Almost had a crash today because of these road markings

prowla

unforeseen wrote: »

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.

How strange, I had a dream last night and in it I had to do that!

prowla

One thing to consider is that the people who put up the road signs and the people who plan and those who paint the road markings may:

1. May not be aware of each others work.
2. May not be very bright.

We're in a phase now where it seems that the road controllers have to paint things and put up signage to keep themselves in a job, rather than to improve the roads.


When driving, you have to assume that the signage may be wrong and/or the other road users may be as confused as you are, and thus act accordingly.

Marvel1

I see the sign as a 2 exit roundabout and road markings are left for first exit and right lane for second exit.

Whenever in doubt when in right lane for a roundabout, drive around rather sudden movement back into left.

JackeeBoy

How is this confusing? You got into the correct lane and the lane you were in indicated you were in the correct line. I don't know why you would then go into the right line, forward arrow or not, when the lane you were in indicated it was for the first exit...

molerat

The same happened to me the other week. I was correctly in the left hand lane marked left turn and going just a bit less than straight ahead, no other option unless I wanted to go on the flower bed, and a 4x4 with a trailer was on the straight ahead arrow and nearly took my side off. What is wrong with a bent arrow rather than the full 90 degree options only.

Car_54

molerat wrote: »

The same happened to me the other week. I was correctly in the left hand lane marked left turn and going just a bit less than straight ahead, no other option unless I wanted to go on the flower bed, and a 4x4 with a trailer was on the straight ahead arrow and nearly took my side off.

The Highway Code (187) tells you:
"In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to ... long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals."

Norman_Castle

JackeeBoy wrote: »

How is this confusing? You got into the correct lane and the lane you were in indicated you were in the correct line. I don't know why you would then go into the right line, forward arrow or not, when the lane you were in indicated it was for the first exit...

The first exit, arrowed left, would be considered straight ahead by most. The second exit, arrowed straight ahead, would be considered right by most. The arrows don't correspond to the lanes.

molerat

Car_54 wrote: »

The Highway Code (187) tells you:
"In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to ... long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals."

He was not straddling the lanes, he came up alongside me as I waited for the roundabout to clear and tried to cut across.

Scrapit

The only thing that can make an accident happen is the driver. The paint on the road spent make you not observe before making a manoveur

rach_k

I had a look on Google maps and it looks to me like the right turn is the continuation of the road you approached from - Warren Lane (unless I've messed up, in which case, my apologies!). While I know it isn't often that obvious, I would have thought this would be considered going 'straight on' even if it isn't actually in a straight line. I tend to consider it 'staying on the same road' rather than 'straight on'.