Rules of the road - Roundabouts. Am I right on this one?

[ZaO]

So when it comes to roundabouts, I always use the left-hand lane to take any exit right up until the 12 oclock position from where I started. Unless of course, the road markings indicate to do otherwise (usually on 3+ lane roundabouts). But there are a few roundabouts in my local area where people keep using the right-hand lane to take the exit that's in the 12 oclock position. These exits go onto a two lane road. I usually want the right-hand lane when I come off, but I'm always forced to take the left lane because of these people. Then I have to slowly try and find my way into the right-hand lane. It frustrates the hell out of me. Because I'm sure I'm doing the right thing, and they're not. So before I decide to really stick to my guns one day and not move over when I'm exiting the roundabout - do you guys think I'm right with how I look at this? The info I found here makes me think I am: https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-15...uts-184-to-190

Thanks!

[kalniel]

You're in the wrong lane.

If you want the right hand lane of a second exit (straight one) then you should be in the right hand lane as you approach the roundabout if it's a two lane approach - green car in the picture.

Approaching in left hand lane is correct for second exit (straight) if there is only one lane or you exit in the left hand lane of a two lane exit (the blue car in the picture from your link).



It's about lane control as you go around the roundabout - you shouldn't ever need to go from the left lane to the right, only right to left. The green car going to the third exit does so by remaining in the right hand lane around the round about.

[Ttaskmaster]

^ What he said!

[ZaO]

You're in the wrong lane.

If you want the right hand lane of a second exit (straight one) then you should be in the right hand lane as you approach the roundabout if it's a two lane approach - green car in the picture.

Approaching in left hand lane is correct for second exit (straight) if there is only one lane or you exit in the left hand lane of a two lane exit (the blue car in the picture from your link).



It's about lane control as you go around the roundabout - you shouldn't ever need to go from the left lane to the right, only right to left. The green car going to the third exit does so by remaining in the right hand lane around the round about.

Thanks man So it's me doing it wrong then! It seems all my driving instructors (3 in total) gave conflicting info on various things. Two of them said I should do it the way I was doing it, so I just went with majority decision on that one. But does the text in the document I linked actually specify about this siutation? I just went over it again but didn't notice anything on it :/ Still, I feel a bit of frustration slip away here. Now I can just continue to be mad about people who never indicate (god that one makes me angry sometimes lol...).

[shaithis]

The one that gets me is people who are going strait across the roundabout yet feel the need to signal before getting onto the roundabout.

[ZaO]

The one that gets me is people who are going strait across the roundabout yet feel the need to signal before getting onto the roundabout.

That's a strange one I haven't seen much! But I suppose it could be necessary in some situations..? While people not indicating on roundabouts usually just ends up as something annoying when you're a driver, I spend a lot more of my time as a pedestrian, and the ignorance of people who don't indicate, not realising they're potentially milliseconds away from killing a pedestrian who has been given no reason to believe that they're about to take the turning or exit is what makes me the most angry. I'm smart about how I use the roads, driving or walking, I basically just assume everyone is an idiot who won't indicate! But there have been times when I've just walked accross a road because I should've been safe to assume the car was going to go straight on due to not indicating, then only to find them start to turn and have to slam their brakes on, then have the nerve to start slamming the horn as if I did something wrong. Which leads me to another point - the horn is meant to be used in advance to warn people of your presence, not to show someone how angry you are after a dangerous event has taken place. Oh man, time to chill now lol...

[Gerrard]

There's a good one on my route to work at the moment due to roadworks (Milton Interchange on the A34).

It's a junction with a dual carriageway with normally three lanes on the roundabout and each is marked with a destination as they normally are. However, they've coned off the inner most lane all around while they work in the middle of the roundabout which is understandable. What is slightly confusing is that on one of the approaches that normally has three lanes to go onto the roundablout, they coned off the left most lane. This means that if you follow the markings on the road, the right most lane of traffic on the approach has nowhere to go! Most people have now figured out to ignore the markings and use common sense (it's now two lanes on approach to a two lane roudabout), but you still get a few who end up in the wrong lane or getting cut up.

[Barakka]

You're in the wrong lane.

If you want the right hand lane of a second exit (straight one) then you should be in the right hand lane as you approach the roundabout if it's a two lane approach - green car in the picture.

For me this would depend entirely on the road markings on the two lanes approaching the roundabout. I would only use the right hand lane for this manoeuvre if it was marked with a straight/right arrow on the road, otherwise I would probably assume the right lane to be right only.

[ZaO]

There's a good one on my route to work at the moment due to roadworks (Milton Interchange on the A34).

It's a junction with a dual carriageway with normally three lanes on the roundabout and each is marked with a destination as they normally are. However, they've coned off the inner most lane all around while they work in the middle of the roundabout which is understandable. What is slightly confusing is that on one of the approaches that normally has three lanes to go onto the roundablout, they coned off the left most lane. This means that if you follow the markings on the road, the right most lane of traffic on the approach has nowhere to go! Most people have now figured out to ignore the markings and use common sense (it's now two lanes on approach to a two lane roudabout), but you still get a few who end up in the wrong lane or getting cut up.

