Roundabout lane choices
Discussion
We have a new roundabout in town and it's causing plentry of confusion.
I join at 1 and want to leave at 3.
At 1, there are two lanes I can use to join. Exit 3 is a single lane.
There are no lane markings on the roundabout.
The problem is that half the traffic takes the blue car route around and the other half the red, leading to disputes as both try to exit at 3.
There is much argument here in wotk between 'older'(me) and 'younger' drivers about what is 'straight on' compared to 'intermediate exit', compared to 'right turn'.
Is there a correct lane?
Just for info' the numbers are just labels not exit numbers. Maybe I should have used 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' instead of '1', '2', '3', '4'
I join at 1 and want to leave at 3.
At 1, there are two lanes I can use to join. Exit 3 is a single lane.
There are no lane markings on the roundabout.
The problem is that half the traffic takes the blue car route around and the other half the red, leading to disputes as both try to exit at 3.
There is much argument here in wotk between 'older'(me) and 'younger' drivers about what is 'straight on' compared to 'intermediate exit', compared to 'right turn'.
Is there a correct lane?
Just for info' the numbers are just labels not exit numbers. Maybe I should have used 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' instead of '1', '2', '3', '4'
Edited by SteveOS3 on Wednesday 8th August 12:33
Edited by SteveOS3 on Wednesday 8th August 13:32
SteveOS3 said:
We have a new roundabout in town and it's causing plentry of confusion.
I join at 1 and want to leave at 3.
At 1, there are two lanes I can use to join. Exit 3 is a single lane.
There are no lane markings on the roundabout.
The problem is that half the traffic takes the blue car route around and the other half the red, leading to disputes as both try to exit at 3.
There is much argument here in wotk between 'older'(me) and 'younger' drivers about what is 'straight on' compared to 'right turn'.
Is there a correct lane?
You've counted your exits wrong imo - the exit to the left (or first exit once on the roundabout) is the first, the one you want is the 2nd etcI join at 1 and want to leave at 3.
At 1, there are two lanes I can use to join. Exit 3 is a single lane.
There are no lane markings on the roundabout.
The problem is that half the traffic takes the blue car route around and the other half the red, leading to disputes as both try to exit at 3.
There is much argument here in wotk between 'older'(me) and 'younger' drivers about what is 'straight on' compared to 'right turn'.
Is there a correct lane?
Its a tough one because the blue car looks like the route for the 1st exit by people in the red car lane
blue - 1st / 2nd exits
red 2nd/3rd
red car route is the right one for 2nd exit - in my opinion
but i can see why people use the blue car route.
Highway code is not much help - see below, select the "appropriate" lane for your exit. I'd use either lane depending on traffic and actual layout. The exit at 3 looks like it has 2 lanes and if I was following the red route I'd exit in outside lane.
186 Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
•keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
•keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
•you should not normally need to signal on approach
•stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
186 Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
•keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
•keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
•you should not normally need to signal on approach
•stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
GadgeS3C said:
Highway code is not much help - see below, select the "appropriate" lane for your exit. I'd use either lane depending on traffic and actual layout. The exit at 3 looks like it has 2 lanes and if I was following the red route I'd exit in outside lane.
186 Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
•keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
•keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
•you should not normally need to signal on approach
•stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
i read that as 'unless you are using the first exit, dont be in the left hand lane..'186 Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
•keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
•keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
•select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
•you should not normally need to signal on approach
•stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
maybe lol
Pixelpeep said:
i read that as 'unless you are using the first exit, dont be in the left hand lane..'
maybe lol
But that would mean all of the traffic not taking the first exit off the roundabout would have to use the right hand lane. maybe lol
This one is a bit complicated as the 2nd exit is more than 180 degrees around, but IMHO 2nd exit outweighs "exit to the right", more sort of straight on
1st & 2nd exit typically left lane for me.
Edited by GadgeS3C on Wednesday 8th August 13:25
There's a similar roundabout near me where the approach is a dual carriage way and all 3 exits are single lane (albeit the 2nd exit is more straight on than right). There are no markings on the dual carriage way on approach.
Now in my book only those taking the 3rd exit should be in the right lane on approach. Those for 1st and 2nd exits should be in the left lane. It drives me nuts when people hoon down the right lane, past the queuing traffic on the left, to go straight on. I've seen a number of near misses as people who've taken the left lane, rightly in my opinion, refuse to yield to those barging in from the right
Now in my book only those taking the 3rd exit should be in the right lane on approach. Those for 1st and 2nd exits should be in the left lane. It drives me nuts when people hoon down the right lane, past the queuing traffic on the left, to go straight on. I've seen a number of near misses as people who've taken the left lane, rightly in my opinion, refuse to yield to those barging in from the right
The way I was taught to drive (25+ yrs ago) either is correct if no road markings exist, but I agree confusion will exist for the feed on to the single carriageway road from a dual (or should that be duel) carriageway apporach and makes it prone to dispute between drivers.
