Roundabout Question
Discussion
r129sl said:
I'm ready to be shot down...
If during the peak times when you use the road—
(1) The A57 is so busy that traffic queues back towards and onto the roundabout at your first exit,
(2) almost all of the cars in lane 1 of the slip road take the A57 at your first exit (like, say, 19 out of 20), and
(3) you know this to be the case
—then would it not make sense to use lane 2 of the slip road and, after the first exit, move across into the empty lane (all of the cars form lane 1 of the slip road having gone into the first exit) on your left in order to leave the roundabout at your second exit?
If hardly any other drivers (like only 1 in 20) use lane 1 for an exit other than the first exit, then surely this approach is safer?
I think it's one of those rare situations where not following road signs or the Highway Code is safer than following them. The thing is, road rage skinheads and the police may see it differently, so call me a numpty, but I'd sit in lane 1! (and now I await being shot down!).If during the peak times when you use the road—
(1) The A57 is so busy that traffic queues back towards and onto the roundabout at your first exit,
(2) almost all of the cars in lane 1 of the slip road take the A57 at your first exit (like, say, 19 out of 20), and
(3) you know this to be the case
—then would it not make sense to use lane 2 of the slip road and, after the first exit, move across into the empty lane (all of the cars form lane 1 of the slip road having gone into the first exit) on your left in order to leave the roundabout at your second exit?
If hardly any other drivers (like only 1 in 20) use lane 1 for an exit other than the first exit, then surely this approach is safer?
There are few similar roundabouts in this area. As TC and others have alluded to, it's the common queues in lane 1 that lead to the non-standard behaviour of people using lane 2 for exit 2. I'm not sure there is a definitive answer, but what i do is: if there is a queue in lane 1, I use lane 2 then move over after clearing the queue (as most others do); if lane 1 is clear or just one or two cars, i go for lane 1 and then just keep my eyes peeled for people trying to cut across from lane 2.
timbo999 said:
Use the left lane as you do, but indicate right until you are past the first exit...? The highway code does allow indicating right if you are travelling past the first exit I believe...
I think you need to do some reading as you're very wrong. You'll cause more confusion among other drivers as they'll think you're about to change lanes and direction. Do you live in Suffolk/Norfolk?Tony1963 said:
timbo999 said:
Use the left lane as you do, but indicate right until you are past the first exit...? The highway code does allow indicating right if you are travelling past the first exit I believe...
I think you need to do some reading as you're very wrong. You'll cause more confusion among other drivers as they'll think you're about to change lanes and direction. ...Funnily enough I drove through this roundabout a few weeks ago for the first and probably last time ever, coming off the motorway and turning second left. It is a shocker! I am in a sprinter van and I had to get my elbows out to get through unscathed.
My advice for what it's worth. Stay in lane 2 all the way onto the roundabout even if it's busy, you know there is a risk that the cars on your inside might choose to go straight through to the second exit making your merge into the left hand lane more difficult but you are not at risk from people who blindly cut in in front of you. You are in control of the situation rather than a bystander. Should it not be possible to blend left then just chug round the roundabout, which is a much better option than being forced into the first left which almost immediately blends into a single lane with yet more contrempus!
Good luck
My advice for what it's worth. Stay in lane 2 all the way onto the roundabout even if it's busy, you know there is a risk that the cars on your inside might choose to go straight through to the second exit making your merge into the left hand lane more difficult but you are not at risk from people who blindly cut in in front of you. You are in control of the situation rather than a bystander. Should it not be possible to blend left then just chug round the roundabout, which is a much better option than being forced into the first left which almost immediately blends into a single lane with yet more contrempus!
Good luck
WinstonWolf said:
Turning left from the right hand lane? No...
No just blending left as you always have to do to leave a roundabout. It's all about timing on that particular roundabout. I am very much with to OP on this one it's a shocker when you actually drive it. I nearly got wiped out by a black 3-series touring on the one and only time I did it. Everyone assumes if you are in the left lane you are going to take the first exit. johnao said:
Causing a modicum of confusion in the mind of the driver of the vehicle in lane 2 is exactly what you're trying to achieve. The purpose in indicating right, IF you observe another vehicle approaching in lane 2 whose intention you suspect is to take the first exit and cut across in front of you, is to make the other driver stop and think about what you're going to do next and what he's going to do about it. The hope being that it will be sufficient to deter him from cutting across in front of you into exit 1.
That's not what Timbo999 seemed to be suggesting. Nowhere in the HC does it suggest what he posted. I see many people in East Anglia indicate like that routinely. It's wrong.
Tony1963 said:
johnao said:
Causing a modicum of confusion in the mind of the driver of the vehicle in lane 2 is exactly what you're trying to achieve. The purpose in indicating right, IF you observe another vehicle approaching in lane 2 whose intention you suspect is to take the first exit and cut across in front of you, is to make the other driver stop and think about what you're going to do next and what he's going to do about it. The hope being that it will be sufficient to deter him from cutting across in front of you into exit 1.
That's not what Timbo999 seemed to be suggesting. Nowhere in the HC does it suggest what he posted. I see many people in East Anglia indicate like that routinely. It's wrong.
Firstly I wasn't intending to comment upon Timbo999's posting. I was responding to your comment that... "... You'll cause more confusion among other drivers as they'll think you're about to change lanes and direction. ...". Hence my suggestion that a modicum of confusion and doubt would help keep everyone safer in the circumstances that I outlined.
Secondly, this is an advanced driving forum. The posted responses are given from the point of view of advanced drivers and their use of the various techniques and options available to them. In my opinion, the fact that, if it is true, ... "people in East Anglia indicate like that routinely", doesn't necessarily make it wrong, (I think you suggest that it is always wrong), if the indication is used in the carefully planned and appropriate manner that I have outlined with regard to the confusing, multi-lane situation described by the OP.
If an option is likely to make the situation safer then it would be inappropriate not to choose that option.
johnao said:
A couple of points if I may.
Firstly I wasn't intending to comment upon Timbo999's posting. I was responding to your comment that... "... You'll cause more confusion among other drivers as they'll think you're about to change lanes and direction. ...". Hence my suggestion that a modicum of confusion and doubt would help keep everyone safer in the circumstances that I outlined.
Secondly, this is an advanced driving forum. The posted responses are given from the point of view of advanced drivers and their use of the various techniques and options available to them. In my opinion, the fact that, if it is true, ... "people in East Anglia indicate like that routinely", doesn't necessarily make it wrong, (I think you suggest that it is always wrong), if the indication is used in the carefully planned and appropriate manner that I have outlined with regard to the confusing, multi-lane situation described by the OP.
If an option is likely to make the situation safer then it would be inappropriate not to choose that option.
I think we are agreeing more than disagreeing. Firstly I wasn't intending to comment upon Timbo999's posting. I was responding to your comment that... "... You'll cause more confusion among other drivers as they'll think you're about to change lanes and direction. ...". Hence my suggestion that a modicum of confusion and doubt would help keep everyone safer in the circumstances that I outlined.
Secondly, this is an advanced driving forum. The posted responses are given from the point of view of advanced drivers and their use of the various techniques and options available to them. In my opinion, the fact that, if it is true, ... "people in East Anglia indicate like that routinely", doesn't necessarily make it wrong, (I think you suggest that it is always wrong), if the indication is used in the carefully planned and appropriate manner that I have outlined with regard to the confusing, multi-lane situation described by the OP.
If an option is likely to make the situation safer then it would be inappropriate not to choose that option.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff