What is the correct approach with roundabouts?
Posted by Single-Job8354@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 41 comments
To give some context:
I moved to England around 10 years ago, but not driven much as I was living in London for the majority of it and the public transport was good enough.
I moved up north looking for some place that was affordable and a little less stressful to live in with the family, and of course I had to pick up driving again as the public transport is less efficient when not living in a big city.
Lately I've been doing the school runs in the morning and noticed that at a particular roundabout I get honked at sometimes. Let's say once a week, which is not a little considering a go through it 5 times a week.
I initially thought about it as just people being rude, but I started to wonder if I am missing something and maybe roundabout as supposed to work differently here than in my country.
The red dot is where I enter it, the green where I exit it. The white dotted path is what I do (stay on the left lane). The orange dot is where I light the turn signal.
Sometimes there is someone coming from the right lane that either cut me off completely, forcing me to break (happened twice in the last couple of months) or someone just leaning on the horn like it's their favourite musical instrument.
My understanding is that if you exit the first exit or another one before the 12 o'clock compared to your entrance, staying on the left lane is perfectly fine, just use the turn signal to show the people when you are about to exit.
Am I wrong? Does it work differently?
thecrius@reddit
I think I figured out the roundabout (don't ask, can't sleep).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YoLuBm4fwrgrp9u9A
If you go in "street view" you'll see that the horizontal signage is basically faded away. I might be half asleep but I can't see signs indicating the priority for the lanes.
If I was new in town like OP says to be, I would have assumed the same as him/her, to be honest.
uk451@reddit
It’s a strange quirk of UK roads that confuses a lot of modern drivers.
You are correct.
The right lane contains a straight arrow which people erroneously assume means it’s for people going straight on, whereas it actually means don’t go the wrong way round the roundabout. Here’s a link with some more info: https://www.ukdrivingskills.co.uk/lane-markings-at-roundabouts/?srsltid=AfmBOopvjKl1-Ya0Q7I-XTOWCuY5e5CgZWjWg7VagY90GXv4otubkAhG
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
That's not what that link is saying.
And that roundabout doesn't have a right turn, the right hand lane is for people going straight ahead
uk451@reddit
Why do you believe the right hand lane is for straight ahead? It has a straight arrow, but that means enter the roundabout, not go straight ahead.
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
....because there's no right turn
Theratchetnclank@reddit
You could use the right lane to go all the way round and exit back in the direction you came from or go all the way round and exit at the first exit if you wanted. It's not just straight on.
There is no right turn though you are correct about that.
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
No, it's not just straight on. However, it is the only one if you want to go straight on.
The left hand one has a left hand arrow.
Theratchetnclank@reddit
We are in agreement then.
tmstms@reddit
You are entering in the wrong lane. There look to be markings in the road as you enter showing you that left lane = first exit, and right lane = second exit (Straight on one that you need).
Those instructions take priority over any abstract ones, and, as others are saying, may be caused by the factt here is no '3 'o'clock' exit going right.
Locals know how the roundabout works and therefore can see you are in the wrong lane- they are not expecting you to carry on round to the 2nd exit.
Spencer-ForHire@reddit
Before you have a serious accident please, please take some driving lessons with a proper driving instructor, don't seek advice from morons on social media.
Farscape_rocked@reddit
Unless clearly marked otherwise OP is not doing anything wrong. It's locals who are being idiots and getting angry because OP doesn't do it the way they do it.
draenog_@reddit
It is clearly marked otherwise. Look closely at OP's red dot. You can just make out that the left hand lane has a left turn arrow in it, and the right hand lane has a straight on arrow.
OP is in the left turn lane, so people next to them in the straight on lane assume he's turning left.
OP then defies their expectations, and:
/u/Single-Job8354, I'm afraid you are approaching this roundabout incorrectly. You might find it worthwhile to pay a local driving instructor for a few lessons, just to iron out any unusual road layouts like this in your local area.
Farscape_rocked@reddit
Yeah sorry I thought they were going green to red. Despite the marking showing them going the wrong way round a roundabout.
Might be worth OP reading the highway code at least even if they don't want to bother with a driving instructor.
spider__@reddit
You mean clearly marked with a giant left arrow as you can see in OP's picture.
Farscape_rocked@reddit
I misread and thought they were going from green to red, sorry.
WPorter77@reddit
This road is a 3 exit roundabout not the usual 4 or more... The left lane is left turn only, the marking on the road shows that and the right lane is straight over. You are in the wrong lane.
Why not have some lessons and actually learn how to safely drive in this country before you have an accident rather than asking reddit....
Theratchetnclank@reddit
This. OP I could understand missing the left arrow once but if you are driving this route 5 times a week it should of been noticed and the fact people are honking at you and accidents are nearly occurring on a regular basis with the only common denominator being you should have been more than enough to tip you off that you are in the wrong.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Can't quite see it but looks like the left lane is dedicated left turn? What do the road markings show. So people on the right of you expecting you to peel off rather than continue into their lane.
bucketofardvarks@reddit
follow the lane markings. The number of lanes on exit does not give you right to drive your own imaginary lane. Please take some driving lessons before you are sideswiped with your kids in the back by someone not on the ball enough to fix your mistake and beep you
rev-fr-john@reddit
First off, there's no single correct approach for all roundabouts, you follow the very simple instructions as you approach, and negotiate each roundabout
Why are the road markings obscured? Road markings are critical and dictate how you should behave.
If while you were learning to drive you'd paid attention roundabouts are actually quite simple.
