Going across mini roundabouts
Discussion
Whether you agree or disagree with the HC rule on mini roundabouts they were designed to ease congestion on roads that don’t warrant traffic signals etc or had a high number of incidents/collisions and by legislating them makes liability much easier to apportion blameworthiness ,they were also offset to try and slow traffic down on approach again making it safer for all, as how many times have you gone only to get someone blaring their horn at you as the ride over the top of it to turn right towards you making you think that you have done something wrong instead of using it correctly and going round behind you.
I never trust anyone at mini roundabouts for these reasons.
I never trust anyone at mini roundabouts for these reasons.
Sorry to disagree, but, you will not fail a test for driving "over" the spot....one of my pupils did it recently and earned himself a "minor fault".
Some "dots" are so big, the road too narrow, dot poorly placed, the car/van lorry is too big so can't avoid going over said "dot"
like said earlier use some common sense.
When doing my last ROSPA test, the examiner asked me if I had any questions regarding the test. I did. I asked if he would mind if I "straight lined" roundabouts.
He replied it depends on the surface, approach speed , other traffic, cars ability, your ability. So I approached every roundabout at the correct speeds , in the correct gear and dependant on the other traffic, drove the car taking the smoothest lines on what I saw.....passed with a "gold".....most roundabouts were done a la driving test, some at more speed. Bit of fun really, giving commentary whilst doing so explained to him what I was doing, why I was doing it, how I was doing it, when etc.... it ain't rocket science
I agree some road planers really don't know, what they are doing with road markings, signs etc....
Some "dots" are so big, the road too narrow, dot poorly placed, the car/van lorry is too big so can't avoid going over said "dot"
like said earlier use some common sense.
When doing my last ROSPA test, the examiner asked me if I had any questions regarding the test. I did. I asked if he would mind if I "straight lined" roundabouts.
He replied it depends on the surface, approach speed , other traffic, cars ability, your ability. So I approached every roundabout at the correct speeds , in the correct gear and dependant on the other traffic, drove the car taking the smoothest lines on what I saw.....passed with a "gold".....most roundabouts were done a la driving test, some at more speed. Bit of fun really, giving commentary whilst doing so explained to him what I was doing, why I was doing it, how I was doing it, when etc.... it ain't rocket science
I agree some road planers really don't know, what they are doing with road markings, signs etc....
A mini roundabout is the only roundabout preceded by a circular sign, a sign giving an order, that order to go around the roundabout, failing to do so could land you with 6 points.
Mini roundabouts were introduced to reduce accidents at junctions, initially apparently to the tune of 60%. But like all things with driving there is now an over use.
I don't believe road planners don't understand, I think it is drivers that are failing to understand the reasoning behind some signs and road markings.
surveyor_101 said:
Certainly, police and ambulance service do, it's not unsound, maybe less common on a mini roundabout but I see no issue when it's just a bit of paint and not in conflict with others.
There is no exception but then you don't commit an offence by 'taking a bit off'. If you failed to do it on a clear roundabout then maybe careless or inconsiderate driving, maybe.
It's a very common technique for motorcyclist as their risk profile is higher when turning.
Certainly not. On my Police standard and advanced driving and motorcycle course I was taught to drive it as per the Highway Code uness we could justify using our exemptions of the road traffic act. There is no exception but then you don't commit an offence by 'taking a bit off'. If you failed to do it on a clear roundabout then maybe careless or inconsiderate driving, maybe.
It's a very common technique for motorcyclist as their risk profile is higher when turning.
A more common technique for a motorcyclist would be to slow down and treat the round about as it should be.
I’m not saying i make every effort to go around every single time, when safe to do so I straighten it out. I’m just correcting a misconception that the law says one thing and that Police and emergency services are taught to ignore it as a rule.
Speary8 said:
Soooooo. By your logic, on a country road with double or single solid line, you would offside or straighten by crossing the line. That is effectively what you are doing over the mini roundabout spot.
No Solid white lines are generally there as there is a danger for you being in the opposing lane. They are also added in spots we're accidents have been frequent so they are a clue to show crossing them could be unwise.
Anything with a red ring limit I tend to stick to.
We are talking about under circumstances, I have done this with a marked police car behind and not been stopped, because its common sense. however speeding in a 30 or crossing a solid are not Likely to go unpunished.
I take it you don't use you mobile for android or apple pay when driving through a toll or drive thru coffee or restaurant? Again it's technically not, legal but commin sense prevails
Edited by surveyor_101 on Thursday 16th August 11:59
We have a on near us where turning right from the opposite direction cut the angle so much in a straight line that they only ever get their left side tyre tread over the white paint. None of them ever actually see the tarmac at the other side of the RAB.
This allows them to cut across any vehicle that arrives at the same time or slightly earlier from the opposite direction.
This allows them to cut across any vehicle that arrives at the same time or slightly earlier from the opposite direction.
mawallace said:
There's a mini roundabout I often encounter where it's easier to go over it rather than round it if there's nothing coming towards me. I have seen others doing the same.
I am wondering - what is other people's thoughts on the subject?
Link to google map here
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2494858,0.727973...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2494119,0.728201...
