Drivers at Roundabouts

[Welly]

I've seen loads of these indicating and poor driving capers at roundabouts recently so now actively look out for it:

Drivers intent on going 'straight on' who indicate RIGHT on the approach sometimes not even bothering with the correct LEFT signal on exiting.

Drivers who begin to enter the roundabout whilst you're still completing a RIGHT turn and nearly bash into your nearside

Also I was taught, and this was backed up by the Highway Code in 1987, that if the roundabout was clear you are free to take the easiest route straight through and ignore lane discipline. I still practice this but my missus thinks it's wrong and prefers to go all-the-way-round using the lane markings......drives me insane.

[PeterN]

I find it doesn't make a lot of difference what you do at roundabouts you usually get someone coming up on the wrong side of you.

Peter

[DaiRees]

Glad it's not just me that thinks this, lane discipline and indication at roundabouts is extremely poor. I particularly hate the ones going straight on when you're turning right, who insist on straight-lining the roundabout even though you're alongside them. Nearly been sideswiped a number of times because of this, and even ended up with my drivers side wheels on the roundabout once!

Also I was taught, and this was backed up by the Highway Code in 1987, that if the roundabout was clear you are free to take the easiest route straight through and ignore lane discipline. I still practice this but my missus thinks it's wrong and prefers to go all-the-way-round using the lane markings......drives me insane.

That's an interesting point, on a normal, "unmarked" roundabout (by which I mean there are either none or very basic lane markings around the circle itself) I'd agree with you, it only really applies to the "straight on" path though, I'd say that left turn is left lane and right turn is right lane pretty much always. Of course if the road is really really quiet you may wish to take a racing line even when turning left or right, but there's no-one watching so that's fine

There are, however, lots of these newer style roundabouts springing up that are very clearly marked with lanes that guide you to the correct entry, passage and exit points. In that case I usually follow the lane markings* even when the road is fairly quiet.

There's a new one way system that has been recently introduced in my hometown, it goes across a bridge, north up one side of the river, across another bridge and south down the other side of the river. It's essentially just a very big roundabout, with a 20mph speed limit. But the locals just simply can't handle it, the join without looking, exit without indicating, use the wrong lane and even drive the wrong way around it. Then these same fukwits rant on Farcebook about how badly planned and dangerous it is. The road is fine, it's the drivers that are dangerous! [/rant]

*of course, the "racing line if the road is completely empty" rule still applies.

[Doggy]

I was taught that if you're leaving at the first exit, you should iapproach in the left hand lane, ndicate left on the approach and through to your exit. If turning right / 3rd exit or later, approach in the right lane indicating right until opposite the exit before the one you want, then indicate left. If taking the 2nd exit / going straight on, approach in either lane, without indicating, indicate left as you pass the exit before the one you want.

Many driving schools teach people to indicate right unless you're taking the first exit, which is perhaps understandable, if not my preference. One tip I did pick up when my son was learning to drive is to always check in your left mirror before changing lanes ready to exit a roundabout, which is a definite safety improvement, (guess most cars didn't have nearside external mirrors in my youth).

As for lane discipline on empty roundabouts - I just straight-line them when no-one's about. My daughter, however, agrees with Lady Welton and insists on driving round the outside as quickly as she can, with the result she collided with some poor sod who quite understandably thought she was turning left and was a few inches into her lane when she swung hard right at mid roundabout. Technically, he was in the wrong for thinking she was turning left, but I felt a degree of sympathy.

I firmly believe you can avoid many problems by making your intentions as obvious as possible and thinking about whether other road users could possibly be surprised by what you do next, but then what do I know?

[Welly]

One thing I do notice when straight-lining a roundabout is that others waiting to join the roundabout from the left 'see' you as being further away from them and begin pulling out....you then kinda battle for the same space as you take your exit line. I only straight-line if my approach is not busy and there's no-one going to come at me from the right.

One village I go through has just installed 4 x chicanes with alternate priorities using the typical signage to show who has right of way each time........I've lost count of the amount of drivers that don't seem to understand/care how the system works.

[rwb]

Indeed we have indentified a learning opportunity in our roundabout interaction skills.
Sorry, this week has been a bit public sectorish.

I was taught that if you're leaving at the first exit, you should iapproach in the left hand lane, ndicate left on the approach and through to your exit. If turning right / 3rd exit or later, approach in the right lane indicating right until opposite the exit before the one you want, then indicate left. If taking the 2nd exit / going straight on, approach in either lane, without indicating, indicate left as you pass the exit before the one you want.

This...

I firmly believe you can avoid many problems by making your intentions as obvious as possible and thinking about whether other road users could possibly be surprised by what you do next, but then what do I know?

...and this.

Observation and anticipation are so important. It's not about where you are, it's about where you're going, what's going to get in your way, and what you're going to do about it.

[DaiRees]

I firmly believe you can avoid many problems by making your intentions as obvious as possible and thinking about whether other road users could possibly be surprised by what you do next, but then what do I know?

That's why I get so annoyed at drivers who don't indicate. I was having a discussion about this with a mate recently and I said that these drivers are ignorant, he said "it's worse than that they're selfish, they just don't give a f*ck about anyone else". He's right.

[Welly]

What about drivers who indicate too much? they can be annoying:

Indicating to pass a cyclist for example.

Or indicating when no-one would even see it. I never indicate unless there's another car around that would benefit from knowing my intentions. Indicating on a deserted country lane is pointless; again i think the Highway Code says something similar.

I don't indicate when returning to lane 1 on the Motorway because there's no requirement to do so, again it doesn't benefit anyone unless it's very busy and then it's courteous to indicate.

[DaiRees]

Really? I've never once felt annoyed by anyone indicating "too much" when there's even the slightest reason to do so (such as changing lanes or passing cyclists). Of course those clowns that drive around all day with their indicators on or indicate left and turn right etc. really get on my nerves, once again that's just incompetence.

My nanny state car will beep annoyingly if I cross a line without flashing the indicators first, even to pass a bike. Therefore if you were following me Welters I'd really be getting on your tits!

[steve_earwig]

I think there's something like a Highway Code for Croatia but I don't think anyone's read it. Roundabouts: enter in any lane, indication optional but a random direction is preferred, feel free to change lanes a few times while you're on it, exit however you like, paying special care to cut across the front of that Toyota 'cos he enjoys it when you do that.

[Rolebama]

I have also noticed that if the roundabout is too offset for our tiny brains to cope with turning the steering wheel, then it is perfectly OK to go across the wrong way into oncoming traffic. Of course it is then obligatory to scream abuse at those of us who are the oncoming traffic, and give a whole selection of various hand gestures.

[Welly]

What about the typical 'stand off' at Mini-roundabouts?

Three cars waiting to make a move and you've ALL got to give way to one another, could sit for hours

[benczuk]

I must say this thread is a perfect example of why they don't trust Americans with them

[steve_earwig]

They have 4-way stops instead. I encountered quite a few of them in Baltimore for some reason, always 3 cars waiting for someone else to make a move, just like Welly says about mini-roundabouts. After the first couple I realised that if I just floor it the other drivers are so shocked they just sit there and let me go. It was nice to drive 3.9 litres of somebody else's car

[trem1]

What about the typical 'stand off' at Mini-roundabouts?

Three cars waiting to make a move and you've ALL got to give way to one another, could sit for hours

Doesnt affect me that one...............I'm a van-driver so I have right of way always