A lot of stupid drivers in MK!
Posted by Sunflowerpurple44@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 37 comments
This is the 2 lanes that go from elder gate (next to Starbucks and curry’s) onto the A509. The 2 lanes merch onto the A509 and become 3 lanes.
So many near misses from drivers going onto the wrong lane and not indicating either when going onto the lane.
I just wanted peoples opinions on what they think is the right way to merge. Second photo my interpretation of what lanes go into what. Obviously the right lane you can also merge into the far right lane.
Fine if you want to go onto the middle lane from the left but INDICATE to let the person next to you know!! So many people just don’t indicate and I’m sure has caused plenty of accidents.
Srapture@reddit
Poor design putting both the arrows turning left on the road. The right one should really be a forward or left.
Proud-Document6343@reddit
The junction is stupidly marked, there's no clear right answer. If I want the middle lane, I take the left lane, go round into the left lane, then merge to the middle when it's safe. Then it doesn't matter if the person next to me wants the middle lane too. And I certainly wouldn't call them stupid.
Sunflowerpurple44@reddit (OP)
To be fair if you indicate and merge when safe then you’re not stupid. However the people (like the stupid lady that did this yesterday) who just merge onto the lane without paying attention and without indicating they are stupid and shouldn’t be driving. She then also had the audacity to swear at me and be provocative because I honked at her once to let her know I was there 🥲
Proud-Document6343@reddit
Yes, absolutely. Where the markings are ambiguous the worst thing you can do is go ahead without checking and assume everyone else will interpret it the same way. The way onto the roundabout off Grafton Gate is even worse. Constant beeping and near misses. That and your example have been repeatedly reported to the council and they refuse to acknowledge the problem.
Keema_Naan@reddit
The Highway Code states that when approaching an unmarked roundabout the left lane is for left turns and straight on, the right lane is for turning right. I apply this logic here.
hemm759@reddit
This isn't a roundabout and it is clearly marked. Am I missing the point?
Keema_Naan@reddit
I didn’t say it was a roundabout. Two lanes with the same markings go into three, all that can really be applied here is logic and to expect someone from the other lane to try and enter the middle lane when it splits.
hemm759@reddit
OK. See what you mean.
I was thinking about it more as in "keep left unless overtaking" so the person in the left lane should stay there unless they indicate to move across.
I guess this just proves how unclear it is and explains why there could be accidents!
Keema_Naan@reddit
Also a valid thought. Definitely proves why there’s issues at junctions like this.
Lopsided-Daikon-5236@reddit
Can anyone tell me if this is a red light camera?? The one by Argos at grafton gate🥲
Dave-Carpenter-1979@reddit
MK is a nightmare so they’re excused
Healthy_Oil_5375@reddit
It blew my mind just looking at it and reading your terrible description made it worse.
I’m on the stupid drivers side.
Sunflowerpurple44@reddit (OP)
Glad it made such an impression! Funny how everyone else seemed to understand just fine — maybe next time, try reading a little more carefully. It might help your driving too. 😁
1991atco@reddit
I don't know why you don't just paint the road like they do in the states (and on some UK roundabouts), with dashed lines denoting the lanes. I.e, show the cars where to f*cking go!
I know it's simple enough, but let's make it even easier.
learngeodev@reddit
I think the dotted lane marking will massively help.
It is similar issue in MK roundabouts as well - drivers supposed to go on the left most lane ending up in the middle lane. Only few follows the rule of traffic, very little indicates. It makes me anxious driving in MK.
Mr_DnD@reddit
Coventry had some roundabouts like that, like the big M40 exit (15)
Then they painted dashed lines in and suddenly waaaay fewer problems...
dilithium-dreamer@reddit
I agree with your assumption too. I do know that I actively avoid the big roundabout on the left (Portway roundabout) though. If you're not sure where you're going, it can be a bit confusing. I go round it. (pardon the pun)
PowerTarget@reddit
If this is a roundabout, I think it is where the smart dealership is then the right lane has arrows painted on indicating you should go right. The middle lane goes straight on and the left left or straight on.
Take a look at it again next time you’re there and you see what I mean.
https://imgur.com/a/47T5LQh
dilithium-dreamer@reddit
It's when you have to go all the way around dbut you're not sure which exit you need but you have to move over lanes as you go round. And everyone is going really fast and seems to know where they are going. I just avoid it now.
