Near to where I live there is a dual carriageway leading to a roundabout. There are no road markings to tell you which lane to be in.
The signpost in advance of the roundabout shows 3 exits, all of which are single carriageways.
The first is a major A road with the road being shown as wider on the roundabout drawing. The second exit is shown as being at a 1 o'clock position with a 3rd exit at the 3 o'clock point.
Just before you get to the roundabout there is a seperate white-backed sign with a 'direct ahead' arrow stating the name of the village that is a destination on exit 2.
So it is clear if I was taking the first exit I would approch the roundabout in the lefthand lane. If I am going to take the second exit, which is the correct lane of the dual carriageway to be in?
I always understood that if you are going to exit up to the 12o'clock position you should be in the lefthand lane but the seperate sign showing 'straight ahead' arrow has thrown me a bit.
In reality I have seen people using both lanes for this exit and I think we are all confused. I just want to know I am doing the right thing!
Any ideas?
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There is a similar type roundabout, but with 4 exits, near to me.
I think the Hway code says you can use either lane for the 12'clock (unless otherwise clearly directed by signs not to do so). The cautious will stay in the LH lane and the speedy will take the RH lane.
However many authorities and the Highway agency realise this can create many incidents on major roundabouts, so they will sign and lane mark the roundabout indicating clearly what lanes are to be used for which exit. (ie like the one near me)
I guess your roundabout has not had enough accidents to warrant improvements or it is on a "to do "list.
Even if the roundabout is fully marked and signed you still have to look out for the odd idiot who cuts everyone up and ignores any guidance in the Highway code or on road signs.
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I just do whatever I think is going to get me around the roundabout the easiest (and is safe) at the time. I can't see the point of sticking rigidly to lanes just for the sake of it. Obviously you have to take into account any other traffic that's about. I generally find that the faster I go the less trouble I have from other vehicles ~ they're less likely to be able to overtake/undertake you, or to be able to cut you up. There might be recommendations from some quarters, but as far as I'm concerned right and wrong doesn't come into it. Roundabouts are just roads with a few bends in them.
--
L\'escargot.
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I see this issue around my area every single day. Approaching Medway from A2 through tunnel there is rather large roundabout with dual lane approach and exits at 11 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock and return at 6 o'clock. To me it was always logical that for the most popular exit nr 2 at 2 o'clock, purely due to it being "around the bend" one must use right hand lane. Thus making left hand lane only suitable for exit nr 1 at 11 o'clock. About 50% of drivers however use 2 lanes per 2 exits logic and go 2 o'clock from left hand lane, almost always forcing drivers to their right to nervously swearve towards the centre of roundabout to escape collision as both approach single lane exit.
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
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so in a previous posting you have a go at me for doing 80mph and here you say " i just do whatever I think is going to get me around the roundabout the easiest (and is safe) doesn't matter which lane your in- I hope I don't come across too many drivers like you, though in essence there are too many.
Roundabout's are easyand are called so for a reason,or shall we start calling them "straightoverabouts".
If dual lane upto the r'bout, all roads off are single, left lane for 1st left, left lane for 2nd left, right lane only for final exit. The r.h.l can be used for 2nd exit but with care when coming off, the people who i really hate are those who use the lhl but end up turning right.
if dual on and off, lhl 1st exit, lhl and rhl for 2nd exit, rhl for 3rd exit.
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I just do whatever I think is going to get me around the roundabout the easiest (and is safe) at the time. I can't see the point of sticking rigidly to lanes just for the sake of it. Obviously you have to take into account any other traffic that's about. I generally find that the faster I go the less trouble I have from other vehicles ~ they're less likely to be able to overtake/undertake you or to be able to cut you up. There might be recommendations from some quarters but as far as I'm concerned right and wrong doesn't come into it. Roundabouts are just roads with a few bends in them. -- L\'escargot.
Ah, I think I must have seen you a couple of times. Thankfully I have quick reactions and ABS, so managed to avoid a collision!
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I would tend to arbitraily split the lanes as left for exits 1 & 2, right for exits 3 & 4, although it would also depend on what the car in front of me was doing as I approached, and how the cars behind me were positioned.
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i have never done wrong for using this method for approaching roundabouts. as you approach use the left lane for exits before the 12 o'clock posn. to your approach and the right for any exits beyond the 12 o'clock posn. to your approach. tends to work for any roundabout. i see others who seem to use the same approach too.
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>>using this method for approaching roundabouts.>>
It is, in fact, the standard Highway Code and police driving manual advice.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Lefthand lane me, but if its blocked whatever that means, or your in hurry then you could choose the right,but please look to your left as you exit.
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Left-hand lane for the first 2 exits, right-hand for the 3rd, or to turn back the way you came. AFAIK that's standard highway-code stuff, unless there's arrows on the road to indicate otherwise (which there obviously aren't). Even when going straight-on at a roundabout you should signal left after the previous exit to show oncoming traffic that you intend to leave - most people don't seem to realise this.
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Lefthand lane me, >>
Even if you were doing a complete U-turn?
I bet other motorists wouldn't be too impressed...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Same problem round my way. You come off the M3 needing to take the 4rd exit and if you correctly take the outside lane on the roundabout vehicles who have entered from any road after my exit quite regularly cut you up on the inside having hogged that lane. It is illegal but safer to use the left hand lane all the way round. I have had several near misses using the highway codes directions even though I sigal my intentions in good time.
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It is illegal but safer to use the left hand lane all the way round.
I don't think it's *specifically* illegal at all. A roundabout is like a straight road with lots of left turns.
If someone disobeys specific road mark arrows atc, then they could be guilty of careless driving (or some such generic similar offence).
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There is always a potential complication when one of the exits is marked as a main road, and given a wider depiction on the sign. This implies, and sometimes this is backed up by lane markings, that both approach lanes can use that exit, because it is in effect a "fast track" through all the lesser turnings.
In the OP's case, this is so with the first exit, so I had pictured the scenario as going to be a query with BOTH approach lanes being used by heavy traffic virtually all turning left. That certainly causes problems if you want to go straight on but stay in the left hand lane, because people cut across fast to turn left.
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