Mini Roundabout Madness

[SiD the Turtle]

I live in a town with a few main roads cutting through it. All the main junctions are mini roundabouts, I guess in the old days they were simple junctions with no lights and to aid the flow they've been switched to mini roundabouts. I also live in yummy mummy territory, where during the day 90% of the cars on the road are SUVs that don't seem to understand how roundabouts work. Or perhaps I'm completely missing something.

Here's one of the roundabouts I'm talking about: https://goo.gl/maps/myt8eHcRx4o. As you can see it would have been kind of a t-junction of two major roads, but now with a mini roundabout. Two entrances have normal roundabout give way markings, one has the double 'give way to those on major road' markings.

Now imagine I am entering the roundabout from the road with the building covered in scaffolding on the my left, and want to turn right. I check to my right and see if anyone is coming from the road next to the WH Smith, and to my left in case anyone has already entered the roundabout. If clear I can go.

Here's the main questions:

• If I'm doing this manoeuvre, it's a roundabout not a t-junction, therefore I have the same right as way as the other two junctions don't I? Traffic on the left (by the Phase 8) has to give way to the right? It's not that they're on the 'main' road?
• Why does one of the lanes have the 'give way to those on major road' markings? Is that to give priority if a car arrives at each entrance at exactly the same time?

 

[Kaeo]

Treat it as a normal roundabout, each lane joining giving way to traffic from the right. They should change the road markings but I doubt they'll bother.

 

[Finglonga]

As with every mini roundabout you take caution as people (as you know) do not know how to use them, but with those markings take more care. Many around here cut them literally going the wrong way around the roundabout, were as if they used them correctly two cars can go around at once.

 

[Nasher]

Theres a lot of really stupidly placed mini-roundabouts. Most of the time people follow the normal roundabout rules, but drive over the top of them.

 

[Semple]

Yeah would treat that as a normal roundabout, although i'd probably end up driving mostly over the top of it rather than deliberately weaving around it.

 

[div0]

I don't see how anyone could get confused on this roundabout

What are you suggesting the problem is? That people driving along the road (with Phase 8 on their left), just don't give way??

 

[Stringy]

Something I've noticed with T-Junction shaped roundabouts - People will hurtle towards one from the top right of the 'T' (with WH Smith on their left in this instance) as they can see that straight on (Top left of 'T') is clear. When they are 10 yards from the roundabout (still hurtling) someone pulls onto the roundabout from their left (bottom of the 'T') as they've reached it first. They then scream bloody murder and claim you've pulled out on them. Am I wrong to think that they should be approaching a roundabout being prepared to stop, and not assuming they've already got right of way before they've even reached the junction?

 

[Glanza]

Am I wrong to think that they should be approaching a roundabout being prepared to stop, and not assuming they've already got right of way before they've even reached the junction?

Nope that's what people should do but once in their little metal shell suddenly common sense goes out the window.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

I don't see how anyone could get confused on this roundabout

What are you suggesting the problem is? That people driving along the road (with Phase 8 on their left), just don't give way??

Pretty much. The funny thing is it's not that they apologise or realise, they just drive on as if nothing has happened.

There's about five roundabouts in the town centre like this, hence me wondering if I'm missing something.

 

[div0]

Pretty much. The funny thing is it's not that they apologise or realise, they just drive on as if nothing has happened.

Then I'd say that's just a problem with them not understanding how roads work, never mind mini-roundabouts. It sounds like they are basically happy to drive through a 'give way' sign without giving way.

 

[LeMson]

Something I've noticed with T-Junction shaped roundabouts - People will hurtle towards one from the top right of the 'T' (with WH Smith on their left in this instance) as they can see that straight on (Top left of 'T') is clear. When they are 10 yards from the roundabout (still hurtling) someone pulls onto the roundabout from their left (bottom of the 'T') as they've reached it first. They then scream bloody murder and claim you've pulled out on them. Am I wrong to think that they should be approaching a roundabout being prepared to stop, and not assuming they've already got right of way before they've even reached the junction?

Wave for the dash cam, hello you tube!

 

[almoststew1990]

Can someone explain this?

Rule 188
Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts.

so...

Rule 185
When reaching the roundabout you should give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights

You have standard mini roundabout marking...

