h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a question to pose to you.

There is a roundabout I use on my journey to and from work. On the way to work there's no problem, but on the way home people use both lanes to access one of the exits, which sometimes leads to near misses. It's never busy at this time of night, fortunately.

I want the h2g2 community to rule on which lane people should use in the following scenario:

I approach the island from a road at the 6 o'clock position. This road has two lanes but no signs or roadmarkings indicating the correct lane to use for each exit.

Continuing around the roundabout clockwise from there, there's an exit at 10 o'clock, one at 2 o'clock, and the other side of my approach road at 5 o'clock. I hope that's clear.

Now, to access the road at 10 o'clock you obviously use the left lane, and to come back the way you've come on the 5 o'clock road, you would use the right hand lane.

What about the 2 o'clock road? Some people seem to consider that because it's the second of three possible exits, it is in effect 'straight on' and thus use the left lane. Others see it as a right turn and access it from the right hand lane. To confuse things further, the road itself has two lanes immediately off the roundabout which very quickly merge into one, suggesting you might be correct accessing it from either lane!

What do you think?

how about

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/appendix-to-the-highway-code

Although I know there are some roundabouts where the road marking would indicate you do otherwise.

on one near me the roundabout itself has three lanes...

Thanks BaldBloke. I didn't realise they had such specific guidance!

I think the confusion arises from the fact that some people consider it 'straight on' as it's the middle of three exits. My inclination is that it should be entered from the right hand lane on the approach road.

I was taught that all exits to the left of 12 o'clock are left turns, all exits to the right of 12 o'clock are right turns, lane choice should be appropriate to this. (Essentially what the link says, but in less detail.) The only exception to this *might be* if you are on a major road and the exit for continuing on that road isn't at 12 o'clock. Some people treat continuing on the road they're on as 'straight on' regardless of where the exit is.

I know of some where those rules definitely don't apply, the signs and road marking clearly show otherwise.

Example

A two lane roundabout with an exit onto a 2 lane dual carriageway, where it is designed for both roundabout lanes to exit onto the dual carriageway, you really don't want someone in the left hand lane trying to carry on to the next exit (even if it is before 12 o'clock)as they will get taken out by the inner lane exiting.

Cheerful Dragon, that sounds thoroughly logical. In this case, none of the exits are continuing on the road exactly, although the approach road to the roundabout and the 2 o'clock exit are the way you go to get to the town centre from the motorway.

If the 2 entrance was the original 'straight on' before the roundabout was built, that's why people might be using the left lane - it would depend on the size of the roads, are they all 'main' roads?

Otherwise you can use the 1st lane for exit 1, lanes 1&2 for exit 2 (which is why there are two lanes merging into one), and lane 2 for exit 3. Probably the reason there are no specific lane markings per exit is because the planners feel it's better to let drivers sort themselves out. As they are 'near misses' not 'collisions' that seems to be working out okay.

I'd argue with that 'guidance' website as for a start on number 3 as there are two lanes, there is no reason you couldn't be in either lane on your entrance to the roundabout, and filter into the matching lane on the other side.

" lanes 1&2 for exit 2 (which is why there are two lanes merging into one)"

Just to add to this bit, the idea is to move as many cars as possible at once to help with traffic flow, so it sounds to me using lane 1 and/or 2 for 2 o clock exit is exactly what is intended.

I agree with you about example 3, Party - in the table, it says left lane, but then says the approach could have been in the right lane.

There's a roundabout with a 2 o'clock exit that I use regularly, and I use the left lane but indicate right to make sure people in the right lane know where I'm going, and then we merge neatly at the exit. It can be tricky sometimes if two cars are exactly side by side on the roundabout, but it does reduce the length of the queue at the entrance to the roundabout as the exit is the main road so most traffic goes that way.

Hi SashaQ.

If you are indicating right you should also use the right lane; indicating right whilst in the left lane is misleading to other drivers.

Note also that big lorries will often need both lanes to negotiate the curve - stay away from big vehicles at junctions. Also cyclists and horse riders will often keep to the left lane no matter where they are exiting because they feel safer there. Because they are unlikely to be going fast enough to overtake other traffic they are entitled to do this.

In any case keep a close watch on your left mirror as you approach your exit.

F.

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. We seem to be struggling to get a consensus!

If the closest exits are two hours apart, there should be plenty of time to change lanes.

Best leave early to avoid the bandits at 10 o'clock.

I used to drive to Royal Mail for a while, and we were instructed that if there are no road marking denoting otherwise, then anything up to and including a direct line over ( 6 to 12 o'clock) is the left hand lane of two, and anything further around is the right hand lane.

Road markings may override this however, and it is then up to the local council/highways agency to make sure that these are highly visible, and to the driver to notice and obey them.

It is a tricky situation...

I indicate right until I pass the 10 o'clock exit for clarity as people joining the roundabout at that exit often assume I'm going left (even though I'm not indicating left) and pull out in front of me. I'm then indicating right in the left hand lane until I indicate left at the same point that the car in the right hand lane is indicating left.

It genuinely is two lanes for the main 2 o'clock exit though - if I try the right hand lane, there is always someone to my left that I need to merge with, so I prefer the left lane as I'm never going very fast round there and usually merge second.

Mirror checking is vital... but it seems to work out ok overall even though it isn't easy.

Ah my pet hate (well one of the many!) drivers in left hand lane signalling right to go straight across, used to call it a begging signal, ie someone please please let me out, very dangerous for others negotiating the roundabout from the other direction on a proper right hand turn or u turn. Anything before twelve o'clock as stated is a left turn, two o'clock, even ten past twelve, is a right hand lane job, unless its clearly marked otherwise. People filtering towards the two o'clock exit will not expect or not see you in their blind spot on their near side and hey presto t bone time. That's why we teach life saver observations to bikers in a nutshell. Hope this helps.

Tricky indeed...

It pretty much comes down to assumptions:

Assuming someone is going left at a side exit, and pulling out in front of them even though they're *not* indicating left is dangerous.

Assuming someone indicating right in the left hand lane *is* going fully right, the option for the people on their right is to make space, which means easier merging at the main exit if they're both going that way.

Assuming someone indicating left in the right hand lane *is* going left at the next exit, the option for the people on their left is to make space, which again means easier merging if they're both going the same way.

I still feel happier in the left lane on my roundabout (but not 100% happy for the reasons mentioned above). The roundabout layout is potentially dangerous because of being confusing and requires being very aware of blind spots and who's around you and where - clear road markings would help a lot...

Actually, clear road markings wouldn't help at all. Because people still do their own thing.

Deb

I think clear marking do help. It can take a degree of guess work it takes to get into correct lane if you are new. People who use the roundabout regularly know which lane to get in which leads to familiarity that can prevent 'near misses' and blockages

Of course there will be some who will always do what they want, and some who make mistakes

But a clear indication of what to do at roundabouts is a positive thing