Haha yeh I've been in situations like that. You can really tell who the locals are when it comes to stuff like that!

For me this would depend entirely on the road markings on the two lanes approaching the roundabout. I would only use the right hand lane for this manoeuvre if it was marked with a straight/right arrow on the road, otherwise I would probably assume the right lane to be right only.

I think that's how I've been looking at it. The roundabouts I'm on about have two lanes on some exits/entrances, and they have no markings at all. So I thought that in this case I should be using the left lane. That's what I was taught...

[Barakka]

I think that's how I've been looking at it. The roundabouts I'm on about have two lanes on some exits/entrances, and they have no markings at all. So I thought that in this case I should be using the left lane. That's what I was taught...

Me too, I was taught that if a roundabout has two lanes approaching it the left is for left and straight-on, the right is for right (or all past 12 o'clock) only, unless otherwise marked, which does tally with the diagram. If there are no lane markings on the roundabout you mentioned I would have said you're in the right.

[ZaO]

Me too, I was taught that if a roundabout has two lanes approaching it the left is for left and straight-on, the right is for right (or all past 12 o'clock) only, unless otherwise marked, which does tally with the diagram. If there are no lane markings on the roundabout you mentioned I would have said you're in the right.

Yeh you got taught the same as me. So, does anyone else think this too? I'm really not sure what's right. This is why I've always given room to people who've been in the right-hand lane, yet gone straight over. I want to make sure I know what's right before I decide to let someone drive into the side of my car and blame it on them lol...

[kalniel]

T But does the text in the document I linked actually specify about this siutation?

The text just says appropriate lane, which gives them fudge room. But you can look where the green car is on the diagram and imagine it has come from the right hand lane from the bottom left as well - at that point the car would be exactly where it is in the diagram and thus has the choice of which lane to exit because it's only moving lanes leftwards, never right.

What it does say in the text though is that markings have to followed, so if there is a right arrow in the right hand lane approach then that would be for right turns only - I've seen that on a few roundabouts for traffic control reasons, but I think the fact they have to mark it further indicates it's not the norm.

This is why I've always given room to people who've been in the right-hand lane, yet gone straight over. I want to make sure I know what's right before I decide to let someone drive into the side of my car and blame it on them lol...

Quite right - as it also says in the text, you have to give way to the right, so chances are if you collide you'll be blamed for not giving way (as well as for being in the wrong lane if you move lanes from left to right without looking if it was clear).

[ZaO]

The text just says appropriate lane, which gives them fudge room. But you can look where the green car is on the diagram and imagine it has come from the right hand lane from the bottom left as well - at that point the car would be exactly where it is in the diagram and thus has the choice of which lane to exit because it's only moving lanes leftwards, never right.

What it does say in the text though is that markings have to followed, so if there is a right arrow in the right hand lane approach then that would be for right turns only - I've seen that on a few roundabouts for traffic control reasons, but I think the fact they have to mark it further indicates it's not the norm.

Quite right - as it also says in the text, you have to give way to the right, so chances are if you collide you'll be blamed for not giving way (as well as for being in the wrong lane if you move lanes from left to right without looking if it was clear).

Interesting points! But, sometimes a right lane of two will be marked with a straight ahead and right turn arrow. Still, I'll hold off letting anyone catch the backend for now lol...

[Zak33]

great answer from Kal

assuming theres no signs focing ONLY left from left or ONLY right from right lane..

if it's a dual carriageway input and a dual carriageway exit...
left lane straight over entry--- exit left lane
right lane straight over entry -- exit right lane


what you HAVE to watch when you're in the right lane (me every time) is the oblivious one who straightlines the two lanes around the roundabout and cuts across your bonnet.

I'm so used to it I can see if coming ... so it's no surprise any more. Not even worth a honk on the horn... I'd wear the horn out!

[ZaO]

great answer from Kal

assuming theres no signs focing ONLY left from left or ONLY right from right lane..

if it's a dual carriageway input and a dual carriageway exit...
left lane straight over entry--- exit left lane
right lane straight over entry -- exit right lane


what you HAVE to watch when you're in the right lane (me every time) is the oblivious one who straightlines the two lanes around the roundabout and cuts across your bonnet.

I'm so used to it I can see if coming ... so it's no surprise any more. Not even worth a honk on the horn... I'd wear the horn out!

Haha yes.. If I'm a passenger in a car with someone I know who is driving, I always have to give them a little telling off for doing that! People get so slack and careless once they've been driving a few years..

[herulach]

great answer from Kal

assuming theres no signs focing ONLY left from left or ONLY right from right lane..

if it's a dual carriageway input and a dual carriageway exit...
left lane straight over entry--- exit left lane
right lane straight over entry -- exit right lane


what you HAVE to watch when you're in the right lane (me every time) is the oblivious one who straightlines the two lanes around the roundabout and cuts across your bonnet.

I'm so used to it I can see if coming ... so it's no surprise any more. Not even worth a honk on the horn... I'd wear the horn out!

Or who exit to the left lane from the right or go all the way round from the left. You see some particularly dopey stunts on motorway roundabouts (j18 m60 springs to mind). The number of people cutting across 3 lanes to get to an exit because they can't read the 4ft high writing on the road.