Is it a roundabout or a road?

Is it a roundabout or a road?

Author
Discussion

TGAoW

Original Poster:

158 posts

212 months

Tuesday 1st April 2008
quotequote all
Here's one for the AD collective to chew the fat (mouse/keyboard?)over.

Scenario: Two dual carriageways meeting at right angles connected by a "roundabout". Those of you in my area may know it; it's the junction where the A50 meets the A38 south of Derby.

The "roundabout" is a large three lane affair with entrances/exits for the A50, A38, the Toyota Factory and a B road. This junction is so big that the roundabout forms an oval with large distances between the entrances/exits.

Now here's the question I put to you: My wife (not an IAM member but a good driver all the same) indicates all the way around the roundabout when making a right turn e.g. leaving the A38 southbound and joining the A50 westbound. I say that, due to the distance between the exits, and the fact that you have three lanes on the interconnection roads, any indication that you plan to turn right will, most likely, be forgotten by a driver behind or not clear to a driver joining from another entrance and that your repeated right indication could mean you wish to move lanes within the interconnection roads. I maintain you should treat the whole junction as a series of entrances/exits/lane changes (if needed). I.e. indicate onto the roundabout at/before the give way lines, cancel the indication when on the roundabout as you are in the correct lane, or indicate to move over a lane, then indicate left to move back a lane and/or leave the roundabout.

My local IAM groups’ consensus was that you should treat it as a series of junctions, but my wife won't have it, maintaining that the Highway code illustrates how you should indicate at a roundabout and nothing is mentioned about this kind of road layout.

Discuss

Vaux

1,557 posts

217 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2008
quotequote all
I'd indicate if it was sending out any useful information to anyone.

PS - What's the speed limit on the roundabout?

TGAoW

Original Poster:

158 posts

212 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2008
quotequote all
40

waremark

3,243 posts

214 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2008
quotequote all
If you think about whether or not to signal (so considering how your actions will affect other road users) does it matter what you decide?

parapaul

2,828 posts

199 months

Thursday 3rd April 2008
quotequote all
I know the roundabout in question.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=a50+a38&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=12.423463,29.619141&ie=UTF8&ll=52.865399,-1.569242&spn=0.012487,0.028925&t=h&z=15 

I would say (mostly from experience rather than any AD theory) that I would only indicate immediately before the exit I needed. The lanes are quite well marked and providing you join in the correct lane, moving between them is reasonably straightforward.

There's no real need to indicate as you exit, as the lanes are marked accordingly, but IMO it just reinforces to others your intentions.

HTH smile

Edited by parapaul on Thursday 3rd April 18:38


Edited by parapaul on Thursday 3rd April 18:39