Made a stupid driving error - police action?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Erm, if he wasn't on the roundabout then you're perfectly entitled to drive onto it.

You're only required to give way to vehicles on the roundabout.

michaelvintner

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Erm, if he wasn't on the roundabout then you're perfectly entitled to drive onto it.

You're only required to give way to vehicles on the roundabout.

Thank god someone who has actually read their high way code.

maninthestreet

michaelvintner wrote: »

Thank god someone who has actually read their high way code.

The Highway Code just states:


give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights

king100

185

When reaching the roundabout you should

• give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights
• check whether road markings allow you to enter the roundabout without giving way. If so, proceed, but still look to the right before joining
• watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all
• look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off

Doesnt mention anything about on the roundabout just approacing from your right.

DaveF327

You said it yourself:

zebidee1 wrote: »

I didn't cause him to slow down or stop

so you haven't committed any offence. At worst, you could have given him a scare due to the proximity and the rate at which you pulled out, so any fitting punishment would have been the nasty glare and that's the end of the matter. Even if he wanted to take it further, the worst he would do is pull you to test you for alcohol.

laurz121 wrote: »

I ALWAYS seem to arrive at at exactly the same time as 3 other vehicles, one from each entrance. It always seems to lead to everyone stopped, looking at the other cars and then two people going for it at the same time and one having to brake sharply.

I've seen this happen often. Best advice here is to creep slowly and steadily once you've taken the initiative. Once in motion, other cars generally wait for you, but as long as the speed is very low, there will be no "braking sharply" if someone else does the same. Sharp braking usually suggests quick sudden movements coupled with late reactions.

king100

DaveF327 wrote: »

Even if he wanted to take it further, the worst he would do is pull you to test you for alcohol.

Or your brake lights or your tyre treads or your seatbelt or using your mobile phone or applying makeup or drinking coffee or my fav blowing your nose at traffic lights.

Be afraid be very afraid.





JOKE

DaveF327

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Erm, if he wasn't on the roundabout then you're perfectly entitled to drive onto it.

You're only required to give way to vehicles on the roundabout.

king100 wrote: »

Doesnt mention anything about on the roundabout just approacing from your right.

Careful how you're interpreting that, folks. Imagine a car from the right flying along like a bat out of hell at 50+ mph. It's barely a metre or two away from the roundabout, so would you really pull out at that instant as "he's not quite on it yet"? The highway code is a summary of guidance, but is not a comprehensive and complete guide to the law. Nor is it a substitute for driving lessons and the experience and judgement skills gained therewith.

As it seems the highway code has not gone into intricate enough detail, allow me to quote from the law:

Traffic_Signs_Regulations_and_General_Directions_2002 wrote:

16.(1)...

(a)A vehicle entering the junction must give priority to
vehicles coming from the right at the transverse road
marking shown ...[give way rectangles]... associated with the sign
or, if the marking is not for the time being visible, at the
junction; and

(b) a vehicle proceeding through the junction must keep to the
left of the white circle at the centre of the marking ..., unless the
size of the vehicle or the layout of the junction makes it
impracticable to do so; and

(c) no vehicle shall proceed past the marking shown in
diagram ...[the circle and surrounding clockwise arrows]... in a
manner or at a time likely—

(i) to endanger any person, or
(ii) to cause the driver of another vehicle to change its
speed or course in order to avoid an accident.

So it's one thing to know the highway code word for word, another to understand what it actually means in an everyday situation under various circumstances.

De minimis non curat lex.

Treadway1

petrolhead69 wrote: »

I think, not 100% sure but i think if they dont stop you at the roadside then they must contact you within 14 days or they cant take any further action, similar to speed cameras. you should be ok but after 2 weeks you can be confident you are in the clear.
these new mini roundabouts that are popping up everywhere are a meanace, i'd say at least 50% of drivers don't know how to deal with them, your supposed to just give way to cars approaching from your right but so many people stop when theres no need, then pull out when someone actually is coming from the right.

Be careful with this. What youre talking about is what is know as the warning formula, and it doesnt relate to all driving offences, only specified ones. They are:

Dangerous/Careless driving
Speeding
Failing to stop or proceed as directed by a Constable
Failing to comply with a road sign
Causing a vehicle to remain at rest in circumstances likely to cause danger.

These are the only offences (legally) that you need to be given the warning formula for. Thats not to say you may not be given it for other offences.

So for instance, you wouldnt get it if you were seen using your mobile whilst driving. You may simply get a Notice of Intended Prosecution through your door (assuming you are the registered keeper of the vehicle) asking you to identify who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence and this could come anytime within the six month Statutory Time Limit for prosecuting the offence. Although, some driving offences have longer STL's.

Yorkie1

Treadway1 wrote: »

Be careful with this. What youre talking about is what is know as the warning formula, and it doesnt relate to all driving offences, only specified ones. They are:

Dangerous/Careless driving
Speeding
Failing to stop or proceed as directed by a Constable
Failing to comply with a road sign
Causing a vehicle to remain at rest in circumstances likely to cause danger.

These are the only offences (legally) that you need to be given the warning formula for. Thats not to say you may not be given it for other offences.

So for instance, you wouldnt get it if you were seen using your mobile whilst driving. You may simply get a Notice of Intended Prosecution through your door (assuming you are the registered keeper of the vehicle) asking you to identify who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence and this could come anytime within the six month Statutory Time Limit for prosecuting the offence. Although, some driving offences have longer STL's.

Whilst you're correct in principle, just thought I'd post to correct the terminology.

A Notice of intended prosecution is the 14-day warning for certain offences as listed. A conviction cannot follow for those offences if the NIP has not been served within the time limit.

The identification document is not a NIP. It is a notice under s.172 RTA 1988 (although in practice the two are served together).

pendulum

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

You're only required to give way to vehicles on the roundabout.

This is a dangerous view that some learner drivers hold - it is usually sorted out pretty quickly! If entering the roundabout would cause someone coming from the right to slow, then you do not enter it, regardless of whether the other vehicle is actually on the roundabout yet or not.