The HC states you must treat the mini RaB as you would a regular one. To do otherwise is lazy driving. (exceptions for larger vehicles/HGV.I am wondering - what is other people's thoughts on the subject?
Link to google map here
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2494858,0.727973...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2494119,0.728201...
nonsequitur said:
The HC states you must treat the mini RaB as you would a regular one. To do otherwise is lazy driving. (exceptions for larger vehicles/HGV.
If you want to drive around painted markings on empty roads thats up to you. I don't favour unnecessary steering inputs when a straightline is safe and I am not in conflict with any other road users.Do you also stop at every stop sign and apply your handbrake and pause as you would on a driving test?
I like to use my judgement to decide when its safe to position my vehicle rather than show rigid adherence HWC which is primarily to give black and white rules to new drivers.
surveyor_101 said:
From an Advanced Driving perspective, you can straight-line over these if it doesn't bring you into conflict with other road users.
No. I’m afraid that’s not correct for mini-roundabouts.surveyor_101 said:
It's a very common technique for motorcyclist as their risk profile is higher when turning.
No, it’s not. Most motorcyclists I know would avoid riding over the white painted bump. I might well straight-line a regular roundabout, but only if there was no other traffic around. It can be safer to straight-line a normal roundabout on the bike, particularly in the wet, but not if it could confuse other road users. However, I wouldn’t ride straight over a mini-roundabout!Ryan-nunm9 said:
A more common technique for a motorcyclist would be to slow down and treat the round about as it should be.
^ this 
SVS said:
surveyor_101 said:
From an Advanced Driving perspective, you can straight-line over these if it doesn't bring you into conflict with other road users.
No. I’m afraid that’s not correct for mini-roundabouts.surveyor_101 said:
It's a very common technique for motorcyclist as their risk profile is higher when turning.
No, it’s not. Most motorcyclists I know would avoid riding over the white painted bump. I might well straight-line a regular roundabout, but only if there was no other traffic around. It can be safer to straight-line a normal roundabout on the bike, particularly in the wet, but not if it could confuse other road users. However, I wouldn’t ride straight over a mini-roundabout!Ryan-nunm9 said:
A more common technique for a motorcyclist would be to slow down and treat the round about as it should be.
^ this 
TooMany2cvs said:
Ryan-nunm9 said:
Like you and millions of others, as long as it's safe to do so I go straight over.
Though off the top of my head the Highway code says something like vehicles *MUST pass around the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using...Though off the top of my head the Highway code says something like vehicles *MUST pass around the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.
- Pretty (99%) sure its MUST, but could be should. Would need to check
The Highway Code said:
Rule 188
Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal. Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts. Beware of others doing this.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10(1) & 16(1)
And, of course, we all do everything that's a MUST all the time, don't we? It's a judgement call. If it might possibly inconvenience anybody else, then you'd be a complete nugget to do it. If nobody else is about, then...Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal. Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts. Beware of others doing this.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10(1) & 16(1)
Only if a cyclist exercises a "judgement call" at a set of red traffic signals, for instance, all of PistonHeads erupts in anger. Vive l'hypocrisy!
And here's an idea. When I'm driving AROUND the roundabout markings, like the law says I MUST, don't be f
king tailgating me, presuming I'm going to take the left, then try to overtake me as I exit. Because if, when trying to avoid driving into the offside rear of my car, you smash an alloy wheel and wreck a tyre on the exit island I WILL laugh, and then I will drive away. I'll also report you to the police/local council so that they can pursue your insurance for the damage caused to the 'keep left' signage on the island. I may even stop to take pictures.How f
king hard can it be? "Advanced driving" techniques do not trump the Road Traffic Act. They do not provide exemptions from prosecution for failing to do that which is required in law, so just drive within the law. Or is this just another case of there being one law for drivers, which they are permitted to ignore as it suits them, but there being another law for "proper criminals" and non-motorised road users?Jaetten said:
We have one in Belper where there's parked cars immediately after the roundabout. If you go all the way around, you can't exit the roundabout unless you swan neck out of it as there's always cars in the way.
Where in Belper? I live just up the road from one where I see people ignoring the mini-roundabout entirely and just cutting across.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0270763,-1.46502...
Coming down the hill to turn right, many people cut across and I've seen many close calls where people coming up the road are surprised to see a car on the wrong side of the roundabout.
Speary8 said:
Where there could be conflict eg when taking second exit(straight on) and the is a vehicle following or one waiting to the left I put a right turn signal on just to wake them up. I still expect the follower or the one to my left to possibly pull out so am always prepared. Once they are clear about my intentions I cancel the signal and pop a left signal on to exit.
I agree with spikeyone that this sort of signaling could be misconstrued. It also seems like a lot of signaling for one mini-roundabout!spikyone said:
I don't think signalling right is a good approach. I appreciate that you're an IAM observer, but to me that sort of "signalling right when you're not going right", at any roundabout or junction, can also be misconstrued. If your exit isn't past 12 o'clock, signalling right is misleading and probably not consistent with giving information.
IAM Observers aren’t omniscient. (I used to be one 
)Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff