren't you staying on the A45 rather than using the roundabout?
That said, this view suggests to me that people in the right hand lane shouldn't be carving up those in the left hand 'lane' who are exiting onto the A45 slip road.
I thought that, But to be honest it's a notoriously bad junction with too many lanes squeezed into a short length.That said, this view suggests to me that people in the right hand lane shouldn't be carving up those in the left hand 'lane' who are exiting onto the A45 slip road.
Many people on the A45 leave till the last minute to get across for the M42 junction, plus on the slip road people are looking to use the garage on the left, or the Hotel entrance as mentioned by another poster.
Is this your exit?
Are the road markings still as shown in the photo or have they changed? Those chevrons are bounded by a broken line, not a solid one - you can cross them if you want to as long as it's safe. You might not be able to know at the point of joining the roundabout whether it will be safe to cross the chevrons by the time you get to them, but it's something to bear in mind as an option as you approach the exit.
Are the road markings still as shown in the photo or have they changed? Those chevrons are bounded by a broken line, not a solid one - you can cross them if you want to as long as it's safe. You might not be able to know at the point of joining the roundabout whether it will be safe to cross the chevrons by the time you get to them, but it's something to bear in mind as an option as you approach the exit.
ISYM. If you want to reach the Esso station or the Arden Hotel you have no choice. I had forgotten that the M42 junction was so close and it makes a kind of sense to be already established in the left hand lane ready for that exit when there is lots of traffic jockeying for position.
Red Devil said:
Either I'm not understanding something or what you are doing makes no sense. If going from west to east why aren't you staying on the A45 rather than using the roundabout?
I think he may be needing the entry into the industrial estate which comes off the A45 on-slip ??????covboy said:
R0G said:
I think he may be needing the entry into the industrial estate which comes off the A45 on-slip ??????
In which case the left hand lane is what he needs ?
The only premises I can see with access off that on-slip are an Esso filling station and the Arden Hotel.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff