Roundabouts - Am I doing something wrong?

[anonymous-user]

Apart from the odd mini roundabout and those larger roundabouts on a dual carriageway which feature 2 lanes at the entrance and 2 lanes at the exit the other side, the vast majority of roundabouts in my area are as pictured below.



Large, 4 exits, and featuring 2 lanes 'on', 2 lanes round, and 1 lane for the exits.

It has happened countess times recently where I have entered the roundabout with the intention of going 'straight on' (2nd exit) so I have found myself alongside another vehicle (myself in the left lane and 3rd party in the right lane), we both proceed onto the roundabout, continue round pretty much side by side with the other vehicle, then I indicate to leave, and get completely cut up by the car on the inside of the roundabout trying to take the same exit as me.

The cutting up by the other driver is usually always accompanied by frantic beeping of the horn and plenty of shouting and wild gesturing including the 'wker' sign.

So... Please tell me if I'm in the wrong here! I always thought that on a roundabout such as pictured, you should generally use the left lane for the 1st and 2nd exits (eg left or straight on).

[cpl_payne]

Yes. What you are doing wrong is assuming other road users are reasonable people who can drive worth a damn and are aware of their surroundings.

What you should be doing instead is assume everyone is a suicidal numpty completely oblivious of any roadcraft and treat your drive as a live session of PacMan. If you're on the outside lane when exiting roundabouts - hang back and let the numpty sail across two lanes, DO NOT exit side by side.

HTH

[hornetrider]

Put your foot down and outgun them - simples

[Mazdarese]

cpl_payne said:

Yes. What you are doing wrong is assuming other road users are reasonable people who can drive worth a damn and are aware of their surroundings.

What you should be doing instead is assume everyone is a suicidal numpty completely oblivious of any roadcraft and treat your drive as a live session of PacMan. If you're on the outside lane when exiting roundabouts - hang back and let the numpty sail across two lanes, DO NOT exit side by side.

HTH

Unless you're in a snotter and don't care about it, and the bell-end is in something of a much-higher value, then just carry on as you were. See who bottles it first.

[parapaul]

Probably better posted in AD, although no doubt it will be moved

But I agree, the highway code says:

Highway Code said:

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 would always choose the left hand lane too, but looks like there's no had and fast rule.

[danposs86]

From the Direct.Gov website:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...



"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."



So yeah, I'd say you were correct.

EDIT: Damn, beaten to it!

[Lefty]

OP, i completely agree with you. Left lane for turning left or straight ahead, assuming it's not marked otherwise.

There's a busy roundabout in Aberdeen which has 3 lanes going onto the roundabout, left hand lane marked for left-turn and straight ahead, middle lane straight ahead and right lane turn-right.

That's fine but on the exit of the roundabout, if you're going straight ahead, there's only one lane. So traffic has to merge on the roundabout.

[Mazdarese]

danposs86 said:

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

So what that is saying is that you don't need to signal until you're leaving at the next exit. I think this is poor, because it gives no clue to other road users as to your intentions. This is why I am usually always signalling when on a roundabout.

[Lefty]

Mazdarese said:

So what that is saying is that you don't need to signal until you're leaving at the next exit. I think this is poor, because it gives no clue to other road users as to your intentions. This is why I am usually always signalling when on a roundabout.

How do you signal when you join the roundabout if you are going straight ahead, 2nd exit? Left is wrong, right is wrong.

[Mazdarese]

Lefty said:

Mazdarese said:

So what that is saying is that you don't need to signal until you're leaving at the next exit. I think this is poor, because it gives no clue to other road users as to your intentions. This is why I am usually always signalling when on a roundabout.

How do you signal when you join the roundabout if you are going straight ahead, 2nd exit? Left is wrong, right is wrong.

I put my hazards on.

[Mazdarese]

Seriously, I would not signal until I had passed the first exit, then I would signal left.

[cpl_payne]

Seriously - you can be right, even as right as to be able to walk on water. Doesn't matter, a numpty (and there is no shortage of them) will still plough into the side of your car as they didn't see you or imagined they can cut across from right hand lane to left hand lane just because they're exiting the roundabout.

IMHO it's not about being right, it's about reaching your destination without being involved in accident.

[andycambo]

Mazdarese said:

I put my hazards on.

[grahamw48]

Lefty said:

Mazdarese said:

So what that is saying is that you don't need to signal until you're leaving at the next exit. I think this is poor, because it gives no clue to other road users as to your intentions. This is why I am usually always signalling when on a roundabout.

How do you signal when you join the roundabout if you are going straight ahead, 2nd exit? Left is wrong, right is wrong.

You DON'T signal, because you are going straight on.

Treat a roundabout in the same way as any other junction, as far as signalling goes.

[saaby93]

When going straight on you are allowed to signal right before the first exit so as to prevent drivers waiting at that exit assuming that you are turning left
Then signal left before the second exit
There is only one very wide lane on that roundabout so you use whatever space there is and try not to align yourself directly alongside someone

[BuzzLightyear]

I'd agree that you're doing nothing wrong OP.
If there are two lanes on and two off, why does 3rd party numpty enter in RH lane but want to exit in LH lane??? Must be

Edited by BuzzLightyear on Tuesday 9th August 13:47

[Dracoro]

Irrespective of the correct legal/HC behaviour (that other posters have linked to), just make sure you are either ahead of the next car or drop in behind them.

Just bring technically "correct" is all well and good but the aim is to be safe and not have an accident. If the other driver is being a numpty, let them do so and just get ahead or behind them. Either is better than colliding with them, not matter who is "right".

[BOR]

You are definitely exposing yourself to more risk if you don't elect to take the RH lane when going straight on. As you have found out yourself.

[2thumbs]

Mazdarese said:

So what that is saying is that you don't need to signal until you're leaving at the next exit. I think this is poor, because it gives no clue to other road users as to your intentions. This is why I am usually always signalling when on a roundabout.

This is good practice in my opinion, especially on some of the more obscure roundabouts as strait on isn't always 'strait on'. I often signal my intentions as I go around regardless of the exit I'm taking. It also gives motorists in the wrong lane a clue where you are going

Edited by 2thumbs on Tuesday 9th August 11:21

[saaby93]

2thumbs said:

This is good practice in my opinion, especially on some of the more obscure roundabouts as strait on isn't always 'strait on'. I often signal my intentions as I go around regardless of the exit I'm taking. It also gives motorists in the wrong lane a clue where you are going

Yup.
If you have your blinking right indicator going, youre unlikely to be slipping left at the next exit
( although some might)