Behaviour on roundabouts
Discussion
One of my routes home involves about 15 miles of Dual Cariageway on which there are 8 roundabouts to negotiate. On every journey, at least once, someone always cuts into my lane going round the roundabout much to my annoyance (which I must admit I usually display with my lights & fists in a hope they will think twice next time). The volume of trafic usually makes it impractical to go round them one vehicle at a time.
Travelling with my mother as passenger the other day, yet again I had to stand on the brakes and come to a standstill as the individual on my left came across my front and "straight lined" the roundabout. This very near miss was witnessed by two gentleman in uniform sitting in a traffic car on our immediate left. Did they move, No! Surely If they are there with the supposed intention of improving road safety, educating this driver in the error of their ways would have surely been a step towards this, but then I suppose they were waiting for the easy target of a speeding motorist.
Travelling with my mother as passenger the other day, yet again I had to stand on the brakes and come to a standstill as the individual on my left came across my front and "straight lined" the roundabout. This very near miss was witnessed by two gentleman in uniform sitting in a traffic car on our immediate left. Did they move, No! Surely If they are there with the supposed intention of improving road safety, educating this driver in the error of their ways would have surely been a step towards this, but then I suppose they were waiting for the easy target of a speeding motorist.
I have to go through the roundabout above junction 16 of the M1 most days. I have lost count of the number of times idiots enter it from lane one of the dual carriageway, continue round staying towards the left and then suddenly cut across the front of you to turn right onto the M1, usually with no indication. Last time I checked the Highway Code I’m sure you were supposed to enter a roundabout in the right hand lane when turning right, but maybe that’s just old fashioned 
Another discussion going on about this very subject
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=222744
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=222744
Another kindda link link here, it's obviously very common across the country
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=222732&f=10&h=0
I get it all the time and the drivers are just unaware what they're doing,one woman even started having a go at me when I hit the horn. Of course I realised the errors of my ways afterwards The police wouldn't be interested if she wasn't speeding, a sad fact of life I'm afraid.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=222732&f=10&h=0
I get it all the time and the drivers are just unaware what they're doing,one woman even started having a go at me when I hit the horn. Of course I realised the errors of my ways afterwards
The police wouldn't be interested if she wasn't speeding, a sad fact of life I'm afraid.Right hand lane if turning right, and indicating right all the way, until taking the turnoff.
If only people would continue to indicate until they've left the roundabout.
At least you'd have a clue as to where the t
s were going then. 
You can't indicate too much.
If you bump another car, you'll wish your flashers had been on, as the question may well be asked in court.
If only people would continue to indicate until they've left the roundabout.
At least you'd have a clue as to where the t
s were going then. You can't indicate too much.
If you bump another car, you'll wish your flashers had been on, as the question may well be asked in court.
matchless said:
have you noticed though that the lane markings on a roundabout are all to cock!, no matter which lane you get in its the wrong one!, they change during your journey round the roundabout, I am conviced this is just to confuse everyone and make them slow down!, (but not me!)
matchless
I agree.
In some cases it would have been better not to have marked the road at all.
If only people would indicate their intentions at all times though,
confusion would be reduced.
grahamw48 said:
You can't indicate too much.
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
I think I prefer no indications, because it gives me free rein to just enter the roundabout at will. After all, no indication means straight on, more or less.
[/quote]
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
quote]
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout. No I am not a pensioner. Who taught you to drive????????????
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
quote]
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout. No I am not a pensioner. Who taught you to drive????????????
There some shockers lane-wise - the one on M56 which ist the trip to Dunham Massey NT place ist a shocker as the lanes und markings are plain silly. Und there ist another by the biggest Tesco at at M60 Stockpoert which lieber Peter E once mentioned as one from "hell" 
IG has also roundabout thread going on Paul's site
www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4842
und there are others on this topic over there too.
Ist C O A S T all the time...As you approach - you concentrate on road ahead und traffic conditions und observ all road conditions und identify the hazards (C O A ) You also choose which lane you need - left to trun left /go straight und right to turn right .. etc. Take in whole picture und even look at the road surface - diesel deposits come to mind...gravel und iun case of one roundabout near busy motorway 
nails! 
Und they were still there two days after I reported it. Und driving plan has to be flexible as traffic on these roundabouts may be new to area und looking for exit they want und may have managed to get into wrong lane... und unfamiliarity und their skills go out the driver's window!
