Roundabout Indicating Mystery
Discussion
Can anyone shed any light on this insignificant but rather puzzling mystery? This is a roundabout that I encounter when I walk to work each day:
Most cars follow the red route shown below and as a pedestrian I cross the road on the black line, where there are reflective bollards and yellow tarmac with an island to wait on in the middle - so not a crossing as such (zebra or pelican), but it makes things a bit safer, especially in poor visibility or at night.
What's been puzzling me is that about half of the cars following the red route above indicate left on approach to the roundabout. I realise most drivers are clueless, but the other day some police bikers on what looked like a training ride all did it, including the guy up the front who looked like he was leading them.
When there is a constant stream of cars in rush hour, pedestrians crossing the road as indicated by the black line have to wait for someone breaking the stream of traffic by turning left (to go up the road at 11 o'clock in the picture) or right to do it. Nobody indicates to turn right, so you have to wait for a left turner. However, with half the cars on the red route indicating left to go straight on, this task is made almost impossible. As a pedestrian, the only truly safe way round the problem is to divert all the way round using the zebra crossing visible at the bottom of the picture and the pedestrian crossing visible to the left of the picture, which involves a dangerous crossing on the road at 11 o'clock because occasionally drivers follow the red route and take the first exit at the roundabout without indicating, nearly running you over in the process (it's a constant stream of cars, so you can't wait for a gap). Drivers waiting on that road at 11 o clock to join the roundabout have the same tough task, as they're faced with a constant stream of cars coming at them from their right, half of which are indicating to take the first exit, but most of whom go straight on. Queues often form as a result.
Could someone point out where my highway code is failing me here? Why are so many people, including those police advanced riders, indicating left on approach to a roundabout if they intend to take the second exit?
Most cars follow the red route shown below and as a pedestrian I cross the road on the black line, where there are reflective bollards and yellow tarmac with an island to wait on in the middle - so not a crossing as such (zebra or pelican), but it makes things a bit safer, especially in poor visibility or at night.
What's been puzzling me is that about half of the cars following the red route above indicate left on approach to the roundabout. I realise most drivers are clueless, but the other day some police bikers on what looked like a training ride all did it, including the guy up the front who looked like he was leading them.
When there is a constant stream of cars in rush hour, pedestrians crossing the road as indicated by the black line have to wait for someone breaking the stream of traffic by turning left (to go up the road at 11 o'clock in the picture) or right to do it. Nobody indicates to turn right, so you have to wait for a left turner. However, with half the cars on the red route indicating left to go straight on, this task is made almost impossible. As a pedestrian, the only truly safe way round the problem is to divert all the way round using the zebra crossing visible at the bottom of the picture and the pedestrian crossing visible to the left of the picture, which involves a dangerous crossing on the road at 11 o'clock because occasionally drivers follow the red route and take the first exit at the roundabout without indicating, nearly running you over in the process (it's a constant stream of cars, so you can't wait for a gap). Drivers waiting on that road at 11 o clock to join the roundabout have the same tough task, as they're faced with a constant stream of cars coming at them from their right, half of which are indicating to take the first exit, but most of whom go straight on. Queues often form as a result.
Could someone point out where my highway code is failing me here? Why are so many people, including those police advanced riders, indicating left on approach to a roundabout if they intend to take the second exit?
DoubleSix said:
Cross further down.
There's no island to wait on in the middle of the road, so that's a virtually impossible task. The only options are as I've described above. There is another option, as described, but the point of my post is to find out why indicating left is seen as correct, even by police advanced riders.Snowboy said:
It looks like the first left isn't part of the roundabout.
The road markings seem to cut it off.
So on the red line approach left lane is turning left without touching the roundabout.
Right lane is for using the roundabout.
So, strangely, the correct way to follow the red line is to be in the right lane indicating left.
Edit - the Above is wrong.
I've just looked again and I misread the markings.
That's ok. There's actually a pavement there - it's not clear from the picture.The road markings seem to cut it off.
So on the red line approach left lane is turning left without touching the roundabout.
Right lane is for using the roundabout.
So, strangely, the correct way to follow the red line is to be in the right lane indicating left.
Edit - the Above is wrong.
I've just looked again and I misread the markings.
