Mini roundabout - right of way

Phonesis

Phonesis

Phonesis

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So I failed my test today... third time!

All was going well, few minors but close to the end point, then I encountered a 4 way mini roundabout. I was asked to turn left (so my 9 o'clock) so pulled up to the roundabout. I looked right and the car at 3 o'clock was turning left into my turn so figured it was safe to proceed.

As I did so... I realised that a car at 12 o'clock had decided to turn right into the same turn off (9 o'clock). They drove over the mini roundabout marker essentially bypassing it and treating it like a normal right turn. Due to this, I was close to hitting it and my examiner slammed the breaks on. Classed it as a dangerous fault and it cost me the test.

I should have spotted this so lesson learnt I guess but got me wondering who actually has the right of way in this situation?

No one seems to know. See here for example:

http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?10271-Mini-roundabout-right-of-way-question

As for me, I've already booked another retest! 4th time lucky hopefully....
 
Phonesis said:
So I failed my test today... third time!

All was going well, few minors but close to the end point, then I encountered a 4 way mini roundabout. I was asked to turn left (so my 9 o'clock) so pulled up to the roundabout. I looked right and the car at 3 o'clock was turning left into my turn so figured it was safe to proceed.

As I did so... I realised that a car at 12 o'clock had decided to turn right into the same turn off (9 o'clock). They drove over the mini roundabout marker essentially bypassing it and treating it like a normal right turn. Due to this, I was close to hitting it and my examiner slammed the breaks on. Classed it as a dangerous fault and it cost me the test.

I should have spotted this so lesson learnt I guess but got me wondering who actually has the right of way in this situation?

No one seems to know. See here for example:

http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?10271-Mini-roundabout-right-of-way-question

As for me, I've already booked another retest! 4th time lucky hopefully....
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As I understand your description.

You checked to your immediate right but you did not take in to consideration the wider picture.

This is especially important at mini roundabouts where if things are likely to go bad they are likely to do so very quickly.

You need to look a ALL the entrances to a mini as you approach it!

You have to take account of what EVERYBODY is likely to do!

(You also need to approach the Mini at a speed that will allow other people time to recognise that you are there and to give them time to accommodate you)

The test fail was rightly earned! Learn the lesson and pass next time!

:)

(Oh And PS I am a professional WMV driver of some 400,000 miles experience, (With no "accidents" and only one sort of nasty serious miss (I will come back to that another time) so that kind of makes me sort of an an expert really! :) :D )
 
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My suggestion would be to wait until you see the person starting to leave the roundabout before you pull out.
 
While the other driver was in the wrong by driving over the roundabout, you didn't spot the hazard so I think the fail was somewhat earned. Harsh but fair.
 
You're on your test so give way to everyone really. I'd have saw him through and then moved.

But yes on all roundabouts, mini of not look at what everyone is doing.
 
No idea what those people on the RAC forum are thinking, it's very clear that the person coming from your 12oclock had right of way and you should have stopped. The fact that your examiner had to slam on the brakes dosen't really bode well for your test result :p

Some people do seem to have no idea at all about mini roundabouts which is quite scary.
 
Give way to people coming from your right. This includes people opposite you who indicate to be crossing your path. It's pretty straightforward.

The only "complicated" bit is when you and the person opposite are both indicating right - you give way to each other. Basically, someone has to take the lead and move and the other gives way.
 
Anyone crossing your path has right of way

Where it can get slight tricky is if you arrive, wanting to exit at 3 O'clock at the same time as a cars at both 12 O'clock and your exit - in this situation he who moves first, wins! (Don't do this on a test)
 
rodenal said:
Anyone crossing your path has right of way

Where it can get slight tricky is if you arrive, wanting to exit at 3 O'clock at the same time as a cars at both 12 O'clock and your exit - in this situation he who moves first, wins! (Don't do this on a test)
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Its always fun when this happens, you all look at each other and decide who is weakest :cool:

OP, there is no debate really, despite the size of the roundabout normal rules apply.
 
