Roundabout Markings, optional?
Discussion
Certainly seems that way these days as three times in the last two days I've had people going straight on at a roundabout while being in a lane marked as left turn only. Now I can understand that if you are driving on a road you don't know its easy to get into the wrong lane but if you get in the wrong lane you a) slow down, b) signal and c) thank the kind person who lets you in/move across, you don't just start moving across with no signals while sounding your horn and flashing your lights while making hand gestures like you were at a Hardcore rave. So, lane markings, optional or required?
I had some young girl the other day going right on a large two lane roundabout whilst in the left lane, i was in the right land going straight across (two lane exit). She saw me, made eye contact and just continue to drive in my general direction, she clearly knew (i hope) she was in the wrong lane but she didn't slow or change direction, i had to swerve to avoid her as she nearly took the front of my car off.
An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Unfortunately bad driving in England seems to be acceptable, lane discipline and general road system understanding is frankly shocking, and i doubt this will ever change.
Rant over!
An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Unfortunately bad driving in England seems to be acceptable, lane discipline and general road system understanding is frankly shocking, and i doubt this will ever change.
Rant over!
Roule Duke said:
I had some young girl the other day going right on a large two lane roundabout whilst in the left lane, i was in the right land going straight across (two lane exit). She saw me, made eye contact and just continue to drive in my general direction, she clearly knew (i hope) she was in the wrong lane but she didn't slow or change direction, i had to swerve to avoid her as she nearly took the front of my car off.
An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Unfortunately bad driving in England seems to be acceptable, lane discipline and general road system understanding is frankly shocking, and i doubt this will ever change.
Rant over!
My late grandfather used to preach that the safest way to use any roundabout was to always use the left lane and that way you never have to cut across anyone to exit the roundabout. An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Unfortunately bad driving in England seems to be acceptable, lane discipline and general road system understanding is frankly shocking, and i doubt this will ever change.
Rant over!
Roundabouts can be confusing for a lot of people.
A lot of times you approach a roundabout on a two-laned road leading on to an un-marked (un-laned) roundabout. Half the people using it think it has a lane system and will stick to the inside or outside, and the other half treat it as a single lane road and basically choose any position.
Who's right, who's wrong?
Nobody knows. And as a result accidents and frequent cut-ups occur everyday.
A lot of times you approach a roundabout on a two-laned road leading on to an un-marked (un-laned) roundabout. Half the people using it think it has a lane system and will stick to the inside or outside, and the other half treat it as a single lane road and basically choose any position.
Who's right, who's wrong?
Nobody knows. And as a result accidents and frequent cut-ups occur everyday.
Roule Duke said:
An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Absolutely, on double lane exits on roundabouts people just seem to pick which lane they are going to at random, without any correlation to the lane they entered the RAB from. Sure, we've all had situations where the left lane has been blocked by a que or stationary or slow-moving traffic so we've gone for the right hand lane instead, but I'd hope anyone with enough interest in cars and driving to join PH would have the common sense to mirror and signal before changing lanes. For the gernal public though, it often seems like anything goes or this crazy "Don't look in your mirrors, don't indicate and hope there is not a car in your blindspot" mentality!The white arrows or wording on the approaches to roundabouts have no legal significance at all. In other words, you can't be done just for being in the wrong lane - it's not a specific offence.
However, if you are in the wrong lane (ie not in accordance with the Highway Code or the painted arrows / wording) and something happens, you are more likely to be found at fault, and/or nicked for other offences such as DD or DWDCA.
An earlier poster was correct, though - the general lane advice in the Highway Code would be superceded by specific arrows or worded markings at a specific junction.
However, if you are in the wrong lane (ie not in accordance with the Highway Code or the painted arrows / wording) and something happens, you are more likely to be found at fault, and/or nicked for other offences such as DD or DWDCA.
An earlier poster was correct, though - the general lane advice in the Highway Code would be superceded by specific arrows or worded markings at a specific junction.
Mastodon2 said:
Roule Duke said:
An alarming amount of people don't understand how to use roundabouts correctly, my pet hate is people changing lane as they leave a two lane roundabout, no signal or concept of whether there's a car in the space they're about to drive into.
Absolutely, on double lane exits on roundabouts people just seem to pick which lane they are going to at random, without any correlation to the lane they entered the RAB from. Sure, we've all had situations where the left lane has been blocked by a que or stationary or slow-moving traffic so we've gone for the right hand lane instead, but I'd hope anyone with enough interest in cars and driving to join PH would have the common sense to mirror and signal before changing lanes. For the gernal public though, it often seems like anything goes or this crazy "Don't look in your mirrors, don't indicate and hope there is not a car in your blindspot" mentality!
k as if anyone ends up in a sticky situation or taking damage it won't be them as they will have clear space ahead that they can move into.There are only two rules on roundabouts, and they are followed to the letter.
1. If going straight on, then go straight on. Enter in L1, cutting across the apex into L2, then returning to L1 as you exit. Do not stay in lane. Straight on means straight on, as the crow flies.
2. To turn right (typically for a 3 O'Clock exit) always start from L1.
The above is set in stone and everyone obeys.
1. If going straight on, then go straight on. Enter in L1, cutting across the apex into L2, then returning to L1 as you exit. Do not stay in lane. Straight on means straight on, as the crow flies.
2. To turn right (typically for a 3 O'Clock exit) always start from L1.
The above is set in stone and everyone obeys.
I had an absolute classic this morning on the Spittals Roundabout.
Silver Vectra, entered the roundabout in the left hand lane. Half way round at a set of red traffic lights suddenly cuts accross the centre lane to the right hand (arrow right). Then when lights turn green and the left hand lane and middle lane go straight accross (as per the arrows), cuts back into the middle lane and goes off at the first exit in the outside lane. Then just to top it all off chops accross the inside lane to take the sliproad 100 yards from the roundabout.
There is also a red Mondeo taxi from a local firm that I'm sure is out to claim off somebody elses insurance. His favourite trick is to enter a roundabout indicating left (from about 20 yards before the entrance to the roundabout) then go straight over.
There seem to be far too many drivers for whom a simple arrow is far too complicated. God knows how these people got a drivers licence (if they did).
Silver Vectra, entered the roundabout in the left hand lane. Half way round at a set of red traffic lights suddenly cuts accross the centre lane to the right hand (arrow right). Then when lights turn green and the left hand lane and middle lane go straight accross (as per the arrows), cuts back into the middle lane and goes off at the first exit in the outside lane. Then just to top it all off chops accross the inside lane to take the sliproad 100 yards from the roundabout.
There is also a red Mondeo taxi from a local firm that I'm sure is out to claim off somebody elses insurance. His favourite trick is to enter a roundabout indicating left (from about 20 yards before the entrance to the roundabout) then go straight over.
There seem to be far too many drivers for whom a simple arrow is far too complicated. God knows how these people got a drivers licence (if they did).
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