Here's a Google Street View:
The mystery is why cars in the position of the Passat above would be indicating left when in fact they follow the red route. The black route is the crossing point, which has since been formalised on the left hand side with yellow tarmac, nodules for blind people and bollards to match those on the other side of the road.
silverfoxcc said:
Ok, Head above parapet!!
I was told at a well known manufacturersd chauffeurs course to
Get in the correct lane
If taking the first exit indicae left on approach and keep indicating left until you exit
If taking any other exit DO NOT INDICATE until you are at the exit before the one you wish to take THEN indicate left
The reasoning behind this is
You have precedence on the roundabout and no indication whilst you are on it should alert the 'gamblers' who try to get in front of you if you do indicate right
By only indicating left on exit, you are not giving ambiguous signals.
How many times have you seen
drivers indicating right whilst turning left
And those indicating left and going all the way round?
One signal lets the guy whose Exit You are taking that it MAY be safe for him to emerge onto the roundabot.nthing mote nothing less
Oh and show me in the HC or Roadcraft where it specifically says Keep indicating right when going around a roundabout
Ducks down
Ducks down
That's quite a dangerous practise. Common, but dangerous and in contravention of the Highway Code. Here's the HC section on roundabouts that you asked for:I was told at a well known manufacturersd chauffeurs course to
Get in the correct lane
If taking the first exit indicae left on approach and keep indicating left until you exit
If taking any other exit DO NOT INDICATE until you are at the exit before the one you wish to take THEN indicate left
The reasoning behind this is
You have precedence on the roundabout and no indication whilst you are on it should alert the 'gamblers' who try to get in front of you if you do indicate right
By only indicating left on exit, you are not giving ambiguous signals.
How many times have you seen
drivers indicating right whilst turning left
And those indicating left and going all the way round?
One signal lets the guy whose Exit You are taking that it MAY be safe for him to emerge onto the roundabot.nthing mote nothing less
Oh and show me in the HC or Roadcraft where it specifically says Keep indicating right when going around a roundabout
Ducks down
Ducks down
https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/round...
Regarding signalling right, the HC says it pretty clearly. You try taking a basic it advanced test without doing it 
Nobody should rely on only a signal to make a decision, and there should always be a backup plan, but it's good manners to tell people what you're about to do and signalling's very easy! We've just moved house so I'm commuting by car for the first time in years and it amazed me that nobody signalled properly - not one single driver in my 40 minute commute.
Nobody should rely on only a signal to make a decision, and there should always be a backup plan, but it's good manners to tell people what you're about to do and signalling's very easy! We've just moved house so I'm commuting by car for the first time in years and it amazed me that nobody signalled properly - not one single driver in my 40 minute commute.
Farm boy said:
Noticed it was Hook from the streetview pic, I work there so my take on it is;
The red route you show is the A30 so is more a straight on if going left to right. All roads are single lane so no lane indication needed, just a brief blip of the left hand maybe as you exit it.
There is a pelican crossing just out of the picture on the 1 o clock road outside the garages. Use this one to cross ? There is another one you pointed out on the 6 o clock road and then another on the 10 o clock road. I think these 3 crossings pretty much sort out any pedestrian crossing needed.
Not having a go, just my 10p's worth.
I've now moved house, so don't walk this route anymore. However, yes, as I mentioned earlier, walking all the way round to the crossings you mention is the safest way forwards, but that obviously takes time and holds up the traffic when the lights go red. My post was more regarding the mystery of why most people who signal at this roundabout choose to signal left when they're clearly going straight on. I can't see anything ambiguous at all about the roundabout; it's a straight 90 degree four road crossroads type - nothing complicated at all.The red route you show is the A30 so is more a straight on if going left to right. All roads are single lane so no lane indication needed, just a brief blip of the left hand maybe as you exit it.
There is a pelican crossing just out of the picture on the 1 o clock road outside the garages. Use this one to cross ? There is another one you pointed out on the 6 o clock road and then another on the 10 o clock road. I think these 3 crossings pretty much sort out any pedestrian crossing needed.
Not having a go, just my 10p's worth.
silverfoxcc]obM77 said:
Regarding signalling right, the HC says it pretty clearly. You try taking a basic it advanced test without doing it
I did and passed, so did another driver, sort of IAM and bar who did exactly the same thing with another examiner
Blimey - that's a real surprise.I did and passed, so did another driver, sort of IAM and bar who did exactly the same thing with another examiner
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