The highways department could help by placing directional road markings / arrows at each approach road, i.e. route 1 - outside lane approach, right turn only (exit 4 in your diagram) and inside lane approach, left and straight on (exits 2 & 3 in your diagram); or even inside lane apporach left only and outside lane approach straight on & right.
Until they do i see confusion reigns. Personally I would use either to ensure the least of my time wasted queueing.
The highways department could help by placing directional road markings / arrows at each approach road, i.e. route 1 - outside lane approach, right turn only (exit 4 in your diagram) and inside lane approach, left and straight on (exits 2 & 3 in your diagram); or even inside lane apporach left only and outside lane approach straight on & right.
Until they do i see confusion reigns. Personally I would use either to ensure the least of my time wasted queueing.
You could also add, if drivers used their indicators correctly, you would / should assess your approach accordingly.
As you approach from road 1, if the inside lane car has a left indicator flashing then it's "acceptable" to use the outside lane for straight on safe in the knowledge that there won't be competition for the single carriageway exit. However, no indicator should imply they're going straight on and perhaps you should fall in behind them in the inside lane.
BUT we all know in reality some other driver will rock up in the outside lane and try to beat both you and the car in front of you the the straight on exit!
If only Eutopia existed .......
As you approach from road 1, if the inside lane car has a left indicator flashing then it's "acceptable" to use the outside lane for straight on safe in the knowledge that there won't be competition for the single carriageway exit. However, no indicator should imply they're going straight on and perhaps you should fall in behind them in the inside lane.
BUT we all know in reality some other driver will rock up in the outside lane and try to beat both you and the car in front of you the the straight on exit!
If only Eutopia existed .......
If its only one lane to exit then this suggests you need to be in the outside lane beforehand.
So, either move across after the first exit or just start on the left in the first instance.
Seems to be a little poorly planned if it's two lanes in on a main artery and if it's one lane out on the most common exit?
So, either move across after the first exit or just start on the left in the first instance.
Seems to be a little poorly planned if it's two lanes in on a main artery and if it's one lane out on the most common exit?
I've been approaching in the Red lane, indicator on to show I'm going 'right'.
At busy times the traffic is too close to see if a car in the blue lane has it's left indicator on or not.
As a rule traffic splits about 50/50 between the exits labelled '2' and '3' and a very small number leaving at '4'.
At busy times the traffic is too close to see if a car in the blue lane has it's left indicator on or not.
As a rule traffic splits about 50/50 between the exits labelled '2' and '3' and a very small number leaving at '4'.
There is (or was) a roundabout with that exact same scenario when leaving Weymouth town area. Not being familiar with the area, I stopped in the R/H lane for the second exit, which I didn't know was single carriage. As myself and the car to my left were wheel to wheel (moving) with niether appearing to have the drivers line advantage, I made the decision to give it a bit of throttle and put the Tiv in a nose ahead advantage.
There was no accident but the other driver did lean on his car horn to let me know of his disapproval. My brother was with me so I asked him the same question as the OP but niether of us knew. Bloody stupid roundabout I thought. This happened about 3 years ago and it still bothers me that I may have had the wrong line and I was the tw@.
There was no accident but the other driver did lean on his car horn to let me know of his disapproval. My brother was with me so I asked him the same question as the OP but niether of us knew. Bloody stupid roundabout I thought. This happened about 3 years ago and it still bothers me that I may have had the wrong line and I was the tw@.
Looks pretty straight forward to me. Not well designed though and guaranteed to cause “road rage” with two lanes trying to squeeze into one at exit 3.
If you think yours is bad try this
Despite Highways resurfacing and clearly marking the lanes to tell drivers which one to get into, and not block traffic trying to navigate by pulling onto a mini when your exit is clearly blocked, it is still jammed by complete to
ers every morning and evening.
It would work brilliantly but for human nature, white vans, BMW's, Audi's, lorries and morons in 4X4's. You know who you are!
If you think yours is bad try this
Despite Highways resurfacing and clearly marking the lanes to tell drivers which one to get into, and not block traffic trying to navigate by pulling onto a mini when your exit is clearly blocked, it is still jammed by complete to
ers every morning and evening. It would work brilliantly but for human nature, white vans, BMW's, Audi's, lorries and morons in 4X4's. You know who you are!
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff