Solid white line around roundabout "apron"
Discussion
There's a roundabout in a village called Poringland near Norwich which is rather small but made much larger by a brickweave "apron". Around the edge of this brickweave is a continuous solid white line.
What's the law concerning crossing this line? By ignoring it the roundabout becomes a nearly straight line from both directions on the through road but if you follow around the outside it's quite a corner.
Observation shows:
1. Some people take the wide line
2. Some people cross the line and look like they're going to t-bone the wideliners who look a bit like they're turning left before cutting around.
3. People taking the wide line are cornering far harder than they would, and are right next to a footpath. Knowing how much diesel gets spilled on roundabouts this seems to increase the balance of danger to pedestrians compared with people taking the easy straight line.
3. Buses and lorries have no choice but to cross the solid white line
4. Which dumbfeck came up with such a bizarre design? Did they think that forcing people around the outside would slow them down and SLOW=SAFE or is there some unseen intelligence at work here?
SM
What's the law concerning crossing this line? By ignoring it the roundabout becomes a nearly straight line from both directions on the through road but if you follow around the outside it's quite a corner.
Observation shows:
1. Some people take the wide line
2. Some people cross the line and look like they're going to t-bone the wideliners who look a bit like they're turning left before cutting around.
3. People taking the wide line are cornering far harder than they would, and are right next to a footpath. Knowing how much diesel gets spilled on roundabouts this seems to increase the balance of danger to pedestrians compared with people taking the easy straight line.
3. Buses and lorries have no choice but to cross the solid white line
4. Which dumbfeck came up with such a bizarre design? Did they think that forcing people around the outside would slow them down and SLOW=SAFE or is there some unseen intelligence at work here?
SM
An interesting question that I've been considering recently. I know of similar roundabouts that do not have the white line. I tend to ignore the difference between the paved and tarmac sections and focus on the actual raised bit in the middle, therefore straight-line it (or take a tight line if turning right).
I agree that the solid white line may change this, but I'm not sure whether such a line has any legality as I don't recall reading about it in the HWC?
I agree that the solid white line may change this, but I'm not sure whether such a line has any legality as I don't recall reading about it in the HWC?
I have noticed a few of these roundabouts with brick aprons too but, none so far with the white line.
Really not sure of the purpose of the apron. If they wanted the roundabout that size why not make it that size?
General state of roundabouts now, including wheel size holes and cracks and these extra aprons means drivers spend as much time picking a safe path through them that less attention is available for other traffic.
Really not sure of the purpose of the apron. If they wanted the roundabout that size why not make it that size?
General state of roundabouts now, including wheel size holes and cracks and these extra aprons means drivers spend as much time picking a safe path through them that less attention is available for other traffic.
KB_S1 said:
I have noticed a few of these roundabouts with brick aprons too but, none so far with the white line.
Really not sure of the purpose of the apron. If they wanted the roundabout that size why not make it that size?
General state of roundabouts now, including wheel size holes and cracks and these extra aprons means drivers spend as much time picking a safe path through them that less attention is available for other traffic.
Really not sure of the purpose of the apron. If they wanted the roundabout that size why not make it that size?
General state of roundabouts now, including wheel size holes and cracks and these extra aprons means drivers spend as much time picking a safe path through them that less attention is available for other traffic.
I believe the apron is because while car drivers etc are expected to take the 'conventional' line around the apron, larger vehicles - buses, lorries etc - would not be able to do so; the apron bit is there to make it possible for them to get round the roundabout!
becca_viola said:
I believe the apron is because while car drivers etc are expected to take the 'conventional' line around the apron, larger vehicles - buses, lorries etc - would not be able to do so; the apron bit is there to make it possible for them to get round the roundabout!
I believe you're right. So what's the legality of it? I believe the overall balance of safety is worse because of the varieties of interpretations us car drivers take to its meaning. Did anyone think of that or does awkward=slower=safer in the minds of an imbecile?
SM
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