Left turn at roundabout

[Aiminghigh123]

So the other day I approached a roundabout in the left lane and the painted marking on the road had left arrow on it. The right hand lane had straight ahead or turn right.

My initial intention was to turn left but there was a tail back on the road I was going to turn into so decided to go straight ahead to save time. I was already waiting to join the roundabout so couldn’t get into the right hand lane to go straight. Traffic had already stopped on the roundabout to allow our lane to merge in. I proceeded ahead slowly allowing the first car on my right to go ahead then merged in behind him. We proceed down the road about 200 yards and the guy then stopped and got out and went crazy saying I had broken the law. He was swearing and shouting saying left lane means left turn only.

Did I actually break the law?

I thought you only have to follow the sign if its blue sign which says left turn in that case must do but if it’s painted it’s optional.

[Graveworm]

Aiminghigh123 said:

So the other day I approached a roundabout in the left lane and the painted marking on the road had left arrow on it. The right hand lane had straight ahead or turn right.

My initial intention was to turn left but there was a tail back on the road I was going to turn into so decided to go straight ahead to save time. I was already waiting to join the roundabout so couldn’t get into the right hand lane to go straight. Traffic had already stopped on the roundabout to allow our lane to merge in. I proceeded ahead slowly allowing the first car on my right to go ahead then merged in behind him. We proceed down the road about 200 yards and the guy then stopped and got out and went crazy saying I had broken the law. He was swearing and shouting saying left lane means left turn only.

Did I actually break the law?

I thought you only have to follow the sign if its blue sign which says left turn in that case must do but if it’s painted it’s optional.

The arrow on the road at a roundabout does "Mean" go that way but it's not mandatory, obviously if you don't follow it, that can come back to bite you, IF when doing so, someone is inconvenienced or your driving falls below that of competent and careful driver. Doesn't look like that here unless other cars were involved apart from the one you let go first.

Edited by Graveworm on Wednesday 13th February 09:51

[mikeveal]

Aiminghigh123 said:

Blah blah blah...
Did I actually break the law?

Don'y worry a team of crack barristers and QCs will have swooped in by helicopter just minutes behind you with some gaffer tape, wood filler and a tarpaulin and effected a perfectly adequate repair.

[Mandalore]

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

[heebeegeetee]

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

They're advisory only, they are not an instruction.

[InitialDave]

Sounds like you encountered an angry fkwit.

Angry fkwits are probably more of a hazard than nominally "incorrect" lane usage otherwise exercised without impacting others.

[GT6k]

Yes you did break the law (Road Traffic Act 1988 s36) 'Failure to obey traffic signs', and yes, those arrows are traffic signs.
Endorsement code TS50 which could result in 3 points if you were reported (or confessed to it on a public forum).

[_Hoppers]

GT6k said:

Yes you did break the law (Road Traffic Act 1988 s36) 'Failure to obey traffic signs', and yes, those arrows are traffic signs.
Endorsement code TS50 which could result in 3 points if you were reported (or confessed to it on a public forum).

These markings are described as advisory in Schedule 11 Part 4 of The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions

[Aiminghigh123]

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

Erm I didn’t specify that. Others were in the lane before me. This is London there is always traffic.
I decided not to turn left like the others because of a queue which is unusual on to a dual carriageway but decided straight ahead. Allowed the guy on my right to proceed and followed slowly. I didn’t impede him he actually stopped the traffic to have a go at me. This was on a red route as well.

[Aiminghigh123]

[Aiminghigh123]

Here is the junction

[_Hoppers]

Aiminghigh123 said:

Here is the junction

Are there any advanced markings before the ones shown in the photo?

[Aiminghigh123]

The only other sign is a roundabout sign saying left leads to blah blah right leads to blah blah.

The roundabout sign actually doesn’t specify an exit straight ahead. To a non local it could emply straight ahead isn’t possible.

[Aiminghigh123]

[Kateg28]

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

Have you genuinely never changed your mind or made a mistake? Ever?

If a car did this in front of me or behind, as long as they didn't cause an accident I wouldn't even register, I would just carry on with my day.

[Kuji]

heebeegeetee said:

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

They're advisory only, they are not an instruction.

Cyclist?

[Exige77]

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

Mindless for changing his mind ?

Are you angry about something ?

[Kuji]

_Hoppers said:

GT6k said:

Yes you did break the law (Road Traffic Act 1988 s36) 'Failure to obey traffic signs', and yes, those arrows are traffic signs.
Endorsement code TS50 which could result in 3 points if you were reported (or confessed to it on a public forum).

These markings are described as advisory in Schedule 11 Part 4 of The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions

Lots of life's rules are not legally binding, but distance normal from self-important twit.

Queuing for the till in a shop, or for the check in desk at the airport, for example.


This thread is typical PH though.
An OP who knows they did wrong but is upset that someone has challenged them, and a bunch of like minded supporters outraged at the fact that something they do themselves, is being criticised.

[GT6k]

_Hoppers said:

GT6k said:

Yes you did break the law (Road Traffic Act 1988 s36) 'Failure to obey traffic signs', and yes, those arrows are traffic signs.
Endorsement code TS50 which could result in 3 points if you were reported (or confessed to it on a public forum).

These markings are described as advisory in Schedule 11 Part 4 of The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions

I stand corrected. Looking at the regs they are only mandatory (Schedule 9) if it says turn left underneath.

[Mandalore]

Exige77 said:

Mandalore said:

Did the fact that everyone else going straight over was NOT sat in the left turn ONLY lane not register with you.

I would go so far as to say you are mindless.

Mindless for changing his mind ?

Are you angry about something ?

I don't tend to change my mind mid junction as often as yourself (obviously).


But I do come across the same people everyday on my 30 mile commute who make that same type of mistake at the same junction(s) every day that the traffic is queuing.
.
Rocket science it aint!