Correct procedure at this junct. A229/A230 Rochester/Chatham
Discussion
I am not sure if the link will work but this point ( Google maps Lat/long 51.357800,0.510106 ) denotes a busy junction where traffic from the roundabout originating from the A229 City Way, Rochester (NW) joins the A230 Horsted Way, Chatham (NE).
Anyway, just where they join the traffic from Chatham (A230) has right of way and the traffic from Rochester (A229) has to give way. It is no doubt difficult for the traffic coming from Rochester as the car is facing the road ahead and so the driver must look over his L shoulder to the traffic coming from Chatham (A230). Not only that but the Rochester traffic is generally stationary and has to join a busy road with few opportunities/gaps.
Some drivers just pull out and stay on the right hand side allowing traffic to pass them on the L until the two (unmarked) 'lanes' merge to one. Others pull out and push immediately to the L and allow traffic to pass them in the normal way until they increase speed and then merge ahead.
Just as a point of discussion I was wondering what most would do or do do if they use this junction. I know that in an ideal world the Rochester (A229) traffic would wait for a clear gap but as I said it is a busy road and during the rush hour there are not many opportunities. Traffic then builds up on the north side of the roundabout and sometimes blocks the traffic heading north from the A229 (Maidstone) and trying to go off to Chatham on the A230 (around the north side of the roundabout.
As an aside I was on the outside lane of the dual carriageway A228 near East Peckham the other day as a car coming from a side road (Beltring ivo Google maps 51.203691, 0.396485) pulled out straight into the outside lane from the slip road. Not only that but she was an old biddy in a Fiesta or such like and so made no effort to make progress and fit into the flow/speed of traffic. I flashed her as I braked hard and ended up passing her on the inside to see if she was actually aware of what she had done. She looked straight ahead either oblivious or ignoring me.
I should add the inside lane was empty/clear for her and she may well have wanted to do a 'u' turn at the roundabout ahead but still there was plenty of time/room to do that afterwards .........
Pip
Anyway, just where they join the traffic from Chatham (A230) has right of way and the traffic from Rochester (A229) has to give way. It is no doubt difficult for the traffic coming from Rochester as the car is facing the road ahead and so the driver must look over his L shoulder to the traffic coming from Chatham (A230). Not only that but the Rochester traffic is generally stationary and has to join a busy road with few opportunities/gaps.
Some drivers just pull out and stay on the right hand side allowing traffic to pass them on the L until the two (unmarked) 'lanes' merge to one. Others pull out and push immediately to the L and allow traffic to pass them in the normal way until they increase speed and then merge ahead.
Just as a point of discussion I was wondering what most would do or do do if they use this junction. I know that in an ideal world the Rochester (A229) traffic would wait for a clear gap but as I said it is a busy road and during the rush hour there are not many opportunities. Traffic then builds up on the north side of the roundabout and sometimes blocks the traffic heading north from the A229 (Maidstone) and trying to go off to Chatham on the A230 (around the north side of the roundabout.
As an aside I was on the outside lane of the dual carriageway A228 near East Peckham the other day as a car coming from a side road (Beltring ivo Google maps 51.203691, 0.396485) pulled out straight into the outside lane from the slip road. Not only that but she was an old biddy in a Fiesta or such like and so made no effort to make progress and fit into the flow/speed of traffic. I flashed her as I braked hard and ended up passing her on the inside to see if she was actually aware of what she had done. She looked straight ahead either oblivious or ignoring me.
I should add the inside lane was empty/clear for her and she may well have wanted to do a 'u' turn at the roundabout ahead but still there was plenty of time/room to do that afterwards .........
Pip
This junction can indeed be a right PITA. It has been made even worse than it used to be by the adjacent new housing development at Horsted Park.
From A229 - http://goo.gl/1zjGl8
From A230 - http://goo.gl/TPjoXk
The old biddy is by no means alone in her actions. I have seen similar manoeuvres numerous times. Some of them have nearly caused collisions, with other drivers having to swerve to avoid these brain dead numpties. More than enough evidence for DWDCA if the BiB had been around at the time.
