Or is DP regarding driving and which lane to use?

[CrohnicallyExhausted]

Bit of background-
The road used to go straight on, with a left turn junction. A supermarket was built and they turned the junction into a roundabout, adding another left turn for the store entrance. So there is now a roundabout with 3 exits: exit 1 is store, exit 2 is old left turn, exit 3 is old straight on. We need to turn down exit 2 for home.

The problem is the lane markings. On the approach to the roundabout there is 2 lanes. Left lane is marked with a left arrow and 'store'. The right hand lane is marked with a straight arrow and the road number of exit 3. Neither lane directs you to exit 2 at all- so it's a bit of a free for all with people going down exit 2 from either lane, and some near misses resulting.

One of us uses the left lane for exit 2, saying that as it is unclear you should default to the left lane. In the event of an accident, it would be the right lane driver's fault for not checking their mirrors and indicating before pulling off.

One of us uses the right lane for exit 2, saying that left lane is clearly marked only for the store exit, and in the event of an accident it would be the left lane driver's fault for taking the 2nd exit in a left turn only lane.

Which is more correct?

[Fairylea]

If the lane is clearly marked for the store exit then I wouldn't use that one, I'd use the one next to it. So essentially the "middle" exit if I've read it right.

[WeirdCatLady]

I would plump for right hand lane as the inside lane is clearly for store only.

[ThursdayLast]

I would use the left hand lane.
I would interpret markings 'left arrow' and 'store' to indicate the separate turnings. Similarly, I would expect the right hand lane to have one of house double arrows if you were supposed to use it to turn left.

Totally get why it's confusing though, what does the Highway Code say?

[Birdsgottafly]

Surely the sign is only informing that, exit 1 can lead to the store, not a declaration that, that's all it's to be used for (which surely wouldn't be legal), if it leads to a public road, going elsewhere.

It would be the left lane, by default, as the law dictates.

I'm not a great driver though and have often been in the wrong lane.

[FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse]

Well, legally you should use the left hand lane for first left or straight on. So I can see why someone would do that. But that only applies unless signs indicate otherwise. So if it very specifically left to supermarket I would probably use the right hand lane.

But since the right hand lane doesn't specify the second exit, only the third, I think that actually means, you're both right :o

[Fairylea]

Ahhhh I've read it again. Should be left land for left and centre turns. Right lane for right only. So in your case left lane.

[hollycomputer]

As Fairylea said. However, if you do have an accident because someone else is in the wrong lane, expect the insurance company to push for 50/50. Accidents on roundabouts appear to have become a bit of a no-man's land in the last few years and lane discipline on them now seems to be a thing of the past.

Misuse of roundabout lanes is one of my biggest driving gripes - people who stay in the left lane and go all the way round (usually without indicating) or just get in the lane with the shortest queue regardless of where they actually want to exit.

[littlepeas]

Right hand lane.

[Biscuitsneeded]

I would use the right hand lane, but as soon as I had gone past exit 1 for the store, signal left and move over ready to take my exit.
I think if you are in the left hand lane signed for store and then don't turn left you could have someone exiting from the store pulling out onto the roundabout in front of you, not realising you are carrying on.

[MrsMcColl]

Right lane, as left one is marked for store. Doesn't seem too tricky to me. Is it a very busy road?

[jacks365]

Left lane for store and left turn right lane for straight ahead only.

[MaidOfStars]

From the road markings: I would expect everyone in the left lane to be going to the store, and I would expect everyone in the right lane to be going straight on.

Turning second left from the right hand lane has, in my view, the least potential for accidents - there reqlly shouldnt be anyone coming up on the left, so if you turn off (instead of continuing straight ahead), it shouldn't be an issue.

However, I would take very careful notice of the shape of the lanes around the roundabout. If you approach in the left lane, does it go into the store exit and any car continuing to the second exit has to cross a white line/hashed area?

[hackmum]

Well, I would probably use the left hand lane on the basis that it's easier. You get in the left hand lane and stay in it. That is expediency, though.

My late father, however, used to insist that if there were two lanes and three exits, you should use the right hand lane for the middle exit. He was quite sure about this so perhaps it's in the Highway Code. In fact, why not check the Highway Code? It might have the answer.

[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle]

My driving instructor told me that if you count the road you're on as 6 o'clock on a clock face, anything up to and including 12 o'clock (straight on) should be in the left hand lane. Anything past 12 o'clock should be in the right lane.

So it depends how far around the roundabout your turn is... If it's before "straight on" then I'd use the left hand lane.

Technically it sounds like both exit 1 and exit 2 are left hand turns so the left hand arrow applies to both.

[Billygoats]

Left lanes are for straight on and left had turning and right lane for turning right so I would say the left hand lane.

[Fairylea]

So come on op, which one of you is right based on the general consensus saying left? :)

[YouTheCat]

Left lane

[BramblePie]

Definitely left lane.

[littlepeas]

I failed my first driving test for going 2nd left from the left hand lane of a roundabout when road markings said to do otherwise - major fault, automatic fail.

[CrotchMaven]

What? If there is a left arrow in the left Lane, marked store (and nothing else) , then you are surely an accident waiting to happen if you use the left Lane for the second exit?

If you hit me in that scenario, when I am in the right hand lane, then taking the second exit, I'd have my phone out to take a picture of the road markings and the position of the cars. No way would I accept 50/50 on that.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Legally you're supposed to use the left lane so the signage is wrong.

So I'd use the right lane, carefull.

You'd be fucked if you had an accident as I think the insurance company would claim you didn't follow the sign.

[jacks365]

Surely the road markings is left arrow for road to the left/exit 2 plus word store for exit into store/exit 1 then arrow straight on plus road number for road straight ahead/exit 3.

The road marking does not state store only.

[CrotchMaven]

Fucking hell. Hopefully some of you don't actually drive a car.

www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/roundabouts-184-to-190

[CrohnicallyExhausted]

Sorry, I was putting DD to bed!

Those of you who were asking, the roundabout is 2 lanes all the way round with just one dotted line that goes in a circle all the way round- at no point does the dotted line indicate you should take any of the exits.

The roundabout is too small to allow you to change lanes while on it- it's not much bigger than a mini roundabout.

[CrohnicallyExhausted]

On approach, if you are at 6 o clock, store is about 8 o'clock, exit 2 at 11 o'clock and exit 3 at 2 o'clock.