Signal intentions approriately und make sure road position also define intent. Look in mirrors - all mirrors on car. Keep alertest eund keep a look out for traffic approaching entrances. Some of these numpties do not bother looking, slowing or even stopping
Approach roundabout perpared to stop but always looking for the opportunity to go, selecting correct gear. Speed on approach should be smoothest deceleration und defined by your observation skills regarding the curve of road und volume of the traffic on it - und use a good gap in traffic to accelerate without disruping other traffic. You should always be prepared to stop but ready to go.
When on the roundabout und you need to weave to another lane or someone has got into incorrect lane - you need to keep calm, keep applying COAST un apply S un T to numpty in wrong lane.
IG has also roundabout thread going on Paul's site
www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4842
und there are others on this topic over there too.
Ist C O A S T all the time...As you approach - you concentrate on road ahead und traffic conditions und observ all road conditions und identify the hazards (C O A ) You also choose which lane you need - left to trun left /go straight und right to turn right .. etc.
Take in whole picture und even look at the road surface - diesel deposits come to mind...gravel und iun case of one roundabout near busy motorway nails! Und they were still there two days after I reported it. Und driving plan has to be flexible as traffic on these roundabouts may be new to area und looking for exit they want und may have managed to get into wrong lane... und unfamiliarity und their skills go out the driver's window! Signal intentions approriately und make sure road position also define intent. Look in mirrors - all mirrors on car. Keep alertest eund keep a look out for traffic approaching entrances. Some of these numpties do not bother looking, slowing or even stopping
Approach roundabout perpared to stop but always looking for the opportunity to go, selecting correct gear. Speed on approach should be smoothest deceleration und defined by your observation skills regarding the curve of road und volume of the traffic on it - und use a good gap in traffic to accelerate without disruping other traffic. You should always be prepared to stop but ready to go.
When on the roundabout und you need to weave to another lane or someone has got into incorrect lane - you need to keep calm, keep applying COAST un apply S un T to numpty in wrong lane.
oe_cosgrove said:
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout.[/quote]This is not "correct", it is one way. More than one police traffic school teach drivers the following:
* indicate left when passing the exit before the one to be taken;
* if taking the first exit, approach the roundabout indicating left;
* if proceeding straight ahead, do not indicate on approach;
* if travelling further round the roundabout it may be advantageous to following traffic if you indicate right until you need to move into the left-hand lane (generally no later than when passing the exit immediately before the one you will take);
* always consider the need to communicate your intentions clearly and in good time to traffic around you. Such consideration may override recommended signalling techniques above.
Streaky
streaky said:
More than one police traffic school teach drivers the following:
* indicate left when passing the exit before the one to be taken;
* if taking the first exit, approach the roundabout indicating left;
* if proceeding straight ahead, do not indicate on approach;
* if travelling further round the roundabout it may be advantageous to following traffic if you indicate right until you need to move into the left-hand lane (generally no later than when passing the exit immediately before the one you will take);
* always consider the need to communicate your intentions clearly and in good time to traffic around you. Such consideration may override recommended signalling techniques above.
That's what I was taught when I learnt to drive... Mind you, that was a long time ago, it's good to see I'm still doing something that can be regarded as "valid"!
oe_cosgrove said:
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout. No I am not a pensioner. Who taught you to drive????????????
To me this is definitively wrong, and yet you see many people doing it.
Can you clarify why you see it as appropriate to indicate right when going straight on?
Do you do the same at traffic lights? T junctions?
I see it your way too.
Logic would suggest that no indication is required if not changing direction - i.e. going straight on.
I would indicate before my turnoff point though, simply out of politeness to those further on, waiting to enter the roundabout.
Don't you just hate those ignorant sods who are going to turn into the road you're wanting to pull out of, but don't bother to indicate their intention, so leaving you waiting around when you could have gone?
What about pedestrians and cyclists too ?
Following the highway code is fine, but it's also nice just to be considerate and helpful to other road users.
Too many selfish arss around these days.
Logic would suggest that no indication is required if not changing direction - i.e. going straight on.
I would indicate before my turnoff point though, simply out of politeness to those further on, waiting to enter the roundabout.
Don't you just hate those ignorant sods who are going to turn into the road you're wanting to pull out of, but don't bother to indicate their intention, so leaving you waiting around when you could have gone?
