Which lane is correct?
Discussion
Hello all,
I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
I posted this on a learner driver forum (not a learner but seemed a good place to ask) and got mixed responses. One driving instructor said that the Highway Code states to use the most appropriate lane for intermediate exits like this, and so whilst technically either lane is correct, the right lane is the best option as worst case scenario you can just go back around the roundabout if somebody is blocking your exit to the left, whereas if you’re in the left lane and somebody cuts you off from the right you have nowhere to go. He also said that being in the left lane might cause a car to pull out on you as they will be expecting you to take the first or second exit and not the third. However another driving instructor said the left lane is correct, as 1pm would still be counted as straight ahead. He also said the first exit is only a “minor exit” (as shown by the small line on the roundabout sign), and so technically this can be disregarded, making the Barnard Castle (A688) exit the second exit.
Other responses (not from instructors) included:
•The left lane is correct, as the thick line on the roundabout sign shows that the A688 is the continuation of the road, and therefore straight ahead
•The right lane is correct, as the exit is 1pm so it is a right turn
•The left lane is correct, as 1pm is closer to 12pm than to 3pm
•Third exit therefore right lane
As it stands, I opted for the left lane, but proceeded slowly to allow the two cars to the right of me to get ahead, so that I wouldn’t be cutting anybody off if I was wrong. However my girlfriend was in the passenger seat, and said she would be in the right lane as it’s 1pm and third exit, and she’s had her license longer than me (6 months vs 5 years).
Sorry if this is the wrong section, but since there was a divided opinion among driving instructors I thought I would ask advanced drivers. The roundabout itself is Coundon Gate.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]
I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
I posted this on a learner driver forum (not a learner but seemed a good place to ask) and got mixed responses. One driving instructor said that the Highway Code states to use the most appropriate lane for intermediate exits like this, and so whilst technically either lane is correct, the right lane is the best option as worst case scenario you can just go back around the roundabout if somebody is blocking your exit to the left, whereas if you’re in the left lane and somebody cuts you off from the right you have nowhere to go. He also said that being in the left lane might cause a car to pull out on you as they will be expecting you to take the first or second exit and not the third. However another driving instructor said the left lane is correct, as 1pm would still be counted as straight ahead. He also said the first exit is only a “minor exit” (as shown by the small line on the roundabout sign), and so technically this can be disregarded, making the Barnard Castle (A688) exit the second exit.
Other responses (not from instructors) included:
•The left lane is correct, as the thick line on the roundabout sign shows that the A688 is the continuation of the road, and therefore straight ahead
•The right lane is correct, as the exit is 1pm so it is a right turn
•The left lane is correct, as 1pm is closer to 12pm than to 3pm
•Third exit therefore right lane
As it stands, I opted for the left lane, but proceeded slowly to allow the two cars to the right of me to get ahead, so that I wouldn’t be cutting anybody off if I was wrong. However my girlfriend was in the passenger seat, and said she would be in the right lane as it’s 1pm and third exit, and she’s had her license longer than me (6 months vs 5 years).
Sorry if this is the wrong section, but since there was a divided opinion among driving instructors I thought I would ask advanced drivers. The roundabout itself is Coundon Gate.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]
Left lane as standard, but...
it is not illegal to be in either
from both you can exit to Barnard Castle
in either lane you need to be aware of and avoid others... (who ever may appear to have 'right of way' or more accurately priority...)
so it might depend on other traffic - for example, a slow lorry in the left lane I would take the right lane and pass it (it being safer to pass there than get stuck behind it on a single-carriageway
it is not illegal to be in either
from both you can exit to Barnard Castle
in either lane you need to be aware of and avoid others... (who ever may appear to have 'right of way' or more accurately priority...)
so it might depend on other traffic - for example, a slow lorry in the left lane I would take the right lane and pass it (it being safer to pass there than get stuck behind it on a single-carriageway
Without knowing the area, I would take the left lane to go straight ahead. Everything points to that; the road arrows, the signage.
The issue about someone cutting in because they think you are turning off at the first exit, is a distraction. If you were in the right lane, and planning to going ahead, they could enter to turn off at THEIR first exit, because they thought you were going round.
If the exit were two lanes, it is likely that the approaching left lane would show an arrow for left and straight ahead, and the right lane would show an arrow for straight ahead and right.
The issue about someone cutting in because they think you are turning off at the first exit, is a distraction. If you were in the right lane, and planning to going ahead, they could enter to turn off at THEIR first exit, because they thought you were going round.
