Query on roundabout lane

nnewtoarea

Hi all, 

Query on roundabout position. Just need to check if I am doing it correctly.

following the yellow arrow direction, for the roundabout I start in the left lane and then turn left in the 3 rd exit. Am I in the correct lane.

BOWFER

Google earth image shows the road markings, and it would appear you're perfectly fine staying in the left lane all the way around.
Not literally the left lane as soon as you join, as that's left only for a short distance, but it' still easily seen.
It's messy but you're sort of going middle, then left.

Grumpy_chap

As @BOWFER says, except if everyone else does it wrong then that could mean you need to modify your route and show forebearance.

This is one of the issues I see with self-driving vehicles and have often thought roundabouts are one of the most challenging types of road.  I used to regularly drive from the M25 anti-clock and exit at J10 to take the A3 south.  Never crashed because I follow the predominant practice for lane discipline.  That predominant practice that "everyone does" is not in accordance with the road markings.  If you threw a single "self-driving-car" into that mix, trying to follow the road markings correctly, there would almost certainly be a prang.

nnewtoarea

Yes this is a tricky junction as You said. Sometimes  some people come from right so get honked and have to watch like a hawk. As you said will observe and see what everyone else does.

[Deleted User]

Looks like one of the many ambiguous roundabouts that doesn't really have any conformity to highway code rules because the entrance junction entering the roundabout has 2 lanes yet the roundabout has 3 at that point so how to map 2 lanes on to 3 is quite difficult - the highway code literally says "appropriate lane" which is useless in the absence of other signs / road markings.

Personally I'd say:

• left lane on the junction maps to the first left and then the second lane because these go either left or straight on the roundabout and the highway code advises left lane for that scenario
  
  
• right lane maps to the third lane on the roundabout for a right turn or all the way round, again as per highway code

It would probably be easier to navigate the roundabout if it didn't have any markings at all.

But as ever with driving, situational awareness and adapting to conditions is better than a rigid set of rules.

nnewtoarea

Also I have to be either left or right as only 2 vehicles can travel side by side 

leonj

It's not very good because the exit roads only fit one car, it would be better if the didn't mark out three lanes on the roundabaout like that

Sea_Shell

Going by those markings, at what point would you change lanes if you entered from the top, in the right hand lane and wanted the 4th exit?

In quiet traffic it's not a problem, but if busy and all lanes are full, could be tricky.

born_again

Well if you are coming from "Grand Dr" then no. As the left lane is marked as left turn only to "Hillcross Ave"

Not sure how anyone can say "it would appear you're perfectly fine staying in the left lane all the way around." As it is very clear that 2 sections of the roundabout are marked as "left turn @ next exit" to either Morden Ln & Hillcross Ave.

nnewtoarea

Sometime back I was going through the right lane and once a car came very close from the left. Then after asking a friend, moved to the left lane and again one car today came close from the right. If so drive in left lane atleast I get a good view of the vehicles on right side and adjust

EssexExile

When on a roundabout do your best to follow the road markings and expect everyone else to do something stupid. Always be ready to take avoiding action.