PowerTarget@reddit
Try that image again now?
dilithium-dreamer@reddit
That's Monkston Roundabout not Portway. The thing about Portway that's difficult is that it's so large and has stuff on the centre, I can't see across to where the exits are as I approach. This makes it difficult for me to know when to move across lanes as I go round. A friend hates the Kingston roundabout and tries to avoid that one!
mortran-@reddit
I fully agree with you!
I use this junction at least 4 times every week (I shop at Morrisons Eldar Gate).
I've only ever had a problem, though, when the Audi and BMW drivers pick up their cars from the train station in the evenings.
They seem to think that my little car is a target rather than having right of way, I've always managed to avoid the morons up to this point.
Godzillaisamonster@reddit
If you think they're stupid in M.K, go watch programmes like car crash tv,
Stupid exists everywhere!
Cooopthetrooper@reddit
Boughton roundabout is the worst for me. 3 lanes, left lane is left only, middle lane is straight ahead, right lane is straight or right. The number of times i'm in the right lane going straight and get cut up by ignorant drivers in the middle lane is ridiculous.
OnionTerrorBabtridge@reddit
That roundabout is the worst IMO too. If you are on the A421 coming at it from West to East, then with the 4 lanes the 2 middle ones are for straight on IIRC. But people when in the leftmost middle lane go into the central lane on the roundabout, so they cut into the lane that the rightmost middle lane uses. So many near misses. If you don't know that people do this then it's pretty scary.
DavidOnions@reddit
Weird place, MK. Full of creepy street names i have heard.
Sedulous280@reddit
Agree with your picture. However as people should be stopped at the lights, in theory only people causing issue are merging with you. I avoid this junction and go out the other way. But then everyone just does whatever the hell they like. Solid chevrons - who cares Red lights - who cares Bus lane in middle - who cares I am far from perfect but I do try to stay in my lane and use roundabouts to turn around. Mainly as my car automatically brakes when people do bizarre manoeuvres.. people just need to drive in a predictable manner and look where they are going to reduce accidents. (Put your phone down as it’s not worth the risk, enjoy driving instead )
Office_Prisoner@reddit
I always thought I’d eventually learn to drive before I moved to MK. Now, aged nearly 34, I can confirm people driving by their own rules petrifies me, and I’ll be sticking with effing Arriva.
manic_rach@reddit
I agree with your interpretation. I always use the right-exit lane to get to the middle lane on Portway, but I'm always having to keep one eye on whoever is in the left lane because you can guarantee that 9 times out of 10, they also want that middle lane.
Mental-Pressure-640@reddit
I know I see so many do it on that slip road
Classic_Peasant@reddit
From that exit, left lane should go left with enough distance to the roundabout to come across lanes further up.
The right should go middle or right
dunstablesucks@reddit
The worst place in MK for losing lane discipline is at the other end of the 509 heading west when the bus lane ends and the two main traffic lanes split into 3 before the v11 roundabout and everyone just assumes the left lane is for left only (when it's clearly marked for straight as well). Causes chaos when people don't follow their lane into the three lanes the other side of the Pineham roundabout
Cainedbutable@reddit
The one by the car dealerships and poo factory? It's so bad isn't it! Definitely my most hated roundabout.
The other bad one is by Kingston on the 421. For some reason people seem to go from the left lane to the middle lane, leaving anyone in the correct land sandwiched between two cars.
Suspicious_tuna@reddit
There's so many roundabouts in MK I actively avoid just because people gave zero idea of which lane to stay in!
Sunflowerpurple44@reddit (OP)
It’s wild !!! And the lady who cut me up had the audacity to swear at me and make provocative signs because I honked at her as she nearly crashed into me 🫠 it’s the fact she didn’t indicate either so I was lucky I could sense stupid 🥲
Rexal_LB@reddit
Right hand lane of Elders Gate merges into lane 2 and 3 of the 3 lane road, left hand lane merges into left lane only... At least that's my interpretation, based on many many many hours of city management simulations at least.
Sunflowerpurple44@reddit (OP)
Yeah exactly! So glad you agree!