How would you take this roundabout?

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

Man of Honour
Joined
20 Sep 2006
Posts
36,176
If you were approaching this roundabout as my excellent mspaint skills show, which lane would you be in? Left hand one, or right hand one?

It's hard to tell, but the first exit is only ever used for delivery traffic.

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The earth view makes it look straight on, but when you drive it it's definitely a 'right' exit. Nearly every day I almost see an accident here.
 
If I didn't know the area left lane, but for lots of roundabouts people act differently when they know the local area as they seem to almost develop their own rules. Roundabouts like that really could do with better signage and paint markings to clear up confusion.

How many lanes on the exit?
 
The signpost before the roundabout would tell you. If it's marked as straight on, left lane. If it's kinked right, right lane.
 
Right lane , but it is not very clear to be honest , and there is no signposts or road markings at all
 
I was always told that the last exist is a right turn, not just anything past 12, and in the same respect, the 1st exit is a left turn (even if it's past 12) - whether correct or not, it's worked for me. So, with that logic, it's neither right or left, so effectively straight on, so I would say you could use either lane. BUT, if you're on the right/inside lane, you need to give way to traffic on your left as you turn to leave the roundabout (as you are effectively changing lane on the roundabout from the inside to outside lane before exiting) and not just turn through them ;)
 
Still "straight on" enough to be a left lane roundabout for me. If it was the last exit then I would right lane it.
 
Sure the official thing is 1st exit, left lane, last exit right lane. Anything in between use the most appropriate lane. So lots of scope for different interpretations.

For me it would be left lane, right lane if for example there were lots of cars in the left lane going off the first exit.
 
I'd probably go with right lane and try and time it so if I were wrong there would be a gap in the other traffic that I could maneuver into.
 
The truth of the matter is that there is no definitive answer. With roundabouts like this, it really isn't clear cut and in these instances they should be painting things on the road to stop these accidents happening.
 
The highway code says you can use the left lane for 1st or 2nd exit unless its only a 3 exit rbout, so that is what you should be prepared to see people do.

People using the right hand lane for 2nd exit are chancing their arm so should be prepared to go round again.

Edit: i have an old printed highway code that says first or 2nd exit, left hand lane, but the latest one online just says "choose an appropriate lane or as indicated by road markings", which is worse imo
 
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As it is not signed I would take observation of the traffic and go with which is most appropriate. That means taking care that traffic in the other lane may be taking the same exit as me.
 
I'd probably use the right since theres no signs or markings. If you use the left you just know someone will cut you up. Though I try to avoid going parallel with people around roundabouts.
 
I ask as I use the right hand lane, as I always thought if the exit is past 12, then use the right lane unless it's first exit. I'd say 80% of traffic uses the left hand lane, but cuts across the roundabout which would block people taking the 3rd exit.
 
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