Opinion on mini roundabout crash

Lum

OP, while it is true that you should be fine. Do be prepared to argue the toss with them as they will try to screw you over if possible.

I had a similar accident when I was new to driving, it was on a roundabout on the St. Helen's Linkway I was travelling from the southwest onto the roundabout, in the right hand lane and intending to take the second exit, which is a perfectly legitimate manoeuvre on that roundabout.

Coming up towards the right hand lane of the 1st exit is a large blue pickup truck which for some reason set off my idiot alarm. I thought "he's not going to stop" and eased off, sure enough he shot in front of me at high speed going straight across the roundabout.

As soon as the pickup truck is past me I can see I can see that a clapped out old Ford Sierra has entered the roundabout at the same time as the pickup, but doing a more sensible speed. They had assumed that since the pickup had gone it must be safe to go*. I hauled on the brakes and steered right to go for another loop around the roundabout in an attempt to avoid a collision, but couldn't avoid it completely. They went into my front right wing.

I went through my insurance, and got a letter from them after a week or so stating that "the 3rd party holds you entirely responsible for the accident, but is prepared to accept a 50/50 as a compromise". I wrote back stating that "there is no way I can possibly be responsible for someone entering the roundabout from the 1st exit and driving into the side of me, and I am not prepared to accept anything less than no blame". They then wrote back and said that the 3rd party had dropped their claim against me and accepted liability for the accident.

Once again, either the driver or her insurer were trying it on thinking I would just capitulate as I was young and inexperienced. Not bloody likely.

* This is a valid trick, but only try it with a large vehicle that you are confident you can out-accelerate. It is imperitave that you keep it directly to your right and do not fall behind, effectively using them as a shield. If it turns out that they did pull out in front of someone, they get hit and you don't and thus are not involved. If in doubt, let them go first and wait for the next gap.

robbies_gal

maybe its too soon just wondering if you had any news yet?

skiddlydiddly

Whether she signalled right or not is irrelevant.The car that hit her shouldn't have pulled out onto the roundabout if she was signalling left,right or not at all as the road wasn't clear.

pug_in_a_bed

Hello
thought I would update this as its now been settled in my favour!:j

Garage report categorically stated that mr audi hit me and not the other way around; he changed his story half way through and stated that he was going round the roundabout and I pulled out and hit him, not the other way around as it really happened, despite us having witnesses etc

Our insurance advised me about 6 weeks ago that they were happy to proceed to court...lo and behold he received this information and backed down.

Very pleased anyway, slowly getting my confidence back but 3 months on not quite there yet.

Thanks to all who commented:T

robbies_gal

well done pug good for you-cant believe he tried to change the story! how did he think he would get away with that when he clearly hit you on your left side!

you'll get there just keep going out and it will get easier

taz121

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You should indicate if going straight on if this isn't the 1st exit, and even if it isn't, it can be a benefit to other road users to do so.

wrong wrong wrong. As a driving instructor in my previous career this is one of the most infuriating things on the road. You should NEVER signal right when going straight on at a roundabout, only signal left before exit.

This wrong indication is implying to other motorists you will be going round the roundabout to at least the 3rd exit.

i.e you are approaching a two-laned roundabout in the left hand lane intending to take the 2nd exit (straight ahead) You have cars in the right hand lane which are also allowed (as the road markings indicate) that the can go straight on. You signal RIGHT before LEFT to exit. This is giving drivers in gthe right hand lane the wrong information as to your intent and can be dangerous causing them to Slowdown/Stop/Swerve the three S's.

Far too many people are doing this now and i fail to see why. Perhaps some instructors are wrongly teaching it but an examiner will mark you as a minor if you do this once and fail you if you do this 3 times.

First exit = signal left
Second exit = no signal on approach, left signal before exit
Third exit = as above if it's straight ahead (large roundabout) or most likely signal right on approach and left before exit

Don't even try to argue on this, by all means call into your local BSM centre or stop and instructor you see. It is 100% wrong to signal right on approach to any roundabout unless you are in fact turning right.

I have not read every page here and perhaps this issue is dealt with

As to the OP, he was in the wrong every single time

Lum

Excellent news, and thanks for coming back to update the thread. Many don't.

cyclonebri1

taz121 wrote: »

wrong wrong wrong. As a driving instructor in my previous career this is one of the most infuriating things on the road. You should NEVER signal right when going straight on at a roundabout, only signal left before exit.

This wrong indication is implying to other motorists you will be going round the roundabout to at least the 3rd exit.

i.e you are approaching a two-laned roundabout in the left hand lane intending to take the 2nd exit (straight ahead) You have cars in the right hand lane which are also allowed (as the road markings indicate) that the can go straight on. You signal RIGHT before LEFT to exit. This is giving drivers in gthe right hand lane the wrong information as to your intent and can be dangerous causing them to Slowdown/Stop/Swerve the three S's.

Far too many people are doing this now and i fail to see why. Perhaps some instructors are wrongly teaching it but an examiner will mark you as a minor if you do this once and fail you if you do this 3 times.

First exit = signal left
Second exit = no signal on approach, left signal before exit
Third exit = as above if it's straight ahead (large roundabout) or most likely signal right on approach and left before exit

Don't even try to argue on this, by all means call into your local BSM centre or stop and instructor you see. It is 100% wrong to signal right on approach to any roundabout unless you are in fact turning right.

I have not read every page here and perhaps this issue is dealt with

As to the OP, he was in the wrong every single time

What part of "You should indicate if going straight on if this isn't the 1st exit," don't you understand ?? Indicate after/at the last exit before you turn left.

Oh, I do understand why you are an "ex" driving instructer


You like me must see this situation every day. Approaching a mini roundabout which is essentially straight on with an optional right turn accross traffic form the direction you are travelling.

No signal needed to go straight on, even when on the island, right signal approaching and left when leaving to turn right, agreed??

But then you get the ditherer that is on the road facing you that can see you aren't indicating to turn right but as you rightly state does not take your signal, or lack of one, as gospel. He/she would still be there 5 seconds after you have cleared the roundabout.

Me, I signal left as there is no possibilty of confusing any other road traffic, wouldn't do it with cars behind although they could not pass.

almillar

OK everyone repeat this until you understand it. CycloneBri1 you especially - I think you agree with it but are just saying it a different way.

First exit = signal left
Second exit = no signal on approach, left signal before exit
Third exit = as above if it's straight ahead (large roundabout) or most likely signal right on approach and left before exit

Roundabouts are the most complex and varied junctions on the roads, hence all the confusion and debate.
When APPROACHING a roundabout. Look at the sign or layout of the road. if going left, indicate left. If going straight on, don't indicate (which in itself is an indication that you're going straight on!), if you're going right, indicate right. When on the roundabout, continue your approaching indication, until you pass the exit before yours, at which point you indicate left, and take your exit.
The problem is with the straight on bit, and OP was given a common piece of advice, if your exit is beyond 12 o'clock, indicate right. This is an ABSOLUTE rule, and doesn't allow for all the different junctions. It should be left to drivers what 'straight on' means but maybe we should consider only indicating right if the exit is beyond 1 o'clock instead. From the look of the junction, OP was right to be indicating right, but she could easily have not been indicating and still be in the right (as in correct!!). Glad it's sorted anyway!!

Lum

So in short:

First exit - Signal left
Any other exit - Apply 12 o'clock rule, then once you have passed the preceding exit, signal left