Route through a wide roundabout

[Viperz888]

Hi
There is quite a large roundabout that I use almost everyday. I'm just looking for some opinions on what route one should take to cross it (straight over).

In the photo, when coming from the North East, heading South West, the blue line shows the route I usually take, staying to the left of the road. The road is easily wide enough for 2 lanes, but isn't marked as such. Does this mean I should take the yellow (middle of the 'lane') or red (racing line)? There is an mark where the imaginary middle of the road would be, but this is just due to the way the road was laid in 2 sections.
Many drivers will try to overtake on the roundabout, and I have seen quite a few bumps at the green spot as they try to come back across (all 4 roads are all singe lane, and I'm assuming drivers to the left have priority). Should I stick out into the road to try to block this, or am I allowed to take the racing line, since it is 1 lane?
Thanks

[SK425]

It's usually a good idea to fit in with local practices and expectations, so if it's wide enough for two lanes and people generally treat it as two lanes, do that.

That's no reason not to consider straightlining it though when doing so won't bring you into conflict with anyone and your position won't mislead others around you (on the roundabout or waiting to join). Why take a longer route than necessary round a tighter bend then necessary?

Do you ever have issues on the blue line with drivers waiting to join from the south east thinking you are going to take the exit there? I bet a lot of people don't bother signalling. Because of the the shape of it with those straight sides, if you enter on the blue line intending to take the second exit, to someone waiting to join from the south east you are probably indistinguishable from someone who intends to take the first exit but isn't signalling. Do people joining there sometimes get a bit eager and look like they're about to pull onto the roundabout just as you swing round the bend? Perhaps if the majority of the traffic joining where you do is staying on the A77 like you, that's what those waiting to join from the south east expect and it's not an issue.

Remember rule number one for roundabouts: don't go round with anyone else. That should protect you from prangs at the green point. In other words, be alongside gaps not other vehicles, so if you're going to take the line of the inside lane and overtake on the roundabout, get on with getting past them, and if someone is overtaking you, get them past you.

ETA:
Just reread your bit about sticking out into the road to block a potential overtake and so protect against a bump at the green point. That's fine, but you need to do it nice and early. If someone's close behind and looks committed to passing you, even if it's late on the roundabout and a daft place to try and pass you, moving out then to block them potentially looks aggressive and confrontational. If you want to command that space to protect against a dangerous late overtake, command it early, before the driver you're worried about has decided the overtake is worth going for. If you put them off before they start, that's fine. If they're in the middle of getting on with it and you suddenly move into their way, that's bad.

Edited by SK425 on Tuesday 12th May 23:04

[martinev]

It depends! Your 'best' route will vary on how busy the roundabout is. If it's quiet and there's no one close (even at the intermediate exits) then you can take whatever route you like. The other extreme where it is perhaps slow moving, congested traffic then you'd probably take a more conventional route.

Use whatever route you like as long as it's safe and doesn't mislead others.

[Red Devil]

SK425 said:

Do you ever have issues on the blue line with drivers waiting to join from the south east thinking you are going to take the exit there? I bet a lot of people don't bother signalling. Because of the the shape of it with those straight sides, if you enter on the blue line intending to take the second exit, to someone waiting to join from the south east you are probably indistinguishable from someone who intends to take the first exit but isn't signalling. Do people joining there sometimes get a bit eager and look like they're about to pull onto the roundabout just as you swing round the bend? Perhaps if the majority of the traffic joining where you do is staying on the A77 like you, that's what those waiting to join from the south east expect and it's not an issue.

^^This^^

It's one of those 'roundabouts' that isn't (round, that is). I would describe it as a gyratory. It could definitely use some white lines and road numbers painted on the surface to help guide traffic through it - https://goo.gl/cE1jgv - without them, correct signalling is essential.

[EmmaJ]

For me I'd be looking to make safe progress where possible so I'd be aiming for at least yellow route (better positioning to alert joiners at first exit of my intentions to carry on to the 2nd exit) and most likely red. All depends on the conditions and the traffic volume on and attempting to join the roundabout

[SK425]

Red Devil said:

SK425 said:

Do you ever have issues on the blue line with drivers waiting to join from the south east thinking you are going to take the exit there? I bet a lot of people don't bother signalling. Because of the the shape of it with those straight sides, if you enter on the blue line intending to take the second exit, to someone waiting to join from the south east you are probably indistinguishable from someone who intends to take the first exit but isn't signalling. Do people joining there sometimes get a bit eager and look like they're about to pull onto the roundabout just as you swing round the bend? Perhaps if the majority of the traffic joining where you do is staying on the A77 like you, that's what those waiting to join from the south east expect and it's not an issue.

^^This^^

It's one of those 'roundabouts' that isn't (round, that is). I would describe it as a gyratory. It could definitely use some white lines and road numbers painted on the surface to help guide traffic through it. Without them, correct signalling is essential.