In your example, and following convention and NOT turn arrows, as you approach the first sign tells you which of the two lanes to use, if the exit you want is past the 12 o'clock position on the sign you use the right lane to enter the roundabout, if it's at the 12o'clock position you can use either lane, if it's before the 12 o'clock position you use the left lane.
But sometimes there's turn arrows because the conventional rule is being over ridden or sometimes, clarified because people are stupid, in that case you follow the turn arrows, it why they're there.
PatternWeary3647@reddit
The lane you are starting in is marked as “left turn only” so you should only be in that lane to take the first exit.
Any vehicle in starting in the right lane would expect a vehicle in the left lane to have exited the roundabout at the first exit which allows them space to move left to take the second exit.
The 12 o’clock “rule” is guidance for when there are no markings or signs to tell you which lane to be in. The markings or signs always take precedence over the 12 o’clock guidance.
HoraceorDoris@reddit
Not quite sure if I’m reading this correctly, but if someone from the right is cutting you off completely and making you brake, then you’re totally in the wrong as you MUST give way to your right.
If you’re being chastised on a regular basis, you should be having lessons to at least be safe for your kids!
Wubnado@reddit
This is a weird roundabout given there is no 3rd exit by the looks of that image the left lane is left only and the right lane is straight on so yes people are honking at your mistake.
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Look at the arrows on the two lanes: if you're going straight on, you need to be in the right-hand lane or at a busy time people will think you're trying to avoid the queue for that.
That could also mean the 1st exit gets blocked while you try to merge with the angry drivers who were in the correct lane, fouling up the whole roundabout.
wayneio@reddit
The problem with roundabouts is they are not at all consistent. Sometimes the left lane will go only first exit, sometimes it'll be for 3 entire exits. Some roundabouts even both lanes go left if it's onto a dual carriageway.
The rule you said about 12 o'clock is a general rule but in practice many are different.
Generally follow the markings on the road (whoever decided this wasn't a genius though because in heavy traffic you can't see the markings).
I can't see exactly from your drawing what the markings say as it's under the red dot but it looks like it might be a left only arrow? If it's not then you are right.
evenstevens280@reddit
And that's why we have road signs as well...
wayneio@reddit
Not always!
evenstevens280@reddit
Okay, not always. But at a fairly big roundabout like this, I'd be surprised if there wasn't
requisition31@reddit
At first glance your lane keeping looks good but actually that's only a two exit roundabout, so you need to be in the right most lane when you approach. As others have said observe how the locals approach this roundabout and follow them.
That's okay when there is a exist past the 12 o'clock position. There isn't here. There ought to be road markings to clear this up, but there aren't.
subbiedavie@reddit
It looks like the left lane on the approach is left turn only so I would stay right until you are passed the left exit before moving into the left lane. Easy mistake to make and otherwise, your understanding is correct.
bucketofardvarks@reddit
There are 2 exits to choose from
There are 2 lanes to choose from
The exits are 1 lane roads
The lane you are using has an arrow pointing left, and you are not going left
Please read the highway code before continuing driving, and maybe consider taking some lessons in your area. This is not an ambiguous case, and it's only a matter of time until you're sideswiped with your kids in the back because someone isn't quick enough to fix your mistake
Background-End2272@reddit
I think what the others have said is correct. From the image you've provided if the left lane is left turn only. You're in the wrong lane. You should be in the right lane for that exit
PsychologicalDrone@reddit
Hard to tell because you’ve covered some of the road markings up with your dots, but I’m assuming the exit is two lanes like all the others. In which case both left and right lane on the entry point can be used to go straight unless there is clear signage/road markings saying otherwise. However, I have a similar roundabout in my home town where exit 2 is not quite at 12 o’clock, more like 1 o’clock, so some people regard this as a right turn and therefore think only the right lane can be used. In my town, road markings are clear that you can use both lanes, but people still get annoyed regardless. It’s less clear what the road markings are here due to your dots, but it’s potentially just a case of people being confidently incorrect.
What are the road markings under your red dot? If the left lane has an arrow pointing left only then you are in the wrong, otherwise I think you are fine
hitiv@reddit
if there are no road markings in the left lane indicating a left turn only then you are correct, but it might be a left turn only lane. there is a roundabout similar to this in my town and left lane although looks like you should be able to go straight you can only go left.
evenstevens280@reddit
As you drive up to any roundabout, there will be a signpost telling you which lanes are for which exit.
There isn't one rule for all roundabouts. Read the road signs and follow the road markings
BuncleCar@reddit
The Highway Code has useful instructions for roundabouts. You can buy it in bookshops, newsagents and possibly Post Offices.
Farscape_rocked@reddit
Roundabouts that aren't clearly marked like that one tend to come down to how locals use them. Look at what other cars that are going from the green dot to the red dot are doing and do what they do (except for honking at people following the rules).
SpudFire@reddit
I can't quite work out what the arrow on the left hand lane is showing as your red dot is on top of it. It looks like it is left? The right lane is certainly straight ahead. There's no third exit so I'd guess I'm right in thinking the left hand lane is showing left only, especially as straight on is a one lane exit rather than 2 lanes and merge.
If all that is true, yes you're in the wrong and should be in the right hand lane to exit green.
On a roundabout with no markings, you'd be right to be in the left hand lane to go straight ahead, however markings on the road always take priority over 'rule of thumb'.
schwillton@reddit
You’re in the wrong lane
Gryeg@reddit
The road markings show the right lane is straight on. It's not clear but the left lane might be left only.
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