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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)

233 replies

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 16:46

This is on a regular route I drive and I am always approaching it from the angle seen in the photo, to turn right. My approach road is short so no time to build up any speed. As you can see, it is really a T junction of a smaller road in to a bigger one, but it has been configured with a mini roundabout.

Nine times out of 10 traffic coming from the right or the left doesn’t slow down, so even if a car coming from my right is not on the roundabout yet it will beep at me if I pull out and cause it to slow down. I know that the rule is give way to traffic coming from the right, but doesn’t that only apply to traffic already on the roundabout?

I can see that the problem with a mini one is that there is much less time that the car is actually “on” it, but surely everyone should be slowing down as they approach a roundabout?

At this one, usually the only way to get out is by waiting for a pedestrian to cross at the zebra and stop the traffic from the right that way.

AIBU to think that a mini roundabout is still a roundabout and the normal rules should apply? Or am I misunderstanding the rules?

To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)
To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)
OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 15/08/2024 19:57

I get that sometimes you misjudge how big a gap you need to pull out but surely you learn from your mistakes. If people keep beeping at you for the same thing it doesn't sound like you're learning from it.

MoreCardassianThanKardashian · 15/08/2024 19:53

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:03

OK So what about the cars coming from the left. Should they not be giving way to me? (They don’t).

They don't because you can't go due to cars on the right!

There are many threads on whether you give way to cars on the roundabout or approaching and it's common sense that the millisecond between approaching and being on, is not long enough for anyone to stop. This is why there are so many crashes - because people are plain fucking stupid.

If you can't clear the roundabout by the time the car on the right reaches it, don't pull out.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 19:49

ShowOfHands · 15/08/2024 19:42

Your horn isn't to alert somebody to get out of your way.

This is real life, not The Wind in the Willows.

Show quote history

What’s it for then? It’s certainly not for telling someone you are angry with them after the danger has already passed.

To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)
OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 15/08/2024 19:42

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:35

The horn is to alert someone to get out of your way. It tends, however, to be used as a way of communicating anger after the event.

Show quote history

Your horn isn't to alert somebody to get out of your way.

This is real life, not The Wind in the Willows.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 19:40

RubberyChicken · 15/08/2024 19:32

But have seen a few in the rear view mirror

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You are about 50 posts too late with that joke. Someone already made it.

OP posts:
RubberyChicken · 15/08/2024 19:32

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:25

34 years. No accidents.

Show quote history

But have seen a few in the rear view mirror

museumum · 15/08/2024 19:30

sometimes mini roundabouts just don’t work. In your example in order to turn right you need a break in traffic from the right or for somebody approaching from the left to turn right.
if traffic is constant from your right you just have to wait.
however if no traffic from your right you should be able to enter the roundabout carefully and force the traffic to your left to give way to you. They might not like it but they have to.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 19:19

MaybeImbad · 15/08/2024 19:14

Oh my goodness no, you need to slow down and see if someone is approaching and stop if they are. I’m gonsmacked by this

I’m already stopped.

OP posts:
MaybeImbad · 15/08/2024 19:14

Oh my goodness no, you need to slow down and see if someone is approaching and stop if they are. I’m gonsmacked by this

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 19:10

WotsYourExcuse · 15/08/2024 19:01

But how would it work to only give way to traffic already on the roundabout? By the time it's on the roundabout it's a split second from hitting you. Obv on bigger roundabouts you have much more time.

Well exactly. That’s why you have to give way to it!

OP posts:
KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 19:05

Because people used to decelerate on approach, and adjust their speed according to other traffic.

Now people continue without that momentary lifting off the accelerator that people used to do when approaching a potential hazard. The old, pretend everyone else is about to make a mistake, approach.

I would remind everyone here that people were taught in different ways and indeed may misremember what they were taught. Don’t rely on everyone behaving as you expect.

WotsYourExcuse · 15/08/2024 19:01

But how would it work to only give way to traffic already on the roundabout? By the time it's on the roundabout it's a split second from hitting you. Obv on bigger roundabouts you have much more time.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:57

takealettermsjones · 15/08/2024 18:50

I can see how, if you were expecting everyone to agree with you, disagreement might feel uncomfortable. But a beating is hardly what happened.

