Correct lane question

[Bestle]

My mother has been involved in a minor bump on a roundabout and I am just trying to work out from her story what exactly happened.

I have included a picture as trying to describe the situation on here is going to be a nightmare.

http://i.imgur.com/MmoRMgy.jpg

From what I have gathered, she and another car moved from the lane following the black line to another set of lights on the roundabout. She was where the red line is and the other car was where the yellow line is.

My question is, what lanes (from 1-4) should each of the cars be moving into? I would say that the yellow car should go into lane 1 or 2 and the red car should be in 3 or 4. What is correct here?

The scrape happened because they both moved into lane 3.

[sim16v]

I'd say yellow car can go in to 1,2 or 3, red car 4 only.

[Ekona]

Looks like yellow to 3 and red to 4, from the markings on the lanes. Where the coloured marks are, they're for turning right which 3 & 4 both state too, so I'd guess at that.

Seems an awkward roundabout though, so it'll be a 50/50.

[Magic919]

Neither should be changing lanes without a signal and making sure it is clear to do so.

I largely prefer the turbo roundabouts, but some people can't follow the lanes on those either.

[Byff]

Bestle said:

My question is, what lanes (from 1-4) should each of the cars be moving into? I would say that the yellow car should go into lane 1 or 2 and the red car should be in 3 or 4. What is correct here?

The scrape happened because they both moved into lane 3.

I'd say you were correct, left lane 1 or 2 and right lane 3 or 4. The extended white line from the traffic lights indicate to me the seperation of the two lanes, more obvious if using street view.

[Bestle]

Interesting that there is already a difference in opinion here. Is there any way to tell from the road markings exactly what the correct lane placement is?

[mudster]

An alternative view. I would say the junction was designed such that both red and yellow should be turning right onto the A563. Yellow should therefore be lane 1 and red to lane 2. Otherwise you would be heading back where you have just come from (which isnt prohibited, but will be a rare traffic movement and not therefore have consideration in the markings).

[ging84]

Way i see it is you are gaining 2 extra lanes on the left, not splitting 2 lanes into 4
both have the same right arrow why would anyone assume the person in yellow lane must move to the lane for going straight on, rather than continue to use one of the lanes turning right?

does seem an odd junction though i can see why people would get it wrong from time to time what ever the correct way is

[Bestle]

The roundabout is at the end of a dual carriageway and provides access to the northbound side where a petrol station and shopping center are located. It is very common for people to go back on themselves here.

[campermanj]

The car on the left goes into the 2 lanes on the left the car on the right vice versa??? One or other car was in the wrong lane?

[James2593]

I'd say Yellow 1-2 and red 3-4.

Lanes 1-3 go straight on (no left turn) and 4 is right turn only. By entering from the black line, the red car would be able to use 3 or 4, if they had to use 4 only, they are forced to do another lap of the roundabout if they wanted to exit north west on the photo. To avoid 2 cars occupying the same lane (which obviously hasn't happened here!) the yellow car must be in lane 1 or 2. Lane 3 only provides a right turn as an extra option over lanes 1 or 2, and a right turn here looks to send you back the way you came, in which case, the yellow car should be as far right as possible if they want the do that.

[steve2]

mudster said:

An alternative view. I would say the junction was designed such that both red and yellow should be turning right onto the A563. Yellow should therefore be lane 1 and red to lane 2. Otherwise you would be heading back where you have just come from (which isnt prohibited, but will be a rare traffic movement and not therefore have consideration in the markings).

Surely lanes 3 and 4 would be for going onto the B4114 ?

[steve2]

mudster said:

An alternative view. I would say the junction was designed such that both red and yellow should be turning right onto the A563. Yellow should therefore be lane 1 and red to lane 2. Otherwise you would be heading back where you have just come from (which isnt prohibited, but will be a rare traffic movement and not therefore have consideration in the markings).

Surely lanes 3 and 4 would be for going onto the B4114 ?

[mudster]

steve2 said:

mudster said:

An alternative view. I would say the junction was designed such that both red and yellow should be turning right onto the A563. Yellow should therefore be lane 1 and red to lane 2. Otherwise you would be heading back where you have just come from (which isnt prohibited, but will be a rare traffic movement and not therefore have consideration in the markings).

Surely lanes 3 and 4 would be for going onto the B4114 ?

Which is where the black line (and therefore the red and yellow) come from. Point is, there will be many interpretations, and this is only going one way, 50:50.

Edit: for clarity, the b4114 is a dual carriageway crossing the A563. I am not familiar with the area, just looked on google maps.

Edited by mudster on Wednesday 22 April 20:59

[Byff]

Bestle said:

Interesting that there is already a difference in opinion here. Is there any way to tell from the road markings exactly what the correct lane placement is?

I had a look further back on street view, no signs to indicate the correct lane. The lane markings do state right turn, however, once through the traffic lights, technically, you've completed the right turn section and are now on a 4 lane straight road. Left 2 lanes for straight on, lane 3 for straight/right and lane 4 right turn. Lane 4 would bring you back to where you'd started (as previous poster stated) so would realistically not be used much leaving lane 3 to preform your right turn.

Poor guidance by the lane markings and a tricky one to negotiate. Good luck OP

[Bestle]

mudster said:

Which is where the black line (and therefore the red and yellow) come from. Point is, there will be many interpretations, and this is only going one way, 50:50.

So you are saying there is no correct answer here?

[mudster]

Bestle said:

mudster said:

Which is where the black line (and therefore the red and yellow) come from. Point is, there will be many interpretations, and this is only going one way, 50:50.

So you are saying there is no correct answer here?

Well obviously I think my interpretation is correct

Getting others to see it will be the difficult part IMO. Need to convince the insurance companies, but you could try writing to the appropriate local authority.

[ging84]

Bestle said:

So you are saying there is no correct answer here?

He's saying it doesn't matter, they hit each other going for the same lane on a round about, even if it's fairly clear one had priority over the other, the overriding factor is no one should drive into the path of another car, so it will almost certainly go down as 50 50

[yorkshireegg]

I use this roundabout on occasion. Going back on yourself is indeed a common occurrence if you've come from town and want to go to Sainsubry's.

This is just one of many poorly designed bits of road with ambiguous lane markings in the area. The new layout of the Fosse Park roundabout up the road is terrible.

How do the designers expect people to use these bits of road? We have the benefit of satellite images and street view to work out what's meant to happen and still nobody can bloody agree!

I think the red car should only be using lane 4 and anything else should be treated as a lane change.

[john2443]

I think yellow could go to 1 or 2 without expecting to give way to red (although I'd be checking to make sure red didn't move across on me)

Neither should assume priority when going to 3 - I'd either set off quickly to be sure of being ahead of the adjacent car or if they looked like they were going for it, take it gently to be sure I was behind. Both should indicate and check it's clear to move into 3.