Mini roundabout - right of way

If it's a mini roundabout, you wouldn't have time anyway really so either way you should have observed the hazard and waited for him to proceed / until it is clear nobody will be coming from your right (be that from 12, 3 or even 9 o'clock positions - Although the latter is harder to identify).

E: One of the issues with mini roundabouts like the one you linked is you often have to swing extremely wide/far from your exit if you avoid going over the painted circle, most drivers will treat that more as a cross roads with equal right of way and ignore the painted circle.
 
Phonesis said:
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.
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For reference what he did is completely against the law and if the police had seen him he should have got a section 59 (driving ASBO) or even a dangerous driving charge if it was deemed severe enough.
 
ubersonic said:
For reference what he did is completely against the law and if the police had seen him he should have got a section 59 (driving ASBO) or even a dangerous driving charge if it was deemed severe enough.
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On that roundabout the OP linked, I doubt it. I expect even the police cut over the painted circle when they use it (when just driving normally, not on a call)...good luck with trying to get someone in trouble for it. If it were a mini raised one I'd agree with you, but as it's painted on a flat road, I disagree.
 
chances are he saw the learner and didn't want to be stuck behind you, so went for it. Just bad luck really.
 
It always pays to sit and wait if you're unsure, especially on a driving test of course. You risk getting marked as a minor fault for hesitation, but anything that requires the tester to intervene will immediately be a fail.

On my test I was asked to do a 3 point turn and stopped half way through to wait for a van to pass, even though it was way down the road. The tester said there was plenty of time and gave me a minor, but it was well worth it because if I had continued and they had judged differently or the van was travelling too fast it would have meant fail.

The most awkward part of mini-roundabouts is when you have two drivers opposite each other waiting to see who will turn first. As above, generally whoever goes first wins and the other should give right of way, but in a test situation if you're unsure the best bet is to sit and wait, for a few seconds at least. My instructor taught me to just look at the other person in the face through the windscreen, and they generally get the idea you are letting them go.

Obviously don't flash or wave as this can be classed as a dangerous fault as well.

Roundabouts are all about judgement and watching traffic from all angles. Even when you have definite right of way you have to be careful because people may frequently pull out of their exit without due care, and you still have to drive defensively. I'll often stop at mini-roundabouts even waiting to see if the traffic from my left is stationary before moving out, just in case they're in a hurry.
 
InvaderGIR said:
On that roundabout the OP linked, I doubt it. I expect even the police cut over the painted circle when they use it (when just driving normally, not on a call)
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I wouldn't of thought the cops just drive around randomly breaking the law for fun :S


InvaderGIR said:
...good luck with trying to get someone in trouble for it. If it were a mini raised one I'd agree with you, but as it's painted on a flat road, I disagree.
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I didn't say he should report them, just that if the police had seen the incident they would most likely have stopped him and written out a ticket, unless they are lenient around those parts, that type of foolishness would get you at least a S59 round here.
 
ubersonic said:
I wouldn't of thought the cops just drive around randomly breaking the law for fun :S

I didn't say he should report them, just that if the police had seen the incident they would most likely have stopped him and written out a ticket, unless they are lenient around those parts, that type of foolishness would get you at least a S59 round here.
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:confused:

I regularly see them driving over the painted mini roundabouts around here and I've never seen them stop anyone for doing that.
Using the wrong side of the road/roundabout is something that I'd expect to see someone being pulled for but not crossing the paint.
 
InvaderGIR said:
:confused:

I regularly see them driving over the painted mini roundabouts around here and I've never seen them stop anyone for doing that.
Using the wrong side of the road/roundabout is something that I'd expect to see someone being pulled for but not crossing the paint.
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That honestly surprises me, the cops round here are sticklers for the law and would never pull that sort of stunt, they would also reprimand anyone who did as in addition to being illegal it can easily lead to accidents like the OP nearly had.
 
InvaderGIR said:
:confused:

I regularly see them driving over the painted mini roundabouts around here and I've never seen them stop anyone for doing that.
Using the wrong side of the road/roundabout is something that I'd expect to see someone being pulled for but not crossing the paint.
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Same. In my town there's a mini-roundabout that you physically have to cross over if you're in a certain lane. I think it's fine to do so as long as you aren't cutting across traffic or actually going the wrong way round etc.

Generally better to go right around it if you can though.
 
I've only seen one person get pulled around here and that was because they went over some hatchings just before (like, about a meter before) a new lane started due to a queue of traffic in the left lane and they wanted the right lane (which is a right only turn).

Aside from that, the police seem to ignore everyone on the roads, but then they also ignore the blanket 20mph limit over Bristol now which I find amusing, often they'll be doing 30+ (again, not obviosuly on call, ie no lights or siren). :D
 
I know that roundabout as I occasionally have to visit Plumpton College for work, visibility can be a pain and its a nightmare at busy times!
 
That driver at 12 o clock had right of way regardless of the angle he was going to take. You shouldn't joint the roundabout unless you knew which exit he was taking for sure.

OP can't drive. Wants to find excuses for failing over learning from them.

Your test includes your ability to drive around other drivers who can't drive or break the law aswell. That's where your defensive driving is tested.
 
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pepsilol said:
That driver at 12 o clock had right of way regardless of the angle he was going to take. You shouldn't joint the roundabout unless you knew which exit he was taking for sure.

OP can't drive. Wants to find excuses for failing over learning from them.

Your test includes your ability to drive around other drivers who can't drive or break the law aswell. That's where your defensive driving is tested.
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Pedant mode on.

On the road no-one has "Right of way" If you want right of way become a Rambler

Its also an offence not to attempt to go around a mini roundabout
Rule 188 "MUST"
https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/roundabouts-184-to-190
 
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pepsilol said:
That driver at 12 o clock had right of way regardless of the angle he was going to take.
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Why do people keep repeating this, it's not true. The car opposite was not in the same zone as the OP, when two cars approach a roundabout from opposite sides neither has ROW, they just have to give way to traffic already on the roundabout and to their right.

Under normal circumstances the would have been no issue, they would both have entered the roundabout, the OP would have turned left and exited and the turd would have turned right around the roundabout and followed him. The reason the was an issue is because the turd illegally drove straight over the roundabout and into the OP's path.

This is the reason it's a mini-roundabout and not simply an unmarked crossroads in the first place, to stop this happening.
 
pepsilol said:
OP can't drive. Wants to find excuses for failing over learning from them.
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Bit harsh? I've acknowledged it as a lesson learnt. Just wondering what people here make of it. I am indeed learning from it...


ElliottJames said:
Failed 3rd time lmao?? Yeah you need a better instructor.
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rub it in :( I honestly believed I was robbed on my second test (major for undue hesitation which I questioned). This one was just bad luck and poor judgement by me.

In all honesty, I am not sure my instructor is that great any more but I was so nervous at first and he's brought me a long way. Just taken me ages to master roundabouts and it's partially due to his lack of guidance I think.
 
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