Fault on Roundabout.

Aylesbury_Duck

Mercdriver wrote: »

My driving instructor told me to ignore all and no signals just to look at which way the wheels are pointed.

Mine too, it's good advice. I was also taught to watch the wheels of stationary cars at junctions because you will notice a wheel rotate a fraction before you discern the car moving.

almillar

This is really difficult to explain

A link to Google maps makes it much easier...

If it was an arrow, they are just advisory.

Eh? Got any backup that white paint on a black road is advisory? I could get away with LOADS if it's true!

BeenThroughItAll

iammumtoone wrote: »

Most people don't as luckily most people are never put in the situation of the OP as normally people follow the roundabout rules.

When you are waiting to enter a roundabout do you always wait until the area to your left is completely clear or do you have to enter whilst there is a car to the left in your sight turning left? What if that car to the left suddenly decided to change course/lane (continue to the right) and straight into you?

When I'm waiting to enter a roundabout, I observe the traffic and situation around me and use my judgement to move off when it is safe enough to do so. Sometimes that means cautiously, but also always means defensively, not putting oneself in a position where a vehicle doing something unexpected will force me into a position of danger.


I certainly wouldn't put myself in a position where I'd assume a vehicle to one side of me won't do something stupid like change course at the last minute.


It's really not that difficult - and I managed to make it to work today in the same time as usual, through busy traffic, and the usual roundabouts.

reeac

I had a near miss a while ago in a similar situation. Car about to enter the roundabout and on my right was signalling to turn left ...I assumed into the exit lane of the road that I was stopped on whilst waiting to enter the roundabout. Turned out that they were signalling their intentions regarding the second exit, not the first, so they whizzed across my bows. Signalling too early can be misleading.

spadoosh

I nearly had 3 accidents this morning from people not indicating on a roundabout. Including one who not only failed to indicate but then attempted to drive through a barrier saying 'road closed'.

You have my sympathy OP. Although that doesnt change itll probably end up 50/50.

Mercdriver

almillar wrote: »

A link to Google maps makes it much easier...



Eh? Got any backup that white paint on a black road is advisory? I could get away with LOADS if it's true!

The only thing that counts as a traffic sign on the road in paint are solid lines, everything else is advisory.

iammumtoone

Mercdriver wrote: »

A car about to turn left will generally already have its wheels pointing in the direction of intended travel while waiting. If they are pointed straight ahead, I would hold back to see what is going on.

My driving instructor told me to ignore all and no signals just to look at which way the wheels are pointed.

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Mine too, it's good advice. I was also taught to watch the wheels of stationary cars at junctions because you will notice a wheel rotate a fraction before you discern the car moving.

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

When I'm waiting to enter a roundabout, I observe the traffic and situation around me and use my judgement to move off when it is safe enough to do so. Sometimes that means cautiously, but also always means defensively, not putting oneself in a position where a vehicle doing something unexpected will force me into a position of danger.


I certainly wouldn't put myself in a position where I'd assume a vehicle to one side of me won't do something stupid like change course at the last minute.


It's really not that difficult - and I managed to make it to work today in the same time as usual, through busy traffic, and the usual roundabouts.

I agree you are all right that is the way most people drive by looking at what the car is doing rather than what the signals/road says they should be doing.

What seems to have happened in this case and can happen is an idiot driver has been going one way and suddenly decided to change course in another direction whilst at the same time driving too fast, that can happen to anyone even if driving the way you all describe.

The only way to be guaranteed to avoid an accident at a roundabout is to wait until there is no traffic in sight on your right to avoid colliding with said idiot drivers who make last minute maneuvers/suddenly change direction. To do this would mean waiting at the roundabout for a very long time.

BeenThroughItAll

iammumtoone wrote: »

I agree you are all right that is the way most people drive by looking at what the car is doing rather than what the signals/road says they should be doing.

What seems to have happened in this case and can happen is an idiot driver has been going one way and suddenly decided to change course in another direction whilst at the same time driving too fast, that can happen to anyone even if driving the way you all describe.

And the key to avoiding a collision is to drive defensively and aware that drivers do stupid things occasionally. Preparedness prevents accidents.

The only way to be guaranteed to avoid an accident at a roundabout is to wait until there is no traffic in sight on your right to avoid colliding with said idiot drivers who make last minute maneuvers/suddenly change direction. To do this would mean waiting at the roundabout for a very long time.

No, the other way is to be aware of risks and seek to mitigate them. That doesn't mean waiting until the middle of the night when there's no traffic around, it means driving in a manner suited to the conditions and remaining aware of other drivers around you.

Sea_Shell

With some of the driving I witness on a daily basis, you need to have your "muppet" radar turned up to max. Assume everybody is going to do something daft, and you won't be too far wrong. (Although proving it is another kettle of fish)

Today I had someone pull out in front of me on a roundabout, causing me to brake and almost come to a standstill on the roundabout, rather than hit them. I was lucky not to have been rear-ended. Along with "lane wanderers" who just look lost, and you just know they are in the wrong lane and going to cut you up...I give these a wide berth wherever possible.

On a similar sounding roundabout to the one OP describes, I was alongside (to the right) of a van who was in the clearly marked "left turn only" lane, who then decided he'd under cut me and go straight on (which was the way I was going). Another near miss!!! (He only got the jump on me as he was still rolling as he approached the roundabout, whereas as I was stationary.)

I'm starting to dread the morning commute....it's definitely got worse over the last few years.

Supersonos

@John Peters: Did the left turn only lane that the driver was in have hatchings between his lane and the roundabout? If so, he'd have had to cross those hatchings/solid line to then enter the roundabout thereby making an illegal manoeuvre.

I see people do this all the time, sorry it's you who was on the receiving end of their stupidity.