Nearly got taken out today after a roundabout.

Jamie_Carter

Lum wrote: »

In my driving lessons I was always taught the 12 o'clock rule. If the exit is at 12 o'clock or earlier, use the left lane, if it's after 12 o'clock use the right lane. As the exit is only a single lane not two I'd argue that jumping into the other lane is not really appropriate.

If you're going to do it to queue jump then fair enough (though sometimes that lane is the longer queue) but if you're doing that you should be looking out for other people, not them having to look out for you.

I agree (unless either lane has a direction arrow). However the OP was in lane 1.

Jamie_Carter

Tilt wrote: »

Can't be many round-a-bouts that have 2 lanes on the approach and only one on the exit(s) with no directional arrows. Depending on the geographical layout of exits, lane 1 would normally be for leaving at the first exit and lane 2 for straight ahead and turning right.

Then of course there are the multi-lane, motorway type round-a-bouts which to the less experienced/competent driver, are a real challenge. The one on the M40/A34 (junction 9) interchange is one that springs to mind!

I can think of quite a few.

Tilt

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I can think of quite a few.

Can you?

In that case you should provide the info to the Highway's Agency and tell them they are not correctly laid out. Suggest that they provide unfamiliar drivers with crystal balls they can collect prior to reaching said round-a-abouts so they can be aware that the two lanes they are on before the island reduce to just 1 lane at each exit thus they will have a chance of knowing which lane will take them to their desired exit safely.

Tilt

notanewuser wrote: »

LOADS around here.

Left lane is usually somebody stopping for a completely empty roundabout, so I go right lane, drop a gear and zoom past and off before they've even selected 1st gear.

That's pretty much what I do as well but I don't think that is the way it is meant to be done.

Problem is that some local authorities do not mark lanes correctly thus confusing the unfamiliar driver. It seems that in some cases, the LA's think that some road layouts will be familiar to ALL drivers.

Jamie_Carter

Tilt wrote: »

Can you?

In that case you should provide the info to the Highway's Agency and tell them they are not correctly laid out. Suggest that they provide unfamiliar drivers with crystal balls they can collect prior to reaching said round-a-abouts so they can be aware that the two lanes they are on before the island reduce to just 1 lane at each exit thus they will have a chance of knowing which lane will take them to their desired exit safely.

In my experience they are usually accompanied by road signs warning you.

Such as this one, which would be on approach to the roudabout:


Of course the forum trolls will argue against this, just for the sake of it.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

In my experience they are usually accompanied by road signs warning you.

Such as this one, which would be on approach to the roudabout:


Of course the forum trolls will argue against this, just for the sake of it.

Carter, care to tell us the meaning of that sign?

It's nothing to do with a roundabout..

Tilt

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

In my experience they are usually accompanied by road signs warning you.

Such as this one, which would be on approach to the roudabout:

That would be the incorrect and inappropriate sign to have immediately before a round-a-bout by itself. Such islands should have lane indicator signs (on a white back-ground) in addition to directional arrows painted on the road surface. The sign you posted dosn't provide an unfamiliar driver with sufficient information so he/she can choose the correct lane to be in.

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

Carter, care to tell us the meaning of that sign?

It's nothing to do with a roundabout..

If you don't know, then you shouldn't drive.

It would be on the approach to the roundabout.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

If you don't know, then you shouldn't drive.

It would be on the approach to the roundabout.

Would it?

Show us where.

Jamie_Carter

Tilt wrote: »

That would be the incorrect and inappropriate sign to have immediately before a round-a-bout by itself. Such islands should have lane indicator signs (on a white back-ground) in addition to directional arrows painted on the road surface. The sign you posted dosn't provide an unfamiliar driver with sufficient information so he/she can choose the correct lane to be in.

Well as an example check out the Hykeham Roundabout on the A46, near Lincoln. And again on the Skellingthorpe Roundabout, just a few miles away.

Use street view, and you will see two of these on the approach to both roundabouts.