Question re right of way on a roundabout

vivatifosi

I am curious about the right of way relating to a specific situation regarding roundabouts.

When I drive to my parents, there's a specific stretch of road with a dropped pavement from someone's house, directly onto a mini roundabout.

Looking online, I can't find anything in terms of who has priority. I tend to treat it the same as I would any other junction, as without having any other information, what else can you do? But having stopped there a few times to let the driver out, a toot to get a move on is not unusual... nor is someone barreling towards my car's rear end, presumably because they are not looking in someone's front garden for a car.

I've looked for planning precedents and as far as I can see, they don't allow them, so I am guessing that the dropped pavement was there before the roundabout.

So purely curious... what is the right approach? I'm hoping someone who's done advanced driving will have the answer.

Thanks in anticipation!

TadleyBaggie

Easy, traffic already on the roundabout has priority. No different if the dropped pavement was on a regular road.

Marktheshark

If its driving and its approaching from the right you give way.

vivatifosi

Crikey, that was quick! Thanks.

That's what I've been doing (as would be common sense). The reaction of other road users had made me doubt my actions. I don't think they are seeing the dropped kerb. I think that's their problem, not mine... providing they don't drive into my rear while letting someone out.

Prothet_of_Doom

DRive very slowly EVERY time you approach this junction, with brake lights on, and they will have time to react because you are already going very slow. Anyone who uses their horn, gets a cheery wave from me.

Strider590

vivatifosi wrote: »

Crikey, that was quick! Thanks.

That's what I've been doing (as would be common sense). The reaction of other road users had made me doubt my actions. I don't think they are seeing the dropped kerb. I think that's their problem, not mine... providing they don't drive into my rear while letting someone out.

Well surely if they use the road as often or more often that you, then they must have experienced the same situation and therefore understand. So either they have no clue of how to use a roundabout (like 80% of the population apparently) OR your doing something unpredictable.

Of course it might not be the actual roundabout that causes the issue, this could just be the final straw, especially if the driver in front of them (not saying you are) had been dithering a long at well below the limit or being over cautious.

There have been many times where i've been following a driver that for example brakes hard for every oncoming car or every slight bend (again not saying you do), and after 5-6 times i'll flash the headlights or give a quick toot of the horn, usually in the hope that they're just half asleep or faffing with their phone.

So basically there could be MANY reasons, not just related to the roundabout itself.

[Deleted User]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/330+Pentregethin+Rd,+Gendros,+Swansea+SA5+8AJ/@51.640983,-3.9593366,3a,75y,86.77h,74.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssGf3iSyPK9R8ibiN4GmP6g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DsGf3iSyPK9R8ibiN4GmP6g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D86%26h%3D86%26yaw%3D1.5459155%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x486ef519d73baf97:0xeb062a6e19fa8307!6m1!1e1?hl=en

Something like this I guess.

Car_54

Can you think of ANY circumstances where someone emerging from a dropped kerb has priority?

And no-one ever has "right of way".

arcon5

My perspective is that you are stopping at a round about with no vehicles on. It's their job to join the roundabout when a safe gap appears and not your job to give way to other traffic not already on the roundabout or about to hit it at speed that could cause an incident if you join

Norman_Castle

I can't find anything in terms of who has priority. I tend to treat it the same as I would any other junction, as without having any other information, what else can you do?

Its not a junction. You're being courteous by allowing them to join the road but I doubt there is a requirement to do so.
A google map link would help.

Iceweasel

There is no way I would be expecting anyone to stop on or at a roundabout to give way to someone on their left.

Your 'courteous' action is in my opinion very dangerous.

One day some one will run up the back of you.

You will quite rightly get folks giving you a beep of their horn - to let you know that they are there.

You are choosing to give way to someone waiting to enter at the inconvenience of other traffic.

Dropped kerbs mean nothing on any road - the person wishing to enter the main carriageway needs to wait for a gap - not someone stopping to let them out.