Why are roundabouts being used incorrectly so often?

[RobM77]

Yes, this is a consistent problem across all roundabouts in the area where I live. The reason is probably that people just forget the rules over time and don't ever re-read the Highway Code, people are also a bit thick in general . I got into a discussion about this with a driving instructor friend of mine whilst we were waiting for a friend. We had a roundabout in sight so we decided to do a count whilst we waited for this guy to turn up. I can't remember the figures, but about half of drivers didn't indicate at all, and most of the other half indicated incorrectly.

[caelite]

ukaskew said:

hornetrider said:

The issue is a lot of roundabouts now no longer follow the convention, and you have to pay attention to the road markings/signs. Not saying it is in this case, but it's not as clear cut as it used to be, therefore perhaps contributing to the free for all appraoch.

Was just about to say exactly this. There is a sequence of two very standard 4 exit roundabouts on my route home, one has a 'left and straight on' arrow painted on the left lane, and a right arrow in the right hand lane. The next one has a left arrow in the left lane, and a 'right and straight on' arrow in the right hand lane.

I have the exact same thing just down the road from my house. In fact its so bad when they resurfaced the road they got the temporary spray painted on markings backwards on one of the roundabouts, then changed it back when they put the permanent markings back in.

[ukaskew]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Well this is the problem then, re point 2, it's open to interpretation and initial instruction. My instructor taught me to indicate left when going left, not when going straight over and right when taking the 3rd exit. Seems perfectly logical to me.

There is nothing open to interpretation re: indicating left. The Highway Code explicility states that you will ultimately indicate left in every possible scenario, whether it's the first exit, an intermediate one or right, you always indicate left after the last exit before your exit.