Show quote history

“No wonder you’re getting beeped!”
”You’re driving like a dickhead”
”You’re a shitty driver”
”You shouldn’t be on the road”
to quote a few. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been around enough to know this is how it goes, but I have also been around long enough to know that it always goes this way no matter how reasonable the OP is, so I have nothing to lose by not accepting every answer without challenge.

OP posts:
Mountainclimber50 · 15/08/2024 18:55

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:02

Cuts both ways though.

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You are not in control of their driving only your own.

FacingTheWall · 15/08/2024 18:55

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:03

Yeah but the accident still happened didn’t it?

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And you would be the one found at fault because you were the one who was supposed to give way, regardless of the speed of the other vehicle (assuming it’s not over the speed limit).

The vehicles to you left are going ahead because they can see that you need to be giving way, so it’s perfectly safe for them to go ahead too.

Jifmicroliquid · 15/08/2024 18:54

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 16:59

But why would it not slow down to a reasonable speed on approach so that I don’t need to give way, as we can both cross the roundabout at our own reasonable speeds?

Edited
Show quote history

Because provided no-one is on the roundabout going all the way around it, anyone coming from your right has no-one to give way to so they probably won’t slow down much.
I do agree though that these set ups leave very little time for people trying to get on to the roundabout from your side, because of the above situation.

Trickabrick · 15/08/2024 18:50

This has got to be a wind-up because surely no-one is as obtuse in real-life as the OP! If you are on the receiving end of being beeped at more than once in a blue moon, you’re clearly in the wrong 😂

takealettermsjones · 15/08/2024 18:50

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:24

No, I’ve literally said I intend to drive as others have told me from now on. But I also think that it’s typical of MN to jump from advice to personal abuse and so forgive me if I don’t just lie down and take a beating.

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I can see how, if you were expecting everyone to agree with you, disagreement might feel uncomfortable. But a beating is hardly what happened.

Tooting33 · 15/08/2024 18:48

There's one similar to the OP's description near me. It is a bit frustrating if you're coming out of the side road because there tends to be a lot of traffic from the right which allows the traffic from the left to treat it a bit like a T junction as they can usually just go straight on.

The only way to deal with it is to give way to the right as the rules state but also enter somewhat cautiously in case the traffic from the left doesn't stop.

It's just the way it is.

Countingcactus · 15/08/2024 18:46

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:06

Isn’t there a principle that you should treat everyone else on the road as if they were an idiot? Don’t assume someone indicating will actually turn, don’t assume people will stop at traffic lights, don’t assume people won’t pull out in front of you?

Yes, and people do, otherwise people would be driving into you daily. Beeping a horn is just showing (valid) annoyance at being forced to give way when they shouldn’t have to.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:43

Nah they are mostly arseholes in Teslas who don’t slow down when approaching mini roundabouts with zebra crossings in front of them.

OP posts:
Ivehearditbothways · 15/08/2024 18:41

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:40

Because they are arseholes.

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How exactly? They approached from your right, they had priority over you, their way was clear to go and then bam… there you are pulling out in front of them, when you should not be.

How are they the problem?

You’re just a dickhead driver. There are a lot of you. You fit in well.

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 18:40

I think we should be encouraging drivers to maintain flow. If we all merge and accommodate each other, it’s much more efficient than strictly enforcing priority rules. Now the roads are so full, priority is becoming unwieldy.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:40

Ivehearditbothways · 15/08/2024 18:39

But it showing you that you pulled out when you shouldn’t.

You said that you’re alway being beeped at. You said that you pull out even when you see traffic to your right because you believe you have time to go.

Do you see the problem? You believe you have time, but then you get beeped at… because you impeded them. You caused them to brake. Which means you did not have time to go.

How can you still believe you are driving correctly and not impeding other drivers?

Show quote history

Because they are arseholes.

OP posts:
Ivehearditbothways · 15/08/2024 18:39

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:35

The horn is to alert someone to get out of your way. It tends, however, to be used as a way of communicating anger after the event.

Show quote history

But it showing you that you pulled out when you shouldn’t.

You said that you’re alway being beeped at. You said that you pull out even when you see traffic to your right because you believe you have time to go.

Do you see the problem? You believe you have time, but then you get beeped at… because you impeded them. You caused them to brake. Which means you did not have time to go.

How can you still believe you are driving correctly and not impeding other drivers?

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