Who is in the wrong on this one?

Relentless81

Relentless81

Relentless81

Soldato
Joined
18 May 2010
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Hi all,

Bit of an issue on the way to work this morning and it got me thinking who was in the wrong, never usually have problems on the road as its such a short commute and full of traffic so its rattled me a bit and also got me thinking who was in the wrong.

There is a roundabout with no left turn, you can either go straight on or right, straight on just takes you back on the motorway you just exited. Its a bit of a strange one because the left hand lane you can either use to go straight on or right without the need to change lanes, I am in this lane.

The right hand lane obviously you can use to turn right but you have to merge with the left hand lane, there is a bus in this lane.

The bus and I set off at the same time and as we both pass the straight on exit the bus assumes I have gone straight on and moves into the left hand lane, no indication, didn't check the lane just literally went to squash me into the kerb, there was no accident I was aware of the bus and managed to stop in time. The bus then continues to move into the left lane and carries on with me behind and I must admit for the first time in a long time I provided some gestures I haven't used in a while, maybe in vein because was it my fault for going right in the left lane or the buses for changing lanes without checking?

Your opinions OCUK motors?
 
The bus driver should have been aware of you before moving over.

Google maps of where it was?
 
Bus driver was wrong, I would have been indicating right on the approach to entering the roundabout though, even though you're not changing lanes, gives idiots driving buses and such a clue that you're going to go that way.
 
The bus should've checked it's mirrors before changing lanes, I don't think you were in the wrong especially since I can't see any arrows indicating which lane you should be on for which exit..
 
I disagree, I think these aren't really covered directly in the highway code.

Eg it says for turning right,
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle (unless signs or markings indicate otherwise):
  • Signal right and approach the exit in the right hand lane
  • Keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to reach your exit
  • Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take
When taking any intermediate exit (unless signs or markings indicate otherwise):
  • Select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
  • Stay in the lane until you need to alter your lane to exit
  • Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want to take
Neither apply perfectly. Because both mention changing lanes.

IMO if your in the left lane but going right, your safer to indicate right initially so that cars don't assume your going straight(/left depending on layout), then once you pass the exit they could assume you would take you can the right indicator.

To me the OP failed on section 184, although most do it all the time,
  • Use the appropriate signal at the optimal time to inform other road users of your intentions
The bus driver had no way of knowing what the OP was going to do, the point in indicating is to make it clear to him that you were going right in the left lane as the road markings (apparently) allowed.
 
Relentless81 said:
Hi all,

Bit of an issue on the way to work this morning and it got me thinking who was in the wrong, never usually have problems on the road as its such a short commute and full of traffic so its rattled me a bit and also got me thinking who was in the wrong.

There is a roundabout with no left turn, you can either go straight on or right, straight on just takes you back on the motorway you just exited. Its a bit of a strange one because the left hand lane you can either use to go straight on or right without the need to change lanes, I am in this lane.

The right hand lane obviously you can use to turn right but you have to merge with the left hand lane, there is a bus in this lane.

The bus and I set off at the same time and as we both pass the straight on exit the bus assumes I have gone straight on and moves into the left hand lane, no indication, didn't check the lane just literally went to squash me into the kerb, there was no accident I was aware of the bus and managed to stop in time. The bus then continues to move into the left lane and carries on with me behind and I must admit for the first time in a long time I provided some gestures I haven't used in a while, maybe in vein because was it my fault for going right in the left lane or the buses for changing lanes without checking?

Your opinions OCUK motors?
Click to expand...

Do you drive a BMW?

If so, 100% your fault, always.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
I disagree, I think these aren't really covered directly in the highway code.

Eg it says for turning right,
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle (unless signs or markings indicate otherwise):
  • Signal right and approach the exit in the right hand lane
  • Keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to reach your exit
  • Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take
When taking any intermediate exit (unless signs or markings indicate otherwise):
  • Select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
  • Stay in the lane until you need to alter your lane to exit
  • Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want to take
Neither apply perfectly. Because both mention changing lanes.

IMO if your in the left lane but going right, your safer to indicate right initially so that cars don't assume your going straight(/left depending on layout), then once you pass the exit they could assume you would take you can the right indicator.

To me the OP failed on section 184, although most do it all the time,
  • Use the appropriate signal at the optimal time to inform other road users of your intentions
The bus driver had no way of knowing what the OP was going to do, the point in indicating is to make it clear to him that you were going right in the left lane as the road markings (apparently) allowed.
Click to expand...

I disagree. A left indication to me says he's going back on to the motorway. No indication the direction he went. A right indication meaning he wanted to change lanes. I think the bus driver was completely in the wrong.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
I disagree, I think these aren't really covered directly in the highway code.
To me the OP failed on section 184, although most do it all the time,
  • Use the appropriate signal at the optimal time to inform other road users of your intentions
The bus driver had no way of knowing what the OP was going to do, the point in indicating is to make it clear to him that you were going right in the left lane as the road markings (apparently) allowed.
Click to expand...

This doesn't make much sense to me, I may have been doing it wrong for years but to me indicating is to change lanes, or exit. I wasn't exiting and I wasn't changing lanes. The bus was changing lanes and he didn't indicate or check his mirror almost causing an accident. He could have quite simply checked his mirror and/or indicated in which I would have knew he wanted to merge with me and I would have let him go.
 
Why do people think indicating means lane changing.

In the bit I posted above about turning right at a traditional roundabout..

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle (unless signs or markings indicate otherwise):
  • Signal right and approach the exit in the right hand lane
Thats not changing lanes, its indicating your going round the round about, ie past straight on.
 
so did you put yourself next to the bus as you entered the roundabout, so that you were never in any kind of blind spot ?
if you were continually in his blind spot then that was ill configured from the outset, either keep ahead or stay well back.
 
jpaul said:
so did you put yourself next to the bus as you entered the roundabout, so that you were never in any kind of blind spot ?
if you were continually in his blind spot then that was ill configured from the outset, either keep ahead or stay well back.
Click to expand...


And this is why one should avoid negotiating roundabouts "Adjacent" to other vehicles, especially large ones with limited visibility like Vans, Lorries and Buses.

Bus driver may technically be at fault. But if it were me, I would be kicking myself silly for putting myself in a position where this might happen..
 
Something similar happens to me almost every morning, where the middle lane on approach to a large roundabout indicates you can go straight or right, as the middle lane is often much shorter I use this lane to go right, and almost always a moron in the right hand lane when exiting will merge into me, despite the road markings, my right indicator flashing and the fact there are 2 lanes on exit.
 
So let me get this straight. Don't enter a roundabout next to a bus, van, lorry in fact lets just try not to enter roundabouts next to any vehicle in case they cant be arsed to check their mirrors or indicate and change lane. Instead, try and stay in the gap between other vehicles that are in the next lane whilst also navigating the roundabout. Got it. See what's being suggested there? Bit daft in reality isn't it.

The road markings are perfectly clear and now I've calmed down and thought about it properly I was nearly involved in an accident with a bus because the bus driver changed lanes with indicating or checking his mirrors, it doesn't matter what you are driving, bus, car, spaceship, you don't change lanes without knowing that the other lane is clear.
 
Relentless81 said:
So let me get this straight. Don't enter a roundabout next to a bus, van, lorry in fact lets just try not to enter roundabouts next to any vehicle in case they cant be arsed to check their mirrors or indicate and change lane. Instead, try and stay in the gap between other vehicles that are in the next lane whilst also navigating the roundabout. Got it.
Click to expand...

Basically yes. Either get away smartish so you are ahead of the adjacent vehicle or hang back and let them get ahead.

It is better to be safe than right any day...
 
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