Which lane?

Matblack

Matblack

Matblack

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Which lane should someone be in to proceed across the roundabout and exit at the second junction to Chatham Maritime?

The second exit can only accommodate one car but there are regular altercations between drivers who think they have right of way

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=wainscott&sll=51.372723,0.558248&sspn=0.000606,0.001751&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wainscott,+Rochester,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.414893,0.515521&spn=0.004845,0.014012&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.414976,0.515323&panoid=87R-TXM00jeYqQPDFkUJkg&cbp=12,128.14,,0,-2.03

MB
 
Right hand lane, but you can use the left hand lane IF you give way to those in the correct lane according to a traffic policeman sitting not more than a few feet away.


Nice to see you Matt.
 
Cheers Matey

I thought it was probably the right and it is the lane I use habitually for that journey, the left just feels wrong :)

MB
 
Matblack said:
The second exit can only accommodate one car but there are regular altercations between drivers who think they have right of way

MB
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thats because usually on a dual carriageway you can use the right hand lane to go straight on as well. However this is a peculiar dual carriageway as its only a single lane exit off the roundabout as the inside lane actually comes from turn 1 in a direct feed.

The reason regular altercations occur is due to the poor sign posting - no road markings on signs indicate that you can't go straight on in the right hand lane, as you usually can on a dual carriageway roundabout. They need a marking on the floor to explain the right lane is for right turn onto exit 3 only.
 
I'd use the right lane, but I would be staring like a paranoid schizophrenic into my left mirror because I know there will be someone in that lane trying to go into the same exit as me.
 
Left hand / outer lane.

I was taught that if the exit is at '12 oclock' or before it's left lane, otherwise it's right hand lane.
 
Amoeba said:
Left hand / outer lane.

I was taught that if the exit is at '12 oclock' or before it's left lane, otherwise it's right hand lane.
Click to expand...

+1

It should be both lanes, but given the peculiar arrangement of the exit, the left hand lane should always take precedence for going straight on.

Tbh, even if the exit had two lanes, the left hand entry lane should still be your first choice.
 
left for 1st or 2nd exit.

right for 2nd or 3rd exit.

no?

edit: oh 1 lane on 2nd exit, probably want the right lane for 2nd and 3rd exit then.. left lane for 1st exit only
 
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topbanana said:
LEFT lane, not the right. Good god, no wonder there are so many altercations
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un less of course you come to a roundabout like this

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?clien...d=n4CIzDq3vpRsrkTEyP08LQ&cbp=12,133.46,,0,6.7

where you can use both.

Problem is people guess that you can use both lanes as its a dual carriageway. But of course its a single lane exit so you cant.

There should be some signposting or lane markings to indicate its not your usual dual carraigeway exit.

The highway code, for example, gives no clear guidance as to what lane to take when going straight on. It merely says

86
Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal left and approach in the left-hand lane keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise 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 taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout you should not normally need to signal on approach 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 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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for the intermediate exit ie straight on it says take the appropriate lane - which isnt marked on the road, so how are drivers supposed to know which is appropriate ?
 
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From the POV of your streetview link, it could be left or right. Personally, I would choose the left unless it had a queue and the right lane was clear.
 
MrLOL said:
for the intermediate exit ie straight on it says take the appropriate lane - which isnt marked on the road, so how are drivers supposed to know which is appropriate ?
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I think both lanes are appropriate for straight-on/second exit of that roundabout. Without wanting to go off on one it should be possible for the two lanes of traffic to merge into one without too much trouble - there's a roundabout like that on my commute to work, the vast majority of people are happy to merge in turn. Though having said that I do agree that one of the lanes should be left or right turn only as it looks like quite a narrow exit from the roundabout.
 
I think the answer is that both lanes are fine, you just need to be aware of your surroundings and drive defensively to avoid coming close to any other vehicle wanting to take the same exit.
 
What about this then...

roundabout.jpg


Here

A = Lane 1,2,3
B = Lane 4,5

Correct?

I have been cut up by drivers going from A to 4 too many times.
 
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Agreed (unless there's a left only arrow under the car in A) but in what cases would A go into lane 2?
 
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LEFT hand lane.

Not referring to this case in particular, but it's amazing how many people have no idea how to use roundabouts. I see all sorts of weird/dangerous maneuvers day-to-day.
 
it's surely the left hand lane. I can't believe so many people are saying right. The only way it'd be the right hand lane is if there were no right turn off that roundabout or it was signposted otherwise or there were 2 lanes on the exit

B@
 
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