Turning right in the left lane?

ohreally

Near where I live there is a roundabout where some think its ok to turn left (exit 1 of 3) from the right hand lane approach which is clearly signed straight ahead/ R.

Oh, this is in clear site of the police traffic div offices!

agrinnall

Maybe the revisions to the driving test proposed today will include better testing of lane discipline.

Strider590

JP1978 wrote: »

When I was learning to drive and then subsequently passed and drove my dad everywhere for his work (for experience) he always had me using the left hand lane to turn right when it was 2 lanes to 2 lanes AND there was no road markings other wise.

That's why people do this, they often assume that if they're staying on the same road, they stay in the RH lane. One exception I know of is here:

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@52.230438,-2.221098,307.57h,3.31p,1z


Where for some reason everyone has accepted the RH lane as correct for staying on the A449 and the only people using the LH lane are trying to jump the rush hour queues.

I think there's a lot of psychology involved, the road layout, the way the roundabout entrance turns toward the left, lots of things factor into it.

unforeseen

When i follow up that link i see all 3 roads on that roundabout are the A449. Wierd!

derrick

Nobody has actually mentioned that all 3 links in the OP have "A4146 on the left hand lane in big white lettering, so maybe that is the reasoning/ Wrong in my opinion, but hey that's the Highways Departments for you.


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JP1978

I think that part of the problem on roundabouts, not just the issues described by the OP is the distinct lack of road markings laid down by the council roads dept. It maybe that at some point in the past these areas mentioned had road markings to say that what is happening is OK and was how the junction was planned but subsequent relays of the road surface have removed the markings.

We then have the situation where people who have used that junction for years carry on as they were and where less frequent users try and follow their interpretation of the highway code. They dont often match!

I once was involved in an accident on a roundabout (in fact on two occasions - where people were turning right in the left lane).

1/ Three lanes on (left marked as left only, middle marked as straight on, right marked as straight on and right - right been towards a retail park or a further exit. Straight on was the continuation of the same road I was on). I was in right lane, i pulled off and car who left the roundabout just after me was in the middle lane but wanted to go to the last exit. He and the insurance seemed to think that was ok. He was to be fair indicating but when he did turn, his front wing hit my rear wing. As we were both insured with Direct Line at the time, I think they just put it down knock for knock to save any hassle and upset. I spoke to the roads planner who sent me a report to say how the road and the roads markings were designed and that the other car was in the wrong in that the right lane would have been for him to head to his destination as the straight on markings were for the continuation of the same road.
2/ Very similar thing, two lanes to two lanes (A34 near Wilmslow) - me right hand lane to go straight on, silly WAG in left hand lane wanting to turn right, she hit my left rear wing. If that straight on exit hadnt of been there, at the time, I wouldnt have seen a problem with her going right in Left lane (as i would have been going right too) - she seemed to not see the possibilities of me going straight. Her insurance called me within two hours offering to pay for everything :-)

derrick

Similar on this road, where the signs actually tell you to use both lanes to turn right, then as you approach the roundabout there is a right turn arrow in right lane only, then when you enter the roundabout both lanes say you can turn right. Plenty of close shaves when turning right "from the correct lane" and wanting to turn left at next lights so leave the roundabout in the left lane.

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unforeseen

derrick wrote: »

Nobody has actually mentioned that all 3 links in the OP have "A4146 on the left hand lane in big white lettering, so maybe that is the reasoning/ Wrong in my opinion, but hey that's the Highways Departments for you.


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You do realise that it isn't actually on the road don't you?

Nodding_Donkey

derrick wrote: »

Nobody has actually mentioned that all 3 links in the OP have "A4146 on the left hand lane in big white lettering, so maybe that is the reasoning/ Wrong in my opinion, but hey that's the Highways Departments for you.


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That is superimposed on the pic by Google

derrick

unforeseen wrote: »

You do realise that it isn't actually on the road don't you?

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

That is superimposed on the pic by Google

Hadn't realised, something learnt:o

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