Is Outside lane for 12 Clock at roundabouts in Highway Code?
Discussion
When I was taught to drive, I was told that at a roundabout, if your exit is at "12 'O Clock" or before, then you should use the outside lane.
However, if your exit is "past 12 o'clock" then outside lane, signal once you've passed the previous exit and then move to outside.
Recently a social media discussion started with this very statement, however a group of people were apparently taught that if the "straight over" exit is past is a little further around than this arbitary "12 o'clock" point, then you should still use the outside lane.
I had a quick read through the Highway Code and could only find something about "selecting the appropriate lane" when it came to Roundabouts, which I guess makes perfect sense if road signs or road markings indicate a lane, but the majority don't.
I was just wondering if this is actually "in print" anywhere, making it official?
Cheers
However, if your exit is "past 12 o'clock" then outside lane, signal once you've passed the previous exit and then move to outside.
Recently a social media discussion started with this very statement, however a group of people were apparently taught that if the "straight over" exit is past is a little further around than this arbitary "12 o'clock" point, then you should still use the outside lane.
I had a quick read through the Highway Code and could only find something about "selecting the appropriate lane" when it came to Roundabouts, which I guess makes perfect sense if road signs or road markings indicate a lane, but the majority don't.
I was just wondering if this is actually "in print" anywhere, making it official?
Cheers
Unless signs or markings suggest otherwise it is left for left and straight over, right for right.
Don't signal to go straight ahead, but do signal as you leave the roundabout. So don't go on the right lane signalling right to then go straight ahead as some do!
Given than no bugger indicates now anyway, it seems like a bloody free for all these days!!
Don't signal to go straight ahead, but do signal as you leave the roundabout. So don't go on the right lane signalling right to then go straight ahead as some do!
Given than no bugger indicates now anyway, it seems like a bloody free for all these days!!
Mike335i said:
Unless signs or markings suggest otherwise it is left for left and straight over, right for right.
Not according to the Highway Code (rule 186) which says either left or right lane is fine for straight on - "When taking the first exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout"
When I was taught to drive, I was told that at a roundabout, if your exit is at "12 'O Clock" or before, then you should use the outside lane.
Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
pherlopolus said:
Acording to the wording in the Highway code, if the green car wanted to go straight on, that would be fine.rambo19 said:
When I was taught to drive, I was told that at a roundabout, if your exit is at "12 'O Clock" or before, then you should use the outside lane.
Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
Seems to me he has screwed his post up, agree with your thoughts, obviously.Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
rambo19 said:
When I was taught to drive, I was told that at a roundabout, if your exit is at "12 'O Clock" or before, then you should use the outside lane.
Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
In OP’s statement ‘outside lane’ refers to the outermost lane of the roundabout, that is, the furthest lane from the centre of the roundabout. At least that is how I read it.Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
For me, RH lane is OK for going straight ahead, but beware of traffic to the left of you. Rule 186 in HC says
“When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
● select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout
● you should not normally need to signal on approach
● 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.”
This slightly contradicts the image on page 99 of HC.
As has been said many times before, local customs, current conditions and traffic flows will determine which is the appropriate lane for an intermediate exit (including 12 o clock exit from a 6 o clock entry).
Pica-Pica said:
rambo19 said:
When I was taught to drive, I was told that at a roundabout, if your exit is at "12 'O Clock" or before, then you should use the outside lane.
Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
In OP’s statement ‘outside lane’ refers to the outermost lane of the roundabout, that is, the furthest lane from the centre of the roundabout. At least that is how I read it.Is it me being thick, I don't understand the above line?
Enter ra at 6oclock, 9oclock is 1st exit, 12oclock is 2nd exit, 3rd exit is 3oclock.
Why would you be in the right hand lane to take 1st exit?
For me, RH lane is OK for going straight ahead, but beware of traffic to the left of you. Rule 186 in HC says
“When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
? select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout
? you should not normally need to signal on approach
? 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.”
This slightly contradicts the image on page 99 of HC.
