roundabouts

jamoor

jamoor

jamoor

Soldato
Joined
22 Jun 2005
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Nottinghamshire
Is the following correct,-
when approaching a roundabout and you intend to go straight, if the left lane is full you are allowed to use the right one??

one bloke kept flashing at me when i did this last night and overtook him.
 
How many lanes are there when approaching the roundabout, and how many exits are there?

If it were me, I'd stay in the left lane. I've been taught to use the right lane only when I'm taking a right.
 
i get slightly annoyed at this aswell, as that right lane is supposed to be used mostly for those going right on the roundabout but it can be used for going straight across. i wouldnt however flash at you because you took that lane lol
 
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/17.htm#160
160_roundabout.gif

162: Signals and position, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise.
When taking the first exit

* signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
* keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave.

When taking any intermediate exit

* select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout, signalling as necessary
* stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
* signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

When taking the last exit or going full circle

* signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
* keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
* signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
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eh i was told you dont need to signal left when coming to a roundabout, but just before you leave signal left. :confused:
mind you im in scotland so i dont know if its different or that info is possibly wrong?
 
sja360 said:
eh i was told you dont need to signal left when coming to a roundabout, but just before you leave signal left. :confused:
mind you im in scotland so i dont know if its different or that info is possibly wrong?
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Well if you intend to take the first exit on the roundabout (e.g. left) then you should be in the left lane and indicating to turn left. That is so that other people in the left lane who aren't planning to take the first exit (but say the second one) know to expect you to turn off before them.

Is the following correct,-
when approaching a roundabout and you intend to go straight, if the left lane is full you are allowed to use the right one??

one bloke kept flashing at me when i did this last night and overtook him.
Click to expand...
No that's not correct. And if you cut me up on the roads doing that you'd get some abuse from me too most likely.
 
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at the exits there are 2 lanes which merge into one and some of them are dual carriageways.

I cant see any other reason for there to be 2 lanes at the exits that filter into one other than to allow people to use both lanes for straight??

The roundabouts all have 2 lanes upon approach.
 
You can use the right lane to go straight on only if there are two lanes on the exit (eg Dual Carriageway). You're not supposed to use the right lane to "over take" the cars in the left lane if there's only one lane on the exit.

Seen people do it to overtake lorries etc though, and the odd impatient one who thinks he is special enough to miss out the line of traffic in the left lane. ;)
 
The diagram above explains it perfectly.

Just because the roundabout exit opens up into 2 lanes doesn't allow you to change your behaviour on the roundabout itself (unless road signs/markings/traffic conditions say otherwise.)

:)
 
i find it stupid when you approach a roundabout with 2 lanes which then leads onto 1 lane when exiting :o
just seems like a accident waiting to happen when two cars attempt to get into the exit.
 
Depends on road markings. There's a roundabout down the road where it is perfectly acceptable to go straight on in either lane.
 
If I know thw roundabout has to exiting lanes then I'll use the right lane (obviously the left if it's clear). But if I don't know it then I'll stay in the left.
 
We have a roundabout I'm still not sure of - only because the local buses do what I would construe to be incorrect. Most cars do what I do:

2 lanes approach the roundabout. The first exit is a dual carriageway, the second is a single lane up a hill, and the third is 2 lanes that merge into one down the hill.

I would say that the 2 lanes i approach in would both be allowed to go straight down the dual carriageway. To me, this would mean that if you wanted to go up the hill (second exit) that you *have* to use the right hand lane.

Buses use the left hand lane. But if someone was using the right hand lane to go down the dual carriageway, there'd be complete chaos.
 
I'm sorry but you should never turn left from the right hand lane like that! That's madness :eek: Even if it is a two-lane exit, still madness :eek:
 
Where did I say I was turning left? The 2nd exit is essentially a bit to the right. the 3rd exit is almost a complete 360. The dual carriageway is straight on.

As you said:
If I know thw roundabout has two exiting lanes then I'll use the right lane (obviously the left if it's clear). But if I don't know it then I'll stay in the left.
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Then if I did that, you would not possibly be able to take the second exit in the left hand lane for fear of being smashed into by yourself in the right hand lane.
 
Say for example you are entering the roundabout from exit 0, exit 1 is the first left, exit 2 is straight ahead, exit 3 is right. If you are intending to exit through exit 2 (straight ahead) and are in the right hand lane, what if someone enters the roundabout from exit 1 intending to exit via exit 3 (straight ahead for that person). If the timing is correct you will cut into the track of this person.

If you're going straight ahead, stick to the left unless markings/signs tell you otherwise.

The reason some exits have 2 lanes is because they exit to a dual carraigeway. It would be silly to make the exit one lane wide, only to open up into two lanes immediately.
 
I got a slighly different question. At a mini-roundabout with three different points to enter what happens if everyone is giving way to the right, in such a way no one is able to move, because everyone is giving way . Is there any rule on who should not give way and just go?
 
Scuzi said:
Say for example you are entering the roundabout from exit 0, exit 1 is the first left, exit 2 is straight ahead, exit 3 is right. If you are intending to exit through exit 2 (straight ahead) and are in the right hand lane, what if someone enters the roundabout from exit 1 intending to exit via exit 3 (straight ahead for that person). If the timing is correct you will cut into the track of this person.

If you're going straight ahead, stick to the left unless markings/signs tell you otherwise.

The reason some exits have 2 lanes is because they exit to a dual carraigeway. It would be silly to make the exit one lane wide, only to open up into two lanes immediately.
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isnt that why the signal left for is, to tell the person i am getting off?
 
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