RAB exit question

[cheadle hulme]

I often exit the A34 towards home at this RAB.

There is usually lots of wrong lane muppetry which I avoid by staying in the RH lane on entry and remaining in it until exit.

My lane upon entry isn't labelled as the road I end up on. Does this pose a leagl issue? I was flashed today by a driver who wasn't expecting to be overtaken. I like to drive properly, hence the question to the wider massive.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

PS I am in lane 2 on the link, turning left at the next exit.

[streaky]

If an accident resulted your ignoring the lane signage might be taken into adverse account. Remember, it's a roundabout. You can always continue around (ideally in the RH lane) if your exit is (potentially) impeded or risky. In my experience, few drivers appear to have grasped this useful facet of the design - Streaky

[herewego]

You need to be looking out for everyone else on a roundabout because people often need to change lanes as they approach their exit or as in this case change from left to right lane to avoid the exit. That doesn't make them muppets.
If you leave getting into the correct lane until late then you risk being unable to join the exit due to vehicles already there, especially if they think you are taking the Mick. Also if there is no one in the left lane, or a gap in the traffic, then someone may well pull out of the slip road into the left lane just as you change lanes.
Lanes with exit directions on them are not for overtaking, and it's risky to be doing a much greater speed than other people on a roundabout.

[Lonely]

cheadle hulme said:

I often exit the A34 towards home at this RAB.

There is usually lots of wrong lane muppetry which I avoid by staying in the RH lane on entry and remaining in it until exit.

My lane upon entry isn't labelled as the road I end up on. Does this pose a leagl issue? I was flashed today by a driver who wasn't expecting to be overtaken. I like to drive properly, hence the question to the wider massive.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...



PS I am in lane 2 on the link, turning left at the next exit.

Everyone makes mistakes but incorrect lane discipline often results in the type of road rage you describe (or worse) and could easily fit an inconsiderate driving offence if someone clocks you doing it on a regular basis

[Distant]

You shouldn't overtake at junctions (that includes roundabouts), or use filter lanes to overtake. Always try to avoid being by the side of someone on a roundabout, and it won't affect you if they are in the wrong lane.

[cheadle hulme]

herewego said:

You need to be looking out for everyone else on a roundabout because people often need to change lanes as they approach their exit or as in this case change from left to right lane to avoid the exit. That doesn't make them muppets.

If they're moving from left to right (very unlikely btw) at the point I have indicated, then they have left it very late and ignored the prior lane markings.

herwego said:

If you leave getting into the correct lane until late then you risk being unable to join the exit due to vehicles already there, especially if they think you are taking the Mick. Also if there is no one in the left lane, or a gap in the traffic, then someone may well pull out of the slip road into the left lane just as you change lanes.
Lanes with exit directions on them are not for overtaking, and it's risky to be doing a much greater speed than other people on a roundabout.

Perhaps the link was unclear. I am in lane 2 on the RAB, I don't need to "join the exit" as I am remaining in lane 2 as I exit. I only do this beacause lane 1 is full because muppets go 230 degrees around the RAB in lane 1 and people who take The RH lane around the RAB struggle to get back into lane 1 from lane 2.

I'm where the Audi A3 is but indicating left and moving off the RAB. Seems like a sensible use of road space to me (rather than pushing back into lane 1). If the lane isn't meant to be used, surely it would be marked with a solid line or hatchings.

Oh, and I'm not overtaking as such, merely trying to use the road space as I beleive it was intended.

[cheadle hulme]

Lonely said:

Everyone makes mistakes but incorrect lane discipline often results in the type of road rage you describe (or worse) and could easily fit an inconsiderate driving offence if someone clocks you doing it on a regular basis

Hopefully the picture above illustrates it's not inconsiderate and it inconveniences no-one.

[Lonely]

cheadle hulme said:

herewego said:

You need to be looking out for everyone else on a roundabout because people often need to change lanes as they approach their exit or as in this case change from left to right lane to avoid the exit. That doesn't make them muppets.

If they're moving from left to right (very unlikely btw) at the point I have indicated, then they have left it very late and ignored the prior lane markings.

- a bit like you then? The lane markings clearly state A34 M'CR. Is that the way you're going?

cheadle hulme said:

I'm where the Audi A3 is but indicating left and moving off the RAB. Seems like a sensible use of road space to me (rather than pushing back into lane 1). If the lane isn't meant to be used, surely it would be marked with a solid line or hatchings.

It does look like a bad design. If both lanes are available on B5358 surely it would be better use of space to have lane 2 with road markings showing both left and right availability?

[cheadle hulme]

Lonely said:

- a bit like you then? The lane markings clearly state A34 M'CR. Is that the way you're going?

I'm not ignoring them, I'm questioning the legal validity of them hence the post in SP&L. The lane marking states RIGHT and A34. According to your logic, no-one can get into the business park dead ahead in the photo as they are not going A34 Manchester either.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Ah this roundabout is a classic isn't it?

There's a two lane exit off that roundabout on to the southbound towards the Sainsbury's roundabout. Hence there's nothing wrong with exiting from the outside lane.

FWIW when coming up the southbound off slip I always go round the roundabout in the l/h lane as that's how the carriageway is marked on the roundabout. This confuses people wishing to travel in the Cheadle direction as they can't get their head round the 2-lane exit.

They also don't understand if you take the inside lane on to the Sainsbury's roundabout to turn into Sainsbury's rather than the little slip beforehand.

It's an area full of muppetry not helped by poor junction design. I find it best to just be authoritative in my manoeuvres round there.

[cheadle hulme]

Swervin_Mervin said:

There's a two lane exit off that roundabout on to the southbound towards the Sainsbury's roundabout. Hence there's nothing wrong with exiting from the outside lane.

Thats my view too, unlike some of the previous posters. Any idea if its a problem due to the previous road markings though? I'm only interested in the legalities as it is perfectly safe and inconveniences no-one.

[Swervin_Mervin]

It's a difficult one tbh as the arrow (which is where I'd place the legality) is directing to the right. Lane markings with regard to place names are there to advise of general direction of travel imo.

However, if you weren't supposed to exit there the 2nd lane would have a solid line across it and be hatched out, with the lane opening up from the inside lane away from the exit.

I'd suggest what's happened is that they're trying to make people aware of the general direction they might want (with the road/place text) but realised it would be even more confusing if you had a left/straight on/right arrow and heaps of text.

They've made a bloody mess of the A34 recently in this regard and I've been mulling over putting a call into the guys at Cheshire East. All they've served to do is restrict capacity and confuse the stupid more than help them.