What about pedestrians and cyclists too ?
Following the highway code is fine, but it's also nice just to be considerate and helpful to other road users.
Too many selfish ars
s around these days.AndyAudi said:
as the individual on my left came across my front and "straight lined" the roundabout.
This is normal practice now.
Did you not know that? You need to get out more
Roundabouts are just a free for all now with no plod about, so you need 360 degree vision
If you can't beat them join them and play at their own game
oe_cosgrove said:
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
quote]
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout. No I am not a pensioner. Who taught you to drive????????????[/quote]
An army instructor, 25 years ago. I was taught to drive, not to pass a test. I wasn't taught to a price, I was taught til I was ready. I wasn't taught on local housing estates, but on all roads, out all day, in all weathers and on m'ways afterwards. The old boy that taught me used to boast that he'd passed 27 sepererate driving tests, and when i did summat wrong he'd rap my knuckles with his pipe. Since then I've trucked all over europe including Yugo, Greece, Portugal and a little bit of Sweden, don't do that any more, but still do 40k miles a year twixt truck, car, classic car, rally car. Yesterday/last night fr'instance, i drove to Barnstaple, navigated on OS maps a road rally car around a 150 mile route around the devonshire lanes between midnight and 6am, didn't get lost, came second in class, and drove home. Not that this amounts to anything, and I'm not making any claims to being any good at anything and I'm no angel (though I must be experienced) but you did ask.
That instructor certainly never taught me to indicate right on approach to a roundabout when I intend to go straight on. Neither did my HGV examiner. I'm fairly certain anyone doing this on any driving test would fail.
Rule 162 of the highway code says 'when taking any intermediate exit do not signal on the approach to the roundabout. In 'Very Advanced Driving' by A. Tom Topper I can find no advice to do which you say is correct (although he does advocate the use of the left lane for turning right).
I cannot find any reference to such advice in Roadcraft. i cannot think of it as anything other than sheer bad driving. To indicate right when going straight on brings oncoming traffic to a halt 'cos they think they're stopping to give way to you 'cos you're indicating you're turning right. When it happens to me in the truck it means I then have to move off unnecesarily slowly, impeding all those behind me. I've never seen anyone under the age of 65, or anyone with any colour in their hair employ this ludicrious system.
So, I cannot think you are possibly serious. Are you winding us up?
>> Edited by heebeegeetee on Sunday 20th November 15:48
streaky said:This is not "correct", it is one way. More than one police traffic school teach drivers the following:
Trouble is, many people (all of them pensioners in my experience), when going straight on indicate right then change it to a left and exit at 12 o clock. Trouble is, their right indicate stops on coming traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
This is the correct way to enter / exit a roundabout.
* indicate left when passing the exit before the one to be taken;
* if taking the first exit, approach the roundabout indicating left;
* if proceeding straight ahead, do not indicate on approach;
* if travelling further round the roundabout it may be advantageous to following traffic if you indicate right until you need to move into the left-hand lane (generally no later than when passing the exit immediately before the one you will take);
* always consider the need to communicate your intentions clearly and in good time to traffic around you. Such consideration may override recommended signalling techniques above.
Streaky[/quote]
Isn't virtually all of that basic highway code stuff?
The correct way is as I teach all my pupils-learners, Imagine a roundabout is a clock, with you approaching it at number six. If the exit you want is before 12,ie first exit, left lane left signal. If its the second exit but still before 12 or is 12, then no signal untill you are 'passing' the exit before yours. Then left signal with loads of mirror checks. If the exit you want is after 12oclock, right signal-right lane approach. signalling left to leave as before.
I was knocked off my brand new Sv650 2years ago by a pratt who straightlined a roundabout. Injured and bike wrecked, the police aggreed car driver was at fault but it was "a momentary lapse of concentration". What utter bollo**s. It was bad-careless driving. I couldn't get up because of injuries, to twa* the pratt so I didn't get done for GBH
I was knocked off my brand new Sv650 2years ago by a pratt who straightlined a roundabout. Injured and bike wrecked, the police aggreed car driver was at fault but it was "a momentary lapse of concentration". What utter bollo**s. It was bad-careless driving. I couldn't get up because of injuries, to twa* the pratt so I didn't get done for GBH
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