Two lanes merging to one after roundabout

robinwales

This is two lanes merging into one just off a large roundabout. I was the red box (car) and the blue box was a Volvo car. Both were travelling at the same speed. I checked my left mirror and saw the Volvo, and he was travelling at the same speed as me and was about 10 feet behind overall. I didn't wander across the white dotted lines, and planned to merge directly into the single lane approximately where you can see the white car. The Volvo suddenly accelerated and pushed his way through. Had I not braked he would have run into my left side.

Who was in the right/wrong?

Norman_Castle

Volvo driver was wrong. You were ahead. Common sense and good driving dictates they allow you to merge.

robinwales

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Volvo driver was wrong. You were ahead. Common sense and good driving dictates they allow you to merge.

That's what I thought. I had to brake and the car behind me almost ran into my rear end. Common sense says that you let the car in front go through. I always do. The Volvo driver is seriously in line for some of your bad karma!

Car_54

From your description, it appears that you checked your mirror(s), saw that it was not safe, but proceeded to change lane regardless.

The other driver overtook on the left.

Both failed to anticipate the other's actions, and showed no consideration. Both at fault.

robinwales

Car_54 wrote: »

From your description, it appears that you checked your mirror(s), saw that it was not safe, but proceeded to change lane regardless.

But I didn't change lane. As I said, I didn't move across the lines, I just drove into the single lane as I could see the Volvo was behind me. Was that wrong of me? Should I have anticipated that he was going to accelerate and attempt to get through?

wgl2014

But you did change lanes, the lane you were in ended and is marked with arrows directing traffic to the inside lane.
However..... if both you and the Volvo were going the same speed and there was adequate room for you to merge the Volvo shouldn't alter their speed to block you.
I like the description of merging traffic to be like a zipper, one car from the first lane then one from the second etc etc. Everything goes smoother and overall is quicker for all traffic.

waamo

If the OP had changed lanes, moving from the right to the left hand lane, how could they have been undertaken? Did the other driver stray onto the pavement?

It reads to me that OP was planning their manoeuvrer rather than completing it.

DoaM

waamo wrote: »

It reads to me that OP was planning their manoeuvrer rather than completing it.

Indeed, the OP even says so:

robinwales wrote: »

I didn't wander across the white dotted lines, and planned to merge directly into the single lane approximately where you can see the white car

So the Volvo driver accelerated to prevent the OP from merging in front. Unless there was dashcam footage or other witnesses, if there had been a collision between the two vehicles any insurance claim would likely have gone 50:50.

neilmcl

The Volvo driver was at fault of potentially causing an accident but all you have to do is ease off and allow him to be the idiot and continue with his journey, I don't see any need to brake sharply.

I've had it happen many a time on a lane merge near me after a junction, idiots accelerating up the inside from behind leaving you no space to merge., quite often there's a car in front so you end up being side by side by the time the lane becomes one. I just let them get on with it with and give them a suitable reminder that they've just been a knob.

Car_54

waamo wrote: »

If the OP had changed lanes, moving from the right to the left hand lane, how could they have been undertaken? Did the other driver stray onto the pavement?

It reads to me that OP was planning their manoeuvrer rather than completing it.

Exactly. He hadn't changed lanes, he was about to: his was a 'what if' question. He said

"Had I not braked he would have run into my left side. Who was in the right/wrong?!

If he had completed the manoeuvre, the Volvo driver would have been forced to brake to maintain a safe gap.

kmb500

Same as dual carriageways or motorways, the right hand lane is for overtaking, so he should not have undertaken you.