Almost had a crash today because of these road markings

Scrapit

If you were taking the first exit then you were taking the first left off the roundabout even if it's straight on hence the left sign. My sat nav does the same, there's never a "straight on" instruction, always the number of the turn off. E.g."1st exit, 5th exit etc".

flea72

The road sign is out of date. There is now a left turn into an estate off that roundabout. You need to be in the right hand lane to go straight over.

parking_question_chap

It was not your fault for thinking you needed the right hand lane, those markings are confusing. However it would have been your fault for causing a crash if you then cut back into the left lane without looking behind you.

roddydogs

flea72 wrote: »

The road sign is out of date. There is now a left turn into an estate off that roundabout. You need to be in the right hand lane to go straight over.

So assuming that's correct, it totally negates the op, wouldn't the op have known that?

Norman_Castle

Kiran wrote: »

I agree this can be a bit confusing, to add to the confusion, if the arrows are painted on the floor [road] as in that photo they are only a guide and you can go straight over in either lane.


Welcome to the lawless world of motoring!

Not sure of the legality of ignoring them but they are not only a guide, you are expected to comply.
"Highway Code 134
You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed."


On that island the first exit is single lane so would not have two lanes directed to it, you should not take the first exit from lane two. Hopeless, confusing markings. Marking the lanes ahead and right or left and right would be far clearer.


Op, its likely other drivers understand your confusion due to the poor markings.

maisie_cat

marlot wrote: »

All right turns at roundabouts are now being signed with a straight ahead arrow. Apparently it's to reduce the number of people going around the roundabout the wrong direction.

I agree it's confusing.

I've driven close to a million miles in my career and still get caught out from time to time. My best advice would be that if you find yourself in the wrong lane, just continue in that lane unless you're absolutely sure it's safe to change back again. If that means you have to go down the wrong road and turn around, that's better than having a collision. Similarly, if you have to go all the way around the roundabout then that's fine too.

Excellent advice, I saw 2 near misses this week from drivers in the wrong lane for the exit they wanted then attempting to change lanes at the last minute. Why drivers can't simply go around the roundabout when they are in the wrong lane is beyond me.

Arklight

It's your fault. Irrespective of which lane you are in you must check it's safe before moving over and leaving the roundabout. That would be the same whether you were trying to get back into the lane you should have taken, or whether you were turning right and needing to filter off at a later exit.

I do sympathise because I hated multilane roundabouts when I first passed, to the point that I would look at google maps satellite maps of major ones in advance of a new journey to try and figure them out. The Hangar Lane roundabout gave me PTSD. However you are the one driving your car not the people who put the markings on the road.

In general in the UK, multilane roundabouts are poorly marked, and lane guidance is often misleading, and many other drivers will be as confused as you. Learn from it and move on, but please don't blame the road markings for cutting someone up.

prowla

The signage is confusing; it'd be better without the road markings!

flea72

roddydogs wrote: »

So assuming that's correct, it totally negates the op, wouldn't the op have known that?

The road markings have only recently been added in the past month or so. Prior to that there were no road markings, and yes the change to the right hand lane for straight on, is catching alot of locals out, as we are so used to using the lefthand lane. There is no need for the left lane to be a left turn only as the traffic going into the estate is minimal and doesnt affect the flow

unforeseen

Surely common sense says that if you are in the right lane approaching a roundabout and realise that you need the left lane, then the safest course of action is to go all the way around the roundabout.

Had to do that once on the North circular with 4 lanes. Went around twice before I managed to get myself across to the left lane at the right point to exit.