Phonesis said:
I should have spotted this so lesson learnt I guess but got me wondering who actually has the right of way in this situation?
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You did, the other guy was a **** and cost you your test, on the bright side if it wasn't a test he would have cost you a non fault accident, so there is that, it happening with an instructor in the car was proberbly a godsend so look at it that way :)

Mini roundabouts are essentially the same as a regular roundabout, except your not allowed to do U turns and trucks my drive over them (because they cannot go around).
 
I doubt you'd ever get a major for erring on the side of caution and giving way when you had right of way, so especially if you're not sure just wait!
 
A few people seem to be misreading/misunderstanding the OP's description, he isn't describing the turd entering the roundabout opposite him, navigating it then leaving to his left, he's describing this:

miniroundabout.jpg
 
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ubersonic said:
A few people seem to be misreading/misunderstanding the OP's description, he isn't describing the turd entering the roundabout opposite him, navigating it then leaving to his left, he's describing this:

miniroundabout.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't see that it makes a difference - if the guy opposite was indicating, you give way. Whether or not the guy navigates the roundabout correctly is irrelevant.
 
Thanks guys, some good advice I will remember :)

Yeah it was harsh but a fair fail really. I would have passed otherwise. If only he was turning left! Funnily enough I failed my second test for... undue hesitation at a roundabout! So I guess this time around I was paranoid of being too hesitant. Such a fine balancing act sometimes.

I am more bitter about my 2nd test failure as opposed to this one as I still don't think I hesitated for long enough to make it a major. Felt like a minor to me. The examiner didn't agree though.

I think the problem I had with this mini roundabout was down to lack of experience. I've clocked up about 50 hours road time now and this was my first ever encounter with a 'busy' mini roundabout with 4 turns. Usually they have been quiet or with 3 turns only. The whole car 12 o'clock activity just didn't register.

For those who might be interested, here's the pesky roundabout in question:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.921036,-0.115159,3a,75y,94.98h,69.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sGnlEmDcALv1L2vmA0Y--pA!2e0
 
Whilst everyone commenting is correct I do sympathise, as I had a situation quite similar to yourself recently.

I was going straight on, as opposed to turning left, at a mini roundabout, and a car coming from my 12.00 aggressively cut across the wrong side of the centre circle nearly hitting the back of my car, whilst leaning on his horn.

He was making the point that I should have given way to him as he was indicating to turn right. However, had he driven round the mini roundabout correctly I would have been well clear. It might have been an interesting situation had he hit the rear end of my car whilst on the wrong side of the mini roundabout, as perhaps both of us would have been in the wrong, but, my viewpoint is that if he had observed the rules of the road there would have been no issue at all. Not even close.

So, from my point of view, if you had the space to safely turn left before the car coming from your 12.00 had time to follow the correct line around the mini roundabout, then you might have grounds to feel aggrieved, although it does sound from your examiner's actions that you might not have had enough space. The comment above regarding being aware of the potential hazard probably hits the nail on the head.

Good luck with your next attempt. I hope it goes well.
 
ubersonic said:
A few people seem to be misreading/misunderstanding the OP's description, he isn't describing the turd entering the roundabout opposite him, navigating it then leaving to his left, he's describing this:

miniroundabout.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks ubersonic, this is exactly the correct scenario I encountered. I just thought they'd actually drive "around" the roundabout, thus giving me time to make the left turn. Instead, he cut it up.
 
Phonesis said:
Yeah it was harsh but a fair fail really. I would have passed otherwise. If only he was turning left! Funnily enough I failed my second test for... undue hesitation at a roundabout! So I guess this time around I was paranoid of being too hesitant. Such a fine balancing act sometimes.
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That's the problem with mini roundabouts, because the zones are much smaller everything happens in fast forward. To be fair a lot of people with licenses would have made the same decision as you.
 
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