Right hand land on roundabouts

Supersonos

Car_54 wrote: »

But you were describing a situation where it isn't clear (to you) whether there is one lane or two.


If it is one lane, then it must be a very wide one, and you should be keeping to the left.

Really? Could you point me to the part of the highway code that defines that it's ok for cars to drive two abreast if the carriageway is wide enough?

And if it isn't clear to me, then it won't be clear to a lot of people, so the road markings for the roundabout are inadequate. Just in this short thread there have been several opinions as to how to use the roundabout in question.

Marvel1

A roundabout sometimes I use, 2 lanes, then on approach splits into 3, it's a small roundabout
Yes they are marked.
Left for left only
Middle and right for straight on (2 lane exit) - they blocked off the roundabout to right around.

Motorway closed, diversions in place, night time. I approach roundabout, and in middle lane, I aware that soke drivers are not familiar with these roads so I'm on guard and rightly so, always one vehicle in the left only going straight every night when the diversion was in place.

Supersonos

For the purposes of transparency, here's the roundabout:

https://goo.gl/maps/WZFSV5kF684y2La86

Car_54

Supersonos wrote: »

Really? Could you point me to the part of the highway code that defines that it's ok for cars to drive two abreast if the carriageway is wide enough?

And if it isn't clear to me, then it won't be clear to a lot of people, so the road markings for the roundabout are inadequate. Just in this short thread there have been several opinions as to how to use the roundabout in question.

More to the point, there is nothing (AFAIK) to say it isn't OK. Indeed the HC actually shows a roundabout with room for two cars and no lane markings (the illustration to Rule 185). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203


I agree with you about clarity. I believe any two-lane roundabout should have lane markings, but the fact is that many don't. But even with markings, many drivers have little idea how to use the lanes properly, as regular threads on here testify.

Supersonos

Car_54 wrote: »

I believe any two-lane roundabout should have lane markings, but the fact is that many don't.

So is it not safer to assume, in the absence of any sinage or markings, that the roundabout is not two lanes and so to treat it as one?

That's what I do. I drive a wide car and have no idea of the driving abilities of other drivers, so take the middle of the lane in order to ensure no-one tries to treat it as two lanes.

So who is wrong? Me for driving defensively and cautiously in order to avoid a potential collision? Or the other driver who beeps at me because I'm causing them to arrive at their destination six seconds later?

martinthebandit

The problem with positioning yourself in the middle of the lane is that your offering no clues to what you are planning to do.

If your planning to take the first or second exit (on a 'standard' roundabout) then you should keep well to the left, if your turning right then you should keep well right.

Supersonos

martinthebandit wrote: »

The problem with positioning yourself in the middle of the lane is that your offering no clues to what you are planning to do.

If your planning to take the first or second exit (on a 'standard' roundabout) then you should keep well to the left, if your turning right then you should keep well right.

My car has something called an indicator which serves that purpose quite well.

And, by the way, in the words of Ross Gellar: Y-O-U apostrophe R-E means 'you are', Y-O-U-R means 'your'.

Norman_Castle

Car_54 wrote: »

More to the point, there is nothing (AFAIK) to say it isn't OK. Indeed the HC actually shows a roundabout with room for two cars and no lane markings (the illustration to Rule 185). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203

That illustration shows the entrance and exit lanes marked as two lanes which suggests that island is intended to be used this way.

Supersonos wrote: »

For the purposes of transparency, here's the roundabout:

https://goo.gl/maps/WZFSV5kF684y2La86

I would treat that as one lane. Its as large as it is due to available space and to easily accommodate hgv's. The dirt on the road shows the centre marking chevrons on the approach are regularly being driven over which shouldn't be done unless unavoidable. If treated as two lanes the outside lane is quite a sharp turn needing a slower speed. Using it as a double lane slows traffic speed across it. Its likely to have become habit by regular users to share the lane if the car ahead is closer to one side. Good luck convincing them they're wrong.

Norman_Castle

martinthebandit wrote: »

The problem with positioning yourself in the middle of the lane is that your offering no clues to what you are planning to do.

If your planning to take the first or second exit (on a 'standard' roundabout) then you should keep well to the left, if your turning right then you should keep well right.

Why keep to the left or right of a single lane? On a motorcycle or bicycle this could indicate intentions but in a car there's no reason not to use the full width of the lane. Being passed in the same lane is filtering which isn't intended for cars.

EssexExile

Why do people find roundabouts so difficult? Drive sensibly, follow the rules, obey road markings, assume everyone else is doing none of these, proceed with caution.