She may not necessarily have been about to head back north though. She could just as likely have been heading to the Brookers Oast or The Hop Farm.
Pip1968 said:
Some drivers just pull out and stay on the right hand side allowing traffic to pass them on the L until the two (unmarked) 'lanes' merge to one.
This shouldn't happen and discouragement is reinforced by the white paint. The reason it is so faded is because for years many people have routinely been driving over the hatchings which are long overdue for a refresh! Pip1968 said:
Others pull out and push immediately to the L and allow traffic to pass them in the normal way until they increase speed and then merge ahead.
Just as a point of discussion I was wondering what most would do or do do if they use this junction. I know that in an ideal world the Rochester (A229) traffic would wait for a clear gap but as I said it is a busy road and during the rush hour there are not many opportunities.
There shouldn't be any merging involved. What the traffic engineers are expecting is that it should be treated like an ordinary T junction (in this case with, effectively, a one way street). Enter the left hand lane when the flow of traffic on the A230 permits. It can mean a long wait at times but that's what should happen. It is easier to understand how the junction is configured from these pictures.Just as a point of discussion I was wondering what most would do or do do if they use this junction. I know that in an ideal world the Rochester (A229) traffic would wait for a clear gap but as I said it is a busy road and during the rush hour there are not many opportunities.
From A229 - http://goo.gl/1zjGl8
From A230 - http://goo.gl/TPjoXk
Pip1968 said:
Traffic then builds up on the north side of the roundabout and sometimes blocks the traffic heading north from the A229 (Maidstone) and trying to go off to Chatham on the A230 (around the north side of the roundabout.
The road layout makes it extremely difficult because, having entered the 'roundabout', southbound A229 traffic then has to stop within a few yards at the give way markings. It is akin to slicing salami. Only two or three cars at a time can proceed: any more and they back up thus blocking the northbound carriageway leading to the A230. This drip feed effect causes much frustration, so drivers on the A229 push out regardless of what knock-on effect it will have. The only effective solution is to remove the existing priority for southbound A230 traffic. The rationale for doing this in the first place (i.e. making the southbound A230 the 'major' road) has always eluded me. Btw I'm ancient enough to remember a time before this junction acquired its present shape.Pip1968 said:
As an aside I was on the outside lane of the dual carriageway A228 near East Peckham the other day as a car coming from a side road (Beltring ivo Google maps 51.203691, 0.396485) pulled out straight into the outside lane from the slip road. Not only that but she was an old biddy in a Fiesta or such like and so made no effort to make progress and fit into the flow/speed of traffic. I flashed her as I braked hard and ended up passing her on the inside to see if she was actually aware of what she had done. She looked straight ahead either oblivious or ignoring me.
I should add the inside lane was empty/clear for her and she may well have wanted to do a 'u' turn at the roundabout ahead but still there was plenty of time/room to do that afterwards .........
I know this one even better. The side road in question is the one coming from the level crossing at Belting station. There is no slip road as such: it is merely a splayed T junction and you emerge straight onto the southbound d/c - http://goo.gl/GPBgu8 - dawdling is not a good idea when traffic is coming at you at 70mph! Any traffic from Beltring Road wanting to head north has no choice but to double back at the roundabout. Traffic on the A228 is always fast moving, especially those coming from Wrotham Heath who have been stuck in a camel train behind a HGV all the way down the s/c B2016 (Seven Mile Lane).I should add the inside lane was empty/clear for her and she may well have wanted to do a 'u' turn at the roundabout ahead but still there was plenty of time/room to do that afterwards .........
The old biddy is by no means alone in her actions. I have seen similar manoeuvres numerous times. Some of them have nearly caused collisions, with other drivers having to swerve to avoid these brain dead numpties. More than enough evidence for DWDCA if the BiB had been around at the time.
She may not necessarily have been about to head back north though. She could just as likely have been heading to the Brookers Oast or The Hop Farm.
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