Mini Roundabouts
Discussion
I took an IAM Associate out last night for an observed drive and he told me that one of the observers in our group had told him the week before that driving across a mini roundabout was endorsable by 9 points. Now I have never heard of this before and, quite frankly, it strikes me as being ridiculous. Could somebody tell me whether this is true or a load of old tosh.
tigger1 said:
Sounds like bollards to me - but you should drive around the mini-roundabout IF your vehicle is capable of doing so.
I told him that I doubted that it were true and that you should attempt to drive around it though this can be difficult at times. I also added that if there were no other road users present then I could not see it as being a problem.
Edited by EmmaP on Friday 3rd November 12:31
I've seen an increase in mini-r'bouts replacing T-jns, where people going straight on would naturally cut the roundabout on the wrong side, as to do otherwise would mean a LOT of steering in a tight space because the r'bout is so badly offset 'down' the T.
IMHO they're a joke. But IS there a penalty for driving across the wrong side if the road is clear?
IMHO they're a joke. But IS there a penalty for driving across the wrong side if the road is clear?
Oops naughty me.
164: Mini-roundabouts Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal. Beware of vehicles making U-turns.
164: Mini-roundabouts Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal. Beware of vehicles making U-turns.
EmmaP said:
Flat in Fifth said:
The other observer needs a talking to in my ever so humble opinion.
I promised that I would find out for sure and inform the other observer who is taking him out on his last drive on Sunday what the ruling is.
Highway code extract posted above sums it up.
The actual text in the legislation relating to sign 611.1 in TSGDR is
611.1
(a) A vehicle entering the junction must give priority to vehicles coming from the right at the transverse road marking shown in diagram 1003.3 associated with the sign or, if the marking is not for the time being visible, at the junction; and
(b) a vehicle proceeding through the junction must keep to the left of the white circle at the centre of the marking shown in diagram 1003.4, unless the size of the vehicle or the layout of the junction makes it impracticable to do so; and
(c) no vehicle shall proceed past the marking shown in diagram 1003.4 in a manner or at a time likely -
(i) to endanger any person, or
(ii) to cause the driver of another vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident.
The sign which is given at mini-roundabouts 611.1 in TSGDR is one of the designated signs where Section 36 of the Road traffic Act will apply which means it is a serious offence.
The 9 points is tosh from memory. Will look up tonight if I get chance. But it IS more than a wrist slap.
As always the devil would be in the detail and the individual circumstances at the time of the offence.
signs 611.1 top right
road markings 1003.3 and 1003.4
edited for typos and carp spooling Doh!
Edited by Flat in Fifth on Friday 3rd November 15:04
7db said:
"Impracticable" is the weasel word in that regulation.
3pts + £60 for a S36 sign as DVD says.
I can't imagine enforcement taking place unless there was a good dose of S3 as well.
3pts + £60 for a S36 sign as DVD says.
I can't imagine enforcement taking place unless there was a good dose of S3 as well.
Agreed.
I asked one of the examiners & class 1 instructor) about this situation some time ago, ie route across mini roundabouts.
His response heavily paraphrased I admit went along the lines, "assuming there are no other road users, the safest route is the straightest line." Not so plain as that you understand, but that was definitely the meaning because I clarified if I had heard correctly.
vonhosen said:
without due care/inconsiderate driving...is an obligatory endorsement 3-9 points.
That is an interesting point. We passed the mini roundabout in question last night and he just clipped the edge. From his description I deduced that he went about one third of the way across it rather than straight through the middle. He certainly did not go around it on the wrong side.
EmmaP said:
vonhosen said:
without due care/inconsiderate driving...is an obligatory endorsement 3-9 points.
That is an interesting point. We passed the mini roundabout in question last night and he just clipped the edge. From his description I deduced that he went about one third of the way across it rather than straight through the middle. He certainly did not go around it on the wrong side.
To all intensive purposes, if you stay left of centre on a flat painted circle, you have gone around the roundabout.
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