Mrs got into a fender bender
Discussion
It is amazing how often this same scenario is posted on PH… some simple points to note:
Lane markings are usually advisory
You can go around a roundabout however many times you want
You can come in in any lane and leave at any exit
The Highway Code says that it is every driver’s responsibility to avoid accidents
The Highway Code also comments specifically on roundabouts that you must be aware of and allow for other drivers who may not be in the correct lanes etc…
Basically in law a roundabout is a Wild West free for all where you can pretty much do what you want but with the corollary that you have to allow for everyone else and not hit them…
So both cars failed to drive according to the Highway Code so insurance is likely to be 50:50 unless one driver can show that the other was for example signalling to do one thing but then abruptly and with no warning changed and drove across the other car’s path
Lane markings are usually advisory
You can go around a roundabout however many times you want
You can come in in any lane and leave at any exit
The Highway Code says that it is every driver’s responsibility to avoid accidents
The Highway Code also comments specifically on roundabouts that you must be aware of and allow for other drivers who may not be in the correct lanes etc…
Basically in law a roundabout is a Wild West free for all where you can pretty much do what you want but with the corollary that you have to allow for everyone else and not hit them…
So both cars failed to drive according to the Highway Code so insurance is likely to be 50:50 unless one driver can show that the other was for example signalling to do one thing but then abruptly and with no warning changed and drove across the other car’s path
So the roundabout in question is at RG6 1BG...
Looking at it I am not really sure if the road markings said my wife could be in either lane. I would actually say she was in the wrong lane (I've driven around that roundabout 1000x and have never done it in the left lane!)
BUT
She was indicating right so the other driver who cut accross her lane to leave the roundabout obviously didn't see her car (given he basically drove into her not vice versa)...
People are in the wrong lane all the time, it shouldn't lead to a crash if you aren't driving like a tit.
Still giggling at him saying to the Mrs "this is the 3rd time this year someone has crashed into me" - yea maybe don't drive like a c*** mate?
Looking at it I am not really sure if the road markings said my wife could be in either lane. I would actually say she was in the wrong lane (I've driven around that roundabout 1000x and have never done it in the left lane!)
BUT
She was indicating right so the other driver who cut accross her lane to leave the roundabout obviously didn't see her car (given he basically drove into her not vice versa)...
People are in the wrong lane all the time, it shouldn't lead to a crash if you aren't driving like a tit.
Still giggling at him saying to the Mrs "this is the 3rd time this year someone has crashed into me" - yea maybe don't drive like a c*** mate?
Does sound like your missus was in the wrong lane, which can happen and be corrected by use of an indicator to change lanes and proceeding with caution to ensure you can do wo without contact. Merely hanging an indicator and assuming veryone will not be getting into conflict with you is rather risky.
I was in court last week, after colliding with a car on a roundabout. The other driver was intending to go all the way round to join the M62 eastbound after exiting westbound. They did this entirely in the left lane. I was turning right from the M62 westbound.
My exit has two lanes, and the other vehicle sat on my rear wheel all the way round to my exit, I indicated early knowing that the other vehicle was there, and as I exited the roundabout into the outside lane they ran into the side of my van.
Eighteen months later we are sat in court and the other driver was found to be 100% at fault, as they were not driving in accordance with the Highway Code.
Probably not what the OP wants to hear.
My exit has two lanes, and the other vehicle sat on my rear wheel all the way round to my exit, I indicated early knowing that the other vehicle was there, and as I exited the roundabout into the outside lane they ran into the side of my van.
Eighteen months later we are sat in court and the other driver was found to be 100% at fault, as they were not driving in accordance with the Highway Code.
Probably not what the OP wants to hear.
I have an idea that nervous or uncertain/lost drivers may cling to the left lane regardless, as it saves them having to negotiate traffic changing lanes when their exit comes up. 'Just toddle round on the left and let everyone else do what they want'. Slightly in their defence, with some roundabouts and junctions these days you need 360-degree eyes like a bluebottle; it must be a nightmare for new and nervous drivers.
CoolHands said:
Going past exits in the outside land is wrong and self evidently hazardous.
That's not always true.Many roundabouts have minor exits which are clearly intended to be passed in the outer lane.
Some roundabouts have one major exit at 3 o'clock and both lanes are intended to be used to take this exit.
The problem is often positioning in the other vehicle's blind spot and maintaining that position.
People do the wrong thing on roundabouts all the time.
99% of them manage not to impact, because it's everybody's duty to avoid the other bloke, even if they are wrong.
There is a strong element of 'it takes two to collide'.
