Roundabout - Correct Lane?

[Parabola]

Apologies if this thread appears regularly. Am after an answer specific to this location in Manchester.

Two lanes approaching the roundabout. I always approach in the right hand land, onto the middle lane of the road, then take the second exit. (The green line on the map)
Frequently, there is someone who has approached the roundabout in the left hand lane, that then darts across to the centre lane. (The red line on the map)

Who is in the correct lane? I'm pretty sure it's me, but most people seem to take the other option, so I feel like i'm in the wrong.









http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Manchester+M1+3HF&...

Edited by Parabola on Wednesday 15th August 14:52

[CommanderJameson]

TBH I think you're both wrong.

[hornetrider]

I'm pretty sure it's not you, all things being equal (ie no road markings to the contrary)

[Burnham]

The Left Hand lane does not appear to be 'left only', and generally the left lane can be used for going straight on.

But you are not in the wrong either.

...the problem is that there is only 1 lane off the exit you both want. Therein lies the rub.

[masermartin]

Seems to me that the right lane of the entry road becomes the inside (rightmost) lane of the roundabout, the left lane of the entry road becomes the middle lane of the roundabout, and the first exit to the left is incidental.

[Matthen]

Following the road up to the junction on street view, I would say you should enter the third lane of the roundabout. There is a clear forward arrow in the inside lane of the joining road, which would logically feed into the 2nd lane of the roundabout, as 1st (outside) lane goes left.

[CoolC]

masermartin said:

Seems to me that the right lane of the entry road becomes the inside (rightmost) lane of the roundabout, the left lane of the entry road becomes the middle lane of the roundabout, and the first exit to the left is incidental.

That's how I see it too.

[Deva Link]

CommanderJameson said:

TBH I think you're both wrong.

I think you're both right. Isn't the approach road marked with straight ahead arrows from both lanes?

[Parabola]

So the general consensus is... Both entry lanes are acceptable, but I'd probably be best approaching from the left hand entry lane?

[CommanderJameson]

My instinctive reaction is that you should be, on approach, in the left-hand lane for the exit you want, and in the right-hand lane for going further round the roundabout.

Hence my suggestion that both drivers are in the wrong (because they both have to weave to get in the lane they want).

[kambites]

Not knowing the junction, I'd be using the left lane there.

Generally speaking I think if a roundabout is unmarked and has N exits (excluding the one I'm coming out of) and two entry lanes, I use the left lane for the first N/2 exits if that's a whole number or the first (N+1)/2 exits if it's not.


ETA: Ah the left lane is marked as left and straight on. Definitely the left lane then.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 15th August 15:10

[Zoobeef]

You are wrong. The left lane goes left and straight on according the the arrow on the ground in the first pic

[Big Fat Fatty]

It doesn't seem very obvious which lane you're supposed to use for which exit but I'd probably use the left to approach it and merge into the middle lane to take the second exit off. It looks like a right cock of a roundabout in any case and I'd prefer to avoid it with some B roads if possible.

[hornetrider]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Manchester+M1+3HF&...

Left lane = M602
Right lane = City Centre

In my opinion.

[Horse Pop]

TBH if you find other people often have a different idea of the correct lane you may be better following local custom for sake of a quiet life.

[Parabola]

hornetrider said:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Manchester+M1+3HF&...

Left lane = M602
Right lane = City Centre

In my opinion.

Good call. Didn't think of having a proper look at that sign.

Horse Pop said:

TBH if you find other people often have a different idea of the correct lane you may be better following local custom for sake of a quiet life.

I think this is what I'll do from now on.

[Paul O]

I guess the fact it divides opinon so greatly is why no-one one road knows whats going on.

Ask the council/road-planning-people to paint some arrows/road names on the floor - lord knows with the amount of crazy stuff being done to roundabouts these days in the name of 'improvement', we need all the help we can get!

[mondeoman]

Ideally I'd say that enter on the LH lane and stay in that, as once you get to the lights before the next exit you've got to cut across to the LH lane anyway.

Following the markings, either lane is acceptable on approach and entry to the roundabout, but again, the lights cause the problem in terms of filtering off to the left. I'm betting they originally had TWO lanes going off at that exit, but decided (for whatever reason) to close it down to one, but never got round to/couldn't afford to update the other road markings to suit.

The inside (RH) lane is clearly marked CITY CENTRE, so you shouldn't get into that if you're going to take the M602.

[MuffDaddy]

You are both in the wrong for heading towards the home of "creative new media" types.

[Zoobeef]

Paul O said:

I guess the fact it divides opinon so greatly is why no-one one road knows whats going on.

Ask the council/road-planning-people to paint some arrows/road names on the floor - lord knows with the amount of crazy stuff being done to roundabouts these days in the name of 'improvement', we need all the help we can get!

There are arrows on the road?! Am I the only one that can see them?

Left lane has a straight on and left arrow in it. Meaning from that lane you can use the left one or the middle one to fulfill the straight on part. Meaning the right hand lane goes into the right hand on the roundabout. Its not hard