I don't know the OP's roundabout but this one in Cambridge definitely suffers from that problem if you are entering from the north west and taking the second exit, to the south east. You're right about correct signalling, but the problem for the OP on the blue line is that the correct signal is no signal - hence why he might be indistinguishable from someone who intends to take the first exit and is not signalling correctly. Driving round the outside of a roundabout signalling right when you don't mean "right", you mean "not left" is an abomination. At least it normally is. On that one in Cambridge I have sometimes signalled unconventionally like that when I'm worried about someone joining too eagerly across my bows. Even if they don't know what I mean, or they think I'm one of those morons who doesn't know the difference between "right" and "not left", that might be preferable to them incorrectly assuming I am going to take the first exit. Signal on as I come into the view of the driver waiting to join and off as soon as I've started to turn and it's clear I'm not exiting seems to do the trick. Caution needed about how it might be interpreted by someone on the roundabout behind me of course. I've seen others do it when I'm the one waiting to join and I've found it helpful.

But there are a variety of ways of communicating with your fellow road users. The little orange flashy light is one. The position of your vehicle is another. What I was really getting at in bringing up this question for the OP is that, if it is an issue, taking the yellow or red line in preference to the blue line (when traffic permits) might be a very effective way of signalling to someone waiting to join that you are not taking the first exit.

Edited by SK425 on Thursday 14th May 08:56

[Jonsv8]

It looks like it's really two lanes on entry so red and blue with a short merge period on exit. I agree some could think you're exiting SE.

Councils/highways should be more accountable where a few dabs of paint like here would make it so much clearer. In the absence of paint, yellow is the more defensive line stopping cars overtaking and being more clear you're not going SE

[Viperz888]

Well thanks all for your thoughts.

However is seems someone from South Ayrshire council reads this, as they have just spend last weekend making it into 2 lanes all round. Strangely, they haven't changed the entries at all though. So it would seem that you have to be in the left lane to go straight over, as there is such a small space to merge back in, but as of yet there are no arrows on the entries stating this.

[EmmaJ]

Viperz888 said:

Well thanks all for your thoughts.

However is seems someone from South Ayrshire council reads this, as they have just spend last weekend making it into 2 lanes all round. Strangely, they haven't changed the entries at all though. So it would seem that you have to be in the left lane to go straight over, as there is such a small space to merge back in, but as of yet there are no arrows on the entries stating this.

Pistonheads: Where road markings matter

[heebeegeetee]

Viperz888 said:

Well thanks all for your thoughts.

However is seems someone from South Ayrshire council reads this, as they have just spend last weekend making it into 2 lanes all round. Strangely, they haven't changed the entries at all though. So it would seem that you have to be in the left lane to go straight over, as there is such a small space to merge back in, but as of yet there are no arrows on the entries stating this.

So does that mean that the red and yellow lines trying to collide with blue will now have to cross a white line to do so?

[Viperz888]

heebeegeetee said:

So does that mean that the red and yellow lines trying to collide with blue will now have to cross a white line to do so?

A dashed white line, yes.

[Jonsv8]

I'm not sure what you're expecting. Road approaches, splits into 2 before the give way, 2 lanes marked around the roundabout, 3 exits a left a right and straight ahead, the straight ahead has a short merge period - it is pretty much a classical layout. I'm all for a bit of paint on the road but in the absence left lane would be left and straight on, right would be right and straight on. The short merge is a common problem but very typical

[Gary C]

You turn in too early on the red line. Try easing it out just a bit to hit the apex slightly later and carry more speed into the next section........

Actually I hate these two car wide islands but with no dual markings such that people are all over the place. I would follow the blue and be prepared for cars to merge at the exit, thought I would use the yellow line if there was a slow truck and the island & exit was clear so I could complete the move without any chance of cutting up the lorry (and always be prepared to continue round if it becomes necessary)

[Tony1963]

My view on this is, the large road sign on the approach to this roundabout shows that the exit you take is past the 12 o'clock position, so I'd position my car to the right, and follow the right side all round to the exit. Obviously, as others mention, I'd be cautious about others not using my method. If new road markings now indicate otherwise, I'd follow them.



I learned my method of approaching roundabouts 20 odd years ago in instructor training, and haven't read anything since to tell me to drive differently.

[Jonsv8]

You use the clock face to decide rather than the thickness of the exit lines or the number of exits? I've always thought of the positions as being just an accurate reflection on the position.

The thick line is the main route through or at least the most major exit, the ones either side are tributaries. To me that means that if the road splits to two lanes, both will go straight on to the thick route.

Be interested to hear what others think

edit: not the best example as the oroad bends on approach but would you ever use the left lane here?

Edited by Jonsv8 on Saturday 23 May 14:29

[Tony1963]

On a roundabout such as the three exit one above, I would obviously keep left for the first exit, while keeping an eye out for road markings indicating more info.

Edited by Tony1963 on Monday 25th May 10:02