But also give way to traffic on major road (can also be used at mini roundabouts)

So in this scenario here (north is up)...

...Wimpson Lane gives way to Kendal Avenue East due to normal roundabout rules applying. Kendal Avenue East gives way to the right Kendal Avenue West due to normal roundabout rules applying. Kendal Avenue West gives way to the major road, which is Kendal Avenue itself, because the road markings supercede the general roundabout rule.

When reaching the roundabout you should give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights

So if you were approaching from Kendal Avenue, who would you give way to?

 

[Kaeo]

Traffic from the right, as usual. The 'major' road in this occasion is the roundabout itself.

Edit :- Perhaps to make this clearer, the way I see it is that once you're joining the roundabout, you're on Kendal Avenue, regardless of whether you come from Wimpson Lane to begin with, therefore you're part of the major road already. It's a silly marking system to be fair. Perhaps, as per your bottom picture, the view is somewhat blocked by the wall at the end of Wimpson Lane, and so the traffic from Kendal West is given a stronger give way as a warning.

 

[almoststew1990]

Traffic from the right, as usual. The 'major' road in this occasion is the roundabout itself.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ok! So, the idea is it would also mean that drivers approaching Kendal Avenue West would give way to people heading straight over from Kendal Avenue East to West, IF they are on the "circulatory carriageway" of the roundabout, even if they are east of Wimspon lane?

 

[Kaeo]

If you mean approaching from, then yes.

 

[Mujja]

Something I've noticed with T-Junction shaped roundabouts - People will hurtle towards one from the top right of the 'T' (with WH Smith on their left in this instance) as they can see that straight on (Top left of 'T') is clear. When they are 10 yards from the roundabout (still hurtling) someone pulls onto the roundabout from their left (bottom of the 'T') as they've reached it first. They then scream bloody murder and claim you've pulled out on them. Am I wrong to think that they should be approaching a roundabout being prepared to stop, and not assuming they've already got right of way before they've even reached the junction?

This.

Happens at the roundabout near me all the time. When approaching the roundabout from some directions you have a clearer view of traffic approaching from the right which means drivers don't slow down. It makes it difficult for others trying to join the roundabout. There a give way signs when joining a roundabout which means if a car has joined the roundabout before you from the left you should give way. Yet drivers will still beep slower \ larger vehicles like buses or lorries.

 

[muon]

This.
Happens at the roundabout near me all the time. When approaching the roundabout from some directions you have a clearer view of traffic approaching from the right which means drivers don't slow down. It makes it difficult for others trying to join the roundabout. There a give way signs when joining a roundabout which means if a car has joined the roundabout before you from the left you should give way. Yet drivers will still beep slower \ larger vehicles like buses or lorries.

Doesn't mean cars can just pullout in front of traffic from the right.

 

[NewGamer11]

The OPs three mini-roundabouts in a row, ha ha, what a nightmare.

On a similar theme there are a couple of mini-roundabouts near me that are 3- or 4-way roundabouts, with the same road markings at each exit/entry. Who is supposed to have right of way if three or four cars arrive at once? You all have a car 'to the right'.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

The OPs three mini-roundabouts in a row, ha ha, what a nightmare.

Was walking that way earlier and watching the flow of traffic. Its as if the locals think there's a main road and then various spurs. Don't get me started on the non-understanding of what a zebra crossing is either, or the SUV parked on the zig zags next to one to pop into the takeaway for 10 mins.

 

[Orionaut]

Doesn't mean cars can just pullout in front of traffic from the right.

No, but it does mean that traffic approaching from the right should do so at a speed that allows emerging traffic enough time to react to their presence.

There is a mini roundabout near me where the sight line for the "Bottom of the"T" is less than 2 seconds at 30MPH (If you see what I mean)

You cant just glance to the right and say "Hey Ho, Free to Go," and blast across claiming outrage if somebody pulls out in front of you.

Who is supposed to have right of way if three or four cars arrive at once? You all have a car 'to the right'.

Simple, The Tatty old white Van or the large SUV with Bull Bars!

(Seriously, 9 time out of 10 it is Me! Once I have gone, everybody else can go too, so everybody is happy and can move on.)