Turning left at roundabouts
Joined: Jun 2009
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Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 224
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From: Ashford, Middx.
I'm with Dixon on this. Sometime when there's 2 lanes approaching a roundabout and I am turning left and the left lane is queued all the way back its amazing how many people go down the right lane and cut in at the last min.This just makes the left lane worse. I have been known to go down the right lane but go all the way round the roundabout rather than cut in. No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone. If people like to sit in the left lane for ages waiting for their turn then that's their choice but I have better things to do than sit in traffic. There's nothing wrong either way. Cutting in at the last min is bad driving though!
Besides I am likely to end up in a row if I sit and wait for ages and then someone cuts in front of me at the last min so its safer for everyone!
Besides I am likely to end up in a row if I sit and wait for ages and then someone cuts in front of me at the last min so its safer for everyone!
Community Organizer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,128
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From: Norwich
Sorry guys - missed this thread. Should of joined in a while back.
My opinion (as instructed to me by the teachings of the IAM) is:
If no other road markings state otherwise a roundabout should be approached in:
The left lane if the exit you require is less than 180 degrees from the entrance.
The right lane if the exit you require is more than 180 degrees from the entrance.
Where the exit is 180 degrees (or thereabouts) then either lane can be used.
This rule then works for multiple exits (3, 4, 5 or even 6 exits).
Hope this helps.
As for the law. The only paint on a road that has a legal law is the solid white line (in the middle of the road or at dual carraigeways/motorway entrances and exits). Roundabouts with arrows are not. However, I do know many officers who will pull you over and caution you for driving without due car and attention.
Happy motoring everyone.
Minvo
My opinion (as instructed to me by the teachings of the IAM) is:
If no other road markings state otherwise a roundabout should be approached in:
The left lane if the exit you require is less than 180 degrees from the entrance.
The right lane if the exit you require is more than 180 degrees from the entrance.
Where the exit is 180 degrees (or thereabouts) then either lane can be used.
This rule then works for multiple exits (3, 4, 5 or even 6 exits).
Hope this helps.
As for the law. The only paint on a road that has a legal law is the solid white line (in the middle of the road or at dual carraigeways/motorway entrances and exits). Roundabouts with arrows are not. However, I do know many officers who will pull you over and caution you for driving without due car and attention.
Happy motoring everyone.
Minvo
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: La Massana, Principat D'Andorra
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 224
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From: Ashford, Middx.
Originally Posted by Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
So you think that not a single person queuing in the LH lane doesn't notice your inconsiderate behaviour?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,794
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From: La Massana, Principat D'Andorra
Originally Posted by Welshman' timestamp='1333557511' post='21575252
[quote name='Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636']
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
So you think that not a single person queuing in the LH lane doesn't notice your inconsiderate behaviour?
[/quote]
Kid yourself if you want to but there will be more than one driver thinking "what an oik/chav/yob"
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,848
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From: Southampton/Reading
Originally Posted by Toully' timestamp='1333617925' post='21577986
[quote name='Welshman' timestamp='1333557511' post='21575252']
[quote name='Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636']
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
[quote name='Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636']
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
So you think that not a single person queuing in the LH lane doesn't notice your inconsiderate behaviour?
[/quote]
Kid yourself if you want to but there will be more than one driver thinking "what an oik/chav/yob"
[/quote]
WGAF?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Ashford, Middx.
Originally Posted by Toully' timestamp='1333617925' post='21577986
[quote name='Welshman' timestamp='1333557511' post='21575252']
[quote name='Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636']
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
[quote name='Toully' timestamp='1333548174' post='21574636']
No-one is any the wiser and it breaks no rules. Its not bad driving its making progress and without upsetting anyone.
So you think that not a single person queuing in the LH lane doesn't notice your inconsiderate behaviour?
[/quote]
Kid yourself if you want to but there will be more than one driver thinking "what an oik/chav/yob"
[/quote]
I doubt it. If I am sitting in a mile of traffic approaching a roundabout, waiting to turn left, who seriously is going to see me pull out, drive down the right lane, go round the roundabout and take what would have been my left exit? The people who saw me pull out into the right lane are still a mile back! I am not stupid, I don't do it when there's a couple of cars, but where I live there's one roundabout that just gets so clogged up for those turning left and so many people make it worse by going down the right lane and stopping near the end to cut in. Why should I just sit there and wait? Anyway, it causes no-one any harm so I don't see your problem and as you don't know me, what I do or what traffic I have to put up with on a daily basis, I suggest you stop judging me.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,853
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From: London/Surrey - UK
Nobody else gives a shit about what other people think so why should you? It's clearly every man for himself out there...
They've already made their mind up about you as soon as they saw you arriving in your noisy sportscar so trying to behave properly isn't going to change anything
They've already made their mind up about you as soon as they saw you arriving in your noisy sportscar so trying to behave properly isn't going to change anything
Community Organizer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,128
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From: Norwich
I doubt it. If I am sitting in a mile of traffic approaching a roundabout, waiting to turn left, who seriously is going to see me pull out, drive down the right lane, go round the roundabout and take what would have been my left exit? The people who saw me pull out into the right lane are still a mile back! I am not stupid, I don't do it when there's a couple of cars, but where I live there's one roundabout that just gets so clogged up for those turning left and so many people make it worse by going down the right lane and stopping near the end to cut in. Why should I just sit there and wait? Anyway, it causes no-one any harm so I don't see your problem and as you don't know me, what I do or what traffic I have to put up with on a daily basis, I suggest you stop judging me.
If any of the traffic officers I know saw someone do this then they would probably pull them and cuation them for driving without due care and attention. Basically they have jumped a queue of traffic without any consideration (care) for the other road users waiting in the queue.
It's the same rule applied to those usign bus lanes to skip a queue of traffic.
Hope this helps
Minvo.