wrong lane roundabouts

[tuscan_thunder]

The number of muppets that can't use the right lane on a roundabout (up here at least) is unbelievable.

would any policeman ever do anything about this? i presume driving without due care would apply?

today's example: 5 exit roundabout with road markings for lane usage. i'm taking 3rd exit and in right hand lane. (correct and also marked). muppet comes all the way round the outside of me in the left hand lane and then has cheek to suggest I am wrong.

had he clouted my tail, I would be safe to say he was in the wrong, yes?

[pdV6]

Feckwits, the lot of 'em.

If the lane's marked, it should be cut & dried.
If not, things get a little trickier...

[GreigM]

I asked this question a while back, and basically it seems that the person in the left lane is always correct - if there was an incident it would be you who cut across them and therefore it's your fault.

Totally stupid I know, but the way it is....make there being no point in having 2 lanes on a roundabout.

[GreigM]

Here's the discussion:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=50596&f=10&h=0&hw=roundabout

I basically asked which lane is correct for a staight-on (actually slightly beyond 180 degrees according to the street sign) when it's a 2-lane roundabout, 2 lane on and single lane off.

From the discussions it would seem that the person in the left hand lane can do no wrong legally so long as the lanes aren't marked.

This causes me a large problem locally with a huge roundabout, I frequently need exit 4 (at approx 280 degrees) and thought the right hand land would be correct, but apparently the person going to exit 5 from the left hand lane (at 320 degrees) is in fact correct. Makes me wonder why we (the tax payer) paid for 2 lanes when only one can correctly be used?

[jumjum]

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/17.shtml#160

Its all a bit wishy washy for more than 4 exits.

"When taking any intermediate exit select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout, signalling as necessary stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want."

However I do like roundabout rule 666

"always give way to white vans, no matter what lane or indeed direction they are traveling in, the only signal given may be a hairy bum hung out the near side window"

[streaky]

GreigM said:

I asked this question a while back, and basically it seems that the person in the left lane is always correct - if there was an incident it would be you who cut across them and therefore it's your fault.

If there are lane markings (eg. for destination road number, place-names) then the correctness of the lane is very likely to be taken into account by the insurers in the event of a collision and might well be taken into account by a court if a charge were brought. Lawyers/BiB? - Streaky

[hertsbiker]

What if there are 2 lanes on, and one lane off to the left, and one for straight on?

Why do I keep finding people in the LHL getting stroppy with me for using the RHL ??? surely the left lane is for left, the right lane for straight over????

Madness. What determines who is right is size of vehicle, and/or speed of vehicle. ACTUAL right and wrong seems irrelevant..........

[towman]

He who has the biggest wheels has the right of way.

[voyds9]

If you are going straight on BUT just passed the 180 I use a right hand signal is this correct

[victormeldrew]

What about folks in the left lane cutting across the right? Wht is it that very few people are able to stay in their lane?

[jmorgan]

I hate the ones where you are suddenly in the wrong lane according to the markings. Soooo you try to get into the right lane and the locals who know the way get in the way and give you grief. I must add, I never have a problem in the van only in the car.

[bluepolarbear]

streaky said:

If there are lane markings (eg. for destination road number, place-names) then the correctness of the lane is very likely to be taken into account by the insurers in the event of a collision and might well be taken into account by a court if a charge were brought.

Probably true but even with markers I don't believe any law says you have to follow markings on the road.

[loaf]

jmorgan said:

I hate the ones where you are suddenly in the wrong lane according to the markings. Soooo you try to get into the right lane and the locals who know the way get in the way and give you grief. I must add, I never have a problem in the van only in the car.

You should try the Plough Roundabout in Hemel - six mini roundabouts around one big central roundabout - absolute nightmare for the uninitiated

[jmorgan]

loaf said:

jmorgan said: I hate the ones where you are suddenly in the wrong lane according to the markings. Soooo you try to get into the right lane and the locals who know the way get in the way and give you grief. I must add, I never have a problem in the van only in the car. You should try the Plough Roundabout in Hemel - six mini roundabouts around one big central roundabout - absolute nightmare for the uninitiated

I do like the magic roundabout in Swindon. Thats fun.

[iantr]

loaf said:

[quote=jmorgan] You should try the Plough Roundabout in Hemel - six mini roundabouts around one big central roundabout - absolute nightmare for the uninitiated

There's a smaller one of these inside Heathrow airport somewhere. Right near the rental car pound.

I look upon it as a fair first challenge for dumb sceptics who've never seen a roundabout before...

[streaky]

jmorgan said:

I hate the ones where you are suddenly in the wrong lane according to the markings. Soooo you try to get into the right lane and the locals who know the way get in the way and give you grief. I must add, I never have a problem in the van only in the car.

Always approach roundabouts in the extreme right-hand lane ... then you can go all the way around to get in the right lane! THAT WAS (partly) A JOKE, BTW - Streaky