Just got cut up by an Ambulance :S

[xr287]

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

[Distant]

xr287 said:

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

Which lane were you in?

[xr287]

Distant said:

xr287 said:

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

Which lane were you in?

Middle lane, thought that was obvious but maybe I should have said.

[Pothole]

You were tired so maybe you weren't really concentrating...

[Distant]

Be careful at those roundabouts where you can turn right from 2 lanes, it's not uncommon for 2 vehicles to be aiming for the same lane on the exit. Most of the time I prefer to use the traditional right lane for turning right as not everyone will see the road markings and expect you to go round the outside of them on the r'bout.

Everyone makes mistakes, it may be the ambulance driver had just witnessed something awful and his/her mind was elsewhere.

[Distant]

Pothole said:

You were tired so maybe you weren't really concentrating...

[pokethepope]

xr287 said:

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

Over reacting much?

You say you held back so "you had a bit of room just in case", but then complain it cut you up - so you let yourself get too close, no?. If it had the blues and two's, you shouldnt have been close enough for it to cut you up, theres a hundred (legitimate) reasons for him to do it; called to a different address, sat nav changes the route etc etc.

[xr287]

pokethepope said:

xr287 said:

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

Over reacting much?

You say you held back so "you had a bit of room just in case", but then complain it cut you up - so you let yourself get too close, no?. If it had the blues and two's, you shouldnt have been close enough for it to cut you up, theres a hundred (legitimate) reasons for him to do it; called to a different address, sat nav changes the route etc etc.

I was far enough back that if it changed lanes it wouldn't hit me but there was only about 2ft from the back of it to the front of me as it cut in. It had no lights or sirens on and was driving at normal speeds. You have misinterpreted my explanation if you think there was a legitimate reason for it to swap lanes mid way round the roundabout. It continued along the dual carriageway in the left lane passing numerous junctions on its left and there are no junctions on the right for a long time so nothing to do with a route change or getting in the correct lane for a route change.

The point is I should not have had to hold back at all, there was no reason for it to move into my lane other than not seeming to grasp the concept of lane discipline, the lanes are all clearly marked and have arrows showing you where they should lead. So no there was no over reacting from me, no honking or coffee beans. I was just quite bemused at what happened and what would have possibly caused an accident or required avoiding action should another car have been in my position and legitimately been using the left hand lane but had not chosen to hold back.

However PH being PH I couldn't possibly have been in the right and my story must be nitpicked in an attempt to find flaws to exploit to show I was in some way in the wrong. I assure you however I was not.

[becksW]

Personally I rarely use 2nd lane for right hand turn as unless clearly marked most of the time I work on 1st lane left or straight on, middle straight on only, 3rd lane right only. Not saying you were wrong but maybe ambulance thought this was the case.

[branflakes]

Ten replies and not one of them asking if the ambulance was Welsh?

Shame on you all.

[ZesPak]

branflakes said:

Ten replies and not one of them asking if the ambulance was Welsh?

Shame on you all.

... it wouldn't have been an "ambulance" then, would it :P

Was it james_tigerwoods driving?

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 28th September 07:48

[Petemate]

Having read all this thread, it seems to me that the ambulance driver took the "racing" line, just like the old duffer in front of me the other day on the Rose Hill roundabout during the rush-hour on the Oxford ring road. Fortunately for me I sensed what he was going to do.... Lane discipline these days is terrible - one just needs to expect the unexpected eh? Roundabouts are a sort of 'no-mans'-land' according to an insurance assessor ages ago when a driver cut up a car driven by one of my sons in which I was a passenger. The other driver went straight into the side of our car but both the insurance companies still treated it as knock-for-knock.
Pete

[This Side Down]

pokethepope said:

xr287 said:

Title explains it all really.

Roundabout has 3 lanes approaching and 3 exits, left is to single carriage way and straight on or right are dual carriageway. So left lane is left or straight on, middle lane is straight on or right and right hand lane is right only.

Was no traffic so was a bit weary when it moved into the right hand lane so held back a bit so we weren't completely alongside and I had a bit of room just in case. Then it just drifted across into my lane to exit on the left hand lane of the right exit carriageway.

My point being this is a professional driver whos entrusted to break the speed limit/run red lights etc yet they are unable to navigate a simple roundabout competently?

Over reacting much?

You say you held back so "you had a bit of room just in case", but then complain it cut you up - so you let yourself get too close, no?. If it had the blues and two's, you shouldnt have been close enough for it to cut you up, theres a hundred (legitimate) reasons for him to do it; called to a different address, sat nav changes the route etc etc.

Not to mention another viable reason: the ambulance driver made a simple mistake. Human error. It happens, even the pros are not above making simple mistakes.

To err is human.

[james_tigerwoods]

ZesPak said:

branflakes said:

Ten replies and not one of them asking if the ambulance was Welsh?

Shame on you all.

... it wouldn't have been an "ambulance" then, would it :P

Was it james_tigerwoods driving?