Roundabout lanes

forgotmyname

I do wonder about some people when it comes to roundabouts, Dual carriageway opened to 3 lanes at the roundabout, to me the left lane that opened was the turning for the shopping centre. The other 2 lanes are to continue on the dual carriageway.

Almost daily cars would use the right hand lane and move to the centre lane, but then they want to take the right hand land on the roundabout (2 lanes). Why not stay in the right hand lane?
Sometimes they are forced over because someone in the left hand lane wanted to go straight on, but usually they moved to the middle and then to the right on the roundabout??

Anyone here do that?

A456 there is a roundabout where the main dual carriageway exit is at 3 o'clock to the entrance. The only exit if immediately to the left, to me it makes sense that the left lane = left onto the estate and also straight onto the dual carriageway in the left lane, the right lane exits in the right lane, but so many people move to the right lane and then try exitiing in the left.

arcon5

There's a roundabout between Bawty and Gainsborough, two lanes, not a small roundabout, but many people insist on using the left lane to take the 3rd exit, whereas the ones in the right hand lane are forced to stay in the right hand lane on to the small piece of dual carriageway rather than move to left lane when exiting.

Car_54

Joe_Horner wrote: »

He seems pretty close to me. Barring any signs or markings saying different:

Exiting left (first exit) - approach in left hand lane, signal left on approach

Exiting right (usually last exit but possibly last couple depending on layout) - approach in right hand lane, signal right o approach

Intermediate exits (broadly "straight on" but anything not an obvious "left" or "right") - approach in "appropriate" lane, don't indicate on approach, indicate left after passing the exit before your chosen one.

"Appropriate" lane for intermediates means choosing a lane which is safe, not prohibited by signs, maintains traffic flow, and (assuming you know the layout) allows you to exit into a suitable lane.

So, for example, if you know you're exiting onto a dual carriageway but need to take an immediate exit from that road, keeping left is appropriate to allow you to exit into the left lane of the DC.

On the other hand, if you know you'll be turning right at another roundabout just after exiting then right lane on approach would be appropriate to allow you to exit into the right hand lane ready for the next roundabout.

So, that's left lane for first or intermediates and right lane for intermediates or right - pretty much what he described.

But that's not at all what Manxman described. He uses 1st, 2nd etc. instead of left and right. That might work, if every roundabout was the same shape, but they aren't. 2nd exit is often to the left etc.

However, if he's really from the Isle of Man then all is explained. The HC doesn't apply there. And they probably only have one roundabout.

bod1467

Feral_Moon wrote: »

So you would end up cutting up the traffic in the left hand lane?

Which part of the below was difficult to understand?

bod1467 wrote: »

Based on that sign, and being unfamiliar (with the area, although I thought this was obvious), I'd take the right lane.

And how would I "cut up" traffic by indicating my intention to move over at the appropriate time to take the exit?

Sheesh!

JP08

Whilst we're on the subject of roundabouts and correct lanes watch out for cyclists - as the recommendation in the Highway code used to be different for them (it is now unclear and really makes no recommendation !)

The HC used to state that cyclists should stay in the LEFT HAND lane signalling appropriately - even when turning right.

This is one rule I ignore on the bike, as it would almost certainly get me flattened the first time I tried to go right by the car behind going straight on.

What it now says :

Rule 77

You may feel safer walking your cycle round on the pavement or verge. If you decide to ride round keeping to the left-hand lane you should

• be aware that drivers may not easily see you
• take extra care when cycling across exits. You may need to signal right to show you are not leaving the roundabout
• watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout.

Rule 187

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to

• pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads
• traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit
• traffic which may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly
• motorcyclists
• cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout. Allow them to do so
• long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals.

I'd be curious as to how many of us posting here were actually aware of this and, conversely, how many of us would have cursed the "stupid cyclist" for not knowing how to use a roundabout ...

molerat

One of my regular roundabouts is on a major A road single carriageway. Exit 1 little used 90 deg, exit 2 major road 200 deg, exit 3 busyish industrial estate 290deg. Many drivers in lane 1 going straight ahead are totally unaware that there is traffic on their right going to exit 3 and take the shortest route to exit 2. Seen loads of near misses.

Another of my bugbears is one where 3 lanes go into a roundabout, exit 1 dual carriageway, exits 2 and 3 single lane. Lane 1 is marked left, lane 2 marked left and straight on and lane 3 right exit. Drivers in lane 2 rarely indicate so traffic coming out of exit 1 onto the roundabout either sits and waits forever or takes a chance - is that car going left or straight on, again many near misses. All used to be fine and sensible until highways changed the centre lane markings.

Andy_L

The highway code is nice and helpful

"When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout
you should not normally need to signal on approach
stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

PasturesNew

One rule of thumb that always works is: If in doubt, play safe and get in the right hand lane, go all the way round ..... and then indicate left and get into the correct lane to leave the roundabout, having gone round it 1.5x.

Car_54

JP08 wrote: »

Whilst we're on the subject of roundabouts and correct lanes watch out for cyclists - as the recommendation in the Highway code used to be different for them (it is now unclear and really makes no recommendation !)

The HC used to state that cyclists should stay in the LEFT HAND lane signalling appropriately - even when turning right.

This is one rule I ignore on the bike, as it would almost certainly get me flattened the first time I tried to go right by the car behind going straight on.

What it now says :

Rule 77

You may feel safer walking your cycle round on the pavement or verge. If you decide to ride round keeping to the left-hand lane you should

• be aware that drivers may not easily see you
• take extra care when cycling across exits. You may need to signal right to show you are not leaving the roundabout
• watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout.

Rule 187

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to

• pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads
• traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit
• traffic which may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly
• motorcyclists
• cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout. Allow them to do so
• long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals.

I'd be curious as to how many of us posting here were actually aware of this and, conversely, how many of us would have cursed the "stupid cyclist" for not knowing how to use a roundabout ...

Those have been the rules since at least the 2007 edition, so anyone who doesn't know has little excuse.

dannyrst

almillar wrote: »

The sign should reflect the layout! if it doesn't they need to make a new one.
I'd be counting 'roughly 12 o'clock' as straight on, and I'd include, say, 1 o'clock in that.
But as you say everyone has different rules in their heads (they may have been taught differently) so you need to be careful. I don't indicate, whilst approaching a roundabout, to go 'straight on', which I think is the logical way to do it...

Example:

Two lanes coming up to a roundabout with 3 exits. Sign shows a left hand exit (9 o clock), an exit at 1 o clock and a right exit (3 o clock). Now if that exit is clearly straight across when you are closer to the roundabout, I'd have been in the right hand lane as the sign shows the exit after 12 o clock, and therefore the left lane is effectively only for cars turning left.

Surely being in the right hand lane gives you option to do a full lap and exit correctly?