As has been said many times before, local customs, current conditions and traffic flows will determine which is the appropriate lane for an intermediate exit (including 12 o clock exit from a 6 o clock entry).
pherlopolus said:
Sign approaching roundabout 2 minutes from my house states that blue line may also turn right. Exit roundabout in left lane, green line exits roundabout in right lane.Pica-Pica said:
Re-read rule 186 in HC which says
“When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise..”
So the signs indicate otherwise.
Many throw it away the day they pass.“When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise..”
So the signs indicate otherwise.
Not wanting to start a different debate, but the most irritating things I find are -
1. Roundabout procedure.
2. Sliproads.
3. Box junctions,
They confuse so many.
Sorry if my "12 o'clock" confused.
I purposefully didn't want to use the words "straight over".
So you're approaching a roundabout with 4 exits from "6 o'clock".
You have 3 exits at:
7 o'clock
2 o'clock
5 o'clock
The "2 o'clock" is the second exit and many might consider that "straight over", however according to how I was taught, that would be past the "12 o'clock" point, so it would be inside lane to outside lane.
However, as many see that is "straight over" they would say outside lane.
This issue came up locally as we have a roundabout with almost the above layout. Although the second exit is "straight over" there is nothing straight about it and the number of near-misses there seem to be with some sticking in outside lane as it's the "straight over" exit and some using the inside lane as there is no "straight over" just this one past the 12 o'clock point.
The Highway code pictures all use a lovely roundabout with 4 exits at 45o angles - which is great and obvious when that is the layout, less so when it isn't
I purposefully didn't want to use the words "straight over".
So you're approaching a roundabout with 4 exits from "6 o'clock".
You have 3 exits at:
7 o'clock
2 o'clock
5 o'clock
The "2 o'clock" is the second exit and many might consider that "straight over", however according to how I was taught, that would be past the "12 o'clock" point, so it would be inside lane to outside lane.
However, as many see that is "straight over" they would say outside lane.
This issue came up locally as we have a roundabout with almost the above layout. Although the second exit is "straight over" there is nothing straight about it and the number of near-misses there seem to be with some sticking in outside lane as it's the "straight over" exit and some using the inside lane as there is no "straight over" just this one past the 12 o'clock point.
The Highway code pictures all use a lovely roundabout with 4 exits at 45o angles - which is great and obvious when that is the layout, less so when it isn't
Stoofa said:
Sorry if my "12 o'clock" confused.
I purposefully didn't want to use the words "straight over".
So you're approaching a roundabout with 4 exits from "6 o'clock".
You have 3 exits at:
7 o'clock
2 o'clock
5 o'clock
The "2 o'clock" is the second exit and many might consider that "straight over", however according to how I was taught, that would be past the "12 o'clock" point, so it would be inside lane to outside lane.
However, as many see that is "straight over" they would say outside lane.
This issue came up locally as we have a roundabout with almost the above layout. Although the second exit is "straight over" there is nothing straight about it and the number of near-misses there seem to be with some sticking in outside lane as it's the "straight over" exit and some using the inside lane as there is no "straight over" just this one past the 12 o'clock point.
The Highway code pictures all use a lovely roundabout with 4 exits at 45o angles - which is great and obvious when that is the layout, less so when it isn't
Why would anyone call the left hand lane of a roundabout the "outside lane"?I purposefully didn't want to use the words "straight over".
So you're approaching a roundabout with 4 exits from "6 o'clock".
You have 3 exits at:
7 o'clock
2 o'clock
5 o'clock
The "2 o'clock" is the second exit and many might consider that "straight over", however according to how I was taught, that would be past the "12 o'clock" point, so it would be inside lane to outside lane.
However, as many see that is "straight over" they would say outside lane.
This issue came up locally as we have a roundabout with almost the above layout. Although the second exit is "straight over" there is nothing straight about it and the number of near-misses there seem to be with some sticking in outside lane as it's the "straight over" exit and some using the inside lane as there is no "straight over" just this one past the 12 o'clock point.
The Highway code pictures all use a lovely roundabout with 4 exits at 45o angles - which is great and obvious when that is the layout, less so when it isn't
No wonder the OP is confused, he approaches the roundabout on the inside lane and then suddenly finds himself in the "outside lane"
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