Simpo Two said:
Wrong lane maybe, but it was the BMW driver that consciously turned across her without checking if there was anything in the way.
If you want to leave a roundabout and aren't in the left hand lane, you have to check the lane to your left is clear before changing lanes. He obviously didn't.
This ^^^If you want to leave a roundabout and aren't in the left hand lane, you have to check the lane to your left is clear before changing lanes. He obviously didn't.
Bear in mind that, even though your wife joined at the "6 o'clock position" somebody could have joined at the 8 o'clock position intending to go straight across, and BMW Muppet would have hit them even though they were in the correct lane.
I always try to do a shoulder check for that reason.
frenmor said:
So my wife is quite shaken up today.
she was driving around a roundabout in the left lane intending to exit at 3 o clock. The arrows on the road say that you can be in either lane (I know.. probably not the best lane choice anyway) but she was indicating right. Some guy in an M135i tries to leave the roundabout from the inside lane and cuts her off. Small damage to her car but decent damage to his passenger side both rear and front door. Ie he clearly cut her off big time.
He gets out of the car and starts shouting at her for being in the wrong lane (she probably was? but still) - who tries to leave a roundabout from the inside lane and doesn't check if there's a car to his left?
He also said to her "I'm sick of this you're the 3rd person to crash into me in the last 3 months" - not a sign of a good driver...
What do you guys think? What will insurance say? 50/50?
If road markings say she could be in either lane she was not in the wrong lane. I'd put the blame more on the other driver, 60/40. It might've been she was driving around a roundabout in the left lane intending to exit at 3 o clock. The arrows on the road say that you can be in either lane (I know.. probably not the best lane choice anyway) but she was indicating right. Some guy in an M135i tries to leave the roundabout from the inside lane and cuts her off. Small damage to her car but decent damage to his passenger side both rear and front door. Ie he clearly cut her off big time.
He gets out of the car and starts shouting at her for being in the wrong lane (she probably was? but still) - who tries to leave a roundabout from the inside lane and doesn't check if there's a car to his left?
He also said to her "I'm sick of this you're the 3rd person to crash into me in the last 3 months" - not a sign of a good driver...
What do you guys think? What will insurance say? 50/50?
possible for her to have braked to avoid the other car, but he has chopped across her off so he obviously he didn't check his exit was clear. Unfortunately the insurance will probably go for 50/50 as it's easy.
Can you revisit the roundabout and check what the road markings say for the lane the other driver was in, I doubt they'd make a roundabout with this obvious conflict. But this is the UK so...
monthou said:
CoolHands said:
Going past exits in the outside land is wrong and self evidently hazardous.
So if you're taking the second exit you'll never take the left hand lane?Seriously?
Interesting that people are attacking the BMW driver, whilst he could have done better to ameliorate the other drivers error I'm not sure he deserves much of the blame, the other driver is in the wrong lane clearly hasn't read the road signs/markings and shown zero observation in approaching the roundabout or whilst on it, the BMW driver made the mistake of not realising he had such a driver on his left hand side.
So while most accidents do take both drivers to fail to give way as happened here without the poor driving of the OPs wife this would never had happened, she essentially abrogated her responsibilities unfortunately the other driver was unaware that had happened until it was too late.
It isn't the BMW driver that we need to look out for as some are suggesting but the other driver, as the most dangerous driver you can come across is one that drives in a manner expecting everyone to give way rather than being prepared to give way.
CoolHands said:
monthou said:
CoolHands said:
Going past exits in the outside land is wrong and self evidently hazardous.
So if you're taking the second exit you'll never take the left hand lane?Seriously?
Get a grip.
frenmor said:
So the roundabout in question is at RG6 1BG..
I am not sure I would describe that as a roundabout in the general accepted understanding. Perhaps a mark up on the map of that road layout would help.
Nevertheless, as said, all drivers should do the best to avoid collisions.
Unless there is a clear cut error or a strong argument by one party, I imagine it will go 50/50.
M4 J17 from Chippenham direction, left hand lane of dual carriageway M4 West only, right hand lane everyone else. You live in fear of being taken out by some idiot deciding to ignore the M4 West only and going straight across the roundabout, taking out your passenger side in the process. What's worse is that if it happens, it'll be a 50-50 at best so goodbye some of your NCD thanks to some idiot not following the signs and road markings.
Presented without comment (does make it look worse for my mrs!). Arrows circled in black correspond to the exit before where the incident was so no defence from those.
Anyway it's a company car and I don't pay the insurance so no NCB to lose. Will cost me on the renewal of the policy on my other car though.....
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