Roundabout - Am I Wrong??
Discussion
OK, after using a roundabout twice daily for the past 2.5 years, I've started being beeped, cut off, almost having collisions more and more frequently the past few months, including this morning.
The roundabout in question:
So, on entry to the roundabout there are 2 lanes: one which is left turn and right turn, the other is right turn only. I take the 3rd exit, where there are 3 lanes exiting the roundabout: 2 lanes that continue onto another roundabout, with the new 3rd lane that is left turn only (essentially a filter lane) onto the motorway.
This shows the exit I take from the roundabout:
So if you want to go straight over the next roundabout, which I do, you can be in either of the 2 lanes to the right.
The problem arises when I turn right at the roundabout in the left hand lane. As the markings show on entry, I'm perfectly entitled to do this. What happens is that cars that turn right in the right hand lane tend to drift across to the left (and into my lane) when exiting the roundabout, whilst I'm aiming for what becomes the middle of the 3 lanes.
I think that as I enter in the left of 2 lanes, that I should exit in the left of the 2 lanes that take you straight across the next roundabout since the other lane is left turn only. If the car joins the roundabout in the right of 2 lanes, it should exit in the right of 2 lanes?
Any opinions? I'm happy to be told I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
The roundabout in question:
So, on entry to the roundabout there are 2 lanes: one which is left turn and right turn, the other is right turn only. I take the 3rd exit, where there are 3 lanes exiting the roundabout: 2 lanes that continue onto another roundabout, with the new 3rd lane that is left turn only (essentially a filter lane) onto the motorway.
This shows the exit I take from the roundabout:
So if you want to go straight over the next roundabout, which I do, you can be in either of the 2 lanes to the right.
The problem arises when I turn right at the roundabout in the left hand lane. As the markings show on entry, I'm perfectly entitled to do this. What happens is that cars that turn right in the right hand lane tend to drift across to the left (and into my lane) when exiting the roundabout, whilst I'm aiming for what becomes the middle of the 3 lanes.
I think that as I enter in the left of 2 lanes, that I should exit in the left of the 2 lanes that take you straight across the next roundabout since the other lane is left turn only. If the car joins the roundabout in the right of 2 lanes, it should exit in the right of 2 lanes?
Any opinions? I'm happy to be told I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
Joeguard1990 said:
So your turn right at the roundabout but approach in the left lane?
Answers simple, your approaching in the wrong lane.
As the 3rd exit is basically at your 3 o clock when your approach you need to be in the right hand lane and then move over to the left after passing the 2nd exit.
Going by the lines on the road and the 2 lane exit, I can see it as allowed. I'd not do it though.Answers simple, your approaching in the wrong lane.
As the 3rd exit is basically at your 3 o clock when your approach you need to be in the right hand lane and then move over to the left after passing the 2nd exit.
eybic said:
As per the first pic you can see there is an arrow for right turn in the left hand lane, unusual but that's what the road markings say he can do.
I would say that arrow in the left lane is there as a reference for the 2nd exit and not the third. Reason being its not exactly straight on but slight more 1 o clock-ish so you could get away with being in either.I still go by normal Highway code roundabout rules that if your going right at a roundabout you would start in the right lane.
Yes you can turn right at that roundabout as clearly marked on the road. Whether you can then carry straight forward on the road once exited is not clear though from the information you have posted, but I would have thought it should be marked by a signpost as you approach the roundabout to show if the are allowed to continue forward or have to bear left once exited.
sounds as though it's more sensible to use the right lane even though it's permissible to use the left.
I agree that right turn should be made in right lane, think this roundabout is an exception.
Thanks for the input guys, i'll use the right lane from now on unless there aren't any other cars.
I agree that right turn should be made in right lane, think this roundabout is an exception.
Thanks for the input guys, i'll use the right lane from now on unless there aren't any other cars.
jkb89 said:
If it was me, I'd only use the left hand lane on the approach to the roundabout if I intended to take the left lane on your exit.
Or does it consider the road at 1 o'clock to your entry (second exit) to be a 'right' turn and is the sign intended for that?
