Traffic island question

[size13]

Near home there is a set of traffic lights on a road that opens from one to two lanes for the lights. Both lanes go straight on or turn. About 25m from the lights there is a traffic island where the road widens. Often the traffic in the left lane queues back to this island meaning that you can't get into the right lane where there are often very few cars.

I turn right at the lights and need to get into the right lane. Can I legally go the wrong side of the island to avoid the queue? All road marking around the island and beyond are dashed lines.

Dodgy diagram attached...

[^Slider^]

If the island has a keep left sign then no you cant go around it on the offside. If you do then you may be liable for 3 points and £60 notes lighter.

Should you collide with oncomming traffic (which is why there is a keep left sign) then expect a whole heap of crap on your doorstep with regards to carelsss driving etc.

[size13]

Ah well worth a try. It's anoying to have to wait for multiple light changes because other people won't use the right lane to go straight on.

[Parrot of Doom]

Is the bollard a pedestrian refuge? If not, you could apply to the council to have the layout changed.

[size13]

Parrot of Doom said:

Is the bollard a pedestrian refuge? If not, you could apply to the council to have the layout changed.

Unfortunately it is

[supermono]

I suppose if some drunken yobs destroyed the keep left sign you'd be able to go the right...?

SM

[herewego]

^Slider^ said:

If the island has a keep left sign then no you cant go around it on the offside. If you do then you may be liable for 3 points and £60 notes lighter.

Should you collide with oncomming traffic (which is why there is a keep left sign) then expect a whole heap of crap on your doorstep with regards to carelsss driving etc.

Would that only be careless driving? I would have though inconsiderate at least, maybe even dangerous.

[ChristianM]

Mate just got 4 points + £200 fine for going to the right of a traffic island for a similar reason. They did him for careless.

[puggit]

size13 said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Is the bollard a pedestrian refuge? If not, you could apply to the council to have the layout changed.

Unfortunately it is

Probably put there by the local council to increase congestion (they do this in Reading )