If the exit were two lanes, it is likely that the approaching left lane would show an arrow for left and straight ahead, and the right lane would show an arrow for straight ahead and right.
Scott OSRS said:
Hello all,
I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]
Dominic cummings is probably the person to ask I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]
There is no definitive right or wrong answer.
As always, It just depends.
Traffic having entered at 3 O’clock and wishing to exit at 1 O’clock will very likely already be in the right hand lane on the roundabout (closest to the roundabout centre) and, if it’s safe for you to join them, why not?
On the other hand, if your right hand approach lane is full of traffic indicating to turn right (3 O’clock exit), and your left hand lane is relatively free, then the left hand lane will be more appropriate.
The only rule is to stay safe, and that doesn’t necessarily mean always trying to find a rule to follow slavishly.
Edited to add: the driving instructors you initially referred this to will always assert that there is a right or wrong answer. Which is why you were given conflicting definitive answers by them. They have to do this because that’s how they teach their pupils.
As always, It just depends.
Traffic having entered at 3 O’clock and wishing to exit at 1 O’clock will very likely already be in the right hand lane on the roundabout (closest to the roundabout centre) and, if it’s safe for you to join them, why not?
On the other hand, if your right hand approach lane is full of traffic indicating to turn right (3 O’clock exit), and your left hand lane is relatively free, then the left hand lane will be more appropriate.
The only rule is to stay safe, and that doesn’t necessarily mean always trying to find a rule to follow slavishly.
Edited to add: the driving instructors you initially referred this to will always assert that there is a right or wrong answer. Which is why you were given conflicting definitive answers by them. They have to do this because that’s how they teach their pupils.
Edited by johnao on Friday 4th February 21:22
MutiMuti said:
Scott OSRS said:
Hello all,
I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]
Dominic cummings is probably the person to ask I was driving out of town yesterday and encountered this roundabout. I needed to take the exit for Barnard Castle (A688) (third exit, 1pm). Left lane is marked left and straight ahead, right lane is marked right only.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Ht21X8am[/url]M.F.D said:
As already stated, either lane is suitable depending on road/traffic conditions.
What a boring thread, I don't know why people get so worked up about this stuff.
An interesting question.What a boring thread, I don't know why people get so worked up about this stuff.
I think the answer probably lies in the way that drivers are taught in order to pass the driving test. Virtually all learner tuition is “rules” based. We’re told, by our driving instructor, that there’s a rule for almost every situation; and if we follow the rule we’ll be safe.
The problem with this approach is that when a driver is confronted with a situation that hasn’t got an obvious rules based solution, confusion and uncertainty will be the outcome. As in this case.
What then ensues is an inconclusive discussion/debate about “rules” with no definitive resolution, which then results in participants “getting worked up about this stuff “.
Just a thought.
Edited by johnao on Sunday 6th February 19:49
Edited by johnao on Sunday 6th February 19:53
I agree with those saying Left Lane marked straight ahead.
If you look at the roundabout sign, you will note that the exit you want is marked with a wider line on the sign than any others. This means that it’s a continuation of the major road you are on when you approach it and the other possible exits are less primary in nature.
So by default, if you are continuing on the main road, despite the exit being slightly right of 12 o’clock, it is straight ahead for the purposes of the lane markings painted in the road.
As others have also said and with any roundabout, proceed with caution and awareness of traffic around you.
If you look at the roundabout sign, you will note that the exit you want is marked with a wider line on the sign than any others. This means that it’s a continuation of the major road you are on when you approach it and the other possible exits are less primary in nature.
So by default, if you are continuing on the main road, despite the exit being slightly right of 12 o’clock, it is straight ahead for the purposes of the lane markings painted in the road.
As others have also said and with any roundabout, proceed with caution and awareness of traffic around you.
I've used this roundabout many times, and the answer is you be a bit naughty and use the right lane to get past the slowpokes that choke up the left lane!
The real question is, there's a roundabout about 4 down from this one and people don't have a clue whether they need to be in the right or the left. I'll let you guys be the judge. Following the red lines, approaching from a dual lane, it's the 3rd exit, 1pm.
(This isn't the threads I was expecting when I visited the "Advanced Driving" forum for the first time)
The real question is, there's a roundabout about 4 down from this one and people don't have a clue whether they need to be in the right or the left. I'll let you guys be the judge. Following the red lines, approaching from a dual lane, it's the 3rd exit, 1pm.
(This isn't the threads I was expecting when I visited the "Advanced Driving" forum for the first time)
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