THIS.Or does it consider the road at 1 o'clock to your entry (second exit) to be a 'right' turn and is the sign intended for that?
The arrow is for confusion as its a 1 o' clock exit.
3rd Lane you would use the right lane on approach
Looking at the streetview I'd do the same, the road is narrowed into a single lane then fans into the two lanes. The initial painting on the road prior to the roundabout shows an arrow for the right turn on both lanes. The last one (in the original pic) adds a forward and left aspect to it.
http://goo.gl/maps/bqJFj - for the bigger picture.
http://goo.gl/maps/bqJFj - for the bigger picture.
itz_baseline said:
I'm shocked at the number of people who aren't reading the road marks and advising you that you can't turn right. These are probably the people who are beeping you when it's the, in the wrong. 
Yeah this is what I've been thinking - however from what others have said here, whilst it's permissible to turn right, I'm thinking it would be safer overall to only use the right lane on approach. It'd help if people signalled when moving into the middle lane on exit after joining on the right, or didn't just cut across into the side of me.. But I'd rather know I was making the roundabout safer for both parties by just using the right hand lane. I can do that AND still not be wront..!
itz_baseline said:
I'm shocked at the number of people who aren't reading the road marks and advising you that you can't turn right. These are probably the people who are beeping you when it's the, in the wrong.
Assuming there's not an exit cropped from the picture, I read it like this.Lane 1 = left onto first exit or right onto second exit.
Lane 2 = right onto second exit or right onto third exit.
None of thd marking say straight on, so it seems the planners don't consider exit 2 to be straight on.
My general rule of thumb is that you should never pass more then one exit in the outside lane of a roundabout.
Regardless, as previously stated the roundabout is designed poorly. Makes perfect sense that left lane you would use for exits 1 and 2 and then right line for the 3rd exit.
I think that arrow was put there to show you can go in that lane for 2nd exit as you do technically turn slightly right but its not really clear.
Get the council involved!
I think that arrow was put there to show you can go in that lane for 2nd exit as you do technically turn slightly right but its not really clear.
Get the council involved!
Snowboy said:
Assuming there's not an exit cropped from the picture, I read it like this.
Lane 1 = left onto first exit or right onto second exit.
Lane 2 = right onto second exit or right onto third exit.
None of thd marking say straight on, so it seems the planners don't consider exit 2 to be straight on.
My general rule of thumb is that you should never pass more then one exit in the outside lane of a roundabout.
Good rule of thumb, but what if I was taking the left lane of 3 on the exit? Following the rule of thumb I'd have to join in the right lane, and change lanes twice on exit - it would be easier to pass 2 exits so I could leave on the left. Rules of thumb aren't solid rules - but shows the roundabout is poorly planned. Might mention it to the council as suggested.Lane 1 = left onto first exit or right onto second exit.
Lane 2 = right onto second exit or right onto third exit.
None of thd marking say straight on, so it seems the planners don't consider exit 2 to be straight on.
My general rule of thumb is that you should never pass more then one exit in the outside lane of a roundabout.
Edited by starseven on Thursday 5th December 15:22
There's a few of those types of roundabouts popping up. I think the idea is to ease congestion if the bulk of the traffic does want to turn right: 2 lanes in, 2 lanes out, rather than all queuing in the right lane. Trouble is people are too stupid to understand or are not regular users of that roundabout so just drift aimlessly from right lane to left on exit. So you correctly using your left lane just become a target both physically and verbally.
That left lane filter to the motorway does make "your" roundabout even more of a opportunity for misunderstanding.
That left lane filter to the motorway does make "your" roundabout even more of a opportunity for misunderstanding.
I find a lot of roundabouts have similar problems these days. The OP is right with what there doing because on entry the road markings clearly have the left lane as a left/right arrow.
People in the right lane are assuming if you take the left lane but go right, you must be taking the left turn only lane on exit.
Nobody is really 'wrong' though IMO. Simply, two lanes can't become three.
People in the right lane are assuming if you take the left lane but go right, you must be taking the left turn only lane on exit.
Nobody is really 'wrong' though IMO. Simply, two lanes can't become three.
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